Department of Communication Studies
&
Editor for the Spring Edition: John Lenahan
By John Lenahan
In most impressive fashion, the seniors who are lucky enough to call themselves
Communication Studies majors showed off their stuff on Tuesday, April 4 th in the
Library Presentational Room. Each presentation marked a year worth of preparation and numerous more in the study of rhetoric and discourse. With over thirty people watching earnestly, each student was cool under pressure delivering a smooth presentation. Here are some of the topics that seniors worked on:
Jeff Hidek
Amy Traugh
Kyle Kerner
Joy Carney
Susie Germer
Jessica Hero
Erica Snyder
Elardio Gayle
Michelle Swint
Julie Gowan
Examination of ethical decision-making in the show "Chicago Hope"
Examination of apocalyptic rhetoric in "The Matrix"
Description of how email influences the communication process
Discussion of Camille Paglia's insider/outsider rhetorical strategies
Integration of communication and marketing theories
Examination of gender typing in commercials
Discussion of shifts in rhetoric surrounding adoption
Analysis of the rhetorical community strategies of Sizzla's songs
Discussion of the fantasy themes used in MODE magazine
Ethnographic data analysis of gender modeling in daycares
By Shauna White
New Faculty Reflects Stetson's Commitment to Diversity.
Whether he is challenging his students to think beyond media stereotypes regarding race and ethnicity or inspiring them to seek out cultural nuances in order to create an more inclusive and culturally sensitive community, Dr. Jeffrey Lynn Woodyard issues in a new phase of education in Stetson's history.
[See WOODYARD page 2]

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Major Events Spring 2000
WOODYARD: 'Mas Flavor'
Woodyard's presence at Stetson is representative of the school's ALANA initiative to create a more ethnically inclusive environment. As a faculty candidate, Woodyard expressed his interest in Africana and Communications
Studies, two areas that Stetson was looking to expand.
"I had not heard of Stetson, but found
Stetson's advertisement of their diversity initiative. Fundamentally, they were trying to attract people of African decent,
Native Americans, Pacific Islanders, and
Asians. I applied, they invited me here, and I accepted the offer," Woodyard said.
Dr. Woodyard, although attracted to
Stetson through this diversity-seeking initiative, said that he finds the term
ALANA civilly offensive and seeks to promote a new understanding concerning multiculturalism.
He says, "I find the term offensive, civilly not personally. It is an attempt to take a whole array of very diverse cultures and clump them together in one nice, neat category so that white people can deal with everybody who is not white in the same way. That is the institutional effect. In the meantime, you have
Hispanic people who aren't getting their cultural needs met, because they are being treated like ALANA, which means anything other than white."
Woodyard went on to suggest that instead treating these cultures as one group separate from the white majority, each group should be treated according to its specific cultural needs.
These are the issues Dr. Woodyard raises in his classes on African American
Feminism, Public Speaking, and African
Americans in Film, and these are the issues that are raising the consciousness of his students.
"Dr. Woodyard presents his class from an Afro-centric perspective. He raises issues concerning the black community in class that would not otherwise be brought up," senior sociology major Ulysses Knight said.
Although Dr. Woodyard does not agree with the treatment of multicultural students as an ALANA category, he said that the University's openness struck him in its attempts to develop a more diversified campus and accepted the faculty position in order to help bring another understanding of multiculturalism to campus.
Dr. Woodyard comes to Stetson
University from Georgia State University where he was a professor of Africana
Studies. He brings with him research interests and background in NAACP convention speeches, AIDS/HIV awareness communications, community service learning as pedagogy, and public communication of African American same gender loving, bisexual and transgendered persons.
For further information regarding his schedule of classes and research activities and interests, please refer to his website at: http://www.stetson.edu/~jwoodyar

3
Major Events Spring 2000
By Amy Traugh
Stetson took another large step towards excellence in the Communication Studies
Department when the National Communication Honorary Fraternity, Lambda Pi Eta chartered a chapter here. Nine students in the Communication Studies Department fulfill the requirements for membership in Lambda Pi Eta, which are as follows: Students must have completed at least 60 semester hours, 12 semester hours in communications, have a GPA of 3.0, a communication studies GPA of at least 3.25, be in the upper 35% of their graduating class, and display a commitment to the field of communication.
Among the nine students who fit the requirements for membership in Lambda Pi Eta are
Jeff Hidek, Amy Traugh, Siana Sheldrick, Ashleigh Miller, Joy Carney and Colleen Holuk.
**** According to the Lambda Pi Eta chapter book, the goals of the honorary are ****
* recognize, foster, and reward outstanding scholastic achievement;
* stimulate interest in the field of communication;
* promote and encourage professional development among communication majors;
* provide an opportunity to discuss and exchange ideas about the field;
* establish and maintain close relationships and understanding between faculty and students;
* and explore option for further graduate study.
ACROSS
1. Dr. Wilson and
McFarland's Alma
Mater.
3. CN Studies Building:
____________ Hall.
6. CN 498:
______Research
7. A cinematic masterpiece viewed in
CN 417 (Extremism)
9. Dr. McFarland's favorite response (2 words)?
10. Dr. McFarland's son's room is as blue as a
_____?
DOWN
1. Dr. McFarland's branch of the Armed
Forces.
2. CN 312
4. Dr. Woodyard also teaches for the ________
Studies Program
5. May 6, 2000.
8. Public _________.
9. Burke's _________- using animal.
(Answers on Page 4)

4
Major Events Spring 2000
By Amy Traugh
Dr. Cynthia Irizarry comes to Stetson's Communication Studies program flesh out of a teaching position in New York. She and her family made the trip to Florida over the summer so
Stetson could welcome her into the first new Communication Studies position that was offered in years. Along with our other new professor, Dr. Woodyard, Dr. Irizarry has settled into her job at
Stetson and her new life in DeLand, Florida. Of life in our small town and at our small school,
Dr. Irizarry claims that she likes Stetson and DeLand "even more than I thought I would."
Apparently, Dr. Irizarry thrives in this small environment, and she looks forward to using her distinct personality and expertise to develop some new programs in the Communication
Studies program. Currently, Dr. Irizarry is teaching Interpersonal Communication, Small Group
Communication, and Argumentation.
An expert in organizational and gender communication, Dr. Irizarry hopes to initiate some course at Stetson that focus more on the organizational aspect of communication.
All of the Communication Studies program wishes to welcome Dr. Irizarry to Stetson, and wishes her much luck. We are all looking forward to learning from her!
*** Check out the Communication Studies Web Site at: ***
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Crossword Puzzle
Answers
ACROSS
COMMUNICATION is the key to success in all major professions in the
Information Age in which we live. Human communication is, however, a complex process, and effective communication depends on our understanding of the structures and constraints of the process by which messages are transmitted and understood between senders and receivers.
Northwestern
Elizabeth
Senior
REDDAWN
Sowhat
Duck
DOWN
As the world changes strong communication competence is crucial to people's careers and personal lives. The array and availability of technology have changed the communication arena. People are communicating not only with their immediate families, neighbors, and co-workers, but with family members and co- workers globally, creating a new sense of community.
The courses in Communication Studies stress a strong liberal arts training in communication theory and practice. As a major in Communication Studies you will find small classes, which provide maximum interaction between professors and students, and experienced faculty members who enjoy teaching undergraduates. Navy
Rhetoric
Africana
Graduation
Speaking
Symbol
In addition to your classroom education, you will have exciting opportunities for practical experience outside the classroom. The faculty believes that by facilitating students in making connection between their classroom knowledge and real world applications, we initiate them into the life-long learning process. Consequently, our academic curriculum requires that our majors participate in a minimum of two onehour applied communication courses in a community setting. In addition, students' internships are strongly recommended. Both provide Stetson students with the opportunity to apply their knowledge to a diversity of real life situations.