The cover came first, and I'm not sorry

Which comes first? The cover art or the cover story? Most magazine editors will tell you that this is a no-brainer: The story always comes first because the images support and promote the content—not the other way around. But then again, most editors will also tell you that making blanket statements like this one can easily lead to a big ole plate-o-crow.

I’ve been served that meal several times, but not in regard to the question at hand. This is probably because, while I edit Union’s magazine, I was first its designer and still am. Designing is what brought me to Union. So while I know it goes against best practices to prioritize artwork over content, I really enjoy when it’s necessary to reverse the order. At least most of the time.

A priority flip was necessary for our latest edition of Union Alumni Magazine. Considering this issue introduced readers to Marcia Hawkins, our new president, I wasn’t thrilled about veering away from the norm. It felt too risky. Nevertheless, the cover was created long before the story was edited or even drafted for the first time.

Here’s why: Last spring, we scheduled a higher-ed photographer to help us update our marketing and admissions materials. As luck would have it, Dr. Hawkins was scheduled to visit campus that same day. But not so luckily, we made this discovery only three days before they each arrived. With a good bit of scrambling, we arranged a photo session that included Dr. Hawkins and a large group of students. And with an idea for a story that emphasized her enthusiasm for the liberal arts, we put something together, knowing there would be no do-over. It was imperative that the story match the art. Did it work? I guess you should be the judge. But we sure had fun producing it. See for yourself.

Missy Reid, '91

Instantly Newsworthy

When the presidential search began just months ago, I thought a lot about how Union’s communications office might approach publicity and secure earned news coverage. I’d never been through this type of transition before, so the situation posed a unique challenge that was accompanied by a good bit of stress. Developing a PR strategy for a nameless, faceless person basically yields a stock list of options, none of them inspiring. Let’s face it: colleges hire new leaders every day. There’s nothing special about that except to those connected to the institution. So I imagined scenarios that worked into an ideal plan that equaled instant newsworthiness across the state.

Then Dr. Marcia Hawkins was named, and my daydreaming game was no longer necessary. She instantly won my confidence, both as a president and a newsmaker. She has a story that people will want to hear, and I can’t wait to work with her to tell it. Her passion for the liberal arts is paralleled only by her belief in the American dream, and she masterfully streams both into a common thread of pure…well, newsworthiness. This woman proudly defends the liberal arts in a day when, sadly, it needs a bold spokesperson.

No one outside Union’s circle of friends has heard much about this. They will. But for now, people in neighboring cities and states are intrigued with Dr. Hawkins because of her gender. I sent several releases out announcing her appointment and was met with many replies of “Wow!” and one “Woo hoo!” I cannot wait until our Facebook Insights are updated so I can measure the virility of our status when we announced to fans: “Union's 19th president has been announced. HER name is Dr. Marcia Hawkins, and she is looking forward to meeting all of you!” But that won’t scratch the surface of the enthusiasm. I know personally of several people who included the same information in their own status updates. And when you sprinkle on top of that a boatload of tweets and retweets, we might find that accurately measuring reach will be difficult.

As it turns out, being a female president, while it isn’t all that unusual, still gives many people a reason to cheer. There’s a popular goal that says the percentage of female presidents should match the percentage of female students. Currently, according to the American Council on Education, 26.4% of all college presidents are female, up from 23% just a few years ago. But with the female student population at 57%, there’s much work yet to be done. Among Methodist related four-year institutions, female presidents represent 23%. Once Dr. Hawkins is inaugurated, Union College will increase that number by one percent. Wow and woo hoo!

A reporter asked me if Dr. Hawkins’s gender had been a deciding factor in naming her as Union’s 19th president. I explained that no, her qualifications and proven record put her over the top and distinguished her as the best candidate from a pool of about 130 nationwide. She just happens to be a woman. But what a bonus!

That’s what I call instant newsworthiness. And it’s not a dream.

Missy Reid, '91

She Embraces Fear

Fear. It is an emotion most graduates experience, whether it’s associated with leaving a comfort zone or facing the unknown. It’s also the emotion that will motivate valedictorian Heidi Marsh as she addresses the 2012 Union College graduating class.

Marsh plans to embrace her fears while telling fellow graduates that it is OK to be afraid, because sometimes that fear can help you.

The senior from Benham, Ky., who will receive a Bachelor of Arts in English with a 3.88 GPA, said that the fear of not knowing is something she has experienced her whole life. Now, as she faces yet another milestone in earning her college degree, she sees that fear again. This time, however, she sees it in a different light.

“Fear is a powerful thing, and we only have two choices: succumb to our fears and give up, or take them in stride and use them as fuel in life’s journey,” Marsh said.

This lesson is one she wants to communicate to fellow graduates, as well as the Union community.

“I’ve been thinking about my graduation speech,” Marsh said. “I’ve been thinking a lot about fear, because I’m really afraid, and I think everyone else is a little bit afraid too. Union as a whole may even be a little bit afraid, with all the different changes that are going on right now.”

After graduation, Marsh has big plans in mind. She will attend graduate school at either the University of Louisville or East Tennessee State University. While there, she will earn a master’s degree in English literature before pursuing a Ph.D. so she can one day teach at the college level.

As she looks forward to those plans, Marsh knows that while she may be scared to start a new chapter in her life, she has to take heed of her own message and use that fear to her advantage.

“At the end of the day, you only have yourself to answer to,” Marsh said. “I don’t know that I would feel satisfied knowing that I held myself back from doing something great because I was scared of what might happen as a result.”

Union students will be "Up 'til Dawn"

College students know about sleepless nights. They pull all-nighters to cram for finals, followed by more all-nighters to celebrate passing those finals. Rarely does the 18-22 crowd stay up around the clock due to worries associated with childhood cancer.

While it’s true that most college students aren’t burdened with this type of struggle, it’s also true that they are not oblivious to it. Many of them feel a responsibility to help alleviate anxiety for families affected by cancer. Kristina Kirk is one such student. She has organized a St. Jude’s fundraising event called “Up ‘til Dawn,” named in honor and recognition of the children and families who have been plagued with cancer-related sleepless nights. “Cancer doesn’t sleep, so neither should we,” Kirk says.

That’s what this episode of UQueue—our podcast for students—is all about. You’ll hear from Kirk, along with Chelsea Root, whose family has lived the horrors associated with childhood cancer and has benefitted from the generosity of St. Jude’s and those who support its mission.

After the initial fundraising goal of $1,000 was quickly surpassed, the new number is $10,000. Funds will be collected from now through April 27, the date of the “Up ‘til Dawn” celebration. To donate, contact Kristina Kirk at kristina.kirk@unionky.edu.

Here's the link to the podcast for you to copy and paste in your browser. Enjoy!

http://thinkunionky.podbean.com/2012/04/03/up-til-dawn-uqueue-episode-four/


Missy Reid, ’91
Director of College Communications

Movies matter

Have you ever been super excited to go see a movie, get there, watch it and then leave the theater with a feeling of disappointment because it wasn’t all it was hyped up to be? There could be a way to fix this.

According to Michael Benton, the speaker at this year’s Willson-Gross lecture, you could have that feeling of disappointment not from the movie itself, but from the reactions you had to the movie based on when and where you viewed it.

It sounds complicated, but it really isn’t. According to Benton, instructor of humanities at Bluegrass Community and Technical College in Lexington, Ky., the way you view a movie (where you are, who you’re with and what your mind-set may be) will affect the reaction you have to that movie.

Benton demonstrated this idea by comparing three different experiences he had, all while viewing the movie “Schindler’s List.” He said that through each viewing, his perception of the film changed, and he was able to draw three different experiences from one movie, all very unique in how they affected Benton and his conceptualization of what the film meant. But why did that conceptualization change?

Benton said that with each viewing of the movie, he was watching it in completely different settings, with completely different reasons for watching it. The first time was for entertainment in a crowded theater, the second time was for discussion and learning purposes at a friend’s house, and the third time was to demonstrate a concept he was teaching in a classroom.

Benton said that while all three of these experiences left him with completely different feelings, they were all important in forming one single conceptualization of the film.

“I find that watching a movie at home is much more voyeuristic in that one can simply watch without thoughts of others impeding on your experience,” Benton said. “On the other hand, a public theater involves one in a communal experience in which you interact with the narrative on the screen while experiencing the reactions of your fellow filmgoers.”

So the next time you watch a movie and say to yourself, “I was hoping for more,” maybe you should take Benton’s word, and watch the movie in a different setting. You could see the movie in a completely different light.

Students, let your voices be heard

As many of you read this blog post, you may also be drinking Starbucks coffee from Conversations, the campus coffee shop. Or maybe you’re on deck to play the winner of the current ping-pong match in the student center. Or you could be reading it on your iPhone while waiting for your appointment in the health center during their extended hours.

If you are doing any of those things, you are taking advantage of just one of the many assets Union College has gained as a result of Assessment Day.

So what is Assessment Day? For those that don’t know, according to Debbie D’Anna, vice president for Student Development, it’s a day when students will take different assessments dealing with a range of skills and topics. It’s also a day when students will be asked to provide feedback that often leads to facilities updates and policy changes.

“Some will take tests measuring critical thinking, science reasoning, math and English. Others will participate in health assessments and surveys to determine their level of satisfaction at Union,” D’Anna said. “Some students will participate in focus groups on topics of financial aid, first year experience, academic preparedness and student engagement.”

If you need more motivation to participate in Assessment Day (other than the fact that not going will delay your graduation date) just consider the counseling services that started in 2010, or the café which came to Union in 2008.

Other assets gained through Assessment Day include the commuters’ lounge, which was added just last year and extended Health Center hours, which started in 2010. Conversations coffee shop, which offers Starbucks products, also came as a result of feedback from students during these assessments.

Now we know that come April 3, sleeping in might be a very tempting option. Don’t hit that snooze button, though. Remember: Assessment Day is your chance to be heard and suggest changes and additions to Union’s campus.

This year’s event is on April 3 at 8:30 a.m. Depending on classifications, students will report to Centennial Hall, Sharp Academic Center or the Miller Science Center.

Union's 'twister' has been postponed

Local first responders and Union College were scheduled for emergency preparedness testing Friday, March 16. Teams in Laurel County were put to a real test, though, when an actual tornado touched down in East Bernstadt, doing significant damage to the community.

Since that happened, local first responders have been working alongside those in Laurel County., dealing with the aftermath. Because of this, the crisis simulation that was scheduled to take place on Union College’s campus has now been pushed back to a date that is not yet determined.

The simulation would have involved the Knox County Disaster and Emergency Services, Barbourville Police and Fire Departments, Knox County EMS, Knox County Health Department and Knox County Hospital, as well as Union College.

Members of these agencies were set to respond to a simulation on Union’s campus, where a tornado would hit the gym, do damage, and in the process produce many casualties. The responders would then have been evaluated on their level of preparedness.

Mike Gray, coordinator of student conduct and campus safety at Union College, was responsible for bringing this simulation to Union. He said the simulation still hasn’t been rescheduled, but should be in the near future.

“After first responders have their action meeting, then we will work to reschedule this. That meeting should be sometime this week,” Gray said.