Marketing Forum Week 7: The Commuter Expands Social Media Presence

[Press Release] - Linn-Benton Community College’s student run newspaper, The Commuter, is getting more social; social media that is. The Commuter is boosting their social media presence. The paper is now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and even YouTube. The recent shift for a bigger social media presence is to help students get the news that matters to them, faster.

To help with this shift, The Commuter has hired a new Social Media Editor, Paige Harkless. Paige is in charge of managing all The Commuters social networks. Their new Instagram account is already up and posting pictures of interesting stories from this weeks Commuter. A new social media goal for The Commuter, is to publish news stories before they’re even published in the paper.

The Commuter has also hired a YouTube “Vlogger”. “Tommy’s Take” is a new YouTube segment in which LBCC student Tommy Brown offers his opinion and take on articles published in the paper.

The addition of Paige and Tommy will offer students an additional online experience that will help enhance The Commuter.

You can follow The Commuter on Facebook (facebook.com/LBCCTheCommuter), Twitter (twitter.com/LBCommuter), Instagram (instagram.com/linnbentoncommuter), and YouTube (youtube.com/user/LBCommuter).

For more information visit The Commuter Online at www.lbcommuter.com or Contact Allison Allison Lamplugh at 541-917-4449.

7 Steps To Surviving Finals

With finals around the corner, students are starting to wondering what they can do to survive finals week

When asked how he studies for finals, first-year student; Taylor Plagmann said, “I cram...a lot.”

"One way I study for finals is by forming study groups. If six or so of us from the same class can meet together , then we can spend some quality time spent bouncing questions off each other, allowing for a fuller comprehension of the topic at hand, and for a fun time spent learning with friends," said first-year student, Candra Hahn.

Seven Steps to Surviving Finals:

1. Get Organized: Before you begin to study for you classes, you must get organized. Figure out what finals are when and then prioritize your time.

2. Study: The best way to pass your finals is to study for them. Use flashcards, review your notes and past tests, and get a friend to help you study.

3. Sleep: Studies have proven we need seven and a half to five hours of sleep every night in order to function at our highest.

4. Be Comfortable: When you are studying for your final, find a place that is quite and comfortable. Its not a good idea to study in a loud environment.

5. Take Breaks: Its a good idea to stop every once in awhile and take a break, watch a TV show or listen to music. Its not a good idea to spend hours “Binge Studying”.

6. Eat Breakfast: Studies have shown eating breakfast improves attention and short-term memory, and Students who eat breakfast do better on test than those who don’t.

7. Take Away Distractions: Turn the iPhone off, Power down your TV, pause the music. Take all your distractions away and focus on studying.

(7 Steps inspired by articles published on DoSomething.org & HuffingtonPost.com)

LBCC also offers students the opportunity to attend, the weekend before finals, a “Study Jam” sponsored by the SLC. At Study Jam students have a place to study, and the all the learning center resources are open and available to them. Snacks, drinks, and pizza are also provided.

LBCC A Capella group "The Sirens" competed at ICCA's

Photo Credit: The Sirens (Facebook)

The Linn-Benton Community College all female A Capella group “The Sirens” competed this weekend at at the International Championship of Collegiate’ West Region A Cappella Tournament at the Hult Center of Performing Arts in Eugene where they placed fourth overall.
The Sirens competed among other A Capella Ensembles from universities, private colleges, and community colleges from around the area. 

The group of 12 women sang their own A Capella versions of popular songs “Clarity” by Zedd , “She Wolf” by David Guetta , and “Telephone” by Lady Gaga; for the chance to move on to the Semifinals.

Photo Credit: The Sirens (Facebook)

Before they competed, artistic director and vocal coach for the sirens, James Reddan said,“They are competing with the four year universities. [They are] one of three community college groups nationwide that are accepted into this. Its not something to be taken lightly. But at the same time they’re having fun with it, which that is the important part.” “This year is going really good, this group [both groups] are really working hard and I’m seeing lots of good things from them. They really want to do their best, as always,” said Reddan This powerhouse group, which calls themselves a “Sisterhood”, is very diverse in music, style, and even age.“I am 20 years older than everybody, and nobody seems to care," “Its cool I can keep up with all these girls,” said two year member Kim Williaman.

Two year member Claire Logue said about her experience in Sirens, “[The Sirens] has introduced me to the leader that I have inside myself. You get up and sing your heart out, and everybody else is behind you, supporting you.” Sirens placed fourth in the ICCA’s. Only the top two groups move on to the Semifinals, they are University of Oregon’s “Mind The Gap” and Western Oregon University’s “15 Miles West”. Third, and receiving honorable mention, went to Willamette University’s “Headband”. Sirens is holding auditions this spring and is looking for beat-boxers, dancers, and overall quality singers.

At A Glance:
The Sirens
All women A Capella group
Email: reddanj@linnbenton.edu