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About a year ago,
the School of Communications established a list of expected values
and competencies on which the community places its emphasis. These
are titled the "Elon Eleven," and they are posted in each classroom,
to remind faculty, students and staff members of common goals.
Dean Paul Parsons
came up with a first draft of the values. Faculty members met and
discussed the list, making recommendations for final adjustments
before the values and competencies lists were posted.
The five values
include: 1) Truth, accuracy and fairness; 2) Freedom of expression;
3) Ethical ways of thinking; 4) History and roles of media; 5) The
diversity of audiences.
The six competencies
are: 1) Write clearly and accurately; 2) Use the tools of technology;
3) Apply theories in presenting images and information; 4) Engage
in research and critical evaluation; 5) Understand data and statistics;
6) Think creatively and analytically.
Students have
found the categorizing of such goals to be useful.
"Communications
is a difficult field to study," said sophomore Krista Naposki. "Some
schools focus on theory, while others focus on pure vocational training.
By enumerating the School of Communications' values and competencies,
students know that they are getting academic and hands-on training."
Junior Ashley
Feibish sees the value of the Elon Eleven carrying beyond the university's
gates.
"The Elon Eleven
represent much more than the ideals put forth by the School of Communications,"
said Feibish, "they represent what we as students should actively
seek to practice not only in our studies, but in the real world.
To have these values and concepts posted in the classroom reminds
me why I chose to major in journalism."
Feibish said
media professionals could take a lesson in this posting of goals.
"I think today's
media outlets are suspiciously absent of the things our professors
often reinforce, and I aspire to prove to people that the media
hasn't completely buried the notion of being truthful, thinking
ethically and acknowledging diversity," she said. "It's about being
able to visualize these ideals. The Elon Eleven reminds me of why
I chose to attend Elon; I knew the people here valued the same things
I was hoping to learn more about. It's in every classroom, and it's
the mindset of every professor. Knowing the objectives of the job
and consistently having them reinforced as stated in the Elon Eleven
teaches us not how to think, but what to consider and apply in our
actions."
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