COM Activities
In addition to these activities sponsored by the College of Communication, Boston University has more than 400 student organizations. From club sports to community service, Greek life to cultural groups, there is something for everyone. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, it only takes four friends and an advisor to start your own organization. For more information on all the activities at BU and a complete listing, visit the Student Activities Office at www.bu.edu/sao.
AdClubAdClub is an official college chapter of the American Advertising Federation. Its functions range from a social organization to meet students to gaining professional contacts in the advertising industry. AdClub also produces BU’s official entry into the National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC), an annual contest among more than 150 colleges and universities. Through this club students can better understand the functions and values of advertising, develop their individual skills, learn about job openings and scholarships, and keep up with industry trends. Members also act as an agency, producing advertising for other organizations on campus. AdClub meets weekly and strives to unite its students through the common interest of advertising. |
AdLabAdLab is a full-service, non-profit advertising agency run by students. Juniors or seniors who are interested in advertising can register for AdLab. It is designed to give students the opportunity for hands-on experience with the theories presented in their classes. In AdLab, students create, design, and produce ads for actual clients. AdLab staff learn how to work within budget limitations, meet deadlines, and recruit new clients. Most of the ads AdLab produces are for print media; however, student accounts have also called for radio and television public service announcements. Visit AdLab’s website. |
butv10TerrierVision is Boston University’s only student-run television station. Founded in Spring 2006, butv10 is a University-wide resource dedicated to creating diverse programming that caters to all interests, schools, departments, organizations, and activities across campus. The station reaches nearly 30,000 students and features work produced by students, faculty and alumni. Visit the butv10 website. |
ChampionsA community service organization run through the College of Communication. These student volunteers coordinate charitable events in COM an throughout Boston including clothing drives, blood drives, and community outreach. |
COM Student Assembly (COMSA)COMSA is the College of Communication’s student government. It promotes the educational and social interests of COM students and ensures the efficiency and continuity of student activities. It promotes cooperation among students, faculty, and administration, serving as a communication channel for the flow of student opinion and administrative policy. COMSA is composed of elected representatives from departments and classes within the College. |
The Daily Free PressThe Daily Free Press is a student-run newspaper serving the Boston University community and is published every school weekday of the semester with a circulation of 12,000 papers—the fourth largest daily in Boston. Professionals recognize the DFP as one of the premier college dailies in the United States, providing a springboard for many successful journalists and photojournalists. The DFP is an excellent training ground for aspiring reporters, photographers, art designers, business and advertising personnel, and all who are looking to apply their classroom knowledge to a real-world setting. The Daily Free Press is open to all Boston University full-time students interested in the newspaper business. It is an excellent way for students to build their clip and photo portfolios. Visit the DFP online at www.dailyfreepress.com. |
Growling Dog ProductionsProvides students with the opportunity to develop and produce television programs. Growling Dog produces a sci-fi series, a news magazine program, a sketch-comedy and the nation’s longest running college soap opera, Bay State. |
National Press Photographers AssociationPhotojournalism students are encouraged to become members of the National Press Photographers Association, a professional group with more than 10,000 members nationally. Boston University’s active student chapter promotes professional workshops, has many guest speakers, sponsors field trips, and regularly schedules portfolio reviews and critiques by area professionals. |
PRSSAPRSSA is a pre-professional association founded by the Public Relations Society of America, the largest public relations organization in the world. PRSSA has over 4,300 members is 144 chapters across the nation, making it the world’s second largest PR society. PRSSA members have the opportunity to participate in many projects and programs, including special scholarships; Professional Partners, in which students are paired with a PRSSA member to receive professional advice; the Bateman Case Study, a nationwide challenge for each chapter to analyze, research, and present a solution to a specific PR problem; internal committees, such as publicity and fund-raising; and outside organization competitions. |
PR LabPR Lab is a student-run public relations agency open to students majoring in public relations who have completed CM 301 (Principles and Practices of Public Relations) and CM 331 (Writing for Communication), and who are second-semester juniors or seniors. The program was created to allow students to practice the skills studied in class. Students in PR Lab serve as account executives for local non-profits and government clients, and are required to work for a minimum of seven hours per week. Students write news releases and brochures, plan and coordinate special events, pitch story ideas, prepare slide presentations and fund-raising campaigns, and write weekly status reports for their clients. Students who enroll in PR Lab receive two academic credits per semester for a maximum of two semesters. Visit PR Lab’s website. |
Society of Public Journalists (SPJ)SPJ is the largest and oldest journalism organization in the country. As one of 300 campus chapters, the Boston University Chapter works to support First Amendment rights and the Freedom of Information Act; sponsors guest speakers from print, photojournalism, and broadcast journalism media; and maintains contact with members of the local professional chapter of SPJ. |
Television Production HothouseHothouse Productions is COM’s in-house video production company. Students on the Hothouse staff hone their producing skills as they develop projects from the proposal stage to their final form. Project proposals, brought to the table by the faculty, outside clients, and students, include documentaries, dramas, series, children’s programs, and PSAs for local TV stations. Hothouse staff work for course credit. Visit the Hothouse website. |
WTBU RadioWTBU has been Boston University’s student radio station since 1965. Located on the third floor of the College of Communication building, the station is entirely student staffed and managed. WTBU acts simultaneously as a fully operational radio station serving the student community and as an excellent training platform for students wishing to go into professional radio. WTBU offers students opportunities to assist in all aspects of running a commercial radio station, including public service, promotions, engineering, sales, management, and on-air work. With live music, news, and sports broadcast 22 hours a day, WTBU can be heard in select dormitories at 89.3 FM and 640 AM, as well as around the world at www.wtburadio.org. |
