Shannon McEnerney | Dec. 18, 2009
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| Courtesy photo |
| Students regrouped to complete their projects after senior lecturer Beth Wood’s Nov. 4 death. “She had such high expectations. You never wanted to let her down," said senior Clare Krusing. "That’s what I miss most about her – that little push she would give.” |
But preparation aside, the students were missing a key element in their work: their mentor, School of Journalism senior lecturer Beth Wood, who died Nov. 4 from complications of treatment for lung cancer.
Students in Wood’s two classes, J560 Public Relations Writing for graduate students and J349 Public Relations Writing for undergraduates, were left to finish the semester without her guidance.
“It was a blow to me,” said senior Clare Krusing. “When she wasn’t there, we were very much struggling to make sure to fulfill CASA’s wants.”
Wood had structured the service learning project to involve two of her classes. The J560 class worked on the overall volunteer recruitment campaign for CASA, an organization that provides representations in juvenile court for child victims of physical abuse, sexual abuse and neglect. The program recruits and trains its volunteers to serve as court appointed special advocates, providing advocacy to the child victims to ensure these children are taken care of and found a safe, permanent home as soon as possible.
While the graduate students presented an overall campaign, Wood’s J349 undergraduate class was divided into four groups. Each group presented and provided CASA with materials to help the organization achieve its goal of recruiting more volunteers. Groups focused on speeches, volunteer brochures and handouts, and an e-newsletter.
Two veteran instructors and PR professionals, adjunct lecturer Irene Bushaw and Ralph Winslow Visiting Professor Jim Bright, took over Wood’s classes.
Graduate student Emily Hampton recalled the first class without Wood.
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| Photo by Shannon McEnerney |
| Public relations students in the late Beth Wood’s classes presented their ideas to their clients in early December. Students and colleagues recalled Wood’s dedication to service learning projects. |
Hampton and Krusing said students tried to jump into finishing their presentations, but the shock of Wood’s death, along with details about how to tie together two class presentations, was difficult.
“We had lots of goals to provide a good product for the client and to hand over materials Beth would have been proud of,” Hampton said. “I feel like we did that, but it still felt like something was missing.”
Graduate student Elizabeth Wepler said students tried to regroup.
“Beth would have wanted us to continue and finish the project – we all recognized that – but it was a struggle not to be emotional about it,” Wepler said.
Bright said Wood always had been a proponent of service learning and recalled how excited she was to have CASA’s partnership. He said she selected organizations in need, who served people in need, to provide a quality experience for students.
“Beth wanted to make a difference,” Bright said. “She had a big heart and high expectations of her students. Her students jumped through hoops to make her proud of them.”
Bushaw said Wood had a passion for service learning which inspired students.
“They were doing something to help better the community and it gave them a good feeling, and we have Beth to thank for that,” Bushaw said.
While the students struggled emotionally, they said they were satisfied with the final product.
“I think Beth would have been very proud,” said Krusing, who considered Wood a mentor.
It was also through Wood’s influence that Hampton developed a greater understanding of public relations. After completing her undergraduate degree at IU with a focus on broadcasting, she enrolled in the journalism graduate program. In August, Hampton attended the new graduate student information session where professors gave short speeches on their courses for the fall.
“Beth got up and spoke about her class and she was so passionate about it,” Hampton said. “She said you would really make an impact if you took her class.”
That afternoon, Hampton signed up for J560.
“Beth changed my mind and showed me that you can use public relations tools to do good things in the world,” Hampton said. “It was very eye-opening to have her influence.”
For Wood, education went beyond public relations, Krusing said.
“Beth wanted us to give CASA the elements to transcend the materials of what they already had and put the organization on the path to be very successful in the future,” Krusing said. “She had such high expectations. You never wanted to let her down. That’s what I miss most about her – that little push she would give.”
“As a student, she always taught me to be true to what I believe in,” said senior Lauren Brush, a veteran of several of Wood’s classes. “She was always someone that I went to and now that she is not here, I am finding that I am very lost without her.”
Bright said he has received nearly a hundred responses in reaction to Wood’s passing from alumni, students, friends and acquaintances. The list is growing.
“I just can’t believe we will never see her again,” Bright said. “Although, we will. She will live on in our minds and hearts.”
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