Jessica Birthisel | June 22, 2009
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| Photo by Chris Pickrell |
| Marge Blewett (foreground) and Martie Dietz laughed over some of the pictures they saw in an old Arbutus. They were among the alumni attending the school’s breakfast event during the campus-wide Cream and Crimson weekend. |
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In conjunction with the IU Alumni Association’s annual Cream and Crimson weekend, the school hosts the breakfast give journalism alumni taking part in the campus-wide event a chance to reconnect at Ernie Pyle Hall.
Guests gathered in the lounge for a catered meal while musing over old photos, flipping through Arbutus yearbooks from days gone by and catching up with old friends.
“On behalf of Dean Brad Hamm, and on behalf of all of the faculty and staff, it’s my pleasure to welcome you home,” said Ralph Winslow Visiting Professor Jim Bright in his opening remarks following the meal.
Much of the morning was devoted to alumni sharing stories and memories of their time at the school.
Alumna Martie Dietz, B.A. ’52, recalled her time in charge of promotions for The Crimson Bull, a now-defunct campus humor magazine. In anticipation of a big issue, she managed to arrange for an aircraft to drop promotional pamphlets over the IU football stadium. Unfortunately, the “good idea” led to delay of game and thus a penalty for the Hoosiers.
Dietz also recalled a calendar project that featured one model who, in the final print, looked like she was wearing no clothes. The photo made the Indianapolis news media where the model’s father, a Baptist minister, had an adverse reaction.
“’Gee, I don’t know, President Wells,’” joked Dietz, recalling her pledge of innocence to then-president Herman B Wells during the fallout from the incident.
Longtime School of Journalism placement director Marjorie Blewett, B.A. ‘48, said she’s enjoying her retirement here in Bloomington.
“I enjoy my journalism friends and I still read the Daily Student every day,” she said of the newspaper she once edited.
David Albright, from the class of 1959, attended the event with his wife, Ruth (Padgett) Albright , who also is an alumna. They hadn’t been in Bloomington for 35 years when they decided to retire here several years ago.
“We would’ve come back to Bloomington as we remembered it, but it’s much, much nicer now,” he reflected.
Ruth Albright, who said she spent 20 years largely in scholastic magazines, added, “It’s been a good life as a journalist.”
Helen (Probst) Schroeder, from the class of 1959, said that her favorite memory of her time at the school was when she stumbled upon a story that resulted in an interview with Wells. She said she was walking through campus when she noticed work being done on the president’s home.
“I snuck in, saw the blue prints, and arranged for an interview with Dr. Wells to get the story,” she said. “That was a pretty neat experience.”
School of Journalism Student Media Director Ron Johnson promised the alumni that today’s journalism students are getting the same experiences that they received years ago and thanked them for the legacy they’ve left at the school.
“Thank you so much for laying the groundwork for these great students,” he said, gesturing to the current Indiana Daily Student staffers who attended the event.
Bright wrapped up the morning on a similar note, informing the group that there are 8,000 living Indiana University journalism alumni, himself included.
“Other than your parents and your professors, no one wants to see you succeed more than we do,” said Bright to the students in attendance, acknowledging the alumni for the “competitive edge” they give to IU journalism students.
