Students create public relations club

What do a journalism, business and Fine Arts major have in common? They, along with many other majors, could enter the field of public relations. The growing interest in PR at IU has called for the establishment of a chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America. \n"At the University level, PRSSA is a resource for students who want to go beyond their course work in public relations," said journalism professor and faculty sponsor Beth Wood. "We encourage all students who are interested in public relations careers to join, regardless of their majors." \nIU already met nearly all the necessary requirements to start a chapter of PRSSA except for one: a public relations writing course which was quickly thereafter established in the journalism school. PRSSA is governed by a parent organization, the Public Relations Society of America. \nPRSSA Officer Jill Delaney believes it is a great way to network within a public relations group for the future. "Some of the benefits of being a PRSSA member include, but are not limited to, networking, workshops on portfolios, interviews, field trips to agencies and companies, and spending a half-day with a professional" Delaney said.\nAnother perk is that upon graduation, the student is automatically part of the national PRSSA, allowing for further help in building a career. In fact, building a career is one of the goals Wood hopes students can reach.\n"I want them to learn to think beyond getting that first job and to imagine what kinds of careers they can build," Wood said. "Working with other people who have a passion for what they do is so invigorating. Students will have a chance to learn and grow while they're here."\nIn addition to helping students here at IU, when the scholastic year is over, students can go home and connect with additional chapters of PRSSA or PRSA to gain more experience.\nPRSSA President Ashley Voss hopes to bring the University's chapter more into the public eye.\n"The executive officers and I are working hard to create awareness on the Bloomington campus of the opportunities and benefits of PRSSA," Voss said. "We are a new organization on campus, but my team is motivated and confident that we can create a successful PRSSA chapter that will be an irreplaceable asset to students on the IU campus."\nOne of PRSSA's upcoming events is a conference in October in New York.\n-- Contact staff writer Cecelia Wolford at cwolford@indiana.edu.