Apr. 19 , 2007

Was Community Baseball Day 2007 the last one?
Mattie Unger
ungerm@marietta.edu

Some of you may have heard through the grapevine that there is a possibility that the mass media class Sports Promotion may be cancelled in the following year. This course is responsible for organizing the Annual Community Baseball Day and this year’s first Community Softball Day.

Jack Hillwig, Chairman of Communications and Media Studies, says there is still a good chance that the class will return, but in a different form. Instead of it being a class, it may become an individual study or internship. Sports Promotion is currently being taught by Tom Perry, an avid supporter of the class. If Sports Promotion cannot remain a Communications and Media Studies, he is hoping to move the class into a sports marketing class.

Even though it is not one-hundred percent decided, I do not support the option of canceling Sports Promotion class. It does so much good for students involved in the class and the event brings the College’s students and community together.

For a student majoring in any area of media, you best learn the skills by doing them. Sure, we are taught the basics in class, but until we go through the process of creating an article, ad, video package, etc. we have not truly learned anything.

Sports Promotion gives students the opportunity to venture outside the classroom and put the knowledge they’ve learned in class to real life. The students involved in the class will have something to show employers when the job hunting process begins. Whether they belong to the fundraising, PR/marketing, event planning, or vender group in the class, they will be able to say to an employer, “I did this, I helped organize this event, I created this ad.”

This class gives students the opportunity to build a resume. For a Journalism major, they will be able to write a press release that goes to numerous newspapers and radio and television stations from around the area. Advertising majors have the chance to develop ads for the Marcolian and Marietta Times. Radio/Television majors can create video packages to run on WMOA or channel 15. Graphic Design students can create designs for the traditional T-shirt.

Why would you ever consider letting go of a class that can be such an asset to student resumes?

Secondly, Community Baseball Day builds a strong bond with the Marietta Community. In the four years I have been at Marietta, never once have I been to a Community Day where the stands at Don Schaly Stadium weren’t overflowing with fans. So many people come out to the game to support the Marietta Baseball team and enjoy a day of relaxation.

I strongly believe that discontinuing Community Day would weaken Marietta College’s relationship with the community.

So with this said, it seems in the College’s best interest to NOT cancel Sports Promotion class. If the Mass Media department is unhappy with the class, do not cancel it; amend the class so that it suits the department’s needs. Or if the Mass Media Department doesn’t want the class, put it in another department. Limit the number of students in the class, change aspects of the course, but don’t let go of Sports Promotion.

Don’t discontinue a class and event that so many people pride themselves on being a part of. Keep the beloved traditional of Community Baseball alive.

In case the class doesn’t return in the following year, I hope you attended Community Baseball Day on Tuesday and plan to attend Community Softball Day on Saturday. Sadly, it may be your last chance.