“The” and “A”: Dordt's Marketing Team And
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Feature: Feature: Opinion: News: Faith Jesus Twins Q&A and the and John Playoff with FBI Wayne Aaron Baart page 10 page 6 page 9 page 7 October 9, 2020 Issue 3 Follow us online The difference between “The” and “A”: Dordt’s marketing team and rankings Hannah Kuperus—Staff Writer high school students as they begin their college search. These rankings help students find In the span of five days from September colleges that value the same aspects they do. 14 to September 18, the Dordt marketing team “If [a student] wants to go to a place where released four statements detailing the various faculty are really bought into educating students collegiate rankings and achievements from the and want to get to know you and help you learn fall semester. From tying for fourth best regional and think critically, then being ranked number college in the Midwest, to ranking second for one in student engagement is really helpful.” best undergraduate teaching in the Midwest, Moss said. to the largest ever fall enrollment, and to the While Moss acknowledged these rankings coveted number one spot in student engagement, may not be the reason students look into Dordt, Dordt had many reasons to celebrate. But how she has been told by the Admissions Office that they presented some information, specifically people ask about the rankings on visits. their tying for fourth as the best regional college “People recognize it as something special in the Midwest according to a US News and about this place... I think the longevity of it… World Report ranking, caused a debate from it’s just unique.” Moss said. “So it is definitely students and others on social media. something that we hear about from prospective Dordt’s initial Instagram post, which stated students. They’re like, ‘Oh, that’s kind of Dordt was “the top university in Iowa,” soon cool.’” read, “a top university in Iowa.” This edit from While Moss emphasizes the efforts of “the” to “a”, however, did not stop the flow of Marketing to be more clear in their press comments about the truthfulness of the claim, releases and social media postings, one may especially because Dordt did not alter their wonder if this only refers to the wording of the graphic that included a large “#1” looming post rather than the graphic associated with it. behind Covenant Hall. This flow of comments On Friday, September 18, Dordt posted about led Dordt to eventually comment on their post, their rank as number one in student engagement writing, “Hi everyone! Thanks for all your for the fifth year in a row, yet the picture they feedback about rankings. To clarify, our graphic Contributed Photo used on Instagram proved more reminiscent of refers to the ‘Best Regional Colleges Midwest’ the week, including ranking second for best the talent show or NCDC, rather than of student ranking, where we were named a top university “And it’s similar [with teaching]. We are undergraduate teaching in the Midwest and first engagement, which Moss defines as, “engaging in Iowa and also tied for fourth within this pretty detailed in what we explained in the press in student engagement for five years in a row. students in their learning.” While events such category. We understand your confusion and release itself, mentioning the fact that it’s the “[We were] very explicit about the fact that as NCDC or the talent show may look more will strive to be clearer when speaking about best undergraduate teaching regional colleges student engagement is a category… We always fun and exciting to prospective students, future rankings.” Midwest category because they do look at… explain that, but we made sure to really state clearer marketing might have included a scene Some commenters remained dissatisfied, other parts of the country as well for that… that [this time], so people clearly can tell it’s from Dordt’s classrooms such as a group in with one Instagram user expecting, “a more ranking,” Moss said. one of a number of categories within all of discussion, a lab based science course, or even a honest and visible response if Dordt has any For students at Dordt, the emphasis on the Wall Street Journal, and Times Higher history class in simulation. It remains to be seen sense of honor.” Sarah Moss, director of rankings may feel trite after ranking number Education Ranking.” Moss said. “If they wanted how the response to Dordt’s Instagram post marketing and communication at Dordt, stated one in student engagement for five years, but to dig deeper into the other categories, they’re on September 14 will continue to affect future that the incident impacted the way Dordt the rankings matter for a different reason. welcome to do so, but we primarily promote the postings and press releases. marketing approached the other releases from student engagement category.” According to Moss, rankings are helpful for Dordt and Sioux Center Trump shop comes to Sioux COVID-19 response Center Sam Landstra - Staff Writer Zac VanderLey - Staff Writer Sharlee Fopma is rarely late for class. It is into the single digits in mid-September, Dordt Stephen Radke wipes sweat from his brow products. A Trump bear is sitting on the hard to miss it, of course, when the walk takes scaled back their virus containment regulations, after pulling off his Keep America Great cap. counter peeking out from his cramped living two steps. including the 24-student limit for classrooms. He scratches at his tattoo on his left forearm; arrangement. Above the bear is a Rambo Donald Since last Saturday, the junior pre-physical Fopma found herself unable to socially bellows out a long yawn; removes his worn out, Trump poster. Trump t-shirts, flags, and hats line therapy major has been quarantined in a local distance in her Sociology and Social Justice white vans; turns off his air pods; and plops the walls. A black box fan circulates the air of hotel. As Sioux County grapples with a surge class. At a table with four others in SB1603, down on his air mattress in the back room of the continued on page 2 in COVID-19 cases, 80 other students (as of no more than three feet separated Fopma from store at 3:30am. Another hard day’s work at the October 5) have been sent home or sentenced to her classmates for fifty minutes, three times a Trump Shop. hotels like Fopma. week. She raised her concerns to the registrar. The Trump Shop franchise currently has Her king size bed offers a more sizable In response, the registrar referenced a fifty-three stores around the country. The latest alternative to the extra-long twin she is geometric pattern the tables could be arranged appeared next to Taco John’s in Sioux Center on accustomed to back on campus, and a quilt in to allow proper social distancing in all September 23. Residents driving down the main handmade by her grandmother is draped classrooms. Such was not the case in SB1603; street are greeted by an American flag inflatable across it. On a footrest close by sit a Bible and the room and class size could not permit it. tube man waving in the wind and a live-sized devotional. Fopma reads them every morning Fopma had done what she could. picture of President Donald J. Trump on the before traveling the three feet to her desk for “Do you care? Or are you just wanting to door. class. make the profs happy?” Fopma said. “Are Radke, the young owner of the shop, moved “I’m doing as good as I can, I guess.” Fopma you more concerned about getting all of your to Sioux Center from Winona, Minnesota. He said. students back into classes rather than the safety watches political demographics, and Sioux Over the past few days, every aspect of of all the students?” Center was high on his priority list due to the her life has been squeezed into to these couple A few weeks later, one of her tablemates amount of republican voters in the area. hundred square feet. It did not have to be this tested positive for COVID-19. They did Upon opening the door plastered with way, though. Trump’s likeness, the prospective customer When COVID-19 cases on campus fell continued on page 5 is greeted by a variety of similarly themed Contributed Photo page 2 News News page 3 Trump shop comes to Sioux Donald Trump’s tumultuous Supreme Court scramble over Ginsburg’s empty seat Aleasha Hintz– Staff Writer Center cont. week A month ago on September 18, Supreme Caleb M.S.– Staff Writer her seat, “without delay!” Eight days later on “The Senate’s floor schedule will not nine individuals are entrusted to the lawmaking cont. from page 1 Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died from September 26, Trump announced his nominee interrupt the thorough, fair and historically of the whole country. complications with pancreatic cancer. Just eight America. It smells like patriotic heaven: a little Professor Laremy De Vries. “I was expecting Secret Service agents drove President Trump Biden spent time calling for unity, pitching for the supreme court, creating an uproar in the supported confirmation process.” McConnell “To have five people making decisions on days later, President Trump announced his booze and body odor mixed with a faint burnt more normal stuff, and I’m just kind of around Washington D.C. in a heavily armored the strength of his COVID-19 response plan, Senate. wrote. This stands as a far cry from his 2016 marriage, that is not democracy,” said Taylor.