Madilyn Elliott, a senior journalism and professional writing major from Hampton, Tenn., will graduate with experience in writing, production, design, editing and management from her time spent in the Tusculum College publications lab, so will Jonathon Dennis, Sarah Holly, Matthew Pierce and Kiah McIsaac.
These are a few of the students who currently learn these skills in a publications lab with computer equipment and software nearly a decade old. To support and expand these opportunities, students are starting a campaign to raise funds for new equipment for the student-run publications lab at Tusculum College.
“Not only the software but the equipment in the publications lab is out of date,” said Holly, a creative writing major from Johnson City, Tenn. “The way the “Tusculum Review” literary journal databases have to be set up, an internet connection must be established before students can access any files. Recently, we’ve been having several issues maintaining this connection, which makes it difficult to meet our deadlines. At this stage, new equipment is integral to efficient production.”
Students in a variety of degree programs get hands-on training working in the Tusculum College Publications Lab.
Students use this aging publications lab to produce the student-run newspaper, social media and magazine. They can also become involved with the “Tusculum Review.”
Elliott, editor of the “Tusculum Manifesto,” said, “Good writing is born of experience, not from classroom lecture. Tusculum is one of the few colleges that recognizes, even as undergraduates, we won’t excel without these opportunities to get out there, interview, edit and be involved in the entire publication process.”
“Being involved with the publication lab at Tusculum College taught me how to work as a part of a team and to meet deadlines. It also serves as a great place for students to meet and collaborate on ideas for their productions,” said Melissa Mauceri, a 2014 graduate of Tusculum College. Mauceri is currently working in the public relations field in Michigan.
Heather Patterson, associate professor of English and chair of the English department, added that students also learn the ins and outs of navigating a publications office, from database management to pagination and layout.
Any donations made to improve the publications lab will be use to purchase new computers and up-to-date software used to design, edit and publish. An anonymous patron will match, dollar-for-dollar, all donations up to $3,000.
Publications Lab is used for a variety of student produced publications, including the student newspaper and Frontier Magazine
Checks may be made payable to Tusculum College, noting this is for the Publications Lab, and may be mailed to P.O. Box 5040, Greeneville, TN 37743. For more information, contact Heather Patterson at hpatterson@tusculum.edu or 423-636-7300, ext. 5697.
By Stephanie Turner, senior journalism and professional writing major from Shelbyville