ALUMKNIGHTS
May 2019
THE SHOW MUST GO ON! FROM THE MIC TO THE PODIUM SPRING 2019
FOR THE LOVE OF A HOMETOWN http://alumknights.rutgers.edu/
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TABLE OF CONTENTS Cover Story 17 The Show Must Go On!
Features 6 Indefatigable
About AlumKnights AlumKnights magazine is created as a part of the Rutgers University course Media, Publishing, and Design. Approximately 20 students take the course each year. To complete the course, each student writes several drafts of an article about the Journalism and Media Studies Department, and learns how to use Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, and Wordpress. Visit the AlumKnights Wordpress site at alumknights.rutgers.edu. If you have any questions, please contact Professor Rachel Kremen at r.k@rutgers.edu.
Masthead
Managing Editor Nicole Osztrogonacz
Online Managing Editor Taylor Whitaker Cover Design Zachery Bordelon Josette Rogers Copy Editors Alexander Latouche Stephen Nelson Lessly Quinon Delcid Natalia Rogers Shaakira Washington Cover Photography Tyler Brown 2
Infographics Erin Mclachlen Elizabeth Perchun Table of Contents Amber Atabansi Daniel Lin Olivia Accardo Masthead Ciani Cryor Kate Andes Back of the Book Eamonn O’Neill Evan Prince
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Lax to the Max
11 Guatemala: A Classroom 14 Preparing Students for the World of Digital Media 20 Finding the Balance 23 PeduLing to Success 27 For the Love of a Hometown 30 From the Mic to the Podium
More to Read 4 Alumnotes 29 Infographic: Journalism and Media Studies Program 36 Infographic: The Committee to Protect Journalist 37 Word Search
Web Production Assistant Skylar Kenney
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AlumNotes ‘18 Samantha York always thought she was going to be a lawyer, but then realized she had a talent and passion for broadcasting, storytelling, and listening to people. Before graduating Cum Laude with a degree in Journalism and Media Studies, York immersed herself in activities and internships which paved her path towards her current position today as a news reporter for WJAC 6 News, the NBC-affiliate station that covers all of western Pennsylvania. During her college years, when she was not working as a sideline reporter for RVision to broadcast games, she was involved in participating in other organizations such as Phi Mu and Kappa Tau Alpha. She eventually landed internships with NBC News and MSNBC while also interning with New Jersey 101.5 FM. “Every day is an adventure. I have met so many extraordinary people through this job that I leave work feeling inspired daily. This position allows me to reach out into the world and share stories of people who genuinely want to benefit their community,” York stated. ‘18 Joseph Miller, after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Media Studies, a minor in music, and a certificate in recording arts, continued to pursue his passion for music. During the summer, Miller worked with fellow artist Jasmine Asgari to create a music video for their original song, “What You Gotta Do,” which was picked as a winner for the Born This Way Foundation contest. Since the contest, he was involved in several other collaborations, including the production of a song called “Wasted” with Austin Ryan, which has almost 4,000 plays on Spotify alone. Dedicated to his craft, Miller bought new equipment to improve the quality of his future music, including a ukulele, a mini keyboard, and an audio interface. Even if Miller does not find a job the field of music, he is determined to continue producing songs as a hobby.
‘18 Makenzey Shank is a Journalism and Media Studies graduate who was an accomplished student-athlete on the Rutgers Women’s Gymnastics team. During her senior year she took an editorial internship at Working Mother Magazine. She is currently working for New Jersey Advanced Media as a high school sports clerk and reporter. “While I decided to stay in the realm of sports after competing and being a part of the sports community throughout college, my position continues to challenge me, which I love. I am given opportunities to work outside my title and contribute to different departments.” Her role includes a lot of social media work, such as scheduling posts for live broadcasted games and posting stories that link back to NJ.com. She also creates custom graphics that are included in social media posts. On top of this, Makenzey remains involved in the sport of gymnastics as a choreographer and coach. ‘18 Christian Mazzone is a graduate of the Rutgers Journalism and Media Studies major as well as an alumnus of the Rutgers Men’s Lacrosse Team. After being selected in the third round of the Major League Lacrosse Draft, Mazzone is currently a rookie for the Ohio Machine professional lacrosse team, where he plays as a midfielder. “I am so thankful for the opportunity to be an alumnus student-athlete at Rutgers University. Now it’s time to shine on the professional level,” Mazzone said. Mazzone previously was an Honorable Mention All-American at Rutgers University.
‘18 Cherylynn Finklin graduated with a Journalism & Media Studies Major and Africana Studies Minor. Just returning from a post-graduation trip in Ghana, Cherylynn Finklin, a budding blogger plans to travel the world and share her experience with others through her blog. In addition to traveling she discusses life, entertainment, and social issues in her blogs. Although Finklin is not currently working in her dream field, which is in the realm of media and entertainment, she is taking time on the side to work on personal endeavors. Finklin’s long term goal is to write, produce, direct, and act in her own production, whether is be television, film, or theater. Ultimately, Finklin plans to utilize her creative abilities to produce content that brings awareness to social issues, specifically ones concerning African Americans and to change the representation of African American women in the media.
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‘17 Allie Ambriano is a Rutgers University Journalism and Media Studies graduate. In addition to her B.A. in Journalism, she received a B.A. in Theater Arts. Ambriano recently moved to New York to pursue a career in acting. The knowledge and skills she learned in storytelling, presenting herself in front of the camera, and public speaking help her every day in live and her acting. However, the best thing she got from the JMS program was the support and encouragement of Steve Miller. “When deciding my next steps after graduation, Steve was the one who encouraged me to turn down a post-grad job I was offered from my internship [with NBC] and follow my heart. He gave me the push I needed to give my dreams the chance they deserved,” Ambriano said. ‘15 Karyn Collins graduated with a Master’s degree in Digital Journalism. She is a seasoned journalist who has written for Asbury Park Press, The Associated Press, Philadelphia Inquirer, Jet Magazine, Charlotte Observer, Camden Courier Post, and New Jersey Monthly Magazine to name a few. She is a natural born writer and has traveled wherever she finds herself reporting on the next story as a freelance journalist. Aside from freelancing Collins is the Director of the Hugh N. Boyd Journalism Diversity Workshop for New Jersey High School Students where she introduces the world of journalism to high school students. There they learn how to conduct live interviews, capture video content, basic photography skills, and write captivating stories. “My graduate thesis was basically my proposal of reviving the program. It had been dormant for nine years,” she said. “I received my Masters in 2015 and we relaunched in 2016 and are now going into our fourth year here at Rutgers,” Beyond directing the Hugh N. Boyd Journalism boot camp Collins is also an adjunct Professor at Rutgers University, here she educates in Fashion Journalism, Media Writing, and Review Writing. Not only does Collins love the opportunity to share her knowledge with the aspiring journalists emerging through Rutgers School of Communication & Information, but she loves the things her students teach her semester after semester.
‘15 Tauree Campbell graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication. His interests were mainly intercultural communication, media studies, and fine art. After graduation, Tauree started illustrating—a passion he stopped during college and is currently a freelance illustrator/graphic designer while working at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Some of his favorite projects were illustrating for a poetry book that is going to be published this year, and doing the cover for an indie artist’s EP.
‘12 Krystle Rich graduated from Rutgers with a major in Journalism and Media Studies and a minor in Mandarin Chinese. After graduating, she got a job as a producer and editor at the NFL Network in Los Angeles where she produced an award-winning podcast. Soon after, she wrote her first book called Ambivalent Hope: A Gun and a Prayer, about a young boy struggling to choose between right and wrong. For the next several years, Rich traveled between LA and the east coast to work in sports broadcasting. However, her love for LA eventually made her call the city home. She now lives there permanently and works as a sports commentator for NBC sports Philly.
‘10 Evan Fitzpatrick, a Journalism and Media Studies graduate, began his Rutgers career in 2005 to pursue a degree in Sports Journalism. “Sports actually inspired me to look into being a JMS major,” said Fitzpatrick. Subsequently, his innate passion and extensive knowledge of sports has enabled him to create a New York Knicks sports blog and podcast. He encourages students to utilize campus resources and to get involved before graduating. “If I could do anything different it would be to join the Rutgers Radio station,” said Fitzpatrick. He believes that success starts in college and that students should seize every opportunity to network, socialize, and most importantly, have fun.
‘98 Erica Herskowitz graduated from the Journalism and Media Studies Department and is now a professor in the same department here at Rutgers University. Herskowitz’s career rise was unusual because she landed a job on the air at WFAN just one month after she graduated. Starting out, Herskowitz did play-by-plays and sideline reporting for all different sports. When asked what her favorite sport was, she points to basketball. “Basketball is my number one favorite sport,” Erica said. She also has done television reporting for ESPN, the FIFA World Cup, NBA TV, College Sports Television, and more.
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AlumKnights Magazine
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INDEFATIGABLE The Student-Athlete Experience By Erin McLachlan
being contacted by the head coach, she was taken back by the size and stature of the school. “I remember when I met with the girls on the gymnastics team,” she said. “ I clicked with them and immediately knew Rutgers was the place I wanted to be.” The Journalism and Media Studies department was not part of Shank’s initial plan. When enrolling at the school, her mind was set on majoring in marine biology, but she also had a keen interest in meteorology, dreaming of being a weather reporter in the future. After her first year she switched her major from marine biology to meteorology. However, balancing the difficult prerequisite classes for the major while also dedicating so much time and energy to gymnastics proved to be more difficult than she anticipated.
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Makenzey Shank competing on the balance beam in a meet against Big Ten opponent, the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Credit: Caitlin Britcher
have been a student-athlete at Rutgers for just over three years now, and although it has been a truly positive and rewarding experience, I have become very aware of the negative stigma surrounding college athletes. Many people think student-athletes have it easy. The belief that student-athletes are privileged, receive extra leniency from professors, and that they are less intelligent than average students are not new ideas. This is a stigma that surrounds college athletes all over the country, particularly those who receive scholarships for their abilities. The student-athlete experience is undoubtedly enriching. But the dual demands of academics and athletics at such a high level can take a toll both mentally and physically. I had the opportunity to meet with former Rutgers gymnast, Makenzey Shank, and talk to her about her own experiences as a student athlete and her transition into the ‘real world’. As a journalism and media studies graduate, Shank was a standout student-athlete on the Rutgers women’s gymnastics team from 2015 to 2019. Shank grew up in Phoenix, Arizona and competed as a member of the Arizona Level 10 State Championship team for seven consecutive years, the highest level in the USA Gymnastics Junior Olympics Program. In her senior year of high school, she was recruited by Rutgers and made the trip across the country for an official visit. Without knowing anything about Rutgers prior to
She laughed as she told the story of a Calculus 2 exam she took saying, “I went into it with no confidence. I gave some answers, left some blank too. I knew I got my name right at least. Oh, and I cried in the middle of the exam. I turned it in and got an 8.5 percent.” She ultimately made the decision to drop the class, but that didn’t help as chemistry was just as challenging. “Sophomore year in the fall was probably the worst semester of my life. I was stressed out in the gym and couldn’t focus because I was so overwhelmed with Chemistry, trying to memorize formulas.” She passed the class but explained that she didn’t like how unhappy and stressed she was trying to get to a dream she wanted. After meeting with her academic advisor, she realized that majoring in jourShank shows composure and focus as she prepares for her balance beam dismount. Credit: Caitlin Britcher
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nalism and media studies to focus on the broadcasting field was an alternative path to achieving her dream of being a reporter. She took their advice willingly and switched her major in the second semester of her sophomore year. “Honestly, I have not looked back at all…,” she said. “I have no regrets and love it completely. I wish I picked it sooner. The classes were still a challenge, but school became enjoyable and the homework wasn’t a chore anymore, it was fun.” She felt motivated and could see her future more clearly. As she began to excel in the classroom, she also began to reach new heights in gymnastics. During her junior year she led the team on the balance beam and uneven bars and was recognized in the Big Ten for both her academic and athletic achievements. However, she still had doubts of her future success in broadcast due to the time constraints that came with being a varsity athlete. “I worried about finding jobs in the future because I had no real-life experience like many of my classmates. I didn’t have time for internships, and I went through a slump.” She was eventually reassured after hearing that being a student-athlete is very highly revered by employers.
Every student-athlete at Rutgers has an academic advisor who helps to construct an education plan that is compatible with their life goals. I met with the gymnastics team advisor, Gilah Rosenberg, who worked with Shank during her junior and senior year. She spoke very highly of Shank and her attitude toward her academics. “She is a very personable and responsible individual. Very motivated and hardworking too. With all those things combined, I think whatever career field you’re going into you are going to be successful.” She added, “Sometimes I have athletes come in who don’t have a clear idea of what they want to do in the future or what classes they want to take. By the time Shank really got into the journalism and media studies major, she was very organized and driven. She came in and told me exactly what classes she wanted to take and what internships she was looking at, that we would need to fit into her schedule.”
“I worried about finding jobs in the future because I had no real-life experience like many of my classmates, I didn’t have time for internships. I went through a slump.”
Rutgers athletics has a phenomenal leadership and career development program which aids student-athletes in preparing for the future. Despite the lack of work experience many athletes get due to their dedication to sports, the programs encourage that being a committed team player and a self-motivated individual are all very attractive qualities for future employers. Shank pointed out that despite the challenges she faced, she learned so much from her experience as a student-athlete. And these are lessons that she will carry with her as she works her way to her dream job as a reporter. “I had to learn to compartmentalize and manage my time effectively. Time management was so important because I had to balance practice, lifts, classes and group projects, meetings with advisors as well as travelling to different states on the weekends to compete, which most other students don’t have to do.” 8
Shank worked as an intern for Rutgers RVision during the fall semester of her senior year in 2019. It was a very big learning experience that gave her a real taste of what it would be like working in the media. “I did the job of a whole crew! It made me realize that today there isn’t just one single job. You have to be able to do multiple things.” While perfectionism is sometimes viewed in a negative light, Shank views it as one of her most beneficial qualities. Throughout her gymnastics career, striving to achieve perfection and bettering herself was instilled within her being. During her internship she would always ask for more projects and take any learning experience she could. Now working as a high school sports clerk and reporter for NJ Advance Media, Shank is relieved that her time as a student-athlete is over. She finally has the time to apply herself fully to her career and make sure she prioritizes her wellbeing. “I don’t miss gymnastics at all, breaking my body and sacrificing my mental and physical wellbeing for the sport. But I do miss performing.” While she is content in her current position, she still aspires to be a sports broadcaster and is taking every opportunity to build her knowledge and skills for the future.
LAX TO THE MAX
Former Rutgers University star athlete continues his success in the Major League. By Michelle Amoresano
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Midfielder Christain Mazzone wears number 21 while representing Rutgers University. Credit: Darryl Marshke
rom excelling in the classroom to grinding on the field, Christian Mazzone left a legacy at Rutgers University and the Rutgers Men’s Lacrosse program. Over his five years at Rutgers, Mazzone received academic awards and athletic awards that helped represent his success as a student-athlete.
Mazzone was raised in Stony Brook, New York where he attended Ward Melville High School. His career at Ward Melville was when Mazzone began to succeed in the sport of lacrosse. Mazzone was named a US Lacrosse All-American as a senior and helped his team to an undefeated 22-0 during his senior year. “I had a successful experience during my high school career. I believe that these four years at Ward Melville High School really helped prepare me for Division l athletics,” Mazzone said. Christian was not the only athletic individual at his home in New York. Coming from an athletic family, Christian was one of three of his siblings who played lacrosse at the colliagate level. During his senior year of high school Mazzone were he wanted to go to college. Sports had played a big role in deciding where he wanted to go to college, but academics were even more important. “Rutgers head coach Brian Brecht had a lot of interest in me,” Mazzone said.
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Mazzone committed to Rutgers University in the fall of 2012. Mazzone felt that Rutgers was the opportunity for him to be successful academically and athletically. “I was a big fan of Rutgers Lacrosse my whole life. I watched them growing up when I was a kid. Head Coach, Brain Brecht, has really changed the program around. I wanted to help this team on the national stage, so Rutgers was the best opportunity for me,” Mazzone said. Coming in as a freshman in September 2013 Mazzone knew exactly what he wanted to study. He had a strong passion for writing, so Journalism and Media Studies was the perfect fit for him. He declared his major during his second year. “I have been dedicated to sports for the majority of my life, so I really wanted to study something involving sports. Coming to Rutgers and studying Journalism and Media Studies with a concentration in sports was one of the best choices I have ever made. I knew Rutgers had great academics, so I really felt like I got the best of both worlds picking The State University of New Jersey,” Mazzone said.
college. There were some weeks where I was going to bed at 3 a.m. every night because I was studying. Academics were important to me. I put just as much effort into my academics as playing on the field. I just wanted to overall best student-athlete experience I could get and I did,” Mazzone said. Five months following graduation Mazzone was offered a one-year deal with the Ohio Machine in Major League Lacrosse. The 3rd Round Pick and 22nd overall was determined to take his career to the next level.
During Spring 2019 training camp Mazzone will compete for a spot on the official roster to claim his spot of the team. After a successful collegiate career in a top lacrosse program, Mazzone is prepared to play at the professional level.
“Mazzone was a reliable midfielder. He came in to the program determined. During his time on the team I could always count of Mazzone to make great plays. He was a top performer in the classroom as well,” Brecht said.
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By Lessly Delcid
Building in Antigua, Guatemala
The Rutgers Journalism and Media Studies major focuses on creating well-rounded students in the areas of ethics and politics, and trains them to understand the social and economical dimensions of the media. The class, “Media, and Struggles for Democracy in Central America”, teaches all of these elements, and also puts them to play in a foreign country, as students do the work of journalism in areas of need. In this class, the country of Guatemala is the classroom, and the people and their culture are the books. This class is a part of the newest Global Media Specialization in JMS. In addition to the in-classroom courses at Rutgers, the specialization offers courses that travel and practice journalism in Italy, France, England, and Guatemala. Launched by Mary D’Ambrosio, Assistant Professor of Professional Practice, and Associate Professor Regina Marchi, the specialization is rapidly growing as more and more students become interested studying and practicing media in foreign countries.
The men’s lacrosse team was a talented team with a lot of success. Rutgers Athletics entered the Big Ten Conference during Mazzone’s time at Rutgers. Mazzone was a member of the team when they were ranked number one in the country in 2017.
“Being a student-athlete is like having a full-time job in
Diving into the exploration of media in a foreign country, with Regina Marchi
“I have only ever dreamed about playing lacrosse in the major leagues. I cannot believe it became reality. I give all credit to Coach Brecht, his staff and everyone at Rutgers who helped me get to this next part in life,” Mazzone said.
“I knew Rutgers had great academics, so I really felt like I got the best of both worls picking The State University of New Jersey.”
Student-athletes have demanding schedules. Between class, practice, film, weights, studying and tutoring, student-athletes are always on the go. The Four-Time Academic All-Big Ten Honoree did not let a busy schedule affect him.
Guatemala: A Classroom
Mazzone helps the Rutgers lacrosse team to a 15-10 win over the University of Delaware. Credit: Garrett Steffe
Regina Marchi is the Program Director for the Guatemala study aboard course and lived and practiced journalism in Guatemala for almost five years in the 1990s. Inspired by her time there, Marchi chose Guatemala for several reasons, including its geographical proximity to the US, low cost of living, and its status as a developing country. In making a comeback to a place she once called home, Marchi says, “I have many memories from when I used to live there. It is a beautiful country, filled with mountains, jungles, volcanos, Mayan ruins, and historic architecture.” Marchi continued,“It is also a culturally diverse place. In addition to Spanish, there are 22
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Indigenous languages plus the Afro-Caribbean language of the Garifuna people on the Atlantic Coast. For me, it is fun to introduce our students to all of this.” She believes it is crucial that her students understand that most people in the world do not live as we do in the US, and she hopes it is a humbling experience as students attempt to connect with the people of Guatemala and their daily struggles for basic human rights. Brittany Gibson is a student who attended this study abroad trip in the Spring of 2017. She mentioned the ways in which her newfound understandings have helped to shape her future. “Central and South America were never a large part of my history courses before, despite it’s extremely complicated and close connections to the U.S. and especially with the current administration’s policy towards immigrants from Central America — including, of course, Guatemala — I continuously refer back to this class for its extremely important history and context.” Students meet for a mandatory of seven classes before the ten day excursion, which boasts an exciting itinerary. This year, the travel portion of the trip is set to take place from May 20 through May 29. Students will have the chance to visit the capital, Guatemala City, which houses the country’s largest media outlets, while also having the opportunity to speak with journalists from several different outlets. They will visit news agencies, the country’s first and only feminist magazine, “Voces De Mujeres”, museums, along with historical sites like the city of Antigua, a popular tourist destination that is known for its well-preserved Spanish colonial buildings. Additionally, the class will visit the lakeside town of Panajachel and various Mayan villages, and they will visit media projects such as TV Maya, where students will explore indigenous rights. Of all the Latin American countries, Guatemala has the highest percentage of indigenous people, yet these people are faced with with discrimination not only in Guatemala, but throughout Latin America as a whole.
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“Seeing the courage and determination of journalists in developing countries, where people don’t have the basic rights most US citizens take for granted, is very eye opening for our students.” Market photo
Professor Regina Marchi This native group tends to have low levels of education and the highest rates of poverty. In addition to TV Maya, Professor Marchi says, “We will also meet with an Indigenous woman’s art collective and a hip hop artist who raps about Indigenous rights. All of these people are working to maintain and strengthen Indigenous languages and cultures, which are in danger of being lost through mainstream Spanish assimilation.” Marchi continued,“ All of these people are using diverse forms of media to improve basic civil rights and
human rights for Indigenous peoples.”
don’t have the basic rights most US citizens take
Ultimately, Professor Marchi says there are two main takeaways or goals that she would like to relay to her students. The first goal is to expose journalism majors to a developing country’s system of media, and how this plays into their politics.
for granted, is very eye opening for our students.” Her second goal is to provide students with a rich history of the political struggles in Central America, these include anti-colonial struggles, labor rights protests, popular revolutions, among other topics. She hopes this will be an eye opener to her students in understanding the influx of Guatemalan refugees applying for political asylum.
“This involves meeting and speaking with print, radio, TV, and online journalists in Guatemala and hearing about some of the struggles they face regarding censorship and sometimes even facing death threats and physical violence for investigating stories about corruption, drug trafficking or other vital issues that powerful people involved do not want to see covered in the news,” Marchi says. “Seeing the courage and determination of journalists in developing countries, where people
Nour Saleem is a former student who also attended the Spring 2017 trip to Guatemala. “In just 10 days, I learned what the media climate is like and how to tell stories few actually get the opportunity to tell” she says. “My trip to Guatemala serves as a reminder that many countries are beautiful with complicated histories and deserve to have their stories told respectfully.”
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Preparing students for the world of digital media How professors from the JMS department are providing students with the knowledge of technology that they need in order to pursue their future careers. By Nicole Osztrogonacz
J
ohn Pavlik, professor of Journalism and Media Studies at the School of Communication and Information (SCI), came to Rutgers in 2002. He’s known for his research on the impact of technology on our society. This semester, Pavlik is teaching two courses: Digital Media Innovation and Media Ethics and Law.
Throughout his career at Rutgers, Pavlik made it a goal to incorporate the most innovative and relevant technology available today, so his students would be well-versed in these new tools. In previous classes, he integrated drones. He showed his students how to fly the drones with video cameras, and important aerial regulations in the field of journalism. Pavlik also encourages the use of the Canvas mobile app, where students can work on assignments and access modules, all on their smartphone. Pavlik has even created augmented reality meetings to show students the possibilities for journalism. To demonstrate the augmented reality, he used a monograph (a detailed text map that can be converted into 3D objects) that he created with a doctoral student years ago. And with the help of an iPhone and the HP Reveal app, he was able to conduct an interactive experience. Students navigated through the classroom on their laptop or phone, as if they were walking around the room. As new technology becomes more prevalent over the years, Pavlik has seen the Journalism and Media Studies (JMS) department take steps to improve both the variety of classes and the types of content that professors teach their students. “There are a lot more online course offerings and courses that are hybrids. My Media Ethics and Law class wasn’t originally a hybrid when I came here, but now it is. So I have a weekly face-toface part where I meet with the students, but there’s also an online component,” Pavlik said. Neal Bennett, teaching instructor for the JMS department at SCI, has been actively working on acquiring more camera and audio equipment for students in his digital media classes. When he first came to the JMS department three years ago, he shared a single locker of equipment with
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One of Professor John Pavlik’s drones that he uses to teach his students about aerial journalism. Credit: John Pavlik
another professor. Now, there are a total of four lockers of equipment. “We upgraded to some GoPros, some additional [Palmcorder] cameras, some new microphones and cameras, tripods, camera support equipment, a light kit. The next thing we’re working on is upgrading computers through IT so they work better with our video software,” Bennett said. On the flip side, Caitlin Petre, assistant professor of Journalism and Media Studies at SCI, has pulled back on the use of technology in her classes, requiring that students take notes old school style… with pen and paper. Students are only allowed to use laptops if they receive special permission. Although Petre does believe that digital technology offers exciting possibilities, she seems to attribute more weight to the consequences of the medium, rather than
the benefits. “Any of us that have used a digital device know that we can get distracted by these things, even when we have every intention of being in our present moment — of paying attention in class. These devices are actually deliberately designed to be quite powerfully habit forming and grabbing of our attention,” Petre said. While it’s clear that Pavlik is an advocate for technology, he thinks that it’s still crucial for students to grasp the fundamentals, even in a world that’s so intertwined with technology. “It’s about getting the story correct, getting the facts accurately, speaking to the truth. Digital literacy skills will be also something that students will really need to master, so they can recognize when something might be false or misleading or just know how to vet it,”
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The Show Must Go On!
Pavlik said. Bennett agrees, and adds that in the realm of video, it’s important to learn concepts related to storytelling so that content isn’t just ethical and informative, but also entertaining and created professionally.
A brave young woman experiences a life-altering incident but continues to put her career goals ahead of her struggles. By Elizabeth Perchun
“I think it’s becoming very clear that journalism is as important if not more important than it has ever been…” But as much as JMS students try to stay knowledgeable and hopeful about their future careers, it can sometimes be hard to avoid concerns about the current state of journalism in our country. “We’re in a moment where I think it’s becoming very clear that journalism is as important if not more important than it has ever been. However, we’re also living in a moment when it’s become very difficult for the market to support the kind of press that we need for our democracy. We don’t know if it’s viable, but we know that it’s vital for our democracy,” Petre said.
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Emily Graves on the set of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve.
Professor John Pavlik wears augmented reality glasses. Credit: John Pavlik
Even though the future of journalism may sometimes be uncertain, Pavlik believes that the JMS department at Rutgers will still prepare students with the tools that they need to succeed in the real world. So, despite the issue of the unstable market, students will be able to have value in the workplace. “We have a curriculum that continues to evolve. We have students learning about media across platforms. We’re not just teaching skills. We’re teaching technical skills, journalistic skills that are so fundamental,” Pavlik said. “With preparedness for lifelong learning, I think students can do extremely well.”
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uesday, March 6th, 2018, was the day everything changed for Rutgers University junior Emily Graves. It was around 40 degrees and sunny, but with a slight, brisk breeze. The buses were packed in the midst of midterm season and the line at Starbucks was still out the door. Girls were walking around the College Avenue campus with their sorority jackets on, while athletes in their grey Rutgers track suits joked around. Graves crossed the street, just as she always did, to get to her Specialty Camera Studio class on Livingston campus. “I was almost all the way across the street when the car hit me,” Graves recalls. Graves laid on the ground, stiff from all the pain, as she waited for an ambulance to arrive to bring her to Robert Wood Johnson hospital. A student named Eve waited by Graves’s side. She dialed Graves’s mom and told her nothing more than, “Emily got hit by a car.” Terrified and worried, Graves’s parents drove 45 minutes to meet her at the hospital. An examination at RWJ revealed Graves had a broken humerus and clavicle. The doctors patched up her open wounds and told her that the rest would heal on its own. They sent her off with no pain medication for her broken bones, no home remedies to heal her scars--- nothing. Graves returned home in an immense amount of pain. “I spent four days not being able to stand up or sit down on my own,” she said. “Eventually I could not take it anymore so my parents took
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me to the Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania.” At CHOP, the doctors were in complete awe when they saw her condition.
“The hardest part of this accident is the mental aspect. PTSD from it doesn’t really go away even after I have talked about it with therapists, doctors, family and friends.”
There, the doctors discovered that she had a displaced fracture in her humerus and needed surgery. They also found that she had bruised her femur, damaged her MCL and LCL, and would need to be in a leg brace. She underwent surgery to fix her humerus and had a titanium plate and nine screws put into her permanently. She left the hospital in a sling, a leg brace, contact information for a physical therapist, and a completely new self-image and new insecurities that lasted longer than the injuries. “The hardest part of this accident is the mental aspect,” Graves said. “PTSD from it doesn’t really go away even after I have talked about it with therapists, doctors, family, and friends.” Graves had to deal with not only a new physical appearance, but also a new, damaged mental state. She felt sad, unmotivated, and worried she would not be able to finish the semester and get an internship. However, with the help of the understanding and flexible staff of the JMS program at Rutgers University, Graves was able to finish the semester and do exceptionally well. She even landed an amazing internship with Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve. As an assistant, Graves acted as a jack of all trades- doing whatever the producers needed during the week following up to the live show. “Throughout the week, I would be doing things ranging from sorting food orders for the celebrities coming, to
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Graves and other interns after the final show has aired and their jobs are complete.
making the posters that you would see on live TV that people hold outside. It does not sound very glamorous when I put it this way, but I swear I had such a blast doing it and being in that environment.”
Graves working with the Talent Team on the day of the main show- New Year’s Eve.
Graves worked closely with the Talent team, where she spent most of her time at the Muse Hotel in New York City arranging things for visiting celebrities. She would set up production equipment, situate food, and helped with any tasks the Talent coordinators needed leading up to the day of the show. The day of the live show, New Year’s Eve, was the most exciting part of Graves’s internship experience. She was in charge of making sure Colton
Underwood, the Bachelor, made it everywhere on time. She also was in charge of Christina Aguilera’s entourage, running them between the hotel and the stage. Graves was behind the scenes for the most part and made sure everything was running smoothly. “More than that I was able to be a small part of making sure one of the biggest productions of the year goes well,” Graves says. Emily Graves faced a traumatic experience but it did not stop her from following her dream of thriving in the journalism industry. She took a terrible, life- changing experience and overcame it by diving back into her studies at Rutgers University- and her life.
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Finding the Balance
more responsibilities, and I actually took a course for TV hosting and interviewing outside of work. Since my boss knew I was doing that, she could see I was actually practicing the skills I said I wanted to be putting into action at work,” Reid said.
By Olivia Accardo
Reid finds the work she is doing now both exciting and challenging. “I think what I chose to study at Rutgers and the experience I had as an undergraduate student perfectly helps me now,” Reid said. Reid graduated from Rutgers University in 2017, and majored in Journalism and Media Studies, minored in Philosophy and received a digital filmmaking certificate through Mason Gross School of the Arts.
Tara Catherine Reid, associate producer at Entertainment Weekly, applied herself, followed what makes her happy and found success since graduating from Rutgers University in 2017.
Credit: Sarah Ratner
On a chilly, windy day in early March, with a crisp wind that made her eyes water as she walked out of the local Starbucks to head back to her office, Tara Catherine Reid raced inside to get out of the wind, hopped into the elevator and hit the button for the fifth floor. Reid made it back to her desk and watches the wind blow through the streets of New York as she decompresses with her midday cup of calming green tea. News just broke about actor Luke Perry’s death and as Reid sipped her tea she looked over her personal daily “to do” list knowing she wouldn’t be able to get to any of it. Reid, an associate producer on the video team at Entertainment Weekly, has learned how to balance this fast-paced industry and juggle multiple tasks, while being productive and positive. Reid was first hired as a video editor for Newsflash, EW’s news franchise, where she converted Entertainment Weekly articles into videos. “I don’t want to say I was doing less creative work but it didn’t take as much brain power as the stuff I’m editing now,” Reid explained. In a year and a half, Reid has navigated through EW and advances her trajectory through the company. Reid took advantage of the opportunities she saw and worked towards the projects she was passionate about. Reid credits her experiences thus far in her career to her perseverance when seeking out new opportunities. “I would always nudge my boss and say, ‘Hey I’m really interested in interviewing, I’m really interested in being on set’ and kept asking for more and
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‘Tara your interview is in 5’ and I’d be like ‘OH MY GOD!’” Reid said through nervous laughter.
However, Reid said the most important thing she learned at Rutgers is to ask questions and go after the things she wants. “I actually had seven internships in my undergraduate career, some through Rutgers. I think after I had like three or four Rutgers internships it made it easier to apply for internships with bigger corporations,” Reid said. “I applied to NBC and I spent a semester at NBC. After that, an NBC HR person told me to apply for a CNBC digital video team internship and I worked for the CNBC digital video team for a semester.” All of this work has lead Reid to some exciting and stressful situations such as her recent work trip to the Atlanta Television (ATV) Festival Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). While in Atlanta, Reid interviewed multiple cast and creative teams for shows like New Amsterdam and Pen 15 - to name a few of Reid’ favorites. “I think I did three interviews a day, but my role in Atlanta was to interview and then edit there on the spot. There were times when I would interview someone, grab the camera cards from my teammate Ethan and then go behind this little curtain, stick them in and start making that video,” she continued, “It gets stressful, my pits sweat so much in those situations. I was editing something and they’d say
Reid interviewing the cast of New Amsterdam at the ATV Festival at SCAD.
As the associate producer, Reid is becoming accustomed to high pressure situations and quick deadlines. EW focuses on entertainment content rather than celebrities’ personal life so Reid must stay up to date with all of the new entertainment events. “I worked the Oscars night,” Reid said. “I come in on a Sunday night and there’s like four other people in the office total and I’m basically watching the show and trying to think about what are the moments that people are going to talk about for the next few days.”
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For nights like Oscars night, Reid can prepare for long days with deadlines, but working in entertainment also means being able to react to breaking news and dropping everything else to report the current news. “Today my whole day was consumed around Luke Perry dying, my other projects were put on hold and I basically made a Luke Perry through the years video,” Reid said.
minutes in the kitchen talking to each other and it just kind of recharges you.”
“She has amazing coping skills, she finds a way to make it work for her,” Stefanelli said. “I remember when she told me she was going to minor in Philosophy. It made so much sense because she always looks for ways elicit positivity in her “It gets stressful, my pits life and question sweat so much in those things that don’t be her joy.” Stefanelli situations. I was editing joked that Reid even something and they’d say makes Stefanelli’s ‘Tara your interview is in life feel more balances just 5’ and I’d be like ‘OH MY because she is a part GOD!’” of it.
Reid also has to keep up with what people are talking about online. “I think the best thing to do is take it one task at a time. When I know I have to get an edit out I put my headphones in I would take deep breath try to focus on what I have to do. I try to work smarter not harder so I don’t take too long for things,” Reid said.
“I knew Tara would be successful wherever she ended up,” Daniela Stefanelli, Reid’s friend, explained. “I’ve known her since we were 10 years old, we both went to Rutgers and she has always given everything to the job at hand.” Stefanelli smiled as she reflected on a time when Reid studying for finals, working two internships, and applying for jobs and still made time to help Stefanelli study for her exam. This ability to manage her time and prioritize is one of the reasons Stefanelli thinks Reid has found success in the entertainment industry. Even on the craziest of days, Reid finds the time to get a cup of green tea at 3 p.m. to give herself a relaxing moment among all the craziness. Reid relishes in these moments in her day and finds little things the can bring her joy and inspiration. She uses these moments to find and keep her balance. “There’s a girl, Carly, on our studio management team and she’s really sweet,” Reid said. “I love having conversations with her and there’s times where we could spend 20 22
Reid uses moments like her midday tea or chats with Carly to motivate her in her professional life but has started to use it to keep her personal life balances and positive. “Keep friends close to you that inspire you and uplift you but also pay attention to if people who you surround yourself with online,” Reid said. “If they aren’t bringing you happiness think about why you’re following them. I personally like to do a little clean out of who I’m following. Do a little Marie Condo on your social media and follow accounts that inspire you. I follow a lot of women empowerment pages like Create Cultivate or Boss Ladies where I am constantly seeing quotes and things that will trigger me to do something.” Reid has been triggered to do something. Finding the moments that bring her joy is how Reid is able to keep a happy and healthy balance in her life. Reid explained that there have been overwhelming moments and there are people in this industry that “think they are hot shots.” Reid continued to say after she works with these rude people she works with someone wonderful and it reminds her why she loves what she does and why she surrounds herself with people and things that inspire her to be succeed.
PeduLing to Success Chisa Egbelu is helping erase student debt one person at a time By Shaakira Washington
Chisa Egbelu at the Brower Commons steps on College Avenue Credit: Rutgers Student
In 2016, 25-year-old Rutgers alumni Chisa Egbelu was walking away with a Bachelor’s degree and also with his first investor, IDT Corp underneath his belt. Labeling himself as a journalist, Egbelu has always enjoyed storytelling and giving talks. He majored in Journalism & Media Studies and minored in Digital Communication Information and Media, which shows that Egbelu is not afraid to get behind the lens and shoot. He is currently working on producing a docuseries that is set to be completed in the coming years . From this description, one might see Egbelu becoming a writer for the Wall Street Journal or a producer for a broadcast company, which could still happen. But first, this budding journalist decided to start a company. Egbelu is now the CEO and cofounder of the company PeduL. Developing a bond over the love of music, Egbelu and his roommate, Jarrett Mead one day were having a conversation about Mead’s band and how successful they were becoming. Mead had recently been offered an opportunity to go to a music school in Boston. However, Mead couldn’t afford to attend the school even with scholarships and loans. Concerned about Mead’s situation, Egbelu thought about what he could do to change this problem that millions of other students also had. At that moment a light bulb went off in Egbelu’s head. He was going to create a company that would help students raise money for their education. That company became known as PeduL.
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Egbelu and his partner, Kayla Jackson organized PeduL. A company that helps students who are actively seeking financial aid to raise money through two phases. Phase one is crowdfunding, raising small amounts of money from a large number of people. Phase two is through a common application for scholarships, which allows students to apply for multiple scholarships with one application. Students can eliminate their debt before starting college by starting a campaign on the PeduL website and finding sponsors. Egbelu and Jackson’s overall mission is to make sure that all students have equal access to academic and career opportunities.
“If I didn’t have the faith I have I wouldn’t have been able to withstand the hate and evil I have seen or be able to tolerate moving forward.”
Egbelu didn’t have much experience running a business, but he did have experience with asking questions and finding answers. His search began with putting up fliers and assembling a team of people who knew things about starting a business that he didn’t. Egbelu and his team hustled, working 12 hour days on Sunday, learning how to code and write business plans to build the brand and develop the idea accordingly. That determination flourished into a business that gained the attention of fellow students and future colleagues. The Baton Rouge, Louisiana native experienced culture shock when he first came to Rutgers. Feeling that there was more racism on campus and in the state of New Jersey, Egbelu realized he had to change his perspective in order to adjust to this new environment he was going to be attending for the next four years. “I had to learn how to take the racial injustices that I was witnessing not only on Rutgers campus but in the state of New Jersey seriously,” he states. Instead of letting those inequalities affect his experience, Egbelu stayed focus and worked hard. Egbelu took advantage of multiple resources such as, libraries, learning centers and workshops during his time at Rutgers. He was greatly involved in a number of clubs and organizations on campus. He participated in Rutgers Radio, RVision, Rutgers TV programming, the Quidditch team, which he
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Chisa Egbelu at Forbes Under Thirty Summit in Boston Credit: Jack Cook
Egbelu become a better and more knowledgeable business owner.
Chisa Egbelu and partner, Kayla Jackson at Black Teck Week Credit: Black tech Week Attendee
was the President and captain of. He also is a lifetime member of Collegiate 100 as well as the Cap and Skull: Senior Honors Society. The hustle didn’t come without speed bumps though. Egbelu and his team had to overcome many learning curves such as, stepping into a field where they needed to know the language of tech. They didn’t have a fair understanding of coding languages and weren’t able to explain what’s imperative to having a decent product, which Egbelu initially suffered from. He had to adjust to the business atmosphere by focusing on his comprehension of numbers for future deals and budgeting. Going through these experiences helped
Egbelu’s company PeduL has taken him places all over the country and the world. He’s been to Los Angeles, Austin, Miami, Atlanta, and just recently Australia, pitching PeduL to different companies that he hopes will invest into PeduL. Egbelu says he is excited for where PeduL will take him in the future. Egbelu gives a lot of credit for where he is now to Rutgers University. He describes the university as an incredible network of people from across the country and world. “Rutgers is a place where you do work and see the results,” Egbelu notes. President of PeduL, Kayla Jackson expresses a similar feeling about the university. “Chisa and I believe that the single most important aspect of college is network. We would have never met if it weren’t for Rutgers. Our professional trajectory is directly correlated to our incredible academic experience at Rutgers.”
That first investor mentioned earlier that Egbelu walked away with, happened because of a connection he made with a fellow student on campus. Another Rutgers alumna, Tatianna Amatruda, noticed the hard work Egbelu and his partner were putting in and wrote an article about their progress. They were then connected with someone who pitched their idea to different corporations. From that, Egbelu and his partner put together a pitch the night before finals. The following day, they had an offer. Today, Egbelu is truly spiritually, mentally, and financially, on track to being the person he has always wanted to look up to. A firm believer in Christianity, he expresses that he wouldn’t be the man he is today if it wasn’t for his belief in a higher power. “If I didn’t have the faith I have I wouldn’t have been able to withstand the hate and evil I have seen or be able to tolerate moving forward.” Since launching PeduL last January, over 1,300 students have raised over $25,000 towards tuition from just crowdfunding. What makes PeduL
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For The Love of a Hometown Journalism and Media Studies Alumnus writes and produces an award winning sci-fi rock Musical, inspired by his love for his hometown, New Brunswick. By Amber Atabansi
Chisa Egbelu at the Georgia Institute of Technology Credit: Kayla Jackson
different from other sites is that they provide transparency and security by sending the funds students raise directly to their institution. Egbelu’s growth and development with the company has been a gradual process. However, it has not gone unnoticed by his peers. “I think what he’s trying to do is great. I always thought it was a wonderful idea and being a former college student I could relate,” said Rutgers alumni and friend of Egbelu, Jacinta Hall.
“I’m very proud of Chisa. I think it’s amazing he’s done something no one has done before. He put in a lot of work that some people can’t handle.”
“I’m very proud of Chisa. I think it’s amazing he’s done something no one has done before. He put in a lot of work that some people can’t handle,” Collegiate 100 member and friend, Seyvona Forrester commends Egbelu for his accomplishments. “I think PeduL is gonna be the biggest name out there and that’s gonna be how students are able to go to college.” Egbelu believes he is still developing as an individual
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and is learning more about himself everyday. He wants to be being able to spark the potential in anyone he meets and make an impact by contributing to his home state. As he closes out deals with investors, Egbelu plans to make sure that they are building a company that is ethically and morally correct. By this, Egbelu means making sure that they don’t screw over people over in route to what they have decided is success. Throughout the company’s progression they have encountered people who are not trustworthy and don’t fit the company’s M.O. Egbelu wants to maintain a moral fortitude and not succumb to their level, so that they can serve PeduL to the best of their abilities. “Excellence Without Compromise,” is a saying Egbelu and his employees like to say. By following this slogan and doing all of the above, Egbelu believes he will be able to achieve his goal of making PeduL the scholarship platform.
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David Seamon at Hidden Grounds in New Brunswick Credit: Amber Atabansi
It’s very surreal bringing a show into New York especially when it’s hyper specific to New Brunswick. A lot of people have asked me, why aren’t you doing this show in New Brunswick? And the answer is, ‘Why not put it up in New York.’ We can put it up, see if we can get a name for ourselves and get some positive press and buzz about the show and then come back to New Brunswick with a bit of a resume from the city.”
Rutgers Journalism and Media Studies Alumnus David Seamon graduated in 2011 and has been excelling ever since. From working at the New Jersey State Theater to creating his own award-winning Broadway show, Seamon has never stopped pushing to share his talents with the world. Over the past year, Seamon created a Broadway musical titled, The Eleventh Hour! The play is about the end of the world by way of blackhole. It takes place in New Brunswick with a set of very colorful characters. Back in 2015, Seamon participated in CoLAB Arts’ 48 hour Musical Challenge, where playwrights, directors and musicians are given a theme or question to center their musical around. Seamon, along with his randomly selected partners, Annie Rutherford Lutz, who is still the
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director and choreographer for the show, and Shimmy Schwartz, a local musician and the Frontman of the band Little Rose, were given the theme of Religion and Politics. “So, we just started screaming ‘Black hole!’ at each other while we were playing the guitar. So we would scream ‘Black hole!’ and say something about religion, ‘Black hole!’, something about politics, and so that sort of became the frame of the entire first draft of the show. It was a musical about a black hole bearing down on the planet and our main character was struggling with religious figures and political pundits who were trying to tell him how to spend his final day,” Seamon said on how they birthed the musical. “The first draft was 15 pages and 15 minutes long with about 3 songs and on Sunday, we performed it at Pino’s in Highland Park and it just totally killed,” Seamon said. “Later that summer, Dan Swern, the producing director at CoLAB Arts, commissioned me to turn it into a full length piece.”
Amy Leonardo, who is the one working to save the world. “The play addresses toxic masculinity in the face of a strong female character and of course, we do it in the most irreverent way possible but the show has a really positive message about men taking a seat all the way in the back and trusting in fearless female leaders,” he says. The musical, and his first ever full-length play, won 7 awards at the 2018 NY Winterfest including Best Play, Best Director, Best Lighting Design, Best Score, Best Choreography and Most Creative Play. Before joining SC&I, Seamon had applied to be in the Mason Gross School of the Arts but was unfortunately, not accepted. He came to Rutgers as a first year not having any idea of what his major was then going to be. However, he still felt that he wanted to perform and specifically sing, so, he joined the Rutgers Glee Club.
“So, we would scream ‘Black hole!’ and say something about religion, ‘Black hole!’, something about politics.”
After the two staged readings back in 2016, Seamon says that he took detailed notes and polished the script to what it is today: a show entirely about the end of the world by way of black hole but a little less about the themes of religion and politics and more about the spirit of the music and the town where the show was born: New Brunswick. While Seamon is not a New Brunswick native, going to Rutgers and really immersing himself in the culture created a lasting bond with the city that he now classifies as his hometown.
“I know New Brunswick has a world renowned university, two world-class hospitals, amazing law firms and has a history with the revolutionary war but now it’s got a musical. So, I know New Brunswick doesn’t need my help to put it on the map but it’s definitely for love of my hometown.” Seamon said on his hopes for the musical. Seamon said one of the longest standing messages from the show is about the heroine of the story, the character of 28
“Long term that was a great decision on my part because I learned how to sing, I mean, I knew how to sing before but I learned how to really use my adult voice.”
Seamon was able to find his path as a Journalism and Media Studies major soon after. “A lot of my friends were warning me against taking expository writing and how horrible it was, but I loved it. So much so that I took Expos II and III. And so that’s when I thought, I’m gonna go to the journalism school so I can keep writing and researching and talking to people and then wrapped in the degree are the skills on editing and through that I found sound editing and scoring which was groundwork for the work I do now.” With all this success, Seamon hasn’t forgotten his roots. He says that his time at SC&I, specifically as a JMS major, taught him a great deal. “Part of what I learned at Rutgers in the journalism department was this idea of creating opportunities for yourself the idea of being a journalist who can do it all: find a story, report a story, shoot it, cut it, release it themselves,” he explains. “With that instinct of being this one man band, I decided that I would have to make opportunities for myself.”
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From The Mic To The Podium
May 2019
Chenjerai Kumanyika, a former hip hop artist turned professor, now uses education to teach and inspire.
By Tyler Brown
Mosaic of Philadelphia Credit: Tyler Brown
“My mama always said, life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get” - Forrest Gump. I contemplated using a variety of iconic maxims and quotes to describe the timeline and outcome of this story. Ultimately, I chose the words of Forrest Gump. For an entire week, his simple, yet profound statement rang true. Hoping to secure an in-person interview with Rutgers Assistant Professor, Chenjerai Kumanyika, I spent days engaging in unsuccessful email correspondence. If you didn’t know, Professor Kumanyika, is an anomaly. Before pursuing a career in academia, Professor Kumanyika, also known as Hypno, was a renowned hip hop artist in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s. As a member of The Spooks, a Philadelphia based rap group, he toured the United States and Europe performing at various venues and events. After selling more than a million copies of the classic album, S.I.O.S.O.S. Volume One, the group went Gold 30
in the United Kingdom. As a devout hip hop fan, I was interested in talking music. As a curious college student, I wanted to discuss the correlation between hip hop and education. However, with spring break approaching, imminent deadlines near, and no interview in sight, numerous scheduling conflicts arose and I almost pulled the plug on the story. On a Thursday night, I received an email from Professor Kumanyika’s assistant informing me about his availability on Friday. Initially, the timing seemed perfect. I prematurely assumed he’d be on campus, but he was far from it. If I wanted to interview him, I was told I had to travel to Philadelphia, which is two hours away. Plus, I would only have one hour to speak with him at Uncle Bobbie’s Bookstore. Unprepared, I jotted down a few questions and notes, responded back, and agreed to make the trip. I explained the unfolding situation to my mother and
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nothing here was forced and it was absolutely refreshing. The intellectual atmosphere wasn’t manufactured through modernized amenities or appliances, but rather established by the scholars, learners, and educators that represent this local community. Unfortunately, my retrospective daydreaming session abruptly ended after hearing the clang of fine China on my table. To my surprise, my roasted chicken sandwich had arrived and when I looked up, so had Professor Kumanyika. After an impromptu introduction, we headed towards the lounge and began talking.
Uncle Bobbie’s Credit: Tyler Brown
before I knew it, it was Friday morning and we were driving to Philadelphia together. After two quick hours, we arrived. At the corner of Germantown Avenue and East Church Lane, distant from the Illustrious skyscrapers ofdowntown Philadelphia, humbly stood Uncle Bobbie’s. An afro-centric bookstore located in the metropolis of Germantown, Pennsylvania. Arriving an hour early, we parked next to Saint Luke’s Church, and waited for 3:00 p.m. Unsurprisingly, about 15 minutes before the interview, my mother sarcastically asks, “What if he asks how you got here? Would you tell him your mom brought you?” Contemplating her ill-timed questions, I seriously considered whether lying in front of the church would result in negative karma. I didn’t want to tell the truth, but I didn’t want to lie. So, instead of completely disowning my mother, I managed to concoct a compromise in which she became my aunt. Thankfully, she agreed. I exited the car and began walking towards Uncle Bobbie’s. Upon entering, I was serenaded by Michael Jackson’s Billy Jean over the PA system. 32
After a quick glance around, I ordered a roasted chicken sandwich and sat by the glass window overlooking Germantown Avenue. The street itself, embedded with cobblestones, contained tracks for streetcars, reminiscent of those found in the suburbs of San Francisco. In a park, to the right of Uncle Bobbie’s, stood an enclosed stone monument that read, “Philadelphia, The City of Brotherly Love.” My fellow patrons, a spectrum of cultural, generational, and ethnic diversity, populated the stools, couches, and sofas that scattered the room. A few faces were buried into academic textbooks, studying with fervor and focus. Others chatted over coffee and pastries, while skimming the shelves for new books. The social scenery was completely different here, almost cathartic. Even for me, as someone who isn’t an avid reader of books or a fan of coffee, I felt compelled to participate and assimilate. You see, Uncle Bobbie’s served coffee, but it wasn’t Starbucks. The counter sold sandwiches, but it wasn’t Panera Bread and although the shelves stored books, it didn’t resemble Barnes & Nobles. Like a Ferrari’s naturally aspirated engine,
Professor Kumanyika was born in Harlem, New York, but spent his formative years periodically traversing the cities of Baltmore, Maryland and Newark, New Jersey. For Kumayika, it certainly was a Tale of Two Cities, considering that the distinct rhythms of Baltmore and Newark heavily influenced his musical pursuits. Not to mention, his beloved father, a connoisseur of superb music, always had a classic tune in the background. The percussion of various musical genres regularly emanated from household radios and car speakers, courtesy of WBLS and KISS-FM.
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which transformed Baltimore into a media circus. The seemingly overnight influx of foreign dope and exotic firearms ravished communities and demoralized the city. But the genre of hip hop didn’t promote the carnage.
Professor Kumanyika explained that in its infancy, hip hop’s lyrical content reflected a conscious reality in which local artists challenged drug usage, community violence, and social depravity. Originally, it served as a therapeutic alternative to animosity and outrage Undoubtedly, modern hip hop has evolved to include different subgenres, ethnicities, and cultures that deviate from its conscientious origins. For hardcore traditionalists, this unfiltered inclusion is concerning. But for Professor Kumanyika, these changes reflected, as he said, “symptoms of a deeper structural problem.” Suggesting that the culture of hip hop, like other grassroots cultures, has been commodified to appease generalized audiences. In 1995, Professor Kumanyika, along with four friends, established the Spooks, a Philadelphia-based rap group with an unconventional style. The name was controversial. It was a double entendre that referenced Sam Greene’s novel, The Spook Who Sat by The Door, but it also served as a social commentary. The term, “spook,” was a derogatory phrase used by racists to describe African Americans. In addition to their theatrics, their thought-provoking and theoretical content drew comparisons to the Fugees.
“Symptoms of a deeper structural problem.”
But surprisingly, it was his older sister that introduced him to the genre of hip hop. Thus, establishing the rhythmic roots of Chenjerai Kumanyika, also known as Hypno. But before he adopted the persona and moniker of Hypno, Chenjerai was a quirky sixth grader at Rowland Park Elementary in Baltimore. Here, on the blacktop, he encountered the competitive sport of battle rapping. Head-bobbing middle schoolers regularly huddled around aspiring emcees as they battled for playground supremacy. Chenjerai composed lyrics, but never shared them with anyone except for David Branch, a close friend. So, instead of allowing Chenjerai to remain a bystander, his friend promptly peer pressured him into joining the circle. He lost.
However, Professor Kumanyika humbly admitted they were just a less talented version. Nonetheless, after a prolonged period of underground irrelevancy, they signed a record deal with Sony. A few years later, their single, Things I’ve Seen, steadily eclipsed the competition, and before he realized it, the Spooks were relatively famous. The cycle of touring, television appearances, promotional events and celebrity partnerships was in full effect. The foreseeable future seemed promising.
But rather than self loathe in defeat, he dedicated himself to the craft and developed a lyrical skillset that would uplift and define his career. Unfortunately for Baltimore, the trajectory was downward. It’s defining characteristics were altered by the crack epdemic that plagued the city in the late 1980’s. News outlets produced sensationalist headlines
But by 2000, Professor Kumanyika noticed a disruptive shift occurring in the music industry known as digitization. This digital phenomenon resulted in company executives utilizing industry panic to restructure copyright laws to monopolize the market. Thus, rewriting the rule book with new loopholes and technicalities and forever chang-
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AlumKnights Magazine ing the industry. After discussing potential marketing strategies with a Sony executive, Professor Kumanyika realized he wanted to learn more. In-between tours, interviews, and recordings, he religiously indulged in academic texts to informally educate himself on industry related issues. “I actually liked the learning of it as much as I liked the performance of it,” Kumanyika said. Once he realized he could obtain a degree studying these theories and concepts, the natural transition from artist to scholar began. He didn’t immediately abandon his musical career to pursue academics. Instead, amid periods of free time, he utilized hip hop to engage disenfranchised communities via music-based mentorship programs. In Philadelphia and Los Angeles, he taught at-risk youth about lyricism, production, and most importantly, how hip hop can be used to transcend trauma. Eventually, he found himself pursuing an education in critical theory and perspectives, which specifically focused on the culture industry and the various cultural dimensions, such as music, that exist within that broad spectrum. Even after graduate school, the symbiotic relationship between hip hop and education still existed.
May 2019 Carson via email and he responded back with a phone number. I traveled to Philly to meet Professor Kumanyika, but since Carson was located in Virginia, I settled for a phone conversation. For 30 minutes, we spoke about his dissertation, the influence of Professor Kumanyika, and his impressive title: Assistant Professor of Hip-Hop at the University of Virginia. Towards the conclusion of our discussion, I asked whether he felt like his journey from emcee to Ph.D. was full circle. Without hesitation, he disagreed. “It doesn’t seem to be full circle, so much as its connected in a straight line from all of those things that have been going on,” said Carson.
Professors like Carson and Kumanyika exemplify how education and intellectualism aren’t exclusively reserved for academic fundamentalists, but rather, how education needs an influx of diverse cultural perspectives and educators. Not just to fill a diversity quota, but to effectively engage every aspect of the student body. Professors frequently expressed that higher education is synonymous with semantic formalities and restrictions. As a Newark native, it was difficult to adjust. I resisted the urge to A few years later, now as a professor infuse snippets of my hometown’s at Clemson University, Professor vernacular and culture, along with Kumanyika, served as an advisor personal experiences in fear of losand committee member to docing points. Through these insightful toral candidate, A.D. Carson. This conversations, I ultimately realized dynamic pairing wasn’t a typical that educational informalities, such student-teacher relationship. Why? as informed discussions about Carson’s dissertation was a 34-track hip hop or inner-city life, aren’t hip hop album entitled, Owning academic taboos. Instead, it’s an My Masters: The Rhetorics of indication of a comprehensive eduRhymes & Revolutions. Inter- cation where context isn’t limited to ested in learning more, I contacted textbooks. 34
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May 2019
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