It starts with a whisper, "Go Gonzaga, G-O-N-Z-A-G-A," while numerous shots explore the different parts of campus eventually leading the viewer into the Kennel where the quiet whisper turns into the crowd's roar. This is one of the newer commercials the University features on television when basketball games are broadcast live. However, as creative as this commercial is, I wonder whether the students in the broadcasting department could make a commercial as good or perhaps even better.
Yes, I said it, Broadcasting department. Isn't that odd how the University has a major devoted to digital media where students learn how TV works by creating their own news programs, shows, documentaries and teases, yet Gonzaga outsources to have commercials made for the University.
Now, I could easily be biased, seeing as I am a broadcasting student myself. But lets look at this logically. If the University was to hire its own students to create commercials, not only would it be cheaper for the school, but they would also be investing their money back into the University.
Students pay thousands of dollars to come to Gonzaga to have the best education possible, and if Gonzaga fully believed in their teachings don't you think they would rather have a student that they have taught over a local Spokane business with which the University has no affiliation? It would be similar to parents hiring someone to clean their home instead of having their children do it. Of course they would rather have their kids do it because they have taught them everything and know what their child is capable of and they are more comfortable with their children doing it because they are family.
If Broadcasting students were given the opportunity to work on the commercials for the University it wouldn't be the first time that they have gotten a job to produce either. Julie McCulloh, the Dean of Admission has hired many Gonzaga students.
"Right now, three GU upperclassmen are working on a ‘Decision Video' for us [Admission] to use for our prospective freshman in April," she said.
Not to mention one of her favorite pieces is ‘Zambia 2008' which is a documentary of Ian Roeber's experience on one of the Zambia trips that Gonzaga has partaken in the last couple summers.
Allowing students to create these commercials would also help the students. They would be hired just like any other job so they would learn how the business runs and would be able to experience first hand how to work with a client.
These are skills that would benefit students because once they got into the industry they would already have a portfolio of work to show future clients and would be more comfortable with the process. Furthermore, if the University is making commercials for prospective students, wouldn't the best people to create a unique way to portray the University be done by current students?
It's like the ambassadors on campus: You don't see the admissions team giving the tours. They have the ambassadors, current students of the school, share their thoughts and experiences about Gonzaga. The final point I would like to make is that if the University did in fact use Broadcasting students to create and produce their commercials it would only highlight the program and school that much more.
By allowing students to produce the commercial, Gonzaga would be able to show the work of current students enticing prospective students because they would be able to see the work that department is putting out.
When asked why Admission likes to work with the Broadcasting program, McCulloh answered, "We enjoy highlighting the work of the broadcast studies students in our recruitment piece because of the relevant work the students do, the hands-on training they receive, the creative outcomes, and the outstanding student — faculty interactions found throughout the department."
Now I couldn't imagine why you would only want to limit that kind of talent to be displayed only through admission on campus. However, hats off to them for getting it right.
In the meantime, I guess all we can do is whisper; but a whisper can only be heard by so many.
Lindsey Wopschall is a sophomore
at Gonzaga
is a member of the 
4 comments
When it comes to official commercials, the Broadcasting students are still learning the skills, so an outside company would make a more polished commercial. But Gonzaga could use GUTV more when making promo videos, online video tours, and using the GUTV news stories. Stop ignoring GUTV just because it's tucked away on the West side of campus.