College Basketball and the GDS - Gustafson - Draft - System

The IBC program

Members of Gulplahoma giving their donation to Make-A-Wish Foundation

"This is the only class were it is ok to fail." This is the disclaimer that professor Michelle Shelly Grunsted tells her Integrated Business Core students at the beginning of every semester.

Friday December 11 the newest group of students to go through the integrated Business Core, (IBC), program gave their final presentations. Their entire semester has revolved round the creation and implementation of a new business.

The IBC program has been a part of the Price School of Business since 1995. The idea of the class is simple, take the lessons that are typically learned in the class room and apply them to the real world by having students create real businesses.

Students that participate in the IBC program take the core business classes of Management, Marketing, and Legal studies, as well as a three hour practicum class. It is in the practicum class where the students create their own business. “The students are in charge of every aspect of the business process. They do everything from conducting market research in order to determine which product to make, to selling the product and filling out expense reports.” Said Grunsted.

To get the business started the companies must apply for a small business loan. First Fidelity Bank has been a sponsor of the program since it began. “First Fidelity has been an integral part of the programs success.” Said Grunsted

This semester there are four companies:

DryBC – Which is selling an OU stadium blanket

Gulplahoma – Which is selling an insulated OU mug

Sooner Shades- Which is selling red and white Boomer Sooner sunglasses

The Crimson Cupany – Is selling OU color changing cups.

In order to sell products with the OU logo the companies must acquire the proper licensing from the University. “Learning about how licensing works and getting the license was one of the most beneficial parts of my IBC experience.” Said Chris Gilbert who when through the program and was a member of Chameleon Cups in the fall of 2007.

After the companies have decided on a product and applied for a loan, the success of the company falls solely on their shoulders. To help the companies along their journey each company is given a company consultant. Consultants are older students that have completed the IBC course.

“I have had a lot of fun being a consultant. Sometimes it is hard not to influence them. I have to take a step back and realize what worked for my company may not work for theirs.” Said Erika Kettler, Marketing senior and current consultant for Gulplahoma.

Another critical aspect of the program is giving back to the community. All of the profit that the companies make are donated to the charity of each companies choice. The companies are also required to donate “sweat equity” hours during the semester. Each company chooses which charities they would like to donate their time and money to at the begging of the year. The teams set service hour goals at the begging of the semester.

This year the companies have donated their time and money to

Gulplahoma: Make A Wish Foundation and Norman Public Schools

DryBC: Oklahoma Blood institute, The Roy Williams Safety Net Foundation and Middle Earth.

Sooner Shades: Ally’s House and Camp Cavett Kids Foundation

The Crimson Cupany: Mary Abbott Children’s House and the Wildcare Foundation in Noble.

The class is a classic example of trial by fire and not everything always runs smoothly. "We have run into a few problems." Said Grunsted. In the fall of 2007 Sooner Signatures made a floating pen. When they received their inventory they found out that the product was defective. OU's legal team was consulted and they were able to get all of the money back. Sooner Signatures were able to $6,100 to their chosen charities.

During one of the random inventory audits a box of Gulplahoma's mugs were missing. The mugs were returned anonymously a few days later. "Everything about the class is a learning experience. In class we talk about all of the aspects of running a company even the bad ones. There is always a lesson to be learned." Said Grunsted.

The program has been very successful. Every company has been able to repay the loan and still donate something to charity. After this semester the program will have donated over $850,000 and over 38,000 hours of community service to various charities.

It is clear that the IBC program is a success. The hands on learning style paired with the class room direction has led to a quality experience for all those whom choose to participate. "I learned a lot about my self, my peers and business by going through the IBC program. One of the major lessons that I took away was the importance of communication. And that lesson is helping me today in the real world." Said Chas Gilmore OU alum and member of Pure Source.

If you are interested in the IBC program you can find out more at http://price.ou.edu/ibc/index.aspx.

This video is end of DryBC's final presentation.

While cookies, pretzels and soda are common items sure to be found at any fraternity house, blood donating beds are not.

On Wednesday, November 11 2009 The Sigma Phi Epsilon house opened its doors to the Oklahoma Blood institute and all of those wanting to give blood.

The blood drive was being held for Sandy Fisher's ,the Sigep house mother, daughter Jamie.

In 1997 Jamie was diagnosed with stage 2 Adenocrcinoma, which is a form of cancer that attacks glandular tissue such as skin and glands. December 2008 Jamie had some blood work done after complaining of sore throat and no energy. The blood work returned with results that she now considered Stage 3 Adenocrcinoma.

Sandy was at the house making sure that everyone was well taken care of after they donated, and making sure that all of the nurses got food to eat "The support has been overwhelming. My heart is full with gratitude for all the prayers and concern for my daughter and her family." Said Sandy.

If you missed the event but would like to give blood you can walk-in and donate at the Oklahoma Blood Institute's Norman location. 1004 24th Avenue NW, Suite 101

Final Project Idea

Do an investigative report over the Price College of Business Integrated Business Core.

The anatomy of a prank.

Interview with Kyle Wilson

It is not every day that you can see men in army fatigues squirming looking for the nearest exit, but this is exactly the scene on the third floor of the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication.

Last Friday October 23, was the sixth time that Captains from Ft. Sill came to Norman to work on their media engagement skills. This is the sixth time the university has hosted the event. The media engagement training pairs soon to be Captain with JMC undergrad and Graduate students. A series of hypothetical situations are created and given to each side. Then the army personnel are sat down in a room in front of the camera and interviewed by the students.

"We love the event. It involves new people and a new environment. Throws them a curveball." said Major Thomas one of the military instructors and founder of the event.

To earn the rank of Captain members of the army must pass a series of tests, on of them being media engagement. The program was the idea of Major Thomas who originally asked Cameron University in Lawton if they would be interested in hosting the event, they passed on hosting the media engagement. Some one at Cameron mentioned that the University of Oklahoma might be interested.

Paula Hewitt, Assistant to the, Director at The Institute for Research and Training is now one of the head figures in charge of the event. According to Hewitt the first event was on October, 1 2008 in Ft. Sill. After the first event the organizers thought it would be more economical to come to OU.

"It is a really fun event. It is a great way to promote mutual learning." said Hewitt. The event gives students the ability to take on the roll of the their favorite investigative reporter and gives the military personnel the experience of being in front of a camera and the center of attention.

The program is so successful that the Army is interested in taking the formula and taking it nation wide. "Every time it gets better." said Major Thomas.

"The event sure has changed a lot. There are always some mess-ups but as long as no one is aware we consider it a great event." Said Hewitt.

I was required to attend the event for my Multimedia journalism class and I was a little nervous of the idea. Being an advertising major I have no intention of interviewing people from a media perspective. In the set of guidelines we were given it said "Your goal isn't to trick the source or get him or her to say something sensational. You want the facts." Receiving these instructions I was a little hesitant with my first interview sticking primarily to the questions that were given to us.

After the first interview I was given the sign to “stick” it to the next interviewee.

After trying to exploit the next interviewee with little success I started to question my abilities in being a hard edge reporter. I completed the rest of the interview with much of the same results. The best way to describe my talents as a feared reported are best summarized by Major Thomas’s nickname for my interview room calling it “the candy room.

After a nice lunch consisting of delicious Hideaway Pizza, which was provided, I returned to the debriefing to watch the real fireworks. Entering the room full of military personnel feeling light hearted after a trip around campus to get some lunch, little did they know what was to ensue.

The second that Julie Jones, a member of the journalism faculty, entered the room the mood changed and became a little more serious. At the center of the room was a TV equipped with the necessary equipment to review the interviews. She promptly put the first tape in and dragged a chair right in front of the TV for the first of her “victims: to sit and watch his performance.

It didn’t take long for Jones to stop the tape and start making critique of his performance. Making notes of his posture, tone, and inflection. While the first critique had a lighthearted tone and some of the critiques and had the onlookers laughing not all the lessons learned where as light hearted. One of the scenarios involved the death of a one of the soldiers on the mission. The interviewee in question addressed the death in an rather impersonal way. Jones shared a very personal story in which she addressed how she dealt with loss. Using her insight she taught the soldiers how to answers questions in a manner that is both informative and personal.

At the end of the day all parties can walk away with some valuable experience. The soldiers gained some experience being in front of the camera and will be better prepared if they need to address the media. The students involved were able to test their interviewing skills and learn how to better prepare and address future interview.

Personally I feel more prepared for an interview on either side of the camera. If you would like to participate in a future media engagement event email Paula Hewitt at paula@ou.edu.

Slide show

A life long friend of mine, Greg Brindley, just graduated from Oklahoma City University in May of 2009 with a degree in film and video studies. The aspiring young film maker was planning on filming his first independent project a month after graduation when he was in a head on collision with a drunk driver. After spending countless hours in the hospital and in rehab he was able to finally begin filming on Friday October 9, 2009. The slide show contains pictures of the first day of filming.