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Virginia Wesleyan is the new national headquarters for the Society for Collegiate Journalists, the oldest student honor society for collegiate mass communications, journalism and other media.
The Society of Collegiate Journalists (SCJ), previously headquartered at Clarion University of Pennsylvania, decided to change locations following the announcement of the retirement of Dr. Arthur Barlow, a professor at Clarion and the current executive director.
“It’s a feather in our cap,” said Virginia Wesleyan President Billy Greer, voicing the administration’s support of the move. “This administration does everything it can to create an environment where student journalism can flourish.”
The decision, effective Jan. 7, 2006, was passed in October 2005 during the SCJ National Executive Council Meeting at the national ACP/CMA College Media Convention in Kansas City, Mo. Dr. Bill Ruehlmann, VWC professor of journalism/communications, most recently served as president of the organization and is now the Society’s new executive director.
“This is great for SCJ, it’s great for the College and it’s great for our students,” Ruehlmann said. “It certainly gives me something to do, too.”
The Society for Collegiate Journalists is a National Society of Collegiate Mass Communications. It is the nation's oldest organization designed solely to serve college journalists. SCJ was formed when Pi Delta Epsilon, which was founded in 1909, merged with Alpha Phi Gamma, which was founded in 1919.
Today SCJ has approximately 100 active chapters nationwide and 1200 members.
The National Council provides each active chapters key services: an annual national contest; a biennial national convention comprised of chapter delegates and members; and special forms of recognition such as Medal of Merit Certificate, Presidential Citation, and two prestigious annual national awards – The McDonald Award for the outstanding chapter and the SCJ Student Journalist of the Year Award.
The Marlin Chronicle, Virginia Wesleyan’s student newspaper, has won numerous SCJ awards over the years and was recently awarded the 2005 McDonald Award for outstanding chapter. Virginia Wesleyan students have also been recipients of the SCJ National Student Journalist of the Year Award including Melissa Harris in 2000, Victoria Scavo in 2002 and Julia Green in 2004. Ruehlmann was also honored with the Barker Award for National Advisor of the Year in 2001 and 2003.
Laura Dudley '07 contributed to this article.