Opinion

Viewpoint: Clarion students break the ice

Dr. Laurie Miller, The Clarion Call's faculty advisor.

The spotlight shines on student media at Clarion University when they produce the nightly news shows, man the microphones at 7 a.m. and meet the midnight deadlines.
It also shines on them when they “go public” in other ways and in front of other audiences. For example: Three student media representatives traveled to Harrisburg Nov. 8 for a Collegiate Media Summit hosted by the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.

Kelsey Huebert, news editor for The Clarion Call, Alyssa Marsico of WCUB-TV and Ian Hunter of WCUC-FM/WCUB-TV, attended the daylong event with student media leaders from other PASSHE universities.

The event included a conversation and question/answer session with PASSHE Chancellor John Cavanaugh, a discussion on “Budgets and Negotiations – What’s the Real Story?” with Vice Chancellors Karen S. Ball and Gary K. Dent and a presentation on “Campus and System Resources” with Rita Abent, executive director of university public relations at Slippery Rock University, and Kenn Marshall, media relations manager for PASSHE.

Students also had the opportunity to “Talk with the Pros” – Jan Murphy of The Patriot-News, Dennis Buterbaugh of WHTM-TV and Matt Hess of Pennsylvania Legislative Services – and to tour the newsroom of The Patriot-News.

I was there in an advisory capacity and to take a few photos for an accompanying article in The Clarion Call. What I saw … and heard was amazing and encouraging.
It was heartening to watch Clarion student media break the ice at the sessions, and even more satisfying to receive complimentary remarks afterward from PASSHE and university representatives, who noted the perceptiveness of our students’ questions, their interaction and networking abilities.

Ask me how I felt when Huebert questioned the chancellor about state budget reductions in education and instructor-to-student ratios in university classes.

Ask me how I felt when Marsico and Hunter responded to Dent’s questions about budgets, negotiations and the interests of various parties in the process.

Ask me how I felt when our media representatives began networking with students from Lock Haven, Edinboro, Slippery Rock, Millersville and other participating PASSHE universities.

When I receive compliments about student media, I try to relay these. I sometimes thank staff for “making me look good,” a phrase implying that their work, effort and professionalism cast a positive reflection. Of course, these reflections have a wider reach.

They also make Clarion University look good.