Meredith Hall renovation: What’s to come
Stay tuned to the SJMC’s social media in coming weeks for more information about the Meredith Hall renovation project that is to begin this summer and run through spring 2023. We’ll be providing a sneak peek into SJMC’s new “home” for the next academic year; ways that students can be involved in the project, including documenting the historic work for the SJMC community and posterity; and how the School will ensure that students continue to receive the same quality education and engaged community they have come to expect from SJMC!
Sign up for the Drake Broadcasting System 48-hour Film Fest
Drake Broadcasting System’s annual 48-hour Film Fest is right around the corner! Write, shoot and edit a 2-to-5-minute short film individually or with a team on April 8-10. Each team will be given a genre and a line of dialogue at 5 p.m. on April 8 (join on Zoom or in-person). You will then have 48 hours before the submission deadline of 5 p.m. on April 10. Any questions can be emailed to savanna.bous@drake.edu. Have fun and be creative!
Register here: https://forms.gle/WawTwibYnY7NJBTp8
Drake SJMC prominent in first BEA rankings
The Broadcast Education Association announced its first ranking of schools, based on creative achievements of their students in five years of the BEA Festival of Media Arts. The annual festival is the preeminent international competition of creative works in audio, documentary, film and video, interactive multimedia and emerging technologies, news, scriptwriting and sports. Drake SJMC ranked No. 6 in the top winning interactive multimedia and emerging technologies programs, and 51st in the list of the top 100 overall programs. Approximately 170 institutions are represented in the lists.
Disabilities services and advocacy event
The Drake Office of Community Engaged Learning is partnering with the Harkin Institute on an event for the Drake community to facilitate a dialogue for people to bravely discuss disability experiences. Guests can learn and spread awareness about disability services. The event will be Thursday, April 7, 4-6 p.m. at the Harkin Institute. There will be an information fair with local nonprofits that work with people with disabilities; a simulation experience; roundtable discussion; tours of the Harkin building, and refreshments. RSVP: https://forms.gle/iwyBYkzVB29o2iAo6
Alumni news
An exhibit by Anthony Arroyo, JO’21, a professional photographer, will be on display at The Slow Down Cafe coffee shop, 3613 6th Ave., Des Moines, throughout April. The exhibit, “A Home I Never Knew,” includes pictures taken by Arroyo at his family’s ancestral home in Mexico. He has also produced a book of the same name.
Dartanyan Brown, JO’75, collaborated with international artist Yorame Mevorachon to create work for the current immersive multimedia exhibit at the Des Moines Art Center. Brown is a musician, educator and writer who has been inducted into the Iowa rock, jazz and blues halls of fame.
Reminders
PR, ad agency tours: Students can explore careers in public relations and advertising during tours and networking events on Friday, April 8.
The Drake chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) will celebrate PR Day on April 8. Agency tours will be held 8:30 a.m.-noon at Trilix, Strategic America and Two Rivers. A networking event with area professionals will be hosted from 6-8:30 p.m. at Smash Park. Students can attend both the tours and Smash Park, or one or the other, as their schedule allows. Any questions can be sent to peyton.haas@drake.edu. Register for the events here. Ride sharing is available.
The American Advertising Federation (AAF) of Des Moines has also scheduled a daylong event for students on April 8. The event will run 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m., and includes advertising agency tours and lunch ($10). Register here. Professor Sandy Henry has created a Google Sheet to help facilitate ride sharing. Please post email addresses in the appropriate column to either offer a ride or find a ride, then reach out to each other as needed. Be sure to be logged in to Google Drive with your Drake account, as only those within Drake University can see this link.
SJMC T-shirts now available at the Bulldog Shop: In honor of the SJMC centennial, SJMC-branded T-shirts are now available at the Bulldog Shop, both on campus and online. Show your Drake SJMC pride on campus and around the world!
Register for SJMC alumni reunion
Alumni are encouraged to gather their friends for our delayed SJMC centennial celebration on Saturday, April 30, 5-8 p.m. in Meredith Hall: https://alumni.drake.edu/sjmc-relays-reunion. Advance registration is encouraged; see who is going to attend! Tickets cost $20 and include alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, heavy hors d’oeuvres, music and fun. A short program at 6 p.m. will include toasts to current and former SJMC faculty and staff.
Current students: Contact Dean Kathleen Richardson to volunteer at the party to help with registration and logistics. It’s a great way to celebrate the School and network with alums.
Have a news item for the Memo?
The SJMC Monday Memo (and other days of the week as needed) is a 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 subscribe to the Monday Memo via email here: http://eepurl.com/bPNbxn