Student Activities

COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION STUDENT ACTIVITIES

The COM Student Assembly (COMSA) promotes the educational and social interests of COM students and ensures the efficiency and continuity of student activities. It promotes cooperation among students, faculty, and administration, serving as a communication channel for the flow of student opinion and administrative policy. COMSA is composed of elected representatives of departments and classes within the College.

Champions is a community service organization run through the College of Communication, but open to all Boston University students. These student volunteers coordinate charitable events in COM and throughout Boston. Clothing and food collections, blood drives, and community outreach are organized and publicized by the Champions Advisory Board and the Director of Student Services.

The COM Graduate Student Council (GSC) is the representative body of COM graduate students. The GSC organizes social events, educational programs, and professional forums to enrich the graduate experience at Boston University. Participation in the GSC is a good way to meet students outside of your program of study and a perfect opportunity to make graduate school more than just classes. E-mail comgsc@bu.edu for more information.

Tau Mu Epsilon is a national honorary-professional fraternity in public relations. Graduate students enrolled in the public relations program who have a high level 
of scholastic achievement and have demonstrated qualities of leadership are eligible for election to membership. From time to time, outstanding public relations practitioners are elected to honorary membership.

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Edward L. Bernays Chapter, Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) was established in 1968 by the Public Relations Society of America. It provides an opportunity for students and professional public relations practitioners to meet and exchange views on issues of current concern in areas of public relations practice. Meetings with the New England Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America and special student programs highlight PRSSA activities. Membership is open to all students majoring in public relations who meet the grade requirements in public relations courses. Members who graduate in good standing are eligible for preassociate membership in the Public Relations Society of America.

As one of 300 campus chapters, the Boston University Chapter works to support First Amendment rights and the Freedom of Information Act; sponsors guest speakers from print, photojournalism, and broadcast journalism media; and maintains contact with members of the local professional chapter of SPJ.

National Press Photographers Association (NPPA)Photojournalism students are encouraged to become members of the National Press Photographers Association, a professional group with more than 10,000 members nationally. Boston University’s active student chapter promotes professional workshops, has many guest speakers, sponsors field trips, and regularly schedules portfolio reviews and critiques by area professionals.

Alpha Epsilon Rho (AERho) Alpha Epsilon Rho (AERho) is the national honorary/professional association for broadcasters. The Boston University chapter sponsors various activities that provide opportunities for students to meet broadcasting professionals.

Each year the chapter also sponsors a competition for student video productions. Winners are recognized at an awards program held in the spring.

Radio-Television News Directors Association (RTNDA) Radio-Television News Directors Association (RTNDA) is the leading and largest national organization for broadcast journalists. The Boston University chapter sponsors professional development workshops with top radio and television journalists, participates in regional and national RTNDA conferences, offers career networking opportunities, and assists in career placement.

AdLab AdLab is a full-service, non-profit advertising agency run by students. Any junior who is interested in advertising can register for AdLab (COM CM 420, 2 credits). AdLab is designed to give students the opportunity for hands-on experience with the theories presented in their classes. Students should take AdLab for a minimum of two consecutive semesters.

In AdLab, students create, design, and produce ads for actual clients. They learn how to work within budget limitations, meet deadlines, and recruit new clients. Most of the ads AdLab produces are for the print media; however, student accounts have also called for radio and television public service announcements.

PRLab PRLab is a student-run public relations agency open to students majoring in public relations who have completed COM CM 301 (Principles and Practices of Public Relations) and COM CM 331 (Writing for Communication), and who are second-semester juniors or seniors. The program was created to allow students to practice the skills studied in class. Students in PRLab serve as account executives for local non-profits and government clients, and are required to work a minimum of seven hours per week. Students write news releases and brochures, plan and coordinate special events, pitch story ideas, prepare slide presentations and fund-raising campaigns, and write weekly status reports for their clients. Students who enroll in PRLab receive two academic credits per semester for a maximum of two semesters.

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Peer Advising To help freshmen adjust to their new environment, COM provides Peer Advising—a comprehensive program of academic support, community building, and guided exploration of the campus and the city. Peer Advising begins in the summer before freshman year commences and continues throughout the entire year. Each freshman is assigned to a group of approximately 20 students led by a Peer Advisor. PAs are COM sophomores, juniors, and seniors committed to building a “family” atmosphere at Boston University. They help freshmen through their first year with social events (harbor cruises, Red Sox games, etc.) and personal mentoring.

Dean’s Hosts Dean’s Hosts give prospective students and parents their first glimpse at the College of Communication. They offer daily tours of our programs and facilities. Additionally, they help with Open House for freshmen and other COM special events.

WTBU WTBU is Boston University’s student radio station since 1965. Located on the third floor of the College of Communication building, the station is entirely student staffed and managed. WTBU acts simultaneously both as a fully operational radio station serving the student community and as an excellent training platform for students wishing to go into professional radio. WTBU offers students opportunities to assist in all aspects of running a commercial radio station, including public service, promotions, engineering, sales, management, and on-air work. With live music, news, and sports broadcasted 24 hours a day, WTBU can be heard in select dormitories at 89.3 FM and 640 AM, as well as around the world at WBTU.

Daily Free Press

The Daily Free Press is a student-run newspaper serving the Boston University community that is published every school weekday of the semester with a circulation of 12,000 papers. Professionals recognize the DFP as one of the premier college dailies in the United States, providing a springboard for many successful journalists and photojournalists.

As a daily college paper with a modern newsroom and production facilities, the DFP serves as an excellent training ground for aspiring reporters, photographers, art designers, business and advertising personnel, and all who are looking to apply their classroom knowledge to a real-world setting. The Daily Free Press is open to all Boston University full-time students interested in the newspaper business. It is an excellent way for students to build their clips and photo portfolios.

Visit the Daily Free Press.

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BOSTON UNIVERSITY STUDENT ACTIVITIES

Boston University is dedicated to providing an unmatched climate for growth. Most of this development takes place in the classrooms, the libraries, and the laboratories, but Boston University is equally committed to supporting a complete environment for academic, physical, social, and spiritual learning. A few of these centers of activity are described below.

Recreation

The Department of Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance offers a broad spectrum of programs, classes, and facilities to interested students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

Physical Education credit-courses, non-credit instruction, and Summer Term Recreation provide structured experiences in more than 100 activities in aquatics, climbing wall, court sports, dance, emergency medical response, fitness and weight training, group exercise, individual sports, martial arts, outdoor sports, rowing, sailing, skating, tennis, and yoga. The department also offers Family Recreation Programs and Summer Day Camps for children.

Through collaboration with the College of Fine Arts, the department offers a dance minor that is available to students enrolled in the College of Fine Arts, the School of Education, Sargent College, and the School of Management.

Intramural sports, club sports, special events, and open recreation provide opportunities involving different levels of participation and commitment. Students are encouraged to pursue fitness activities in formats that meet their interests, abilities, and schedules.

Boston University has recently opened one of the most advanced and comprehensive fitness facilities in the nation. The Fitness and Recreation Center is a 270,000-square-foot facility that provides world-class amenities and service to the entire Boston University community. The facility features an aquatics center with competition and recreation pools, a two-story cardiovascular fitness and weight training center, an indoor 1/8-mile elevated jogging track, a 35'-high rock-climbing wall, a dance theater, seven multipurpose courts of gymnasia, racquetball and squash courts, access to individualized fitness and nutrition counseling with full-service sports medicine and rehabilitation services provided by trained professionals, a juice bar and lounge, seven multipurpose rooms for classes in dance, yoga, fencing, cardio fitness, and much, much more. The facility is used for credit and non-credit programming, Intramural and Club Sports, and recreational use. This state-of-the-art facility also serves as a venue for educational and community events, summer camps, conferences, workshops, and alumni functions.

Numerous other facilities offer opportunities for informal recreation. Sailing and kayaking docks are located on the Charles River. Rowing takes place out of the DeWolfe Boathouse on the Charles River. The Track and Tennis Center features an indoor track and indoor tennis courts. Walter Brown Arena hosts skating classes and programs.

For more information about the Department of Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, stop by the Fitness and Recreation Center at 915 Commonwealth Avenue, call 617-353-2748, e-mail fitrec@bu.edu, or visit thier website.

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Student Union

The GSU offers a variety of other services including a U.S. Post Office, several study lounges for group and quiet study, e-mail terminals, two banks, several dining areas, and the Union Information Center. The University Reservations Office is located on the second floor. The office helps to secure space on campus for all non-­academic programs.

The Educational Resource Center, located on the fourth floor, coordinates peer tutoring, workshops, language groups, and the writing center.

The University Community Service Center is also located on the fourth floor. Students are able to get information on all of the Service programs at the University and sign up for Alternative Spring Break programs.

For further information regarding these and other George Sherman Union events, visit 775 Commonwealth Avenue, or phone GSU Information at 617-353-5498.

Bands

The BU Bands offer music making opportunities for all students of the University regardless of major or concentration of study. Over 400 students from all eleven

undergraduate Colleges participate in more than 12 different ensembles under the BU Band umbrella. These groups include: Marching Band, Pep Band, Winter Percussion Ensemble, Concert Band, All Campus Orchestra, Flute Ensemble, Big Band, Jazz Combo, Jazz Workshop, and Vocal Jazz. For more information regarding participation in any of these ensembles visit BU Bands or contact the Band office at 617-358-BAND (2263).

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Religion

Boston University recognizes that spiritual development is as vital to its community as academic, cultural, physical, and social development. The University actively sponsors a wide variety of programs and options to help facilitate that development. A few of these programs are outlined below. For a more comprehensive list of religious programs and denominations served on campus, please consult the Lifebook.

Marsh Chapel is generally open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. The Chapel office is open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays. The Dean of the Chapel, Rev. Dr. Robert Allan Hill, and other campus ministers in the Marsh program are available daily.  The Catholic Chaplain is Father Paul Helfrich. Feel free to contact them or obtain further information by calling Marsh Chapel at 617-353-3560, e-mail chapel@bu.edu, or visit the Office of the University Chaplain.

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Hillel is one of the largest student organizations on campus and has over 30 different interest groups, including Community Service groups, a theatre group, an art ­gallery committee, an a cappella group, the Holocaust Education Committee, Boston University Students for Israel, a graduate student group, a Latin American Jewish student group, an Israeli student group, sports groups, and more. Students plan and organize these interest groups and activities, including social events such as boat cruises, parties, dances, trips, movies, and more. All activities are open to everyone.

Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox Shabbat services are held every Friday night, as well as Shabbat morning services and a daily minyan. All Jewish holidays are celebrated. A wide variety of programs relating to Israel and contemporary moral issues take place weekly.  Various mini-courses such as Jewish Thought, Basic Judaism, and Jewish Medical Ethics are taught throughout the year. In addition, counseling by the rabbis and the director of student activities is available.

Boston University maintains an award-winning kosher dining facility at Hillel, with lunch and dinner served Monday through Friday, and lunch on Saturday. For further information about kosher dining, call 617-353-2947. For further information about Hillel, call 617-353-7200 or visit the Hillel website. Make BU Hillel your home away from home!

The Catholic Center, at Newman House, 211 Bay State Road, is the office of Roman Catholic campus ministry for the Boston University community. Sunday liturgies are celebrated in Marsh Chapel at 12:30 p.m., 6 p.m., and 10 p.m. Daily liturgies are celebrated in the Catholic Center Chapel ordinarily at 12:10 p.m. on Tuesdays–Fridays. (For mass times, when classes are not in session, please check with the Catholic Center.) Many and varied spiritual, social, and service activities, as well as sacramental preparation programs are offered throughout the academic year for both undergraduate and graduate students. The Catholic University Chaplain is Fr. Paul Helfrich. For further information call 617-353-3632, e-mail catholic@bu.edu, or visit the Catholic Center website.

Other Protestant Campus Ministries Individuals to contact and their phone numbers include: the Multidenominational Protestant Ministry, Dean, Rev. Dr. Robert Allan Hill, 617-353-3560; Associate Dean, Rev. Sakena Young-Scaggs, 617-353-3560; Associate Dean, Rev. James Olson, 617-353-3560; the Episcopal Ministry, the Rev. Margaret Schwarzer, 617-277-5523; and the Lutheran Ministry, the Rev. Joanne Engquist, 617-876-3256. A number of Evangelical churches are also affiliated with the campus ministries. For general information or guidance relating to these or other religious groups at Boston University, call 617-353-3560.

For information, please contact Orthodox Chaplain, Fr. Patrick Tishel at 617-787-7625.

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Published by Trustees of Boston University
One Sherborn Street
Boston, MA 02215

28 September 2007
Boston University
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