Hugh Munn - 1942-2012

I'd like to toot Hugh Munn's horn. He'd never do it himself. Oh, he'd beep the little horn on the blue scooter that propelled him around the Coliseum's race track corridors. That was for your sake and safety, not his. Before he got the scooter, Hugh ambled on crutches and never complained. Childhood polio didn't slow Hugh down. Cancer led to his death at 70 last month. But Hugh's work continues.

I got to know Hugh best when he led our program to a series of significant grants to develop training for the nationwide AMBER Alert system a few years ago. Hundreds of law enforcement officials and journalists came to the college's IFRA Newsplex facility to produce a stronger collaborative effort to rescue imperiled children in the critical first hours of their abduction when AMBER Alerts are most effective.

Hugh Munn Hugh was the expert. In a sense, this utterly pleasant, mild-mannered public relations instructor had an alter ego. He was a crusader, no cape necessary. In his pre-university career, Hugh had been the State Law Enforcement Division — SLED — spokesman for 26 years. His degrees in journalism and criminal justice blended into a recognition that the law has a public face and a need to communicate to the public. Sometimes, that is to explain what law enforcement is doing. Sometimes, it is to enlist help. AMBER Alert reflects one vital interface.

Hugh's expertise was in seemingly constant demand from agencies and organizations across the country. The travel to frequent media and law enforcement conferences took a toll on him physically. Airlines were unwitting conspirators against him. As the airlines switched to smaller planes, often the ones that served Columbia, Hugh lamented that it had become more difficult for him to travel. It's about the only complaint I can recall from Hugh. He was fine if the plane were at the end of a jetway. If he had to climb those narrow little steps from the tarmac to the plane, he had a problem. He'd tell airline staff they'd have to carry him up the stairs. The airlines did not seem to understand that Hugh was on a mission and they were merely his first obstacle. He told me he probably could not keep doing it. But I doubt that he turned down many invitations to lend a hand to help protect children. "We'll get through this," was his motto.

You can read more about Hugh and his career on our web pages. Read more

Keep Hugh in your thoughts. Give him a toot.

Charles Bierbauer

Follow @cjbsc

If you wish to make a donation in memory of Hugh, please contact Annie Lambert at lambert@sc.edu or 803-777-6791.

College News

Alumni Awards Honorees Announced

The School of Journalism and Mass Communications has announced the recipients of its 2012 Alumni Awards. These awards identify exceptional graduates of the school whose careers represent significant professional achievement.

The winners of the Distinguished Alumni Award are Richard D. Elliott, '67 journalism; Catherine B. Love, '85 public relations; and Michael "Jeff" Charney, '81 public relations. The recipients of the Outstanding Young Alumni Award are Jonathan T. Bennett, '06 journalism; and Tracey E. Robinson, '01 advertising.

The awards will be presented at the school's Annual Alumni Awards dinner on Thursday, Nov. 8.

Luncheon Honors CMCIS Scholarship Donors, Recipients

The College of Mass Communications and Information Studies held its annual Scholarship Luncheon on Oct. 25.

The luncheon recognized donors to scholarships in the college as well as the students who received them for the 2012-13 school year.

View photos of the event

Student Named ASIS&T Member of the Year

Karen Miller School of Library and Information Science doctoral student Karen Miller was awarded the Special Interest Group Member of the Year award at the American Society for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T) annual meeting in Baltimore, held Oct. 26-30. Miller is a member of the Education for Information Science group, which hosts workshops, panels and activities that prepare doctoral students to enter their academic careers and updates current doctoral students with new trends and methods.

School of Library and Information Science doctoral students Hassan Zamir and George Shaw, Jr. serve as officers for the group, which shared the Special Interest Group of the Year award.

SJMC Students Selected for Think Tank

Two senior advertising students, Ashley Davis and Maddie McDowell, have been selected to serve on the Initiative Future board, a creative think tank established by the American Advertising Federation and Initiative Media. Davis and McDowell, who have been assigned to the Arby's account based in Atlanta, will serve the board for five months, gaining hands-on marketing experience while interacting with agency executives and advertising clients.

Students Win Big in RTDNAC Awards

USC broadcast students swept the sports reporting category and scored across the board in the Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas competition. Sam Davis won first in Best Student Sports Story for "Kyle Nunn's NFL Dream," and Mike Wadsworth took second in the same category for "Lakeisha Sutton"; Krista Bagley took first place in Best Student News Reporting for her piece "Fake IDs"; Kyara Massenburg got second place in Best Student News Feature Reporting for "The Three Little Bears"; and Chelsea Parler won second place in Best Student Photography for "Celtic Festival."

The Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas (RTDNAC) held its annual convention on Oct. 20 to honor the best in broadcast journalism in North Carolina and South Carolina.

Owen Featured on My Carolina

Broadcasting alumnus Clay Owen, '82, was featured on the My Carolina Alumni Association website in October. Owen and his wife Grainne created the charity Curing Kids Cancer, which will be hosting a fundraising event, "Battle Kids Cancer with the Gamecocks," on Nov. 8.

To read the full profile on Owen and the charity, visit the My Carolina website

Homecoming

Carolina is Going Whole Hog

Join the College of Mass Communications and Information Studies and the University of South Carolina for Homecoming weekend, Nov. 8-10.

On Friday Nov. 9, be sure to join College of Mass Communications and Information Studies alumni, friends and faculty on the lawn of Gibbes Green near Davis College for Gamecocks on the Green from 4-6 p.m. RSVP to 803-777-6791 or lambert@sc.edu.
For more details

My Carolina Alumni Association has many other events planned:

Cockfest
Nov. 8, 7 p.m.
Cheer on the Gamecocks at a pep rally on Greene Street in the heart of campus. Celebrate homecoming and cheer on the team as they prepare for Saturday's game.

Homecoming Parade
Nov. 9, 3 p.m.
The annual Homecoming parade can be seen this year from the Horseshoe gates on Sumter Street and along Greene Street. Start your celebration by watching the student and alumni floats and enjoying the band.

Alumni Awards Gala
Nov. 9, 6:30 p.m.
This gala cocktail event honors some of Carolina's most distinguished alumni.

School of Journalism and Mass Communications alumnus Don Barton, '49, has been selected as the recipient of the 2012 My Carolina Love and Devotion Award, which is presented to an alumnus or alumna who has demonstrated lifelong adoration for Carolina. Join us in congratulating Barton for this recognition.
For ticket information

Alumni Pre-Game Tent Party
Nov. 10, three hours before kickoff
Enjoy food and fun with your fellow Gamecocks three hours before kickoff at the new Farmer's Market, beside the Gamecock Walk.

Gamecocks vs. Razorbacks
Nov. 10, noon kickoff
To top off homecoming week, watch the Gamecocks take on the Arkansas Razorbacks at Williams-Brice Stadium.