journalismdepartment of university of wisconsin oshkosh http://www.uwosh.edu/journalism/alumni June 2009 Journalism class takes on Iraq war By Meghan Plummer PR Assistant A spring entry-level journalism class took on an expansive multimedia project to put names and faces to the soldiers who have fought in the Iraq war or are awaiting the call to go abroad. “War: Through Their Eyes,” which tells the stories of 16 soldiers and Marines who are students and alumni of UW- Oshkosh, is a project that encompasses stories, podcasts, photographs, videos and a book. Lecturer Grace Lim assigned the project to her spring 2009 Writing for the Media class. Lim’s idea for the project came about when she found out a student in one of her classes, Nicole Middleton, was an Iraq war veteran. “Nicole put the Iraq war, which is being fought halfway around the world, front and center, here, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin,” Lim said. “Now that I know I have students who sit in my class who’ve seen the war in a way you and I will most likely never see, I want to know who these young men and women are. I knows that this is supposed to be a 200-level class.” want to feel what they felt, see what they saw and hear what they After overcoming their initial shock, the students came heard.” through for Lim. Three students, Lynnea Krajco, Jay Spanbauer Lim said she warned students of the project in a long e-mail and Katie Holliday, had their stories published on ABCNews. message a week before class began. com. “Over winter break, I was super-excited for the class, and then “The second week of school, Grace called me on the phone all of the sudden and said, ‘Are you sitting down?’” Krajco said. “I remember I started receiving thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, something is wrong,’ and she said, ‘Don’t all of these worry. ABC News is interested in your story.’” e-mails about this Student Nate Tornow said he felt like he was entering a giant war project,” newsroom instead of a classroom in Writing for the Media. The Kate Zima said. students had to conduct their own interviews in person, by phone “My first and by e-mail, and had to follow real deadlines like any other reaction was to media organization. drop the class,” “They tell me they are incredibly stressed out and are having Alex Mueske nightmares about me and the class, but I think that’s code for ‘I said. “I remember am so proud of what I’ve done this semester,’” Lim said. Photo by Dylan Stolley sitting in class Lim also said she took to e-mailing students in the middle of Pat Goetz reads a soldier’s story while the first day and the night and signing off with, “See you in seven hours.” touring the War: Through Their Eyes wondering if exhibit in the Steinhilber Gallery. this teacher even Please turn to WAR / Page 3 Chair’s Remarks (2) Alumni Updates (6) In this issue: Andy Baer Gives Back (4) New Faculty (7-8) Outstanding Young Alumni (5) Study Abroad Class (11) Chair’s Remarks From the desk of the chair Hello everyone. I hope all of our alumni are enjoying a Student achievements—The UW-Oshkosh PRSSA students, healthy and productive year. I say this knowing that we are all for the second straight year, won first place in the National Organ being impacted by a struggling economy, and that it is a time of Donor Awareness Campaign in 2008. It is sponsored by Rowan uncertainty in the profession. Despite this, the Department of University. Journalism has been moving steadily forward in an effort to keep Online classes—For the first time, the journalism department our graduates prepared for today’s many challenges. is offering online classes, both of them this summer. Writing for You will read about some of the accomplishments and the Media was being offered during the first four-week summer changes elsewhere in this newsletter, but here are some highlights session, and Editing in the second four-week session. Depending of what has happened in the past academic year. on how successful these are, more online courses might be New faculty—Two people were hired to fill tenure-track offered in the future. positions, beginning this September. Shu-Yueh Lee has Diversity—The department continues to support activities completed her doctorate at the University of Tennessee, and will that promote a better understanding of diversity on campus. In be teaching classes including Online Publishing, and Multimedia November 2008, journalism provided funds to help sponsor a Production. Sara Steffes Hansen finished her doctorate at the commemoration of the 40th anniversary of Black Thursday. Eileen University of Wisconsin Madison, and will teach advertising and Hammer Housefeld, who worked for the Advance-Titan and The public relations courses. They will join Dr. Vince Filak, which Paper during the events of 1968, returned from California to completed his first year on the staff as a professor who teaches participate in a panel discussion. writing classes. One other faculty member, Elizabeth Crawford, Study abroad class—Dr. Tim Gleason, for the third time is leaving the faculty to take a position at North Dakota State in six years, took a group of journalism students on an overseas University. learning experience. The class project was titled “Travel and Alumni—We are blessed with many successful alumni who Documentary Photography in England.” The purpose of the trip have been recognized by the university. In October 2008, Theresa was to allow students to document their personal experiences Crogan Krajnak was recognized as an Outstanding Young in London, Oxford and Cambridge through photography. The Alumni. And it was announced last month that Brad Zibung will students visited Buckingham Palace and Hyde Park, and Covent receive the same award during Homecoming activities in October Garden and Trafalgar Square during their time in England, from 2009. This will be six years in a row that a graduate of the May 22-29, 2009. journalism program has been honored as either an Outstanding Advance-Titan adviser—The provost’s office agreed to Young Alumni or as a Distinguished Alumni of the university. provide funding for the A-T to have a faculty adviser for the Technology—The department applied for and received second year in a row. Dr. Vince Filak, an award-winning student funding to purchase 16 new 24-inch-screen iMacs and a laser newspaper adviser during his years on the faculty at Ball State printer for the computer lab in Clow 128. The new computers University, will be A-T adviser in 2009-2010. allow us to provide students with updated equipment for Goals and challenges—As the department works to chart a advanced classes that require students to utilize the sophisticated course through the transition from a print to a primarily digital software used in the industry. existence, the faculty face many challenges. Our goal will be to Innovative teaching—Adjunct instructor Grace Lim and the continue to produce good writers and skilled communicators who students in her Writing for the Media class this spring completed are technologically savvy. Reduced budgets in the near future what I believe is the most innovative project in my 15 years as make this even more difficult to accomplish. But with the help a faculty member. During the first seven weeks of the semester, of caring faculty and alumni we will continue to be a strong and the students interviewed 16 student soldiers and Marines for a viable program, one that students will seek out. project titled “War: Through Their Eyes.” It resulted in a book, If you have any suggestions or comments, please pass them podcasts, a Web site and a display at the Steinhilber Gallery in along to me at [email protected]. And remember to visit the Reeve Union. It was capped by an opening night event at the department Web site at www.uwosh.edu/journalism. And most gallery attended by Chancellor Richard E. Wells, Interim Provost importantly, keep in touch and let us know of changes in your E. Alan Hartman, Rep. Gordon Hintz of the 54 Assembly District family or career. and about 200 other people. Three of the stories written by students and pictures by a student photographer also were posted Sincerely, on abcnews.go.com/OnCampus. Mike Cowling Chair, Department of Journalism 2 Classes WAR: Everyone has story to tell Continued from Page 1 With the help of photography by student Amber Patrick, Web design by student Ranah Voss and art direction from Shawn McAfee of the Instructional Resources Center, Lim and her students showcased their project on May 15 with an exhibit in the Steinhilber Gallery in Reeve Memorial Union. Chancellor Richard H. Wells spoke at the event and Rep. Gordon Hintz presented Lim with a proclamation on a plaque sent by Gov. Jim Doyle. Along with Patrick’s photographs, the 80-page book includes the stories written by the 14 Writing for the Media students about each of the 16 soldiers and Marines included in the project. The book was being sold at the University Books & More bookstore and online. The chancellor’s office bought 70 copies. Photos by Dylan Stolley Stories include a soldier’s thoughts of his little brother back Chancellor Richard H. Wells applauds the soldiers and Ma- home when he saw an Iraqi boy get cut down by crossfire, and a rines at the War: Through Their Eyes gallery opening event soldier who couldn’t tell his mother that he enlisted for a second in Reeve Memorial Union.