English/Journalism Organizations Encourage Communication Skills With a stated purpose to en· courage journalists and their activities, the Society for Collegiate Journalists completed another year in close connection with the Bison, Petit Jean and KHCA. The club was open to all jour. nalists who had spent at least one academic year working for any of the Harding accredited media. A 2.5 grade point average was also required. Boo Mitchell served as the group's fall president and then relinquished his duties to Laura Sunshine In Her Soul Brown tor the spring semester. Brown oversaw the initiation ceremonies, which saw the chapter grow to approximately 30 members. Aside from entering the publications' contest, the club additionally planned for the biannual national convention to be held at William and Mary next year. Because of their one time dues fee, club members received copies of bulletins and newsletters which informed the readers on topics of current Her office is a facet of her personality. It's on the sunny side of the building, made alive with plants and filled with books. Her candid conversation and direct blue eyes reflect her straightforward approach to life. She is Dr. Jo Cleveland, professor of English. Dr. Cleveland is one of three teachers who were honored with the Distinguished Teaching Award at graduation last May. A faculty member since 1966, she sponsors Sigma Tau Delta, the English honor society, and chairs the annual Creative Writing Contest. issues such as investigative reporting and the First Amend· ment as it relates to the jour· nalism field. "We're attempting to pursue excellence in our field," said sponsor Betty Ulrey. "It's a sOciety to both honor and encourage the University jour. nalism students." ~ Although mired in the middle of a struggle to join the national organization, the PR Club con· tinued to work with students majoring in public relations, Dr. Cleveland has lived all her life in a college town. "I don't think I would ever want to live in any other kind of community," she said. "I think it's because I love the young people, the energy and the activities and the brightness. It makes me feel good; it makes me feel young." When asked about the Chris· tian's purpose for studying literature, Dr. Cleveland said, "A Christian is, above all peo· pie, prepared to read literature because a Christian should be a better judge of what he is reading. "I don't see that it would not be a Christian's duty to know as much as he possibly can about human beings, the behavior of human beings, the events in this world which lead to these behaviors, whether good or bad. So literature to me is merely a means by which we can learn things that we would never be able to learn firsthand." One of Dr. Cleveland's col· leagues has said she is a role model for female students who want a professional career. "l'm delighted. if I'm a role model, and a little bit surprised that I'm a role model , if I am, because I've just done what I had to do and have found great joy in do· ing it," she said. "I don' t see any reason why a woman could not function brilliantly in the pro· fessional world and keep her femininity and keep her Christianity intact." Not surprisingly, for such a devoted student of literature, Dr. Cleveland writes poetry. "I journalism and mass communications . The club, which consisted of 15 members, was sponsored by the Little Rock Public Relations Society of America as it attempted to gain admittance into the national student group. Extensive delays and large amounts of red tape have kept the Harding group frustrated for the past two years in this endeavor. "We're anxiously awaiting the day when we can finally become a part of the national organizawrite poetry quite a bit, but I read it, and I allow no one else to read it," she said. '" save some of it, but not much, because I read it again after many weeks and months and decide that it isn't any good, and then I throw it away." Dr. Cleveland also enjoys oil painting and sewing. "( could fill many, many hours with that. I find great pleasure in creating things ... Those are the things I like to do. And I love to read ," she said. '" have dreams of having large blocks of time in which I could read and study and travel." A league bowler for three years, Dr. Cleveland felt she didn't have time for it this year. "But I love sports," she said. She played basketball and soft· ball in high school. Was she good? "Yes. I was very good. That brings me to another part of my character," she said. "I'm quite competitive. I like to win. , like to play games for the sake of the fun, and to give it everything there is to be given. I really do enjoy the thrill of victory." The thrill of victory, the aliveness of plants, the mastery of language in books, the energy of youth - Dr. Cleveland enjoys it all. "I'm a happy person primarily," she said. summing up the core of Jo Cleveland. ' 'I'm the eternal op· timist. I'm always positive that tomorrow will be the best day ever. And it usually is." t:6 - Laura Brown, KalhyCage
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