FINAL PROJECT

Twitters's Home Page
Photo By: Emily Calhoun



Junior Katie Sasser checks her phone for Twitter updates.
Photo By: Emily Calhoun


A close up view of Twitter on an Iphone.
Photo By: Emily Calhoun

Heather Spencer and Katie Sasser Discuss their favorite Twitter "Tweets"

Twitter's use within Gaylord College and OU's Career Services

OU's use of Twitter
Story By: Emily Cahoun

Twitter, a once foreign word for internet users is "fluttering" its way into the every day lives of OU students and faculty members.

"I log on twitter about 4 times a day, Junior Katie Sasser said. "Either just to see what is happening on the news or it's always fun to see what the Jonas Brothers are doing on any random day."
This type of dedication to a social networking device, other than Facebook, is what's luring OU colleges and services to it's login page.

"I think it is important for us to understand what the students are plugged into," Director of OU Career Services Bette Scott said. "We felt like the students were plugged into twitter."

With its 140 word maximum within each "tweet", OU departments can inform students of upcoming job fairs, last minute application deadlines and internship opportunities.

"We primarily use it to give students up-to-date information on what we're seeing happening in the job market," Scott said. "And tips, workshops, fairs, and services we provide."

Jack Dorsey, creator of Twitter, originally started this rapidly growing website in order to keep tabs on what his friends and family were doing. From 2006 to late 2007, the company grew. As the site gained popularity, Twitter Inc. was founded.

Mimicking his original idea, Twitter has taken on many forms. Whether its checking news headlines, keeping up with your favorite celebrity or finding new jobs prospects, Twitter provides it all.

Gaylord College's Career and Internship Coordinator Heather Spencer saw Twitter's growing potential when she first joined more than 9 months ago.

"I try to build relationships on twitter," Spencer said. "If that means I share a little piece of myself with my followers and then I get a piece of them back."

Throughout the past months, Spencer has watched twitter grow instantaneously. She now has over 900 people following her every "tweet"

"Its a growing phenomenon among our students," Spencer said. "What I do with the students is say, hey there's an internship available or here is some great information you might need to know that concerns your major."

Although Spencer uses twitter for both personal and professional reasons, she credits it to helping enhance student's future opportunities.

"You need to know people on a one-to-one basis," Spencer said. "You need to know them electronically. You need to know them professionally. That way those networking connections can help to you to maybe one day have a new client or use them for a job prospect."

Although Twitter does have a strict amount of characters one can write, Spencer says this is actually a boost for communication skills.

"You learn how to be very succinct in what you have to say and how you get that information across," Spencer said. "You only have so many letters and spaces you have to use, 140. If you can get your point across in that short amount of space, without using shortcuts, then you pretty much have it made, because you can communicate well."

Spencer admits Twitter may not be for everyone ,but it's a site that one needs to be familiar as it continues to gain popularity among the workplace.

"There are people who don't want to share that much about their lives," Spencer said. "But they need to understand it. They need to know how it works, how to pitch it to their clients, or how it would relate to their clients."

Although it is clear that not all OU students have dipped their feet in the Twitter realm, Spencer suggests that other OU colleges should consider it as an option for communication with their students.

"It's something that each individual college needs to sit down with all their leadership and say is this something that's good for us?" Spencer said. "And if were not going to use it to the best of it's abilities, then well look else where. That's really what it's about."

With multiple OU colleges and services including OU Athletics, Prospective Students, CAC, and College of Architecture all jumping into the trend, Only time will tell if this growing site will continue to intertwine itself onto the OU campus. But, for now, it has made itself known.

"I think it's great that OU has attempted to get connected with student's in this new way," Junior Dan McCarthy said. "It just proves that OU is a college that strives to stay up-to-date with it's students.

Blog 9

CAC Family Weekend Overview:

Video By: Emily Calhoun

CAC Family Weekend
By: Emily Calhoun

Parents flocking from far and wide will make their way to Norman, beginning Fri, for OU's annual Dad's Day and Family Weekend festivities.

"My favorite part of the weekend is the game watch party in Gaylord," sophomore Brenna Umino said. "My family didn't have tickets last year so it was a great alternative. Plus my little brothers enjoyed it because they passed out candy and T-shirts."

The viewing party is just one of the many activities put on by OU's Campus Activities Council (CAC) including a UOSA Tailgate, U-Sing performances, a family brunch and showings of the movie, G.I. Joe.

This year will also expand the participation of previous years by incorporating a new family-friendly event. A Family-A-Fair will be available for all OU students and their families Fri night. The carnival-like atmosphere will include games, activities like face-painting and palm reading, multiple raffles, and food for anyone with an OU student ID to enjoy.

"It's a great way to include your younger siblings in the family weekend fun," Umino said. " Family weekend really will have something for everyone in your family to enjoy."



FINAL PROJECT IDEA:
The expanding trend and use of the social networking site, TWITTER. Who uses it. Why? What for? How it came about? How it can help you further your career. OU's use of it. User feedback, etc.

Blog 8

The Cleaning of a VERY messy room:

Blog 7

Crisis PR Video Clip:

Midterm Project

MC Tony Nguyen as the auctioneer for the evening at AASA's charity date auction, Oct. 2.
Photo By: Emily Calhoun


Students looking to find a not so cheap date or merely mingle amongst a throng of uniquely dressed individuals found themselves attending the University of Oklahoma's Asian American Student Association's (AASA) charity date auction, Friday Oct. 2.

The 10th annual date auction and after party dance hasn't changed much since its creation, according to event chairman sophomore Peter Tran. It continues to be one of AASA's most successful philanthropy events that raises money for their charity Christmas Head Start, Tran said. This year carried on that legacy by raising over $3500 in bids and entry fees.

For a $10 under 21 price or a five dollar over entry fee into Coach's Bar on Main street, attendees were able to watch all the shenanigans ensue as OU students and AASA members attempted to auction themselves off for dates at large price tags.

"It's crazy to see what people will do in order to up the amounts bid," Tran said. "watching the date auction is definitely my favorite part of the night."

Beginning in early August, AASA members start planning the night of excitement. Discussion over the theme was first on their list. Their decision was far different than previous years.

"Last years theme was 80s and we wanted to do something really different than that," Tran said.

"Anything But Clothes" was the original theme AASA's executive members were looking for. Attendees were encouraged to wear exactly what the theme portrayed. Audience members were spotted wearing anything from tin foil dresses to twister boards shirts. Although they had a unique theme, AASA members began to doubt their selection.

"We were kind of worried about the participation, like if people were going to dress up," Tran said. "But there were some really good costumes, so I think it went over really well."

To reward audience members for partaking in the challenge; a costume contest kicked-off the night of festivities. A $50 grand prize was given to the person with the most outlandish costume made of unconventional items.

Following the costume contest, the "auction items" took the stage. The auction itself was far from traditional. The crowd began to cheer as Senior Tony Nguyen stepped up fill the shoes of the auctioneer. His enthusiastic and projective voice wielded the crowd into bidding mode.

37 students decided to put themselves up on the auction block in order to raise money for the Christmas cause. Ranging in ages, the students stopped at nothing to rake in the cash.

"I just really wanted to be involved because it was for such a good cause," junior Eva Prinh said.

During the event, the dates were sold for various prices. Senior Jamie Nguyen broke the bank with her $250 purchase prize.
Although many of the students were bought by their closest friends, Tran recounts a time last year when he found himself being purchased by an unfamiliar face.

"I got bid on by a random person I didn't know," Tran said. "It was awkward, she didn't talk at all. But in the end it wasn't that bad, It was kind of fun meeting a new person in an unconventional way."

Many audience members showed their disappointment at current AASA president Mimi Nguyen's decision to not enter herself for bids. However, the crowd roared in excitement when MC Nguyen threw himself up on stage for lucky bidders to pursue.

The after party was in full swing by 11:30 and lasted on into the night. Many students credited the club-like atmosphere of Coach's as the best part of the night.

"The event flowed from auction to after party so easily," sophomore Steffin Schoeppel said. "One moment I had this random guy that came up and asked me if I was going to be auctioned off, the next moment the floor erupted into a dance party."

All $3500 raised will go directly to Christmas Head Start, an AASA founded philanthropy. The philanthropy is based on the Angel Tree program which incorporates giving local children their dream Christmas, Tran said. AASA is instrumental in providing toys, food, and clothes to over 150 families each year.

"The manager of Coach's ended up being really nice," Tran said. "She ended up cutting the price of the venue in half, which saved us even more money and now all of that can go straight to our charity."

Throughout the night, the executive members had no doubts over the success of their event. The continued enthusiastic and packed crowd of about 287 revealed it all.

"I was really proud about how the event turned out," Tran said. "Everyone that attended, bid, or just danced was key to it's success. It just feels good to be apart of something that really will make a difference."



Event Chairman Sophomore Peter Tran discusses what the date auction benefits:


Tran discusses the difference between this years and last years date auction:

BLOG 6

Delta Gamma Sorority hosted it's first annual Anchor Slam Tournament. During the philanthropy event, a cheerleading competition between various Fraternities occured. This slide show documents Phi Delta Theta's attempt to win the cheerleading competition. In the end, they lost. However, it was very entertaining to watch.

Blog 5

KATHLEEN EVANS TALKS ABOUT GAYLORD'S NEW RENOVATIONS:
SUBJECT FOR MID-TERM PROJECT:
A story on the Asian American Student Associations charity date auction.
This is their biggest event to raise money for their charity. There would be plenty of picture opportunities. There would be pictures of the actual auctioning, attendees, and their date experiences. I could include a side story of one person who was actually purchased and their experience on the date. I could include background on the charity and the association itself. This would be a way to bring light a great cause.

Another option: experiences at OU/TX. I would take tons of groups attending. Give highlights on all activities going on that weekend, including pictures. Include experiences of individuals and their memories/favorite things that happen during the traveling, attending, and returning of one of OU's favorite weekends.