Page 87 - ThePhoenix1995-96

On The Hill. .,( The Phoenix Thursday, December;?, 1995", Page ·11 Don Shoemaker adds CommonGroundpromotesdiversity lifeto PublicInfooffice By JONATHON Michael re- SHACAT Oil The Hill Edilor called a recent during event By NtCKI KAssous minister Yitzak Rabin and the new Do you like which Charles SrajJWriler prime minister of Israel. The letter music and art? John Quarto, an Have you ever dreamed of seeing was signed by students and staff and Do you have an your face on the cover of major news- sent overseas. Shoemaker first heard interest in ac- artist, performed. papers oron national news for an amaz- of the story at a faculty meeting, tivities which The total number ing accomplishment? Well it can hap- "sometimes it's that simple," and he include these of people in atten- dance was seven pen and the man who can help you is decided that it would bring the subjects? If so, (no students were none other than Don Shoemaker. school "good publicity." He was read on. present). Michael This pastOctober, WMC's of- right, because the story receivedcov~ The 'Com- said he expects fice of public information welcomed erage by the Associated Press and mon Ground or- maybe len stu- a new member to its five person staff, was featured on CNN, Channel 13, ganization at dents to go to Don Shoemaker. Shoemaker is a as well as The Carroll County TImes. WMC is a music such an event. native of St. Mary's City, MD. He Shoemaker enjoys his work at and arts center The weather that graduated from Towson State Uni- WMC. He likes to "get to meet fac- thai offers a night was snowy versity with a bachelor of science and ulty and students, " an opportunity learning experi- and may have pre- a background in mass communica- he would miss at a larger school. He ence to the par- vented some tion. Shoemaker began his career as feels WMC is a "professional ticipants via the people, such as ,a journalist on The Entemrise the school," and he works in a "profes- talent of musi- community members, from at- in 1993. newspaper of his native St. Mary's sional office where [he] has a lot of cians and craftspeople. The MusioduringJan-Term and dream, tending but it should not have his experience With County. During that time, he formed fun." Shoemaker plans to continue participants explore cultural di- prevented students from attend- 'a friendship with the director of pub- working here "as long as they'll keep versity with an intent of find- he has since formed the organi- ing. Advertising for the event lic relations at S1. Mary's College. me." ing a "common ground" among zation and its goal of using mu- included posters which were That friendship lead Shoemaker to Shoemaker wants students at ethnic, gender, age, and racial sic and art to achieve racial and placed around the campus three his first job in the public information WMC to "feel free to come to [him] groups. cultural harmony. weeks before the event and a department of a college. with story ideas." Shoemaker gets The organization holds Many recent events spon- Phone Mail message that was Shoernakereojcyedhis new line much of his information through classes during the Summer se- sored by Common Ground have of work, since it brought better pay professors, since "students usually mester each year and offers mu- had "exceptionally low atten- sent to all students. be in- said it would Michael and shorter hours, while being don't approach this type of office." sical performances, such as fes- dance" by students and "some- teresting if students let him "something [he] was interested in." While he cannot guarantee that ev- tivals and concerts, to the WMC times no students attend" the In February of 1989, Shoemaker left ery story he writes will appear on community throughout the year. programs, said Michael. Part of know who they want perform- S1. Mary's College for a similar job CNN, he wants students to ap- The purpose of the Common the reason for the lack of atten- ing. "Jf students aren't going Ground programs is to educate dance might be due to the cost to respond, I am not going-to go at Hood College in Frederick. He proach him. worked "in charge of media relations Shoemaker knows that a "col- and entertain the participants. of admission (usually about $5 crazy about it, but it would be on a regional and national level," for lege campus is full of stories. good For the past twenty-five for students). The admission nice 10 see students getting in- six years, until he decided that a stories," such as the story about a years Walter Michael, artistic fee is charged because the Com- valved," he said. change was in order. seventy-one year old WMC stu- director of Common Ground, man Ground organization is not Most Common Ground That change brought Shoe- dent who plays the Ilute, and he has led a tour of a variety of underwritten by the college and events are scheduled during the maker to the WMC campus to fill a wants to find them. So the next musical ensembles around the therefore must pay the artists Fall and Spring semesters and position in the public information time you feel something you did world and has played at every from its own monies. If the cost usually cost a nominal admis- department that had been vacated for is worthy of attention, call or visit majqr_Ir_adilin_naL.lt..e.nue...a.nd...-.Oi.an...e.v..e.nLw.a.s__pat:Lially funded sion fee. If you want more in- .....,; a yearanaa half:----Shoemakersaw-----DorrStmemak:erltnne ornce of festival. He conceived the idea by student organizations then formatIon, ptease-c-onlftct-Watt__ his ncw position as a "good opportu- public information and your face to form Common Ground while admission would be free for stu- Michael at extension 771 or ;~u~~:;,~, i~n~:~h:~;~~~~~~~ r"Q!O"!!!ld!.!be~,,,,o~m!!'.e.!!f"~m~O"~'~. t~e.'!!,,'-!h~in'!lL.g"-".£'2!O"~'~"'-.2.on~Rc2o.!!.otl!.,-"d",en".'t"",C'h,,-e.::,,~p".'I"".';n~e~d.,--- :_77~2::_ ----, fell by the wayside." put Resident working to make sure area The WMC campus also Shoemaker closer to his home in aged 3, 5, students get good education Gettysburg. He lives there with his wife and three daughters, and 8, all of whom have birthdays in If you've met Bill Hawkins of Mr. Hawkins, class of 1948, that as he works with them they tion advocate making sure that the month of August. WMC's golf realize that if he is this serious the students are at least consid- Catonsville then you've heard has steered dozens of course also attracted Shoemaker and about the institution and he is ering college, Ms.O'Connell of Western Maryland College Catonsville area students to- he affirms that he is always "willing just a volunteer then there must said. in Westminster. And it probably ward the college, acting as a to play with anyone." be something to it." Of course, he knows that not The office of public information didn't take long, especially if kind of volunteer matchmaker you are a teenager or the par- for the WMC admissions staff Mr. Hawkins meets many of every student, as much as he is divided into two sections, one deal- the students early on, as mem- would like to see it, will enroll ent of a college-ready son or and would-be freshmen. Cur- ing with promotion of various col- rently there are six Bill bers of the youth girls' basket- at his beloved college. Even the lege activities, the other with outside daughter. ball and softball teams he still beautiful campus, perched atop Simply put, he loves his Hawkins' recruits at the college publicity of those activities. Shoe- a rolling hill overlooking Carroll alma mater and he's pretty sure and he's already hard at work actively coaches. He keeps in maker works with publicity.as he at- on his "next class," according to touch, seeing them around the County's largest city, sometimes tempts to "get the word out" about others will, too. He never tires admissions director Martha community and when it comes isn't enough. But he usually has what occurs at WMC. He writes of discussing the school's at- O'Connell. time to look at colleges, Me. an answer for every question or press releases which have the possi- tributes and an application fee And for Mr. Hawkins, his Hawkins makes sure that West- concern and he won't give up bility of being picked up by local, waiver card is always lucked job isn't over when the student ern Maryland is at least on fheir easily. regional, and national news medi- neatly into. his jacket pocket starts classes at Western Mary- preview list. Others are children Carrie Gallon of Belnmore is ums. Through his job, Shoemaker ready to be handed out in the land. He likes to, well, wants to of former co-workers at a perfect example. The Landsdowne attempts to "tell the college's story supermarket or even after hear from "his students" about USF&G. He retired from the native, now a sophomore, had never about people and programs," while church. their college experience. Baltimore office a few years heard of Western Maryland College. working with the admissions and Earlier this year the "He wants to make a differ- ago. Again, he keeps track and Of course, that was before she met fund-raising departments to sell the Alumni Association awarded ence," Ms. O'Connell said. when they are in high school he Bill Hawkins. After that meeting, school. Mr. Hawkins its first-ever "Western Maryland made a dif- starts talking about Western Western Maryland was her first and Recently, Shoemaker wrote a Alumni Admissions Award in story about the decision by Dr. Esa honor of his service and com- ference in his life and he feels Maryland. is promot- only choice. Just the way he likes it. strongly [hat it can do the same His first priority to write a letter of condolence to the mitment to the private liberal for these students. And, I think ing education. He's an educe- Courtesy of Puhlic InJormtlJion wife of assassinated, Jsrael prime arts college.