Communication students explore careers through orgunizations DACTYLOLOGY SERVES DEAF; TEACHES STUDENTS LANGUAGE Harding offered the opportunity to any student interested in learning sign language through the Dactylology Club. The main purposewas to teach sign language and encourage deaf missions. Senior Matthew Rees was treasurer of the sign language group. "This organization provides classes for people interested in the language and also interested in visiting a church for deaf people," he said. Rees enjoyed this activity. "I joined the group a few semesters ago not only because I was really interested ' in learning, but also because I cared a lot about the missions," Rees said. Rees said that another of the activities of the group was to promote the language. "We want people to know about classes and missions ," he said. "We also have been visiting the church with the purpose of teaching the minister. It wou ld be easier for the people." The club's sign language class met every Tuesday for about 30 minutes. Rees said that the class in the fall semester was just for beginners. "They did not teach advanced lessons this fall, but it's good to go because it keeps me practicing, " he said. "S ign language is like any another language - if you don 't practice it, you forget it, but if you are really into it and study it, it is not hard to learn ." Rees said that sign language is avery helpful ability for anybody to have. "The more people who learn it, the better it becomes. In . this way, we make everybody more aware ofdeaf people," he said. "It is also a fun thing to do. " Senior Jill Johnston was the president of the Dactylology Club. "The purpose of the organization is to increase the awareness of the deaf mission work," Johnston said. "We alsowant to encourage people to learn the language so they can get more involved with the communication of the deaf culture ." Johnston said she was encouraged by a former roommate to learn the language. "I had a deaf roommate. She encouraged me to learn the language so I could communicate with her," she said. "It wasn't hard to learn it, but I can get rusty if I don't practice it." Pnoto by Oan;el Dubois Meredith Hlas/a, Eric Barnes and Angie Green discuss ideas for the organ donation awareness campaign undertaken by Public Relations Student Society ofAmerica. PRSSA provided a forum for students to apply their classroom knowledge to a real world situation. • 256 ORGANI ZATIONS She said that having just a beginner class was not usual. "We usually have a class for beginners and another class for advanced students," she said. "Learning this language is a lot like learning French; it is just a different language." Once every semester the organization scheduled an outing to North Little Rock. "We go to Sylvan Hills Church of Christ:We get together with them, have a devotional and visitwith their deaf ministry," Johnston said. Johnston said that anyone can learn the language . "We teach beginners the alphabet and some words," she said. "It would be neat for people who are not related to the deaf community to become involved in the language." This year, the sign language group had a reunion with the former members. "We had a reunion at Homecoming and celebrated the 50th anniversary of being active,"she said. "Dr. Sam Roach , who founded the organization, was present for the anniversary. Itwas an honor for all of us." - Julieta Gil "The Dactylology Club, started in 1950 by SamRoach who was a freshman with limited hearing ability, enrolled 30 students who met regularly to study sign language. Every Sunday morning during the school year, members of the Dactylology Club went to Little Rock to conduct Bible classes for deaf children. Several former club members now devote full time to preaching for and working with the deaf." - 196 7 Petit Jean
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