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Journalism students nab top honor for third time
September 21, 2007
For the third time in a row, PLU’s student chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists was named the “outstanding campus chapter” for the region.
“I was hoping for it last year, but this year it wasn’t even on the radar,” said Breanne Coats, who served as chapter president last year. “It’s just like, whoa.”
PLU’s region, Region 10, includes student chapters for the University of Washington, Washington State University, University of Oregon and several smaller schools. The award honors the student chapter in each region that has been most active in upholding the missions of the society during the past year. This marks the fourth time in six years that the PLU chapter earned the honor.
“I think it’s such a win for the underdog,” said Tove Tupper, chapter president this year. “It’s not like sports where you compete against like-sized schools. We go against all the schools.”
The award recognizes the hard work the students put in during the year, explained Ingrid Stegemoeller ’07, who served as the chapter’s secretary during her senior year. The group worked diligently to host and sponsor events that coincided with SPJ’s mission to improve and protect journalism.
Each year, the chapter helps organize the annual School of Arts and Communication week, which brings to campus dozens of speakers, workshops and panels focused on communication and arts topics. But Tupper, Coats and Stegemoeller agree it was the group’s protest (pictured) against censorship last year that likely won them the honor for the third time.
The protest stemmed from an advertisement in The Mast for a local pub that the administration asked be removed due to its alcohol-related content. The Mast media students and SPJ chapter members claimed the move was censorship and staged protests, editorialized their concerns in the student newspaper and submitted resolutions to ASPLU.
“It was a big deal for us,” Coats said. “It was about what SPJ is about, protecting the First Amendment and protecting journalists’ rights.”
The 12 regional chapters of the year will be judged against each other to determine the national campus chapter of the year. The winner will be announced at the SPJ Convention and National Journalism Conference in October, which Tupper and Coats will attend.
The chapter is planning to be active again this year, and has already begun planning for a “First Amendment Free Food Festival” in Red Square, which will be sectioned off and have a guarded entrance. To enter the event, students will forfeit their First Amendment rights and learn what life would be like if freedom of speech didn’t exist, Tupper said.
“SPJ is what you make of it, especially on a campus chapter,” Stegemoeller said. “Our chapter made it a priority.”
The student chapter meets several times a month. Membership to the national SPJ organization costs $35 a year, but students aren’t required to be national members to be a part of the PLU student chapter, Coats said.
“For any profession you’re in, you’re going to want to be in the top organization for that profession,” Coats said. “That’s what SPJ is for journalists.
PLU’s region, Region 10, includes student chapters for the University of Washington, Washington State University, University of Oregon and several smaller schools. The award honors the student chapter in each region that has been most active in upholding the missions of the society during the past year. This marks the fourth time in six years that the PLU chapter earned the honor.
“I think it’s such a win for the underdog,” said Tove Tupper, chapter president this year. “It’s not like sports where you compete against like-sized schools. We go against all the schools.”
The award recognizes the hard work the students put in during the year, explained Ingrid Stegemoeller ’07, who served as the chapter’s secretary during her senior year. The group worked diligently to host and sponsor events that coincided with SPJ’s mission to improve and protect journalism.
Each year, the chapter helps organize the annual School of Arts and Communication week, which brings to campus dozens of speakers, workshops and panels focused on communication and arts topics. But Tupper, Coats and Stegemoeller agree it was the group’s protest (pictured) against censorship last year that likely won them the honor for the third time.
The protest stemmed from an advertisement in The Mast for a local pub that the administration asked be removed due to its alcohol-related content. The Mast media students and SPJ chapter members claimed the move was censorship and staged protests, editorialized their concerns in the student newspaper and submitted resolutions to ASPLU.
“It was a big deal for us,” Coats said. “It was about what SPJ is about, protecting the First Amendment and protecting journalists’ rights.”
The 12 regional chapters of the year will be judged against each other to determine the national campus chapter of the year. The winner will be announced at the SPJ Convention and National Journalism Conference in October, which Tupper and Coats will attend.
The chapter is planning to be active again this year, and has already begun planning for a “First Amendment Free Food Festival” in Red Square, which will be sectioned off and have a guarded entrance. To enter the event, students will forfeit their First Amendment rights and learn what life would be like if freedom of speech didn’t exist, Tupper said.
“SPJ is what you make of it, especially on a campus chapter,” Stegemoeller said. “Our chapter made it a priority.”
The student chapter meets several times a month. Membership to the national SPJ organization costs $35 a year, but students aren’t required to be national members to be a part of the PLU student chapter, Coats said.
“For any profession you’re in, you’re going to want to be in the top organization for that profession,” Coats said. “That’s what SPJ is for journalists.