COMS News | February 2024
Happy February COMS Mustangs!
This newsletter is designed to keep majors, minors, faculty, and staff up-to-date so you can learn about news, career advice, events, networking opportunities, well-wishes, and inspirational stories surrounding your peers and COMS community.
Announcements
COMS Club
Get involved in COMS Club! Meetings take place Tuesdays from 11:10 am - 12:00 pm in Building 10 Room 221. Connect with COMS Club on Instagram @calpolycomsclub. An upcoming calendar of events for COMS club will be forthcoming, so follow their social media to stay up to date!
LPH Recruitment
LPH is the National Communication Association’s official honor society. The organization recognizes the outstanding academic achievements of COMS majors and offers membership benefits including honors status at graduation and ceremonial graduation regalia. To see if you qualify to join, check out the membership requirements and fill out the Cal Poly LPH Interest Form by March 1. Be sure to follow LPH on Instagram @lphcalpoly to stay in the loop.
Debate Team News
Congrats to the Cal Poly Debate Team who finished YODL 3 as Semi-Finalists! Ethan Gutterman, Rachel Strohecker, Franky Chardos, and Mason Boerger all finished as quarterfinalists, and Brenden Jacoby and Josh Rillo finished as semifinalists. Mr. Jacoby was also ranked as one of the top 5 individual speakers in the tournament. This has been a great year for our Debate Team, with membership expanding far beyond numbers in the past. To find out more about the Debate Team and join, check out the Debate web page!
Camp Polyhacks COMS Winners
Big congrats to Brenden Jacoby and Quoya Mann, two COMS students who were a part of winning teams during this year's Camp Polyhacks event!
- Top Project in Civic Engagement Track: Brenden Jacoby (COMS), Soren Fliegel (CS), Jodie Huang (CRP), Margo Ezcurra (CRP) for their presentation on Kudos - an App that empowers rental tenants by finding rentals, reviewing landlords, tracking code violations, and providing AI chatbot to answer questions about renters' rights.
- Top Project in Continuing a Class Project Track: Kennedy Urcelay (BUS), Kennedy Barlow (RPT), Quoya Mann (COMS), Othilia Norell (CS) for their presentation on Hopper - a project that works to improve student transportation through a personalized app and dynamic route optimization for buses.
Counseling Services
Mental health matters! We all need time and space to process what happens in the world around us and Counseling Services is a great place to help us understand and chat through ongoing issues we might be facing. Any student or group can request additional services by contacting counseling@calpoly.edu. Urgent Appointments are available to students in crisis from 8:30am - 4:30pm Monday through Friday at Counseling Services and via the Crisis Line (available 24/7) at 805-756-2511.
Alumni Spotlights
We're proud to share the amazing stories of our current students and alumni! This month, we're spotlighting the work and leadership of 3 COMS alumni who are all enrolled in grad school programs!
- Kylie Clark (she/her) is a Cal Poly COMS alum (spring 2020) who is now a graduate student at Columbia University working on her master’s in Human Rights. Kylie’s research interests focus on the unhoused population with some focus on mass incarceration.
- Anika Maney (she/her) is a Cal Poly COMS alum (spring 2021) who is now a graduate student at Georgetown University working on her master’s in Communication, Culture, and Technology. Anika's research interests examine academic science culture and narratives about knowledge and truth.
- Ava Schafbuch (she/her) is a Cal Poly COMS alum (spring 2023) who is now a graduate student at Georgetown University working on her master’s in Communication, Culture, and Technology. Her research interests examine people-centered healthcare communication, social media, and AI systems.
Events & Opportunities
Teach-In
The 8th annual Social Justice Teach In takes place on Thursday, February 15. This event features a variety of workshops centered around topics on equity and social justice designed to inform and inspire. Browse the full workshop schedule and sign up to attend! And check out the presentations below organized by your COMS faculty. *Special Note - the annual Teach-In has been rescheduled to May 2024.
- Dr. Megan Lambertz-Berndt (she/her) is presenting a workshop titled Representing the "Great White Savior" in Sports Films
- Dr. Megan Lambertz-Berndt (she/her) is presenting a second workshop titled Reinventing the job advertisement: A needed pivot toward equity-based language
- Professor Lisa Kawamura (she/her) is presenting a workshop titled Activist Artmaking Lab
- Dr. Leslie Nelson (she/her) is presenting a workshop titled Understanding (White) Privilege and Dismantling Oppressive Systems: A Hands-On Approach
- Dr. Darrian Carroll (he/him) is presenting a workshop titled The Violence in Visibility
- Dr. Victoria Zamora (she/they) is presenting a workshop titled Pitching Past the Pain: Transforming Chavez Ravine and the Rhetoric of Fernandomania
Teach In Keynote Address: Raquel Willis
Guest speaker Raquel Willis will give the Keynote address on Thursday, February 15 from 4:30-6:00PM in the Advanced Technologies Lab (Bldg. 7, Room 2). Raquel Willis is an award-winning activist, journalist, and media strategist dedicated to collective liberation, especially for Black trans folks. She is an executive producer with iHeartMedia’s first-ever LGBTQ+ podcast network, Outspoken, and the host of Afterlives, a podcast centering the lives and legacies of trans folks lost too soon to violence. She is also the author of The Risk It Takes to Bloom: On Life and Liberation.
Guest Lecture: Some Puzzles re: Sex, Gender, and Race
The College of Liberal Arts is hosting a special guest lecture featuring Dr. Helga Varden, Professor of Philosophy, Political Science, and Women’s and Gender Studies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champagne. The title of her talk is “Some Puzzles re: Sex, Gender, and Race--and correlated isms." The event will be held on Friday, February 2, from 12:10-2pm in Erhardt 010-220. The talk itself should not last more than an hour, leaving plenty of time for Q&A.
Chinese New Year Banquet
Every year, the arrival of the Lunar New Year is celebrated by billions of people worldwide, and every year the Chinese Students’ Association (CSA) contributes to this global holiday with a banquet and several performances from local groups. You are cordially invite to attend Cal Poly's Chinese Students' Association 66th Annual Chinese New Year Banquet. This event will be held on Saturday, February 3rd from 5:30 PM - 9 PM at the Multi-Activity Center (MAC) on the Cal Poly Campus. Doors will open at 5 PM. Reservations are required beforehand; if you are interested in attending, please let them know how many tickets you would like to reserve by emailing calpolycsa@gmail.com OR fill out RSVP Form.
Panetta Institute Internship
Applications are now being accepted for the 2024 Panetta Institute Congressional Internship Program. Now in its 26th year, this prestigious program is designed to encourage and develop future leaders as well as prepare individuals for greater civic involvement. This opportunity is available to third and fourth-year students. This opportunity is open to qualified students from ANY major who have an interest in Congress, civil leadership, or public service. Complete program requirements and application details are available at the Panetta website and the application deadline is 12:00 pm, Monday, Feb. 12.
CSU Research/Creative Activity Competition
The CSU Student Research/Creative Activity Competition is held each year to promote excellence in undergraduate and graduate scholarly research and creative activity by recognizing outstanding student accomplishments across the 23 CSU campuses. The internal competition is scheduled to take place February 23-24, 2024. To find out more and cheer on your peers who are presenting, visit the Office of Student Research website.
Intertidal: Blind Date with a Book
Intertidal is a literary and art journal that aims to reflect Cal Poly writers and artists of all experience levels, backgrounds, and majors in their growth and connection through creativity. They're hosting a February fundraiser called "Blind Date with a Book" on February 12 & 13 at Dexter Lawn 10am - 4pm. Come show your support for the literacy journal with books, sweets, and more! For more information, contact interdidal@calpoly.edu
Western States Communication Association
Communication Studies students, alumni, and faculty head to Reno, Nevada this year to attend the 94th Annual Western States Communication Association (WSCA) Convention, February 23-26, 2024. Faculty and students in attendance will be presenting original research, sharing best practices in teaching, participating in academic service opportunities, and networking with scholars.
Scheduled Student & Alumni Presentations
Aidan Ashworth (Alum)
- Exploring Gamer Experiences and Motivation to Play High Difficulty Video Games (Top-4 paper sponsored by the Media Studies Interest Group)
Kimberly Cruz (Alum)
- Storytelling and Racial Identity: How First-Generation Students of Color Navigate their Identities at Predominately White Institutions (Sponsored by the Communication, Identities, & Difference Interest Group)
Mackenzie Demay (Alum)
- Stereotypical Representations of Gamers in the Guild (Top-4 paper sponsored by the Media Studies Interest Group)
Julia Reznicek (Alum)
- Quantitative Analysis of How College-Aged Individuals’ Preferred Communication Medium when Dealing with Conflict in Romantic Relationships Affects Perceptions of Relational Closeness and Satisfaction (Sponsored by the Interpersonal & Family Communication Interest Group)
Kristina Yan
- Friends? Best Friends? Lovers? Exploring The Need for Friendships in How I Met Your Mother (Sponsored by the Undergraduate Scholars Research Conference)
Scheduled Faculty Presentations
Dr. Aubrie Adams
- Exploring Gamer Experiences and Motivation to Play High Difficulty Video Games (Top-4 paper sponsored by the Media Studies Interest Group)
- Stereotypical Representations of Gamers in the Guild (Top-4 paper sponsored by the Media Studies Interest Group)
- Keys 4 Trees: Using VR to Promote Learning in Climate Change and Local Policies (Sponsored by the Media Studies Interest Group)
- Environmental Communication Interest Group Business Meeting
Dr. Darrian Carroll
- Possibilities for Feminist Pedagogy (Sponsored by the Rhetoric, Culture, and Advocacy Interest Group)
- Dreaming of Freedom and Laying a Foundation: Marcus Garvey’s “Address to the 2nd Universal Negro Improvement Association Convention" (Sponsored by the Rhetoric, Culture, and Advocacy Interest Group)
Dr. Anuraj Dillon
- Session chair of the panel Intersectionalities and Intercultural Communication (Sponsored by the Intercultural Division)
Dr. Megan Lambertz-Berndt
- Possibilities for Feminist Pedagogy (Sponsored by the Rhetoric, Culture, and Advocacy Interest Group)
Dr. Leslie Nelson
- Quantitative Analysis of How College-Aged Individuals’ Preferred Communication Medium when Dealing with Conflict in Romantic Relationships
Affects Perceptions of Relational Closeness and Satisfaction (Sponsored by the Interpersonal & Family Communication Interest Group) - Storytelling and Racial Identity: How First-Generation Students of Color Navigate their Identities at Predominately White Institutions (Sponsored by the Communication, Identities, & Difference Interest Group)
Dr. Maria Subert
- A Critical Study of Habitual Narratives: How is it Possible to Transform Conflict Between Roma and Non-Roma by Peaceful Means or a Roma Resistance? (Sponsored by the Rhetoric, Culture, and Advocacy Interest Group)
Faculty News
Dr. David Askay planned, organized, and facilitated the annual Camp Polyhacks program during this past January 20-21st. Camp Polyhacks is a unique opportunity for students from diverse backgrounds to come together and tackle real-world challenges facing San Luis Obispo. This year, students signed up for tracks related to civic engagement, artificial intelligence, class projects, and Amazon AWS.
Dr. Bethany Conway and her team of researchers published their most recent piece, "Emotional Markers of Disrespect: A fourth dimension of perceived political incivility" in Communication Research. This piece culminates years of work and sets an important precedent for how we define and think about political incivility.
Dr. Leslie Nelson was the recipient of the Western States Communication Association Distinguished Teaching Award (WSCA) this year! WSCA annually recognizes a colleague who has demonstrated sustained excellence in pedagogy. This type of teaching incites intellectual curiosity in students, inspires departmental colleagues, and makes students aware of significant relationships between the academy and the world at large. She will be presented with the award at the WSCA conference luncheon in February. Big congrats to Dr. Nelson!
Sharing is Caring
Do you have an announcement to share with COMS majors, minors, faculty, and staff? Email Dr. Brie to find out how to share it! Follow COMS on Social Media: Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn