A new student organization is forming on campus to spur greaterinterest in political communication.
The Society of Political Interest and Networking, or SPIN, asits founders Paul Coussan and Josh Britton coined it, is a groupcreated to raise awareness about the scarcely populated major andprovide a link for students to network with professionals in thefield.
Britton said the organization is open to all students, but theywill focus on recruiting mass communication students first.
Political communication is a concentration within the ManshipSchool of Mass Communication.
Britton said he and Coussan felt the need for an organizationlast year because they found it difficult to network and get intouch with local politicians for internships or jobs.
Britton also said they looked for a national organization whichwould permit them to start a local chapter at the University, butcould not find anything directly related to politicalcommunication.
Part of the reason for that may be because there are not a lotof universities that have political communication programs, Brittonsaid.
Assistant Dean of the Manship School Helen Taylor said politicalcommunication is a concentration that is “very unique” to theUniversity.
Taylor said the main reason the University has an undergraduateprogram is because it has the only graduate program that combinesmedia and politics in the country.
Currently, 21 students are enrolled in political communication,Taylor said.
Political communication professor and SPIN adviser Kirby Goidelsaid he hopes the organization helps students better understandwhat political communication is.
“You hear the term and people often think campaigns andelections,” Goidel said.
Instead, Goidel said political communication is anytime someoneis strategically communicating ideas to disprove the values in asociety or a community.
He said political communication professions can include jobs inlobbying, public affairs, public relations for government officialsand more.
As for the group name, Britton said they meant for it to betongue-in-cheek.
Goidel said he thinks it is a great name that should get peopleinterested.
“It’s kind of sexy,” Goidel said.
SPIN is holding its first meeting tonight in Room 155 in CoatesHall at 7:30 p.m.