COLUMN: Department name change shortchanges department, misrepresents most students

I want to address the name change issue of the JCOM department. I realize changes are necessary due to budget cuts; however, changing the name from journalism and communications to just dept. of communications would be incorrect. Here is an explanation:
    What is the difference between journalism and communication studies?
    The discipline of communication studies is the study of rhetoric (public speaking), nonverbal and intercultural communication, interpersonal communication and other non-media topics. Students interested in these topics may pursue a communication studies major. However, journalism focuses on objective and mass media communication, with a strong emphasis on writing skills. Students interested in reporting news or creating and delivering PR campaigns (regardless of the media in which they are delivered) should apply for the journalism degree program. The JCOM major currently has more than 400 majors. The speech major has approximately 80. The proposed name change would marginalize and misrepresent the prominent journalism emphasis at USU.
    I hope this clears up any confusion on this issue. The difference is an important one. I came to USU strictly to study in the remarkable journalism program offered here, not to study communications. This will confuse and turn-off incoming students and irritate current ones, like myself. I would be terribly disappointed and discouraged with this change. There would be nothing to help students distinguish us from the programs at the University of Utah or BYU.
    The second issue I would like to address concerns the women and gender studies (WGS) program. I understand that Dr. Brenda Cooper has been discharged as the director of the WGS program. I am unclear why this is. I joined this program because of the experience and the enthusiasm Dr. Cooper brings to the program. For example, the recent Reinventing Barbie Bash, Dr. Cooper’s idea, was a huge success.
    With such a small budget allotted to the WGS program, how would someone new be brought in? Why is Dr. Cooper being let go with the program being so successful and rewarding?
    Several WGS students have already met with you once on this matter because they are anxious about the direction and future of the program. They explained that they felt their opinions and concerns were not taken seriously and that students’ concerns were not being considered or listened to. I believe as students, we deserve to have our opinions considered, especially for the issues at stake. These students want their opinions to be taken seriously, so they also met with the President Albrecht and Provost Coward and plan to schedule additional meetings.
    The WGS students mentioned that you said, “It’s time to give some of the other faculty a chance,” and that Dr. Cooper doesn’t share the same “healthy” vision of WGS. The students of WGS feel Dr. Cooper does share the vision of the students. Also, I feel that placing WGS under the sociology department would marginalize its interdisciplinary emphasis and focus, and students will be lost if the WGS Program is buried under a larger institute that combines the WGS Program with the Women & Gender Research Institute and the Women’s Center, with one director for all three programs.
    I am not alone in these sentiments. If you would like to know how many other students share my feelings, just holler and I can serve up a petition to clarify and voice the student opinion. You can flex your muscle, but don’t expect me not to flex mine as well.

This column was written by Storee Powell, a junior majoring in print journalism and minoring in women and gender studies, to address the JCOM department’s future.