The Department of Communications and its student-run clubs held its first “Communication Kickoff” event in the lobby of the Jules Plangere Center on Wednesday, Sept. 5.
“I thought it was a great job by the leaders of the clubs to get the word out with their organization,” said Lorna Schmidt, a professor of Communication and Director of Advising. “The goal was for people to see what the Communication Department had to offer in a laid back, no pressure environment.”
The event included student-run organizations from WMCX, the on-campus University radio station; Hawk TV, the television network; Comm Works, a program committed to performance as a means to transform, educate, entertain, and empower both performers and audiences; Monmouth Oral Communication Center (MOCC), which promotes helping students with their communication skills; Monmouth University’s Chapter of Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), which hopes to provide public relations advice to the University and local Community; and The Outlook, the student-run newspaper.
The event was targeted at rising sophomores and transferring students not in the communication field, as well as anyone around campus who was looking to join a club within the Department. The event allowed students to interact with professors and faculty members outside of an academic setting. Students were able to walk around, eat snacks, play games, and individually meet the leaders and members of the organizations.
“I wanted to know how to get involved in the newspaper and in PRSSA and this event was great for me,” said Tara Vecchio, a freshman communication student. “It was a fun environment and it was nice to meet everyone.”
“The Communication Kickoff was a great way to show new students the wonderful clubs and organizations that Monmouth’s Communication Program has to offer,” said Glen DeNigris, the Program Director at WMCX and a senior communication student. “It was fun meeting the new faces and it was a great way for WMCX and all the organizations to recruit new members which is very important for every club in the new school year.”
The event was a first for the Department of Communication and its clubs.
“The thought came to me in the summer,” Schmidt said, “I asked the leaders of the clubs what they thought and they got back to me and loved the idea.”
“It was exciting to see all the new faces who were interest in joining Hawk TV,” said Ryan Waldis, the Production Director at Hawk TV and senior communication student. “It’s always great getting people involved early and I can’t wait to see all of the new members we talked to at the first meeting.”
“It was a lot of fun and this event was great for me to see what potential clubs I can join,” said Jessica Ciarczyski, a freshman communications student. “I did not know about have the clubs here and it opened my eyes to what I can do.
“It was a great event, and thanks to the success, we can now move forward and do it every year,” Schmidt said.
PHOTO COURTESY of Monmouth Department of Communication
