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2003 News
New Computer Lab, Upgrades Planned
New and upgraded computer facilities should be ready for the Communication Studies programs for Fall 2003.

A new 14-station Mac Lab is being set up in Lyons 122 (near the elevator on the first floor) mainly to be used for advanced Digital Media Arts (DMA) courses.

The new lab became necessary as the existing 24-station Mac Lab (Lyons 312) was pretty well full all-day long.

Additional Mac computers, and a PC, are to be placed in the fourth-floor Digital Video Lab.

The Mac Lab in Lyons 312 also will be upgraded.  A new operating system will be installed in each computer (OS-10) as well as a number of new versions of existing software.

Review Slated for New DMAers
A plan to cap the number of Digital Media Arts majors at existing numbers, 140, is scheduled to go into effect in the 2003-2004 academic year.

The academic progress of each DMA freshman and transfers will be reviewed  and ranked in the summer of 2004. The top tier will be invited to continue as DMA majors.

The policy is in response to the overwhelming interest in the DMA program relative to the department's resources--especially full-time faculty available to the program.

Further details on the policy can be found by clicking here. Printed copies of the policy can be found in the college's new 2003-2005 catalog and the department's "Blue Book."

DMA Program Hits New 'Note'
In the fall of 2003, the DMA program is offering a new elective, "Music Technology."

It will explore the creative and technical processes of music composers and sound designers, using Digital Peformer software in the MIDI lab, in Lyons 307.

This is the second music-related course in the program. About two years ago, the department set up a recording studio with a voice-over booth on the fourth floor of Lyons Hall. The studio allowed the department to offer a music/audio production course, focusing on audio recording, mixing and editing, through Pro Tools software.

With the advent of a music major in the Fine Arts department, this course also may be of particular interest to new music maors.

Adjunct Awarded Fulbright Grant
An adjunct professor in the department has won a Fulbright research grant to study in Canada.

Debra More, who teaches both communication courses and digital media courses, was one of 14 awarded grants. One hundred and thirty applied for the Canadian studies award.

A doctoral candidate at UB, Prof. More will study at Carlton University in Ottawa for much of the 2003-2004 academic year. Her research will focus mainly on the role of canoes in the history of Southern Ontario.

Is Graduate School in Your Future?
If you are a leader in your organization, a manager aspiring to a leadership role or a recent graduate looking for advanced study, the department's graduate program in organizational communication and development may be for you.

If you are interested, you are encouraged to attend an Open House for business-related graduate programs on July 15 and discuss the program with the director, Stanton H. Hudson Jr. The open house will run from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Canisius Center at Amherst, 300 Corporate Parkway in Amherst. The center is located off Maple Road near Sweet Home.

The Master of Science in Organizational Communication and Development, the program's director notes, can "help you hone your communication skills, enhance your understanding of leadership as well as training and development." Mr. Stanton explained, "Our program is uniquely designed to enhance your communication competency in the modern organization. The past several years have been marked by business boondoggles, corporate malfeasance, ethical lapses and executive crime. Almost everyone would agree that there is much work to be done to revitalize leadership, realign employees and regain trust in order to achieve the levels of productivity and innovation that will be required..."

For additional information, you may want to explore the OCD web site, at canisius.edu/OCD, or call Mr. Hudson at 888-2589.

Two Faculty to be on Sabbatical
Two department members, Dr. Melissa Wanzer and Dr. Charles Wigley, will be on sabbatical in the 2003-2004 academic year.

In the fall, Dr.Wanzer will continue research on health-care provider communication practices. Specifically, she will be examining nurses' perceptions of physicians' communication practices as they relate to nurses' job satisfaction and burnout.

In the spring, Dr. Wigley will continue research leading to the development of a research methods book.

Adjuncts will teach some of Dr. Wigley's courses and Dr. Wanzer's courses in the interim.

A New Canisiusian    
Dr. Wanzer gave birth to an 8-pound, 10-ounce girl, Gabriella Neysa Wanzer, on April 24, 2003. Congratulations to Melissa and Steven. We wish them well.

Mrs. Prescott Moves to New Position
Mrs. Nancy Prescott, the department's office administrator/secretary for the last 17 years, is leaving for a position in the graduate program in Deaf Education.

During her tenure, Nancy has played a major role in establishing a scholarship in memory of Dr. Marilyn Watt, former chair and faculty member; developed the grad survey into an important document, and oversaw the move to Lyons Hall.  She even designed the department office in Lyons.

Dr. Barry Berlin, chair of the Communication Studies Department, noted that Nancy has been a "mainstay" of the department.  "She cares deeply about our students, our faculty and our programs.  She will be sorely missed."

In a letter written to alumni, Mrs. Prescott wrote:

“First, let me start by saying, whether you know it or not, I always affectionately referred to all of you as my ‘kids.’  Our survey was my way of keeping in touch with many of you and knowing of your successes.  I have always taken great pride in maintaining the survey information for the department and in knowing where and what all of you are doing in your professional lives. 

The time has come for me to bid a fond farewell to you and the Department of Communication Studies.  It is with very mixed emotions that I write to you to tell you that I am leaving the department after seventeen years.  I have accepted the opportunity to serve the college’s School of Education, in the office of Graduate Deaf Education. 

I take with me many wonderful memories and friendships that will last forever.  For those of you I never knew personally, and to the hundreds of you that came into my life, thank you for everything.  You will always hold a special place in my heart.

During my years in the department, there are two events that have particular significance for me -- spearheading the Dr. Marilyn G. S. Watt scholarship fund (our first student recipient graduates in May 2004) and having Trevor Watt ask me to compose the words for the plaque that hangs near the cross on Churchill Tower honoring Marilyn and her memory.  I will always be grateful to Marilyn for hiring me and for showing me how to be the person I am today.  She truly was an inspiration and a wonderful mentor.

Even though I will not be in Com Studies, I will not be too far away!  My new “home” is located just down the hall from the department office in LY 328.  So, you will still be able to come see me when you are here on campus, and, of course, you can e-mail me or call me anytime.

Because it was too late to change the survey contact information, and to assist the department in a smoother transition, I still will be receiving your survey responses this summer.  Please don’t forget to complete the enclosed form and mail it back today or e-mail me right away.  Won’t you please make my last survey data collection the most successful assignment ever?

I won’t say ‘goodbye’ -- just so long, I’ll see you later.”

‘81 Grad Receives Watt Award
The Communication Studies Department honored Richard Spears ’81 as the 2003 recipient of the Marilyn G. S. Watt Alumni Award.

Spears, Senior Vice President, Client Services at Crowley Webb and Associates, spoke to the Class of 2003 at the annual Senior Recognition Day in April.

While at Canisius, Spears completed two internships under the guidance of Dr. Marilyn Watt, and credits those experiences for setting him on the path to a successful career in the field of marketing communication. He urged this year’s graduates to give back to the community and "pay it forward" by getting involved in pro bono work and community projects they believe in.

The Marilyn Watt Award is presented to distinguished alumni who demonstrate the positive values exemplified by Dr. Watt, long-time faculty member and chair of the Communication Studies Department.

Three Serve on TV/Web Panel
Dr. Barbara Irwin, Dr. John Dahlberg, and Asst. Prof. Ben Dunkle joined Dr. Mary Cassata of the University at Buffalo on a panel, "Evolving and Emerging Genres on Television and the Web" at the Eastern Communication Association conference in Washington, D.C. in April.

The panel was sponsored by the mass communication division.

Dr. Irwin presented a paper on the evolution and emergence of new forms of reality-based television. Dr. Dahlberg’s paper focused on integrated marketing communications on the Internet. Professor Dunkle’s paper examined identity on the web, including trolls, shills, and newbies.

Together, these papers addressed the study of genres, changes in entertainment and information content, and some of the economic, social, and technological factors driving these changes.

'99 Grad’s Film Presented
The Communication Studies Department hosted an evening of film and discussion featuring "Tiny Magic," a short film, written, produced, and directed by John Takacs, ’99.

The event, held on April 22 in the Montante Cultural Center, drew an audience of approximately 200 from Canisius and the community.

Tiny Magic tells the story of a magician who uses his powers to impress a beautiful woman, combining moments of wonder with intriguing characters, a romance, and an unexpected ending.

The film has already earned accolades for Takacs: it was selected for the 2003 Taos Film Festival, won a Shoestring Trophy at the Rochester Film Festival, and also an ADDY from Brainstorm, a local communications association.

John hopes his next project will be a feature-length film that he first began to develop while at Canisius in Dr. Barbara Irwin’s scriptwriting course.

Dr. Irwin Promoted to Full Professor
Dr. Barbara Irwin was been promoted to full professor, effective August 25, 2003.

Dr. Irwin joined the Communication Studies Department in 1991. She teaches in the Journalism and Media Studies sequence, concentrating on broadcasting, media issues and effects.

For nearly ten years, Dr. Irwin has served as director of the Internship Program in Communication Studies, working to place students in appropriate professional settings where they can gain all-important "real world" experience.

Dr. Irwin’s research focuses primarily on cultural indicators of daytime serial drama, examining the messages of soap operas and how they relate to our society and our culture. She co-authored two books about “The Young and the Restless,” television’s highest-rated soap opera, and has served as a consultant to the daytime television industry. Dr. Irwin has also written several treatments and screenplays for television and film.