Welcome to the Department of Communication Studies 
Spring Senior Projects
Students taking CST 499: Senior Project in Communication Studies have conducted original scholarly research projects investigating communication topics of interest. Examples of student projects during Spring 2013 include: Kristyn Emmer’s “Strong-Armed and Stuck: Constructing University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Student Veterans' Organizational Identification,” Dorothy Her’s “Violence Against Hmong Women: A Study of How Domestic Violence is Talked About in the La Crosse Area Hmong Community,” and Brianna Bennett’s “Continuing the Conversation: A Study of Relationship Maintenance by Bereaved College Students.” Click here to see a full list of their projects.
CST Students Present Research at the State Capitol
CST majors Amanda Sturm, Barbara Nitke, Kristin Riniker, and Lindsay Swiggum presented their research at the annual Posters in the Rotunda event at the state capitol building on April 17. Six undergraduate researchers from each UW institution were selected to discuss their research. In addition to presenting their research, the students met with state representatives and senators.
CST Majors Receive Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Student Awards
CST major Sean Mason received first place in the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Student Awards for Excellence for his radio production, “Captain Midnight Radio Drama.” He produced the radio play for his final in his audio production class this past fall. The drama also aired on RAQ. This is the first time a radio submission has received an award. The WBA Student Awards program recognizes outstanding achievement by radio and TV students enrolled in a postsecondary school in Wisconsin. Click here to listen to his radio program.
Aaron Engstrand and Tyrell Luebker received a Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Student Award for Excellence. They won 2nd place in the Long Form Production Non-News (Radio) for their western drama, “The Battle of John & Jack.” This was an original radio drama written and voiced by the two recipients. Click here to listen to the western drama.
Student’s Research Explores Stories from Homeless
The La Crosse Tribune and Campus News published stories about CST undergrad Sadie Tennessen and her research titled, "Family Storytelling in Homeless Families." The Campus News reports that "Sadie Tennessen’s student research cuts through stereotypes and focuses on real stories. After spending 120 hours at The Salvation Army, sitting and talking with homeless families, the recent UW-L graduate discovered the power of narrative for those without a home."
Above: A large crowd gathers in a Centennial Hall classroom to hear Tennessen present her final research project for Communication Studies. A series of four courses, over the course of two or more semesters, prepares Communication Studies students for a final project that is formally presented. Campus News contributed photo.
Faculty Publication in Qualitative Communication Research
Dr. Jennifer Butler and Dr. Dan Modaff published "The Communicative Management of Emotional Display Expectations by In-Home Daycare Providers" in Qualitative Communication Research (2013, Volume 1, pp. 461-490). In the abstract, Dr. Butler and Dr. Modaff remark that "the current research reports the results of an interview-based study designed to explore how the participants in a long-term relational context (in-home daycare providers) communicatively manage the emotional display expectations of parents of children in their care. The themes that emerged from the data—structural strategies, interactional strategies, and individual strategies—represent communicative means that in-home daycare providers used to manage the emotional display expectations of parents. The study concludes by discussing the merit of considering the existence of and need to explore further emotional labor in nontraditional organizations such as owner-operated and in-home businesses."
Dr. Jennifer Butler was also recognized in the Management Communication Quarterly newsletter. She currenlty serves as an editorial board member for the journal. Her reviewing interests are emotional labor, work family balance, alternative work structures, structuration theory, nonprofit organizations, leadership, and gender and organizations.
Coulee Region Humane Society Telethon a Success
The 14th Annual Coulee Region Humane Society Telethon aired Sat., Nov. 17, live on KQEG/ION Channel 23, campus channel 6 and Charter Cable channels 5 & digital 989 from 7 to 10 p.m. Rick Wilson, KQEG, hosted the event, along with Communication Studies student Chance Dickman. Nick Rytantli and Liz Meil were on the tote board. Communication Studies Professor Pamela Morris was guest coordinator. Many Communication Studies students were instrumental in making this year’s event a success. Students, who assisted with the airing of this event, were Courtney Duerwachter, Shelby Krommenacker, & Sommer Steiner (phone bank); Cole Gallagher (director); Chelsea Hodgins and Casey Rohan (technical directors); Taylor Sullivan (computer graphics design & Cayman); Zach Hansen, Sean Mason, and Sam Librizzi (cameras); Callie Frank (audio); Mary Coan and Van Ngo (floor directors); Veronica Steinmetz (teleprompter); Aaron Engstrand (video technician); Bree Levine & Tyrell Luebker (video operators); Katie Butzen, Ashley Cary, Katy Coon, J. Foy, Shaynan Holen, and Troy Neumann, (line producers).
Before the telethon aired, Communication Studies students had raised more than $1,000, along with many needed supplies. Fundraisers were held at Festival Foods, Herberger’s, Sam’s Club, and Wal-Mart. In addition, many coupons were given away for donations during the telethon. This year’s telethon raised over $4,000 and $500 in supplies.
Engaging Students In Learning Through Social Media
Above: Dr. Pamela Morris (bottom row, right) with her Media Literacy (CST 271) class. Also pictured is Jim Jorstad (far right), Director of Academic Technology Services at UW-L. Read his blog post about how Dr. Morris engages students in learning through social media. Photo by Austen Keller.
Faculty, Staff, and Student Research
Dr. Dena Huisman and Hieke Flood published "Baloney or Braunschweiger?: Communicating Cultural Identity in Multigenerational German Immigrant Families" in the Iowa Journal of Communication, 44(1), 22-43.
Dr. Masa Yamamoto published "Mass Media as a Macro-level Source of Social Control: A New Direction in the Structural Model of Mass Media" in J. Pollock (Ed.), Media and Social Inequality: Innovations in Community Structure Research. He also coauthored a second article in Media and Social Inequality with Douglas Blanks Hindman and published, "Social Capital and Spiral of Silence" in the International Journal of Public Opinion Research, 24, 325-345. He has forthcoming work in the International Journal of Communication and the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication.
Dr. Jennifer Butler and Dr. Dan Modaff published "Constructing Space and Time for Work and Family: A Structuration Perspective on Bed and Breakfasts" in the Communication and Theater Association of Minnesota Journal, 39, 105-121. Dr. Butler was also named to the editorial board of Management Communication Quarterly and her article, "Metaphorically examining organizational communication" is slated to come out in Communication Teacher.
Dr. Tony Docan-Morgan and CST undergraduate student Tom Schmidt published, "Reducing Public Speaking Anxiety for Native and Non-Native English Speakers: The Value of Systematic Desensitization, Cognitive Restructuring, and Skills Training" in Cross-Cultural Communication, 8(5), 16-19.
Hannah Olevson, CST student, was awarded a UW-L Undergraduate Research & Creativity Grant for over $2,000. The title of her project is "Fitting In: An Examination of American Study Abroad Students’ Nonverbal Expectancy Violations."
Broadcast students will train on new state-of-the-art equipment
UW-L's Campus Connection reports that "Communication Studies students will see a welcome sight when they return to broadcast classes fall semester. UW-L has invested more than $77,000 in new equipment for TV production classes, as well as the student-run TV station and radio station." Click here to read the full story.
Above: Cole Gallagher, a senior Communication Studies major with a Broadcast and Digital Media emphasis, tries out new equipment in the radio facilities in the Wing Technology Center.
Apply for a Scholarship
CST students, consider applying for a scholarship: https://uwlax.academicworks.com/
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
4206 Centennial Hall
La Crosse, Wisconsin 54601-9959
(608) 785-8519
(608) 785-6719 FAX
cstdept@uwlax.edu