Indiana University School of Journalism

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Photo by Shannon Ryker

At a recent meeting, (from left) Andrew Blank, Ryan Patena and Julie Hurley of the Media LLC Leadership Council helped plan upcoming activities.

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In just a few months, a new program is giving students studying media a home away from home, a place to live and study with those with similar interests.

This fall, the School of Journalism introduced the Media Living Learning Center at Read Hall for undergraduates interested in media as a way to combine dorm life with academics and interests.

“All majors are accepted to the community on a first come, first serve basis,” said Jessica Gall, School of Journalism director of experimental education and recruitment. She co-teaches J160 The Media Village with Dean Brad Hamm. This class is required for all students living in the Media LLC.

Gall explained that J160 incorporates outside experiences involving the media with classroom ideas. Students discuss a broad range of topics from the basics of media to in-class discussions of the top 25 movies of all time.

“The LLC gives students more opportunities to have interactions with the School of Journalism,” said Stephanie Doctrow, president of the Media LLC’s Leadership Council. “You really get to see how much the school has to offer.”

One experience open to only Media LLC students was a luncheon with Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love, who visited as the first guest of the School of Journalism Speaker Series this fall. And, students are planning a trip to Chicago to tour the Chicago Tribune and the WGN studios.

But central to the Media LLC is student involvement on a day-to-day basis. A group of 11 students make up the Leadership Council. Elected by the community, council members discuss their budget and plan activities, including those that bring the community to the LLC.

Photo by Shannon Ryker

Katy Deardorff, center, said she hopes the Media LLC residents will be more active in the Bloomington community. At left is Austin Morris and Hanna Kim is at right.

“For Halloween, we are having kids from the Boys and Girls Club come to our floors and trick-or-treat,” said Katy Deardorff, a board member of the Leadership Council. “I think we should add more opportunities to volunteer and get involved it the community.”

Deardorff and Doctrow said it is comforting to live with people who have similar interests.

“We don’t really see each other as our competition anymore, we see each other as one family,” said Deardorff.

Creating a family was one of the reasons Hamm wanted to offer Media LLC.

“We wanted to help students achieve their dreams and help them put together their own college experience,” said Hamm. “This really allows students to get involved from their first week on campus.”

Those students in this inaugural year of the program are taking his advice.

“If you don’t take advantage of everything the LLC has to offer, it’s really your own loss,” said Deardorff.