2008 Woodie Awards
Webbies alterations alienate students, reduce entries
Issue date: 3/27/08 Section: Letters to the Editor
As much as I love Larry Baden, and although I have heard many good things about Bernie Hayes, choosing them as the Webbies hosts leaves me somewhat perplexed. I mean, when Gary Ford used the official School of Communications e-mail list to send out a message titled "Very Important News About Your Work" and told us all that the Webbies ceremony was to be hosted by a "surprise celebrity," my media law teacher was the last person that came to mind. Sorry Larry.
I think this is a fair article ("Webbies production class canceled"), and it provides a pretty unbiased look into the situation. Rather than pick through the article quote by quote to advocate my view (which is very strong and personal for me), I'll say this: to those who didn't know much about the Webbies before, just look at the quotes. Ford and Debra Carpenter still can't agree on one official school response to this nonsense a year later, but the students seem to have a pretty solid understanding.
The Webbies was one of - if not the greatest things going for the media department (especially film and video majors) - and it's circling the drain now. A quarter as many entries, the cancellation of the Webbies production class (the biggest, most creative, collaborative project available at Webster University) and surprise celebrity guest (your teacher) all seem to point toward something fishy that the students aren't buying. I know I didn't enter anything into the Webbies and will not be attending the awards show this year.
I only hope the people in charge of the School of Communications realize that it's not a far cry from not attending the Webbies to not enrolling in the SOC. I'm not going to drop out, but I'm also not going to recommend anyone go out of their way to come here if the SOC continues to handle things in this way.
Christopher Maue
Senior, Video Production
I think this is a fair article ("Webbies production class canceled"), and it provides a pretty unbiased look into the situation. Rather than pick through the article quote by quote to advocate my view (which is very strong and personal for me), I'll say this: to those who didn't know much about the Webbies before, just look at the quotes. Ford and Debra Carpenter still can't agree on one official school response to this nonsense a year later, but the students seem to have a pretty solid understanding.
The Webbies was one of - if not the greatest things going for the media department (especially film and video majors) - and it's circling the drain now. A quarter as many entries, the cancellation of the Webbies production class (the biggest, most creative, collaborative project available at Webster University) and surprise celebrity guest (your teacher) all seem to point toward something fishy that the students aren't buying. I know I didn't enter anything into the Webbies and will not be attending the awards show this year.
I only hope the people in charge of the School of Communications realize that it's not a far cry from not attending the Webbies to not enrolling in the SOC. I'm not going to drop out, but I'm also not going to recommend anyone go out of their way to come here if the SOC continues to handle things in this way.
Christopher Maue
Senior, Video Production
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