Every spring, one senior-level communication studies class makes its students do something different – go into the community and perform.
The CMST 4145 class involves students adapting a performance, casting their classmates and directing a piece, said associate professor Tracy Shaffer.
Shaffer has taught the class for the last three years and said it helps bring live performance to those who wouldn’t normally have access. The class performs around the city, including a day center for Alzheimer’s patients, assisted living homes and middle schools.
“People in assisted living don’t get to get in their car and go see something at the Shaw Center,” Shaffer said. “We do this to entertain the community.”
This semester, the theme of the class is Louisiana. Performances include a Cajun version of Little Red Riding Hood and the story of the origin of the poboy, among others.
Communication studies senior Cody Leake plays an alligator in two of the four pieces in which he appears. He said the performance is the most difficult aspect of the class.
“You perform four separate times and have to find your character four different times,” Leak said. “Staying in character is tough. I go from a Cajun alligator to a mischievous alligator and have to think about how to make them different.”
Leake’s one directing piece was a biography about Louisiana native rapper Lil Wayne.
“I’ve got a girl who introduces me and then she freezes, and I rap some clean lyrics,” he said. “It’s an inspiring follow-your-dreams story. Because ultimately, he made it.”
Graduate student Mollye Deloach took the class in 2010 and said she enjoyed the camaraderie between students in the class.
“We spent half of the semester rehearsing and preparing for our work to go out into the community, and when it finally did, we all had a blast,” Deloach said.
Shaffer said she just likes the way the class tops off the students’ college careers.
“Students in the class get to use all the skills they’ve gained in communication studies,” she said. “It’s really a capstone experience for the students. It’s more than a class. They learn how to talk to the contacts and the community.”
University alumna Keisha Perkins said she agreed and said she felt the class has helped her greatly in life after college.
“The most valuable lesson it taught me was how rewarding community service can be,” Perkins said. “The reactions we got from the people we performed for really brightened our day. Knowing just 30 minutes of my time could have that effect on someone was great.”
 
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Contact Taylor Balkom at [email protected]