Touro Communication Club Notes #37

tourocommunicationclub.blogspot.com

In China, the number “8” is a lucky number. It is not surprising that they chose 8.08.08 as the opening day for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. But we could not have predicted that the Russians would choose today to invade Georgia, a former satellite of the U.S.S.R and now an independent country since 1989. One might have thought the invasion date was strategically chosen so the media focus on the Olympics would minimize the importance of the invasion. That the invasion was begun on Friday, a typical down day in the world news cycle, seems quite conscious.

That Friday was also chosen by ex-Senator John Edwards to reveal his illicit affair during his Presidential certain was very conscious. Despite Edwards’s attempt to hide the event, the media is blasting away with this tragic ethical incident. It seems the cable and broadcast media are becoming more like People Magazine and the National Inquirer. Oddly, the National Inquirer, noted for inventing sleaze about everyone, may have gained a nanosecond of respectability in pushing this Edwards story.

With another war in the headlines, with another indiscretion by public figure and with our personal difficulties frequently dominating our lives daily, we can face a constant challenge to keep a positive attitude on the present and future. I am always concerned about how we view the events in our lives. Our perceptions can affect how we think and behave. Somehow, long ago, I acquired the habit of viewing life as a glass half-full of water. But I can certainly see how people can acquire a negative view of life.- as a glass half-empty.

It’s hard for someone to view life positively if most of our lives having only known negative experiences. Yet, as with Pandora’s box, there is always a thin sliver of hope remains at bottom after all the sins of the world have escaped. This perception of the world as very imperfect, yet worth working on, is, I think, a chosen view.....I’ll stop here, lest I climb on another of my soapboxes.

I do know that the Communication Club is a totally positive and productive experience – almost a balm against the negativity in the world.

Here’s the upcoming schedule:

Wednesday, August 13, 2008 – 1 pm– Club – Persuasion II continues in Room 615. Who knows where it will lead? But, without question, it will be fascinating. A highlight on the agenda: Olushile Atkintade, our novelist, will present his “sales pitch” he is going to present to his church about the book.

Wednesday, August 29, 2008 – 1 pm - Debate –More SPAR Instant debates – and who knows what else we’ll talk about. It’s pretty safe that we will have another exciting exchange. Maybe we’ll even decide on a debate topic! Follow the room signs.

What happened on Wednesday, August 6, 2008 – 1 pm – Debate – SPAR

Today’s session was split between an inevitable discussion about the marketing of the Communication Club and an exciting SPAR debate. Lorinda Moore, James Millner and Kazi Faltah engaged in a spirited exchange with Richard Green, David Nussbaum and Hal Wicke. Carlisle Yearwood joined us again and added immeasurably to the discussion. He is our literary muse “in residence.”

For nearly an hour, the group exchanged ideas on how to build the Communication Club. Lorinda spoke about working with James and Shile and Dean Taylor to develop an expanded Student Orientation. They feel that Orientation should not be a one-time event, but rather a permanent on-going series of events which promote student participation at Touro. It was clear that members of the Communication Club are taking a leadership role in these planning sessions and will have a platform for promoting the activities of the Club.

Questions were raised as to thinking about Club recruitment as a business thinks about marketing. Our “product” is “Communication” and all the skills that we learn and the enormous benefits we will have when we leave Touro. We should do a specific “features and benefits” list. that we all use the same language when we talk to students.

During the open-ended discussion, words such as “Byzantine,” W,.B. Yeats’ poem “Byzantium,” Franz Kafka and his novel “Metamorphosis” and other literary references floated into our conversation Carlisle, Richard and David made excellent contributions. It is always exciting when so many literary and cultural references can be brought to the surface and discussed in the20normal course of our communication. It is almost that “Communication” is a touchstone, a Rosetta stone, to understanding civilization.

The cliché, “A bird in hand is worth more than 2 in the bush,” was debated by Lorinda (Affirmative) and James (Negative). Lorinda won the debate 4 votes to none. Then the “judges” offered their comments, mostly positive, about the debaters’ performances. The debate session ended with both Lorinda and James critiquing their own performances.

The debaters are getting used to the very restrictive time limit, forcing each debater to think quickly on their feet. It is extremely difficult, but once learned, the skill.becomes permanently imbedded in our DNA. David made an excellent analogy to studying for the SAT without a time limit and then facing the pressure of the exam with a time limit. Terrible nerves.

As we departed, Lorinda recited a heartfelt poem she had written, to the applause of the group. That led to the idea of a student “poetry slam,” one of so many Communication related program ideas we could sponsor.

Join us as we try to promote more light than heat! See you next time. Bring a friend!

Hal Wicke