This week on Mars
August 14, 2005
Yesterday NASA launched an orbiter to find out more about Mars. Lucky for the orbiter, It’s got seven months of floating through outer space before it gets to the red planet. We at the Hill, on the other hand, only have a few of weeks before impact.
This past week I’ve been moving along at a breakneck pace, but I’m quite enjoying the ride and look forward to sharing it with the rest of you. I went into the office a few days ago and sat crosslegged in the middle of the floor. Then I got up. I was whelmed.
I’ve also had a chance to talk with Audrey, our advisor, about a number of things - she’s got some big ideas going forward. Something about having a massive website where students can store all sorts of media efforts (audio, photos, videos, whatever) and search through them for years to come. She’s also going to help us with the first ever Mars’ Hill Boot Camp, September 3-6 (more on that below).
Anyway, here are some of the highlights of my week so far.
1. President’s Cabinet - I’ve now met with most of the members of P-Cab to ask them how they see Mars’ Hill achieving its goal as a professional, enterprising newspaper that serves the needs of the campus. Very good responses from most of them: a couple of them even prayed for me after we talked. Humbling to be reminded that the men upstairs (because they are, all, men…) are at least trying to seek after God. Snider’s in my sights for next week.
2. Website - Nicholas Erho will be working with us to make the first ever Mars’ Hill Online website a reality by our release party on Sept 21. MHO will be combine what is already in print with exclusive online content, including forums, editorial blogs, tasty little databytes, and hopefully, second semester, a weekly Mars cast downloadable in MP3 form. Commentary, new music, interviews - you guys can choose what goes into our listeners ears.
3. Release Party - It’s shaping up to be an event that will create quite a splash, and the ripples will be felt around campus for months if we can pull it off. A DJ, our very own t-shirts, Asian decor, ethnic foods, and a silent auction on up to 100 different items, plus, the main event, a one hour experience of the best polynesia has to offer. (Which is fire. And dancers. Firedancers.) Trinity won’t know what hit it.
4. New PR Department - I’m pleased to let you all know that Tyson Gibbons will be lending some of his considerable talents to Mars’ Hill this year as he heads up the new Public Relations department: welcome aboard Tyson. Mr. Gibbons will be helping us let the campus know just how amazing Mars’ Hill is, as well as getting feedback from students on how well we’re doing our job.
5. Business Manager/Ad Manager - Matt Senft is going to be on board with us for one more semester as the Business Manager Emeritus. He’s got some great ideas for finances, and will be working with Chris Duffin, our new Ad Manager, crunching the numbers with him so that he can take over for second semester when Matt goes to the LLC.
6. Issues and Themes - Another update on the themes of the first few issues. Issue 1 (Sep21) - “beyond the bubble” or “the bubble has burst.” Think birth/renewal/transition/exploration/maturing. Issue 2 (Oct5) - First round on leadership (re: next TWU pres.) Issue 3 (Oct19)- Second round of leadership (generally, at TWU, what do leaders do, etc.). Issue 4 (Nov2) - homecoming is Nov4, so something on alumni, navigating the void after university, etc.
7. Boot Camp - I want you guys to be the best student journalists in North America, so training starts right away. All the Freshmen get here Saturday, September 3, and we’re going to be manning tables, taking names, an doing some Mars’ Hill super-stylin’. From Saturday to Tuesday, we’ll also be doing some seminars with guest journalists from off campus, going over some questions, and just generally getting limbered up for the year ahead. Two days off, and then we’re off to Blue Lake Lodge to relax, hang out, go swimming, roast marshmellows, sing over the campfire, and, of course, do a little more training.
Look forward to seeing you all soon. Any questions, give me a call at 604-992-3889.
Peace (not quiet).
.mwj
PS - 3 Marsmellows to chew on: open source media, beyond the bubble, and areopagitic journalism.
.mwj
Now you go...
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