Edith Avila

Staff writer

The Communication Arts Department’s SUB 49 has a new broadcast: The Shorter Update. This is a production to inform the campus about campus news, and is played before chapel and online. Allen Dutch, communication instructor, is in charge of this student-led broadcast.

Andrew Edenfield, a member of SUB 49, believes one needs to have hours of this type of experience for his or her résumé to succeed in a production career. At Edenfield’s previous school, they had a similar production and he thought about bringing it to Shorter. After speaking with Dutch, the two worked together to have the idea approved and the work began.

Edenfield worked alongside students Emily Wyrick, Josh Watson, Daniel Walker, Kristin Nash, Zach Burke and others to build the new studio as well as produce the new broadcast. It took hours of work to turn a storage room into a designed studio.

Dutch loves how the students get to practice the skills they learn in the classroom. The students in Digital Production II are getting to “swim” in this experience, according to Dutch. They are learning all the different areas of work that goes into producing.

Wyrick believes they have come up with ways to spread  and also receive news from each department.

“We have an e-mail list that we send out to every department and also get news from departments… from financial aid to Greeks, to the athletic department,” said Wyrick.

According to Dutch, the idea is to promote news on campus.

“It’s a great way to keep in touch with the student body,” said Dutch.

Thanks to Dean of Chapel Dr. Aaron Werner, the “Shorter Update” will be played every Tuesday before chapel. It will also be available for everyone to see online.

Dutch and Edenfield agreed that students will be able to experience the job field in which they want to work. Although they have only had two productions so far, some students have already altered their career plans.

Wyrick said working in this production has made her “consider double majoring.” She loves the whole experience, despite the endless hours of work that go into the weekly broadcast.

According to Wyrick, students involved have to put in more time outside of class than in the classroom.

“We have to copy edit scripts, do run throughs, then film several takes and edit those for chapel on Tuesdays,” said Wyrick.

Ablawa Reine Akpovo

Staff writer

A new gospel choir has started at Shorter. The president of the Shorter Gospel Choir, Arianna Deans, said it all started because of a simple idea. Deans asked herself, “Why can’t we just form a group of gospel singers, instead of the showcase of individuals singing gospel every year at Shorter?”

After being advised by Whitney Mosley, assistant director of student life, the Shorter Gospel Choir officially started on Jan. 19, and many students were ready for this opportunity.

According to Deans, the purpose of creating the gospel choir was “to introduce soulful music on campus, to bring homestyle music to campus and mainly to use the gift our God gave us to showcase and praise Him.”

The choir has 13 volunteers including the musical director, the guitarist, the keyboardist, the bass player and the singers. They rehearse every Tuesday and Sunday from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. to have a voice feast in the Brookes Chapel.

Patrice Allen, sophomore sports communication major, believes God can work through students. Allen is an active member of the choir and is enthusiastic about singing.

“Students come to Shorter to glorify God with their voices,” said Allen.

The Shorter Gospel Choir will perform annually. Events are being held during February as part of the Black History Month celebration. The members performed recently at the  “Gospel Explosion,” which was held on Feb.7 in the Brookes Chapel.

“It is an event to showcase local church choirs and student groups at Shorter collaborating with local churches,” said

Mosley.

This year marked the second year for Shorter’s Gospel Explosion. The Shorter Gospel Choir performed I Will Bless the Lord by Byron Cage, I Belong To You by William McDaniel and Brighter Day by Kirk Franklin.

For interested students, no audition is necessary to be a member of the group. It is open to everyone.

“As long as they are able to hold a note, they are welcome,” said Deans.

For more information, contact Deans at arianna.deans@hawks.shorter.edu.