ElonCommCollective kicks off educational effort with ‘Why I Wear a Mask’ video

The peer-to-peer collective is on the forefront of informing students in the build-up to the 2020-21 academic year.

When students return for the fall semester in the School of Communications in August, the classroom setting will change drastically from previous years with social distancing and masks become the new normal on campus for the fall semester. One group focusing on helping students with the transitions and managing the anxiety that many will have when they come to campus is the ElonCommCollective. The peer-to-peer communication project that recently published their first video titled “Why I Wear A Mask.”

“This campaign is important because there’s no denying that things will be different this fall,” said project manager Claire Latimer ‘22. “We want to show people that while things may be different; this semester is an opportunity to do things in a new way. The comm school community is so extensive and so involved, that it is important for everyone to know what policies to follow and how to follow them, to know that we’re a community who needs to work together to stay safe and healthy, and to know that there are people listening to their concerns and their fears.”

Their first video supports Elon’s new campuswide face covering policy that requires all students and faculty to wear a mask when indoors and outdoors when social distancing cannot be maintained. The policy is just one portion of a comprehensive plan by the university to promote a safe and healthy return to campus. More details about the overall effort is available at the university’s Ready & Resilient website.

“For this first video we really wanted to find a way to creatively introduce ourselves, showing that we’re students too,” said Latimer. “We also wanted to get the message across about wearing masks and that the health and safety of everyone around us is an interdependent effort. Our fantastic multimedia producers and storytellers, Cierra Johnson and Isabella Seman, wrote out the script, collected our individual videos, and edited them all together to create the final product.”

The ElonCommCollective was founded by Elon Professor of Cinema and Television Arts and Director of Assessment and Accreditation Naeemah Clark as a way for communications students to engage and communicate with their fellow classmates.

“I tried to assemble a group from different majors, student experiences, and personalities,” Clark said. “Even though we only have met on WebEx, I feel like I’m getting to know them each as individuals. They are all really talented. They care about transparency and positivity in this peer to peer campaign. Tons of good ideas started flowing in our very first meeting.”

Since the was selected in June, it’s been meeting twice a week and is focused on creating videos and campaigns for fall semester.

Throughout meetings and conversations, the collective has created three goals for their projects:

As far as future projects, the collective is looking ahead to not only the buildup to the year, but also the semester as a whole.

“We’re currently working on the logistics and planning for a few virtual and socially distanced in-person events for the weeks leading up to the first week of classes,” said Latimer. “We’re also working on a few campaigns and messaging that will lead up to classes and carry through the semester.”

The ElonCommCollective Team

Leila Wilhelm ‘23, a journalism and communication design double major, is the social media chief on the team. Wilhelms loves the Elon community for being one that is tight-knit, but one that also encourages the development of new relationships. Wilhelm looks forward to exploring new, safe means of learning and using technology in the fall.

Elliott Rivette ‘21 is an anthropology and journalism double major. He is the head writer for the team and loves problem-solving. Through his majors, Rivette enjoys learning more about people and how to use writing as a device to resolve bigger issues. Currently, he is working on finishing a fictional novel he has been writing. Rivette is eager to return and go on socially distant walks through Elon’s beautiful campus.

Isabella Seman ’21 is a journalism major who serves as the multimedia storyteller. Seman loves telling people’s stories, ensuring everyone has a voice. She wants to help people stay informed about their communities. Outside of media, Isabella is the co-captain for the volleyball team and announces for the men’s basketball team. She is most excited to help everyone adjust to the “new normal” at school and to meet the incoming first-year students.

Jack Thorne ‘20 majored in communication design. He is the designer for the team and loves creating media and art regardless of the medium. He also likes collecting vinyl records and exploring in his free time. Jack looks forward to seeing the perseverance of the community through these incredibly difficult times.

Cierra Johnson ’22, a cinema and television arts major, is the multimedia producer. She has a passion for storytelling as well as a strong desire to further promote inclusivity as well as minority representation in film. Johnson loves pushing herself outside of her comfort zone to think in new ways. Her favorite aspect of the comm school is the ability to meet new people to expand her perspective as well as mature and refine her artistry. Johnson is excited to take on a new form of learning in the fall.

Jack Taylor ‘21, the team’s events and facilities manager, is a strategic communications major. He loves being outside and hiking in North Carolina and Virginia. Taylor’s favorite thing about the comm school is Live Oaks Communications, a program he has been with for nearly a year. Taylor is looking forward to seeing how the community adapts during these unprecedented times, believing everyone can keep each other safe while pursuing higher education.

Claire Latimer ‘22 is the project manager for the ElonCommCollective and is a sport management and strategic communications double major. Latimer decided to double major as it perfectly blended her professional skills and personal passion into one seamless college experience. She loves the connections that are found in the School of Communications. Professors know their students on an individual level and students are bound to know at least a handful of others in their classes. Additionally, all of the learning is engaging and hands-on, which she loves. Latimer looks forward to reconnecting with friends and adjusting to the changes in the fall.

Isabella Abdullah ‘21 is a journalism major who serves as the team’s research lead. Abdullah is preparing for law school and chose journalism to teach her how to write with precision. She loves cooking, fitness and golf. Additionally, Abdullah runs a blog where she shares recipes and reviews restaurants. She is excited to return to campus and see her friends as well as begin applying for law school.

Ethan Porter ’22 is a journalism major. He is the team’s copy editor and loves writing different forms and styles of text. Outside of writing, Ethan also enjoys producing music and hiking outside. Ethan looks forward to seeing how his fellow students will adapt and grow in the fall as well as enjoying a block meal plan for the first time.

Follow the collective across social media on Instagram and Twitter. Meet the team here.