Beaver Sports Show, what's up!

Sports show competes for best college sports broadcast

The "Beaver Sports Show" is competing against two other schools from all over the nation for the prestigious award by College Broadcasters Inc.

Joce DeWitt

Issue date: 10/12/10 Section: News

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Media Credit: Jeff Basinger

"We're the underdogs," said Boon Kruger, who, along with co-producer Rick Stella, is acutely aware of the competition their "Beaver Sports Show" is up against in a national contest for the best college sports broadcast.

"The Beaver Sports Show" is one of three finalists, competing with the likes of Washington State's Edward R. Murrow College of Communication and University of North Carolina's thriving broadcasting program.

Technically speaking, "The Beaver Sports Show" is at a slight disadvantage to their larger, more resourceful opponents. Although, in the hard work department, this KBVR show lacks nothing.

This all started five years ago when "new media student Paul Koehnke, who was on the news show, made 'Beaver Sports' a two-minute short on the news," said student media advisor, Ann Robinson.

Since then, the show has undoubtedly come a long way.

Four years ago, Jon Hendricks, now a new media graduate, started "The Beaver Sports Show," which obtained a weekly half-hour segment on local cable television, along with a crew and studio at KBVR.

"I started freshman year as a sports reporter with no experience, but I knew I wanted to do this," said Kruger. "Rick and I were filming partners. We had no idea what we were doing."

After the show received a good deal of recognition and Hendricks, who set the precedence for a quality sports segment, moved on to bigger broadcasting opportunities, Kruger and Stella took over as co-producers.

"Boon and I look back at our earlier shows and just cringe," said Stella of the duo's start as inexperienced producers. "But we learned pretty quickly."

The pair quickly learned the amount of time and effort that goes into producing a show. "First we find events, then we talk to our crew to cover those events. Setting up the studio for recording takes about 45 minutes. Filming the show takes about an hour. We spend an average of five hours a week editing. Add in more time for talking to sports information and covering the games. It's about 20 hours a week for a 30-minute show," explains Kruger.

"We rarely eat and we don't sleep," jokes Stella, though there is some truth to his statement. Both hold at least one job outside of KBVR and are full-time students; Kruger a junior in new media and Stella a senior in political science.

Their commitment to producing is apparent not only by the national recognition they are receiving, but also in the loyalty of their crew, which is made up of students who return every term simply because they love it.

New media senior Shelby Anderson is one of the show's returning crew members. "We've all come together as friends, kind of like a family," said Anderson.

Anderson, who started working on the show a year ago, began taking it for practicum credits, but has returned this term, along with several other members, for the fun of it. "I'm still here because of the relationships, and it's experience for what I want to do."

Though the average crew member puts more than six hours into the show a week for a single credit of practicum, there is an extremely prevalent positivity among the whole team due to the benefits they receive from the experience.

"Rick and Boon are willing to take on the beginners. They could be saying, 'go learn somewhere else.' But they actually teach people what they need to know, which takes more time short term, but it's good for the show in the long term," said Robinson.

"I feel blessed with a great crew," said Kruger. "They are a great group to work with and filming the show is the highlight of my week. Going to the events and hanging out - it's special."

"The accessibility is the best part. Going to the events, talking to the players, who are just like everyone else…just really good at football," said Stella.

It is easy to see, therefore, that hard work, persistence and optimism are the ingredients for success that got "The Beaver Sports Show" into the running for the best sports broadcast in the country.

"OSU is a member of College Broadcasters Inc. (CBI) and the show has entered in years past. We submitted to see how we'd stack up," said Kruger. "Obviously, University of North Carolina and Washington State have broadcasting programs comparable to the pros, so it's a tremendous honor."

"We don't have the luxury most other schools have, or the facilities. We record in a condemned building, but we work hard to put together a quality program week after week," said Anderson.

"I think we have a good chance of winning," said Stella. "We have originality, and because we don't have many resources, hopefully they'll take that into account. Anything can happen at this point."

"We have a well-produced show, and a full 30 minutes a week is impressive. We're not as polished in technical aspects, but the content is really strong," said Robinson, who has judged this competition in the past.

The producers will travel to Louisville, Ky. on Oct. 27 to attend the CBI conference and learn the winner of the competition.

Kruger, spoken like a truly impassioned producer, said, "At this level, all we want to do is get better because we have a lot more potential."

Joce Dewitt, staff writer
737-2231, news@dailybarometer.com

Article on RUSH week

To rush, or not to rush, that is the question

Fraternities and sororities hold their formal recruitment during the first two weeks of fall term at O

Joce DeWitt

Issue date: 10/4/10 Section: News

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Media Credit: James Martinelli

Media Credit: James Martinelli

As Oregon State University enrollment hits record amounts, the Greek System prepares to recruit more students than ever before.

The event, formerly called RUSH, is a week-long process in which students, most often incoming freshmen, undergo experiences that allow them to get acquainted with different Greek chapters.

But why RUSH?

According to Kevin Aguas, Inter-Fraternity Council president, the term refers to the quick-paced ambiance that recruitment week portrays, due to hundreds of students rushing to meet as many members and see as many houses as possible before a decision is made.

The final step for a potential member is accepting an offer from a house they preferred, though it does not always end up that way. Thus, the confusion: Do rushers pick a chapter or does a chapter pick them?

"It's a very credible process," said Bob Kerr, coordinator of Greek Life, concerning recruitment week. "Each chapter has a different personality, so the question of 'Does it fit?' is sincere."

That is the main goal, after all. Recruiters do their best throughout the week to find the finest "fits" for each house.

Most often, the right fit is found. Occasionally, however, rushers are not offered membership from their preferred chapter and decide Greek life is not for them, like OSU student Rachel Trindle did.

"I don't think it was personal, and the house I wanted may have been fuller than the one I got into," Trindle said.

According to Aguas, who is an active member of Lambda Chi Alpha, fraternity houses are looking for recruits with "specific qualities that benefit the campus and community."

Lily Shorey, vice president of the Panhellenic Council at OSU, agrees on behalf of sorority houses.

"We look for qualities new women can provide for the chapter, like leadership skills," Shorey said. "We look for things they're interested in that will help the chapter become more successful."

Recruitment week may sound like a system in which rushers are judged and placed based on first impressions that may misrepresent them and their aspirations. Hollywood has also had an influence on society's perception of what occurs behind closed doors during events like RUSH.

"I'm sure that back in the day, (fraternities) did practice hazing," Aguas said regarding fraternities suspected of harassing potential members. "But in today's society, that kind of stuff just isn't acceptable."

Fraternities and sororities approach the act of recruitment with different tactics.

"It can be compared to speed dating," Shorey said about sorority recruitment. "Sorority RUSH is more formal. Fraternities have games and barbecues; we focus more on conversation so we get to know their personalities a little more."

According to Aguas, fraternities pursue potential members through more relaxed methods.

"Fraternities do a more individual-based system and extend offers while sororities go through a stricter, more complex process," Aguas said.

Kerr's advice to students looking to join a house is, "Be yourself. Relax and enjoy it. Get to know people."

Those options are, according to Kerr, basically the point of choosing to go Greek in the first place.

"There are three main reasons students choose to become members," Kerr said. "Networking, which is almost as valuable as a degree program, philanthropy, like community service, and an active social life."

Jimmy Bates, a member of Phi Psi, recounts a time when he was greeted by strangers in an airport, who he discovered to be Phi Psi alumni, because he was wearing his Greek letters.

"If everyone had the opportunity to experience the same thing, I don't think there would be a single person who would not go Greek," Bates said. "That's the beauty of it too. There is a house out there for everyone."

Shorey and Aguas agree that there is a place for everyone, even with the record amount of students going through recruitment this fall, due in part to high University enrollment, but also to recruiters allowing more time for incoming students to get settled before holding formal recruitment.

"Some positive signals for this year are IFC expanding by two chapters, so there is more opportunity to get involved, and following this cycle, Panhellenic has a possible extension by one chapter," Kerr said. "This growth is a very good thing."

Fraternity recruitment ended yesterday with Jump Day, a traditional event where the new pledges gather on the front steps of the MU Quad according to which new house they have joined. The new members then proceed to literally "jump" into the arms of their brotherhood.

Formal sorority recruitment began Sunday and runs until Saturday. For more information, visit www.oregonstatenpc.com.

Joce DeWitt, staff writer
737-2231, news@dailybarometer.com