SJMC Monday Memo

Applications for 2020-21 publication leaders due March 6

Applications for editor-in-chief positions for Drake publications are due Thursday, March 6 at 5 p.m. Applications should include a resume and three to five work samples. Email pdfs to associate professor Jeff Inman (jeffrey.inman@drake.edu), chair of the Board of Student Communications, and Carson Reichardt (carson.reichardt@drake.edu), SJMC student senator and BSC member.

Donate jeans to combat sexual assault

The SJMC is again participating in Drake’s commemoration of international Denim Day, the annual statement of support of and solidarity with victims of sexual assault. Drake Denim Day will be April 29 and will include displays of jeans around campus, protesting an Italian sexual assault conviction that was overturned because of the clothing the victim was wearing. After the display, the jeans will be donated to charity. Donate clean jeans in good condition to administrative assistant Denise Ganpat in Mer. 118 by April 29.

Alumni news

Sarah Mondello, JO’18, AS’18, spoke to Professor Carol Spaulding-Kruse’s ENG 080 The Writing Life class in Meredith last semester about publishing as an accessible career path. Mondello maintains dual book editing and marketing strategy duties for a publisher in the Chicago area. She is also the author of a young adult historical fiction short novel “The Kiss of Death” (Kellan Publishing, 2015) under the pen name Sarah Natale. Alumni and students of different majors were also in attendance. Spaulding-Kruse said the presentation was “inspiring, extensive, and accurate.”

Mondello discussed her publishing journey at 17 years old, including challenges she faced and insights she learned along the way. She shared tips for breaking into the industry as well as best practices, telling the students, “The majority of publicity and promotion occur before the book launch, which is helpful to keep in mind no matter which area of publishing you work in.” She frequently speaks on the topic “publishing as a career” in the Chicago area. Her website is www.sarahnatale.com.

Register for April 25 alumni gathering

Alums, join us during Drake Relays 2020 to celebrate two momentous occasions: 100 years of journalism and mass communication education at Drake AND 36 years of Professor Todd Evans at Drake! The party will be on Saturday, April 25, 5-8 p.m. in Meredith Hall. Tickets cost $25 and include food and drink stations, T-shirt screening and more. We’ll raise a toast to our great legacy, and current and departed friends. Register here: https://alumni.drake.edu/sjmc-relays-reunion. Plus Evans is getting off the full-time-job hamster wheel to spend more well-deserved time with his wife and daughter. Send your thoughts, tears, memories and best wishes for Todd to Dean Kathleen Richardson (kathleen.richardson@drake.edu) for compilation.

Meredith Hall building hours

Meredith Hall is unlocked during the following hours when classes are in session:

Sunday-Sunday: 7:30 a.m.-9 p.m.
Monday-Friday: 7 a.m.-9:30 p.m.

Students with SJMC majors can swipe into the building with a Drake ID even when the building is locked from 7 a.m.-2 a.m., Sunday-Thursday. Students who are already in the building when it is automatically locked are allowed to stay in the building. Students who need 24/7 access to swipe into the building should talk to their faculty member or adviser about how to obtain all-hours access.

Have a news item for the Memo?

The SJMC Monday Memo is a weekly newsletter to keep members of the wider SJMC community updated on School news, achievements, events and opportunities. If you have an item for the Memo, please send it to Dean Kathleen Richardson (kathleen.richardson@drake.edu) or SJMC webmaster and multimedia professor Chris Snider (christopher.snider@drake.edu). SJMC alums and other professionals can also contact Chris to have the Memo delivered via weekly email.

The School of Journalism and Mass Communication strives to create a community of scholars that represents the complexity of the human experience in regards to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, economic status, political views, gender identification, religion, age and physical abilities. We are committed to creating a welcoming and supportive environment for all our faculty, staff, students and visitors, and celebrating our differences through the lens of the First Amendment value of freedom of expression.