Justice for JMC

I recently graduated with a minor in Journalism for my Education degree. I am a non-traditional student and a first generation student. After taking a news writing class with David Chartrand, I almost wanted to drop my minor in Journalism all together. I even talked with my education advisor about it but I only had a few more classes to take, so she recommended that I stick with my minor. I am glad that I did because I then had the privilege to work with Dr. Baltrip, Kelly Furnas, Tom Hallaq, Andy Nelson and Steve Harvey. Two of these five amazing mentors are now gone and we cannot afford to lose people like them. They made college a learning experience for me that I proudly told others about. These mentors were so willing to share their experiences with myself and future students. Currently, there is a content test for Journalism in Education (previously one was not needed) So I understand you need instructors that teach the information but I believe that students also learn by hands on learning experiences both Andy Nelson and Steve Harvey provided that. Students also need teachers that create a network so future educators can visit K-state with their classes and expose them to the program. I look forward to taking my future students to campus to visit the Collegian, Royal Purple and Channel 8. However, I feel I need to speak up now and be an advocate for my future students. Since at least two of the people I would want my students to visit are gone. As an Educator, I will encounter students who may have an interest in Journalism and I need to make sure that if I personally recommend my K-State family to them that they are getting the guidance and education that they deserve. The departure of Andy Nelson (a K-State alum) and Steve Harvey have me very concerned about that. They brought so much real world experience to the table and as educators we are encouraged to expose students to these things. We cannot afford for this trend of losing good people to continue

I graduated from JMC in 2010 after spending most of my undergraduate time working at the Collegian. The department struggled then, and I'm sad to hear it has only gotten worse. I graduated with almost no necessary skills, and any job I received came about through my own personal connections and hard work. I hope KSU JMC can turn everything around.

As a May 2015 graduate, I cannot attest hardly any of my knowledge, talent, and skills to the KSU JMC Department. In fact, I can only attribute any knowledge, talent, and skill to myself for taking it upon myself to learn what I was not taught, and only 2 JMC teachers: Andy Nelson and Steve Harvey. Andy Nelson was so unhappy at K-State after trying to improve the curriculum and make advancements inside and outside the classroom once he became the digital media sequence head. Many of the faculty along with the Director, made his time there miserable because Andy was making others uncomfortable, making changes for the better, and encouraging the faculty to work harder for the students. The fact that a teacher/professor is given unbearable grief for trying to HELP THE STUDENTS is absurd and honestly, heartbreaking. Andy left prior to my senior year and now, right after my senior year, the only other professor that helped me over every mountain I faced, Steve Harvey, has sat in the same boat. Steve was everything you'd dream of in a professor. Just because class ended, that didn't mean he didn't try to spark new ideas and help you any time he saw you. I could come to him with any problem and he always vowed that he'd do whatever it took for the students if it would help them. He was a teacher, mentor, and friend. I'm not trying to over-glorify either teacher, but more try to stress that these are the only two faculty members us students had to hold onto as we craved knowledge that wasn't being given to us, resources that the school couldn't provide us with, and networking no one else bothered to help us with. Steve is the most selfless, hardworking, and incredibly stubborn person all of us digital media students had in our corner in each of our 4 year fights. I had a unique experience to see how the JMC department operates while being the Director of Wildcat Watch, the student video productions organization on campus. After Dr. Wassmuth continually told Steve that "Wild

this department lacks and seems to attack any teacher or instructor with any real world experience which leaves graduates completely unprepared to enter the workforce

Throughout my time at K-State, there are only two professors that I feel had a huge impact on my future: Andy Nelson and Steve Harvey. I am sad to say that in the two and a half years since I transferred into the JMC program, both professors have left the school. These were the only professors who truly went above and beyond for their students. They didn't just teach us, they coached us, worked with us, and never let a little extra work get in the way of making sure that we not only had the best chance for success while in the program, but in all our future endeavors as well. This is the type of professor every school claims to have but few actually do, and K-State is letting them both walk away. Not only do I question the reasoning behind these decisions, but I can't help but wonder where the students' voices were in these choices. We, after all, are the only voices that truly matter in an educational institution. Through what I've heard, what I've learned, and the existence of this petition alone, I think it's safe to say that our voices are not being heard. I worry for the future of the program that changed my life and future. A program that, although never perfect, at least had professors willing to pick up the slack and make sure each and every JMC student has the best chance for future success.

I watched leadership change multiple times during my time at the A.Q. Miller School of Journalism and with new leadership came an inconsistent curriculum that made it difficult for teachers and students to adapt. Not only has the failure to keep consistent leadership and structure in the school pushed K-State students away from applying - it has forced long-time faculty into difficult positions where they must choose between teaching real-world techniques/mentoring the next generation of journalists and adhering to an outdated curriculum. Not only is Steve Harvey - the life of the broadcast program at the school - now gone, but Andy Nelson left before his fellowship concluded and he is an alumnus. What does it say about the leadership in the school and the College of Arts and Sciences if we can not keep our alumni around to help mentor and grow future journalists? If Kansas State University, the College of Arts and Sciences and the A.Q. Miller School are going to ask for our financial support, we as alumni want a program worthy of our money. We are, as journalists and alumni, interconnected and can bring future students to the school but you have to give us something to tell them about. Give us a program that we can be proud of. Bring back our teachers.

The JMC program at K-State is beyond repair. Student media is run by students who play favorites, with little to no instructor supervision.. Steve was a great instructor, not perfect, but I learned a lot from him. He helped me fill out job applications, taught me how to write television stories for a general audience, and was an asset for any journalism or job questions I had. JMC will undoubtedly be worse without him.

There's no doubt in my mind that something is brewing in the KSU JMC department and the changes the new administration is trying to make concern me. Steve Harvey is one of the BEST professors I have ever had and molded me into the journalist I am today, and and I think I speak for many people when I say we wouldn't be where we are without that man. KSU is losing an award winning professor, mentor, a friend and a man that ACTUALLY cares about our future in the broadcast business.

K-State didn't help me get to where I am at today, Steve Harvey did. He was the only professor that truly understood broadcast journalism. There's a reason so many of his students are a success, if only K-State could see that.

Steve Harvey was the greatest professor in the JMC program in my opinion. When it comes to overall effectiveness in teaching and learning and caring for the students, nobody comes close to his level. This is very wrong to make one of the best teachers for students to feel unwanted and force him to leave and not give future students the same experience I had.

I have seen my daughter's love for Broadcast Journalism blossom under this professor's direction and am so sad to hear the news of his departure. It is even sadder to know that he did not willingly go. Did the proper research go into this decision? I fear for her business future without this professor in the KSU department of Journalism. Please reconsider your stance. Thank you!

The current director has handled herself unprofessionally toward students and staff, and is representative of the problems occurring within JMC. The program struggled a few years ago, and instead of being turned around, she has directly run it further into the ground.

Simply put-students do not come first in the J-school. The priorities of the department need to be reassessed, both faculty and students deserve a director who prioritizes students over everything else.

Steve Harvey was probably the best thing to ever happen to K-State JMC. The fact that someone so helpful, caring, and passionate about JMC and it's students is gone is heartbreaking to us all and proves something needs to be done.

This is yet another video teacher who has "left." The administration needs to change their ways and do what's best for the students and their future careers.

A change of direction is needed. The department needs to prioritize learning above research and students above administrators.

The J school is obviously headed in the wrong direction and the leadership needs to change. It was struggling before and Wassmuth has made it worse.

Changes need to be made.

I'm for Team Steve

If this were the Declaration of Independence, I'd be John Hancock.