A Monthly Publication of the Communication Department

Upcoming Events

Click event name for more info.

Northwestern Speak-Off
April 13

Tartuffe
April 13-17

Day of Prayer & Service

April 15

five16filmfestival
April 19

One-Act Play Festival

April 27-30

Quick Links

Featured Student

Jonathan Peterson

Senior

Major: Communication Studies

What are your goals for the future?: Well, my first goal is graduation! However, in the future I would like to work in the Public Relations industry, specifically at an agency. Beyond that though, I could definitely see myself being one of those people who tries out multiples careers, so I'm trying not to get too caught up in making my own plans. I'm just excited to see what opportunities the Lord brings my way.

What interesting things have you done while at NWC?: One of the more interesting experiences I have had recently is interning with State Representative Mindy Greiling. It's been a great opportunity to see the inside of the political process and gain some experience. In addition to that, I've written for The Column and for dotComm. I'm in Photojournalism Workshop right now. I'm also a member of Xi Xi and of Psy Chi as well as an Eagle Scholar. Oh, and I've played some intramurals as well. It's been fun.

What is your favorite thing about NWC?:
My favorite thing about NWC would probably be the availability and accessibility of professors. We have some fantastic faculty members both in the Communication Department and in other departments as well, and it's awesome that we actually have the opportunity to interact with them one on one. Being able to just stop by a professor's office and talk to him or her about classes or careers is a fantastic resource. Our professors not only bring a wealth of academic knowledge but, as Christians, they also bring tremendous life insight as well.

Featured
Alumnus

Rebecca Pelishek
May 2005

Degree
Communication
(PR Emphasis)

What have you been doing since graduation? Right before I graduated, we were blessed with the gift of life, our daughter Zoe. She changed our life in so many ways. We made a move
to Bakersfield, California, for my husband's job just over three years ago. I didn't have a job right away, but I just started using in the community what God had been doing in my heart . My now-boss was impressed with my skills, effort and attitude; he hired me right after an event! I love what I get to do for a job; I am the Director of Creativity, Community and Communications. In basic, I make sure we're fresh, fun & focused at our Sunday celebration services and intentional communicators throughout our ministries.

What advice do you have for current students?: Don't let fear stop you. If you're passionate about something, find a way to do it. Maybe that means you have to do it on the side while you work a job you're not that excited about. Putting yourself out there gives you a chance to sharpen your skills, but also, who knows, someone might witness those skills and want to see more. Pick faith instead of fear!

Theatre students spend spring break in Los Angeles

During spring break, Dr. Don Rainbow led a group of 11 Theatre students to Los Angeles to give them a taste of what Hollywood is like. The main goals of the trip were to introduce them to professionals and to provide an opportunity to learn what it's like to work as an actor in that arena.

Freshman Theatre major Ashley Young was one of the students who went on the trip. During the trip, Young was taught the importance of making connections in the business world. Young said, "The best part was the fact that I was able to see firsthand the lifestyle of the people living directly in Hollywood. It has such a different feel than what you see on TV. I was able to learn all the insides from interviews with various people including talent agents, playwrights, casting directors, producers and many other various occupations."

After this trip, Young has declared that she is now planning to move to Hollywood after graduation to pursue a career in stage and film acting, if the Lord wills her.

Senior Phil Baur also went on the Hollywood trip. He said the best part of the trip was with interacting with industry professionals who told their stories of working in Hollywood. Their journey made the career path seem more achievable and accessible. Baur said, "I've never been to L.A." and stressed the importance of the opportunity he had to take a trip with Rainbow. From a biblical standpoint Baur said, "From the outside looking in, Hollywood looks like a very spiritually dead place, but there is a strong and vibrant Christian community operating in the industry."

In the future Baur hopes to pursue a career in the motion picture industry and believes that Los Angeles would be the perfect location to begin a career.

Day of Prayer and Service leads Communication Department to History Center

As part of the annual Day of Prayer and Service, each academic department takes its students to serve at a local ministry or community facility.

This year, students in the Communication Department will be travelling to the Minnesota History Center, which is located in downtown Saint Paul near the State Capitol and the Saint Paul Cathedral.

The Minnesota Historical Society is the chief caretaker of Minnesota's story, and the History Center is home to the Society's vast collections. In addition, they sponsor several special exhibits each year. The department's mission will be to help prepare materials for the Split Rock Lighthouse centennial celebration and to assemble materials for groups of children on field trips to the Minnesota History Center.

Buses will leave from Riley at noon on April 15 and return students to campus by 4:30. Click here to register for the project, and make sure to select Minnesota Historical Society.

Cast and crew prepare for the opening of Tartuffe

Tartuffe, a comedic play directed by former student and current NWC Theatre Production Manager Nathan Cousins, will be showing in the Patsy Miller Studio Theatre on April 13-17.

Cousins said, "Tartuffe is the first full-length play I've directed at Northwestern.The entire script of the translation we're using is in rhyming couplets, which are delightfully clever and so fun to play around with. This show also pushes some limits, and I think it's one to which our audiences at Northwestern would benefit from being exposed. It's an enjoyable romp that moves and keeps everyone on their toes but also takes some dark twists and turns, atypical of a farcical comedy like this."

Sophmore Theatre major Daniel Hazel will be playing a deceptive swindler in Tartuffe. "I've known that I want to be an actor since I was five years old," said Hazel, "when I took my first trip to a movie theatre. It's my goal to continually improve my performance skills to attain the highest level of excellence possible, and Northwestern has been a great tool for me to do just that with a Christ-centered focus." Hazel said his favorite part of the process has been collaborating with director Cousins and the other actors. "The way we all feed off of one another is essential to our creative development, and as a group we've created a great show full of relatable, purpose-driven characters."

Student tickets are free with student ID, and all tickets can be attained online or through the ticket office at 651-631-5151.

Students' films to be featured in upcoming festival

Congratulations to the following Communication Department students whose work will be showcased in the five16filmfestival on Monday, April 19:

Andrew Abel	Ross Fleming	Micah Murray
Casey Anderson	Andrew Fridley	Jacob Rubnitz
Phil Baur	Lauren Krieger	Mal Ruesch
Dan Bernstrom	Adam LeBre	Ryan Sanderson
Anna Carey	Nate Lechner	Luke Stapleton
Brian Connolly	Erin McGregor	Adam Steinmetz
Seth Conover	Mel Magnuson	Dan Stewart (F'09)
Chris Dadisman	Kim Mills	Jodi Whitworth

The festival will feature students' work in narrative short film, music video, documentary, and animation.

Find out more about the festival on our Facebook page: Click here!

Notable Notes

Senior PR major Ruth Christiansen is a community wellness and programs intern for the Arthritis Foundation. She works to coordinate, manage and attend corporate and community sites promoting arthritis information including health fairs, educational seminars and joint efforts.

Dr. Kent Kaiser recently served as a judge for the Catholic Press Association 2010 Press Awards, in the category of "Individual Excellence-Writer/Editor."

Dr. Kent Kaiser's article "State view: Give legislators credit for increasing election integrity" was published in the Duluth News Tribune on March 28. The article can be viewed online here.

Senior PR major Annalisa Koehler is taking classes in the CCCU American Studies Program in Washington, D.C. and doing an internship with the office of U.S. Representative Michele Bachmann.

Professor Ann Sorenson hosted a film festival at the Minnesota History Center on March 9.

Recent graduate Dan Stewart (F'09) recently aquired a full-time video editing position at UnityWorks! Media.

Former U.S. Senator Rod Grams was a guest speaker in Dr. Kaiser's Political Communication class on March 26. Grams spoke on the topic of political debate strategy.

State Senator Chris Gerlach of Apple Valley was a guest speaker in Dr. Kaiser's Political Communication class on March 31. Grams spoke on the topics of targeted messaging and direct mail.

Note From the Chair

American humorist Mark Twain once said, "I am not the editor of a newspaper and shall always try to do right and be good so that God will not make me one."

I spent many years as the editor of a newspaper so I know exactly what Twain is talking about. Like any communication career, being a newspaper editor can sometimes be a thankless task where your good work goes unnoticed while minor slip-ups are pounced on. Based on my own experience, I want to say how much I appreciate the good work being done by all of our students in campus media--newspaper, yearbook, radio, television, film and more. May you always find the satisfaction that comes from a job well done.

But since it's April 1, Mark Twain's quote has a special meaning to me. Today I am not the editor of a newspaper--and more specifically, I am not the editor of the The Slalom! As many of you know, the The Slalom is the annual April Fool's Day parody issue of Northwestern College's award-winning student newspaper, The Column. Like every other issue of the student paper, The Slalom is run by students. As advisor I give advice to the newspaper staff, but the decisions are made by student editors. The Northwestern College leadership is to be commended for the hands-off attitude it has followed with regard to student media. The Column really is a student-run publication, just as our other student media outlets are controlled by students.

A student newspaper is like a classroom assignment that the whole campus gets to grade. Sometimes the grade for The Slalom is a hearty laugh, and sometimes it's a moan or a sigh. But in either case, the feedback is being earned by our students, who are trusted to make real decisions.

The Communication Department offers a lot of opportunities for meaningful real-world experience, from hosting a radio program to building sets for a play. Be sure to take advantage of these hands-on opportunities while you're here, for they are often among the most meaningful parts of a college education.

Doug Trouten
Chair, Communication Department