Communication Studies Students Serve in the Local Community Students in the organizational and crisis communication classes put what they learned into action through participation in service-learning projects. Service-learning projects have always been an integral part of communication studies classes taught by Dr. Bill Mullen, Chair of the Department of Communication Studies and professor of communication studies. Mullen assigns this project for several reasons. “The number one reason for this assignment is to encourage students to be servants and follow the example of Jesus by serving others,” said Mullen. The second reason is that it helps promote goodwill towards Shorter University in the community. Participating in these projects teaches students how to work in groups, which helps them to learn time management and communication skills. The last reason to do the project is that it provides students with chances for leadership opportunities. A leader always emerges in a small group, and Mullen says that someone usually takes the lead in contacting the organization for volunteer opportunities. Students volunteer at several places in the Rome community, including churches and other non-profit organizations. Then, they write a selfevaluation and also an evaluation of their group. In addition, student groups share their experiences with the class in the form of a presentation. This project is always a favorite among students. They not only learn how to better serve, lead, and communicate but also have fun while doing it. Tarah Taylor, a junior communication studies major, took part in this assignment in the organizational communication course. Taylor’s group went to the Rome-Floyd County Community Kitchen and served food to people in need. In addition to serving food, Taylor assisted with other tasks needed by the Community Kitchen such as food preparation. She enjoyed helping the organization and meeting people’s needs. Taylor said, “The people that I worked with were very nice, and the people coming in to get food were nice. It was an enjoyable experience.” The thing that stuck out most to Taylor Com Studies | 10
Junior communication studies major Allie Luna (far left), junior psychology major Bailey Lane, and junior English major Hayley Arthur (far right) volunteer at the Northwest Georgia Sexual Assault Center. Photo by: Maggie Parker
was how personal this was for her. She enjoyed getting to know those she served and hearing their stories. One of the most important things Taylor learned was that not everybody who goes to these kitchens is homeless. Some of them have jobs but do not have enough money or time to get food. The Community Kitchen also provides a place for children to get a second daily meal because many of them only get a good meal at school. Serving at the Community Kitchen taught Taylor the importance of serving and helping others. Joshua Greene, a senior communication studies major, took both of Mullen’s courses and served at two locations, both churches. Greene volunteered at Fellowship Church of Rome where he and his group cleaned and organized storage closets. He and his group also served at West Rome Baptist Church where they cleaned out and reorganized a storage room. Volunteering at these churches had a big impact on Greene in terms of being a servant. “I think a lot of times churches have a constant need
