Communication Commons^™

Ucf Forum's New Opinion Columnists To Begin Wednesday, Gene Kruckemyer

UCF Forum

The UCF Forum opinion series welcomes nine new columnists Wednesday to share their thoughts on local and world affairs, social issues, personal challenges, life lessons and other commentaries.

Rio 2016, Richard C. Crepeau

On Sport and Society

It’s beginning to appear that the Russians will be the big winners at the Olympic Games opening next week in Rio. You may wonder how this could be given the fact that large numbers of Russian athletes, including all the track and field team, have been banned from participation in the Games of 2016. That of course is precisely the point.

The Only Time You Truly Can Have Everything Is On A Bagel, Michael Preston

UCF Forum

Of all of the bagels there is nothing quite as satisfying to me than the Everything Bagel with cream cheese at a shop in town. It gives me everything I want out of life: a warm bagel that is crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside; a savory and salty blend of sea salt, garlic, poppy seed, onion, and other stuff I cannot place right now. And then the cream cheese. Gooey and sweet, it cuts through all of the savory in a way that is magical.

What Holds Us Back From Achieving A Better Society?, Barry Mauer

UCF Forum

Until the mid-20th century, toil and scarcity were unavoidable facts of life for most people.

The Sacrifices We Parents Make – Even When We Don't Understand Why, Yolanda Hood

UCF Forum

One recent night I sat in a stadium – being eaten by mosquitos – with my 14-year-old daughter and watched a women’s soccer game. Last summer, after saving for a year, I took my daughter to Canada two weeks for the FIFA Women’s World Cup. I walked a mile from parking to the stadium every day, stood in long lines at security to have bags checked and, at times, even sat in the rain – all so I could watch the pure joy on my daughter’s face.

Nba Finals, Summitt, And Howe, Richard C. Crepeau

On Sport and Society

It is always a surprise to me that so much can happen in SportsWorld in only two weeks. It was just over two weeks ago that I left for Canada and the annual conference of the Sport Literature Association. That was followed by several days on Prince Edward Island. The developments over these last two weeks have left me with much to contemplate.

University Theatres Should Open People's Eyes To New Ideas, Heather Gibson

UCF Forum

Content guides and advisories, which list all of the parts of a production that a viewer might find offensive, are becoming commonplace with theatre companies.

A History And Analysis Of Cala's Social Media, Sai Deng, Xiao Hu

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Under the rapid development of social media and social networking sites, a number of social media channels have been deeply integrated into people's professional and private lives. The Chinese American Librarians Association (CALA), started its social media presence in 2012 with Facebook, and then expanded to YouTube and WeChat. While CALA's Facebook and YouTube channel are more public and social platforms for its news, announcements and documents, its WeChat group is more of an informal space for sharing news and embarking discussions. This poster will look into the various aspects of these social media channels and provide statistical and textual …

Social Media For Librarians And Users, A Global Perspective, Sai Deng, Ying Zhang, Jing Xu

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Social media has increasingly become an integral part of our personal and professional lives worldwide, and it revolutionizes how we communicate and share information. Libraries and librarians are early adopters and proponents for the use of social media. In countries such as China, social media has gained momentum in the recent years, and particularly in colleges and libraries.

This poster first investigates social media's presences and applications especially in university libraries in the U.S. and in China. The two countries use different social media apps such as WeChat, Facebook, Twitter, Weibo and Blog. It then focuses on a case study …

Change Is Constant – So You Better Learn To Adapt, Traci Evison

UCF Forum

I recently saw a turtle digging a hole to lay eggs in a neighborhood park that I walk through. This park has a lake but what surprised me about the turtle was the location she decided to lay her eggs. Instead of making the nest close to the lake about 50 feet away, where I would assume it would be easier for young turtles to begin their lives, this turtle was digging a hole a few feet from the street at the edge of the park.

Dear Daughter, In Face Of Tragedy Try To Keep Your Spirit Intact, Leandra Preston-Sidler

UCF Forum

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'” – Mister Rogers

Sport Is The Thing, Richard C. Crepeau

On Sport and Society

In the face of the oozing cesspool of stories of corruption, crime, and cheating in sport filling the various forms of media, there is a danger that the reason people are drawn to sport will get lost in the muck. We love sport because it reveals the high levels of achievement that can be attained by humans, it offers the excitement and drama of competition, and at times it reaches the sublime. We need to keep reminding ourselves of this simple truth.

How Did We Wind Up In Such An Unlikely Universe?, Michael Bass

UCF Forum

Not long ago the Public Broadcasting Service program NOVA presented an episode called “The Great Math Mystery.” It dealt with the many ways mathematical relationships and special numbers crop up when investigating the physical and natural world.

Ali, Richard C. Crepeau

On Sport and Society

Looking back on this remarkable life, it seems to me that Muhammad Ali changed nearly everything. He and I are nearly the same age and so our lives ran in parallel paths that seldom crossed but often swept across similar territory. Ali in full public view, a hero and a villain, to different people at different times, he was often both, at one and the same time. Where you sat in time and space and in the American social and political landscape shaped how you viewed this remarkable bellwether of American life.

Lessons From A Garbage Dump: How To Say 'No', Michael Preston

UCF Forum

It was a symbol of excess and waste in 1980s New York City. The massive 2,200-acre Fresh Kills Landfill in Staten Island, N.Y., was once the largest garbage dump in the world.

If Our Gatekeepers Can't Function Properly, We Are Doomed, Barry Mauer

UCF Forum

Andrew Wakefield, a British doctor who lost his medical license in 2010, falsely claimed in a 1998 scientific paper published in The Lancet that measles, mumps and rubella vaccines cause autism and Crohn’s disease. His claims, though bogus, were widely reported and led to a decline in vaccination rates and new outbreaks of measles and mumps.

Ucf Forum: My Addiction To All Things Colorful, Crafty, Stationery And Office Supply, Yolanda Hood

UCF Forum

I have a coloring book and pretty pencils to color with. I know many of you do, as well. But the difference between you and me may be this: I have had an addiction to all things colorful, crafty, stationery, and office supply for my entire life.

Exposure To The Arts At Young Age Fosters Creativity In Children, Heather Gibson

UCF Forum

I recently ignored the cardinal rule of parenthood and kept my 2-year-old, Huck, awake during his normal naptime. I knew it was risky, but then, so is suggesting he wear a shirt that isn’t his favorite color orange, so I was willing to take my chances.

He Used The Internet - I Used The Encyclopedia, Rebekah Mccloud

UCF Forum

I was talking recently with one of my students who will graduate in May. He told me about his first year in college and began his reminiscence with: “Back in the day…”

Don't Let Clutter Of Extraneous Thoughts Get In Your Way, Traci Evison

UCF Forum

I have the best conversations when I am alone.

Do We Really Need More 'Stuff'?, Michael Bass

UCF Forum

Since most people are busy acquiring more and more things, it may be past time to start thinking about the question: Do we really need more “stuff”? However, it can’t be too late if “stuff” is defined properly.

Penn State Scandal, Richard C. Crepeau

On Sport and Society

One of the biggest shocks to hit sportsworld in the past few years came in the form of the Jerry Sandusky scandal at Penn State University that led to the firing of Joe Paterno as head football coach. In addition, the University President Graham Spanier, Athletic Director Tim Curley, and VP of Business and Finance Gary Schultz were all removed from their positions on the Penn State campus and all three were indicted on various charges connected to the scandal.

March Madness Lesson: How 'And One' Can Boost Your Career, Michael Preston

UCF Forum

Welcome to March Madness! Sixty-eight college basketball teams are vying for their ultimate prize: a national championship.

Spring Training Optimism, Richard C. Crepeau

On Sport and Society

The atmosphere at Spring Training is one of the special qualities of baseball in America. The optimism generated by fans and players alike tends to reach beyond reality. Rookies and career minor leaguers anticipate a breakthrough season. Veterans look forward to the dawning of a career year. Spring is the season of rebirth, hope and high expectations. The failures and disappointments of the previous season, or decade, or in one case, the previous century, are cast aside.

Censorship Is Not All Bad, Barry Jason Mauer

UCF Forum

Censorship is not all bad! Free-speech idealists argue that the solution to bad speech (misinformation, lies, abusive language, etc.) is not censorship but more speech. But bad speech can, and often does, drown out the good.

We All Have The Right To Read What We Want, Yolanda Hood

UCF Forum

There are people who I am thankful for in the trajectory of my “success” in life, especially my family and my elementary school librarian, Mrs. Walker.

My Newfound Respect For The Hard Work Performers Do Before Stepping On Stage, Heather Gibson

UCF Forum

When I gave the Theatre UCF students 30 days to teach me how to perform a karaoke song, I didn’t realize I was also handing over my dignity.

Volunteering May Teach You Something About Yourself, Traci Evison

UCF Forum

The opportunity to volunteer presented itself to me last year – and it turned out to be just as much an educational lesson to me about patience and communications.

Don't Be Afraid Of Failure, Michael Bass

UCF Forum

Many people have written on the fear of failure. In many places it goes under the heading “fear of losing face.” I have visited several major laboratories and universities in Japan and China and come away with an uncanny feeling that in many instances they are held back by this fear.

Super Bowl Superness, Richard C. Crepeau

On Sport and Society

The Rev. Norman Vincent Peale once said that if Jesus were alive today he would be at the Super Bowl. No doubt the Reverend was on to something.