Students find Unity lacking

By Michelle K. Massie
Unity 99 Convention Online Staff

"Although the convention is called Unity, all the organizations are segregated," said Dena McClurkin, the newly elected NABJ student representative. "Was it really unity or just a convention that carried a title?"

McClurkin was not alone in her observation. Other students said that Unity organizers and participants didn't practice what they preach.

"Whatever happened to the unity part?" asked James Ellis III, a member of the New Media student project. "Everyone was having their own parties, and at the same time too."

Ellis also said that he felt under-appreciated as a student online journalist at the convention."I'm in the New Media project, and people don't really know what that is," he said. "I feel like the illegitimate child. We are there, but no one wants to acknowledge us. They talk about how [new media] is the wave of the future, but they still emphasize print and broadcast over us."

Students who were not on the student projects said the convention did not offer a wide range enough range of things for them to do.

"There needs to be more workshops and programs geared toward students," McClurkin said. "Most students are in the student projects and don't get much out of the convention because they are working so much."

McClurkin said students pay their dues like the professional association members but do not receive the same benefits.

Students had a strong presence at the convention. Over 100 participated in the student projects and hundreds more attended with their respective associations.

However, not every student had gripes about the convention. "I met a lot of different people; a lot of cool people, people I hope I will meet again," said Mark Flores, of the television student project. "I had the chance to hone my skills to see if I can still edit and put together packages.. This conference gave me the confidence to say, 'Hey, I really belong in this business.'"