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Tag Archives: Feature – National People
Hellogoodbye performs for WTAMU Homecoming
Singer Forrest Kline performs at Homecoming. Photo by Alex Montoya.
On Oct. 7, Hellogoodbye performed at the Virgil Henson Activity Center as part of WTAMU’s homecoming events.
Hellogoodbye played many of their songs from their new album, called “Would It Kill You?” and ended with “Touchdown Turnaround (Don’t Give Up on Me)” from their debut album.
“We’ve never really been here long enough to stay, but we have passed by Amarillo,” vocalist and singer Forrest Kline said. Continue reading
Apple Founder and Former CEO Steve Jobs Dies at 56
Apple Founder and Former CEO Steve Jobs dies at 56
It was on October 5, 2011 when the people in Canyon, around the U.S. and all over the world were shocked to hear of the death of founder and former CEO of Apple, Steve Jobs.
“It was surreal,” J.D. Newman Senior Corporate Communications major said.
Steve Jobs history and impact on the world of technology is well-known even if one did not know his name. To understand Jobs’ influence one would only have to look at the devices he is credited for being the inventor or co-inventor of: the iPod, iPhone, iTunes, the iPad amongst others. For decades Jobs has been inventing technologies and impressing others with his passion. Continue reading
Hispanic media grows in area
Various covers of MiReviZta. Courtesy of MiReviZta's Facebook Page.
The 2010 Census reports that 16.3 percent of the population is Hispanic or Latino. They also report the Hispanic/Latino population increased by 43 percent between 2000 and 2010.
More locally, President of V-Me (Hispanic TV channel, click here for the english version) Carmen DiRienzo, said that 25 percent of Amarillo alone consists of Hispanic people.
Furthermore, according to College Board, 26 percent of students at WTAMU are Hispanic/Latino. In fact, the University’s Strategic Plan explains that Hispanic enrollment is expected to grow 38 percent for the period of fall 2018.
With these statistics in mind, the media in the United States are also shifting to target the Latino/Hispanic audience. An example is V-Me, the first Spanish language national public television channel.
DiRienzo has built and launched V-Me nationwide, guiding the network to become the fourth largest U.S. Spanish network, reaching 77 percent of Hispanic TV households.
“One of the things that inspired me was the idea that this [Hispanic] huge and dynamic population should have some connection with the media,” she said.
Although not of immigrant descent, DiRienzo said she was amazed with immigrant stories, especially of Latino descent.
“What can be more courageous than people who leave their countries and families behind to give better opportunities to kids?” she asked.
DiRienzo also explained that in Spanish TV and in the general market, there is portrayal of stereotypical Hispanics. Commonly Hispanics are depicted as criminals or dramatic like in novelas.
“The program philosophy is to provide [programming that is] appealing and entertainment, but focuses on kids, life style, drama that is not novelas,” she said.
Mi Revizta, a Hispanic monthly magazine of the Panhandle area, is also a media outlet that is trying to reach Hispanics.
“The important thing is that there is a relevant plataform,” Fernando Ballin, Founder and Publisher of Mi Revizta, said. “[It is important] to bring a sense of pride and placement for the Hispanic community.
He agrees that the media usually stereotype Hispanics and said that it is important to avoid misconceptions.
“We need to be able to share who we are, our customs and traditions,” he said.
Both Mi Revizta and V-Me are appealing to audiences outside of the Hispanic population. Both said that, in the majority of countries, people speak more than one language and their media outlets are helpful for those who want to learn the Spanish language.
“It is important for both sides to understand,” he said. “We term bilingual, but it is important to also recognize cultural background.”
A ‘Day Without Shoes’ to raise awareness
Blake Mycoskie donates shoes to children in need.
For most people, shoes are a crucial part of their daily lives. However, in many countries around the world, children only dream about owning their first pair of shoes. These children have never owned shoes and have been exposed to many diseases as a result.
In 2006, Blake Mycoskie founded TOMS Shoes and started a mission that would help children around the world who do not have shoes. The One for One Movement promises that, with every pair of TOMS purchased, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need.
“One Day Without Shoes” is a day to spark awareness about the millions of children that have no shoes around the world.
“One Day without Shoes is national so anyone can go without shoes this year on April 5,” Tim Vela, student body president, said. “The purpose is to raise awareness among college students of those in the world who do not have shoes.”
Last year, Student Government helped spread word about the event across campus through several unique endeavors. Brandy Roberts, current Student Body President-Elect, was an integral part of this process, ordering shoes for students and then hosting the inaugural Style Your Sole Party, where students purchased TOMS Shoes and then decorated them together on WT campus.
“This year we are painting feet in the JBK, (Jack B. Kelley Student Center),” Roberts said. “We are also hosting Style Your Sole along with Spring Fling, where we will be doing the same as last year.”
Students and teachers are expected to show up to class without shoes. However, students must wear shoes when they enter into the Dining Hall or CAF due to health code reasons.
“I am going to be barefoot on Tuesday,” Roberts said. “I believe the day with no shoes is a great attention grabber for a fantastic cause.”
Students and anyone interested can pre-order a pair of TOMS Shoes in the JBK Informational desk and decorate them on April 16 at the Style Your Sole event.
Janey’s at 2500 from Amarillo will be selling TOMs at the event, just in case students want to be a part of the decorating experience but do not already own a pair.
Gender, racial issues at forefront of talk
Jean Kilbourne gives her presentation "Killing Us Softly" for WTAMU's Communication Week. Photo by Maria Molina.
The second event of Communication Week on Feb. 15 featured a lecture by visiting scholar Dr. Jean Kilbourne. Dr. Kilbourne is internationally recognized for her work on alcohol and tobacco advertising. Dr. Kilbourne has also closely studied the image of women in advertising. She has been featured on television shows such as The Today Show and Oprah.
The Branding Iron Theatre was packed with students, faculty and local residents who came to see Dr. Kilbourne speak. The lecture lasted about 45 minutes and featured a presentation of different advertisements. Although the lecture was short, it made an impact on the audience.
Dr. Kilbourne opened the lecture with a few surprising facts. According to her research, the average person sees about 3,000 advertisements a day and spends two years of their life watching TV commercials. Babies at the age of six months can already begin to recognize brand images.
As a result of the advertising industry’s message, “we live in a toxic cultural environment,” Kilbourne said.
Her presentation featured ads that had blatant photoshopping, including a promotional poster for Pretty Woman and a recent Ralph Lauren ad, which actually got the model fired because “she was too fat.”
Models are all too aware of the photo-shopping phenomenon. Cindy Crawford once commented that “[She] wished [she] looked like Cindy Crawford.”
While a woman’s world is obsessed with thinness, Dr. Kilbourne pointed out that in a man’s world, masculinity is emphasized at an early age and “bigger is better.”
“There is nothing wrong with wanting to be attractive,” Kilbourne said. “It’s wrong how narrow and stereotypical beauty is made to be.”
Dr. Kilbourne also presented less obvious forms of discrimination in advertisement, including women of color, children, elderly people and female athletes. She pointed out how women of color are made to look animalistic in fashion ads and how body language can promote a sense of “infantilization” for women.
“They promote a powerful double standard,” Kilbourne said. “Girls have to be sexy yet innocent and experienced yet virginal.”
The presentation was eye-opening for Precious Wilson, an African American senior advertising and public relations major.
“It’ll change the way I look at ads,” Wilson said. “I want to work in fashion [after graduation] and what hit me was [what Kilbourne said] about women of color because it’s so true.”
Shannon Gray, junior advertising/public relations major, was more surprised at the advertising industry’s portrayal of children.
“[What impacted me] was how she talked about children being sexualized, like in pageants,” Gray said.
Dr. Kilbourne was one of the first to start looking at this side of the advertising industry, and it has grown into a burgeoning form of study. However, many wonder if the idea of “sex sells” in the advertising agency will still prevail.
“It depends on whether or not we do something about it,” Bob Buckles, sophomore general studies major, said. “Boycotting [the products] or asking [the agencies] to change what they put out [can help].”