Journalism Department 'Unveiled'

Michelle Burford, Biola alumni and founding editor of the Oprah magazine, was the guest at the 'Journalism Unveiled' party. The event was 1920s themed and featured a mystery murder play.

Ronalynn Lieggi

The smooth sounds of Mark Tomlinson’s trumpet and soft, twinkling white lights greeted the 1920s-clad guests who attended the journalism department’s ‘Unveiled’ mystery dinner theatre in the library courtyard last Thursday.

More than 90 students, faculty and alumni were in attendance. The honored guest was speaker Michelle Burford, Biola alumna, accomplished journalist and a founding editor of O, The Oprah Magazine.

Many faculty members sent out congratulatory e-mails after the event, expressing their compliments on the festivities put on by the PR Practicum class; even Biola’s Vice Provost offered his praise.

“I was very impressed with the entire evening. It spoke volumes about the stature of the journalism department and the bright future, which is ahead for it,” said Jack Schwarz, Interim Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, in an e-mail.

The event showcased Biola’s emerging journalism department, according to the press release, and was funded by them for just under $5,000, according to AS Social Board Chair Emilee Sutherland who was in the PR class.

Mystery was in the air as the evening began with Biola alumnus Andrew Mollenbeck and Melissa Tamplin, assistant journalism professor, alerting the crowd that Michael Longinow, professor and chair of the journalism department, was missing.

A short movie followed, identifying the suspects who could have delayed Longinow and their somewhat unusual motives. The movie was directed by senior Lindsey Bruno and sophomore Austin Flones, according to the press release.

“One of the characteristics of any organization that has actually arrived is that it takes on a mythic proportion, and the fact that somebody would study our mannerisms as a department and as faculty and be able to create something that is this caricature … to me is the height of flattery,” said Longinow.

Suspects included senior Nate Finfrock portraying Doug Tarpley, dean of fine arts and communication, senior Kate Elliott as Lisa Swain, associate professor of cinema and media arts, freshman Ellie Pappuleas as junior Michelle Rindels and Frances Brisbane as VJ Vonk, secretary of the journalism department.

“I especially want to applaud Kate on her adept impersonation of me. I think she absolutely captured my essence,” Swain said.

After viewing a live scene with one of the suspects, students who were confident they had cracked the code of junior Kyle Gilbertson’s murder mystery script wrote down their name and accusation and submitted their answers for a chance to win two free spring banquet tickets.

Attendees were then able to enjoy a candle-lit dinner catered by Bon Appetit as a live drama with the student actors unfolded before them, revealing the perpetrator as none other than Finfrock/Tarpley, whose motive was that Longinow — played by junior Brendan Austin — always had better ties.

“Brendan was a wonderfully handsome individual, and I was flattered that he was chosen to portray me,” said Longinow.

Burford spoke as guests indulged in strawberry cheesecake, a rich example of the 1920s-style decadence of the evening. In addition to Burford’s current position as contributing feature writer at O Magazine — which has a circulation of about 2.6 million — Burford has edited at Essence Magazine and Focus on the Family and is a travel writer and correspondent.

With her wide resume and down-to-earth nature, Burford was able to give students advice on topics like how to embrace fear in the business, along with several personal anecdotes demonstrating what to do … and what not to do.

From the 1920’s glamour to the acclaimed speaker, many are saying the night was a success.

“I believe this ‘tip of the hat’ to the students, faculty and administrative efforts to this point marks a program that has blossomed significantly,” Tarpley said. “The operation of an independent journalism department marks this year as a milestone and reflects the continued philosophical and educational support administrators have extended to the j-vision.”

Last semester’s PR practicum pitched the idea for the celebrated Great Gatsby-themed event to the department, and each person in this semester’s practicum with advisor Tamara Welter did their part, according to Wetmore, who worked with the drama/acting aspects.

Wetmore admitted that there were a few glitches during the planning and production of the event.

“The communication was really difficult because when someone else comes up with an idea you don’t…really know what their intentions were. It was also hard communicating with the department…because they wanted to okay everything,” she said.

Other people who were involved included Sutherland, who said she was in charge of handling the day-of logistics, and Forrest Robinson, an acting professor who found the cast and directors for the film, according to Wetmore.

“I think it was a really important learning experience for us about how to plan an event that is both useful for our students and makes a statement to the rest of the university that … we’re here and we’re doing some great stuff,” said Longinow.