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Week in Review: Feeling Blue

Ali Lincoln

This week, Crayola announced the name of its new blue color—Bluetiful. I have some strong feelings about it. First of all, it is NOT A WORD. Or a color. (Or even something representing a color.) It’s nonsense. Second, it’s setting up children to be even more confused about how to spell beautiful, which is tricky enough as it is. And finally, I’m still mourning the loss of Dandelion Yellow. Why couldn’t they just make room for everyone in the crayon box? I’m feeling blue about Bluetiful.

If you’re feeling blue that you don’t have the latest higher ed news, just scroll down.

What’s new this week:

APM Reports and Educate podcast released its last two special fall documentaries. “Shackled Legacy: History shows slavery helped build many U.S. colleges and universities” was featured in newsletters from Lumina Foundation, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, and Education Dive. The final documentary, “Hard to Read,” explored how American schools are failing kids with dyslexia.

Mark Peltz, dean of careers, life, and service at Grinnell College, offered thoughts on how higher ed can do a better job of preparing students for life after college in a piece for The Chronicle of Higher Education.

This week on Inside Higher Ed’s Call to Action blog, don’t miss posts on the importance of creating strong faculty relationships and tips for campus communications on critical issues.

What we’ve been talking about:

Cristal shared her thoughts on why the annual National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) conference isn’t just for admissions officers.

 

Always a great day when you get to see a blue sky and water. @teresavalerioparrot had a great view between leaving a campus and heading home.

A post shared by TVP Communications (@tvpcomms) on

In her planes, trains and automobile adventures, @teresavalerioparrot was treated to this view from the air. Next stop- home! A post shared by TVP Communications (@tvpcomms) on

 

What’s next on our calendars:

Teresa will present a preconference media training at the CASE Annual Conference for Media Relations Professionals on Monday, September 18 in Philadelphia, PA.

Teresa will co-lead the “Developing Presidential Voice: Toolkit for Marketing and Communications” webinar for Academic Impressions on September 22.

Teresa will present at a meeting of the Chief Communication and Development Officers of the University of Texas System on September 26 in Austin, TX.

Erin will present a session on social media to participants in the NACUBO Fellows Program in Washington, DC, on October 12.

Teresa will lead a crisis communications session and case study review for the Dean’s Section of the American Association of Law Schools in San Diego, CA on January 6, 2018.

What we’re recommending:

Teresa Valerio Parrot
Kindness pays dividends. A study at the University of Zurich found that people experienced happiness when they performed acts of generosity. As measured by MRI scans, “passing it forward” produced a greater functional connectivity in the brain’s reward center. It’s a nice reminder to all of us as we head into a weekend to enjoy time off and reap the benefits of giving.

And on a not-as-positive but just as interesting note, I was riveted by the Cincinnati Enquirer’s piece on opioid use in the region. Here is a behind-the-scenes look at how that amazing piece was created.

Ali Lincoln
Ever since the news broke about the Equifax security breach, I’ve been scrambling to protect myself against identity theft and secure my online data. And boy, it’s a lot to deal with. I feel like I need an advanced legal degree plus an army of financial and legal advisers to sort through everything. I’ve found that Rob Lieber, “Your Money” columnist at the New York Times, has had a lot of helpful information that he keeps pretty well updated. It’s worth checking out his Twitter feed, too: @ronlieber.

Cristal Steuer
We are approaching leaf peeping season here in New England. Whether you live in the area or are planning a road trip, this Boston Globe article on six of the most beautiful towns to see the fall foliage has you covered. I’ve been to three places on the list: Fryeburg, Maine; Bennington, Vermont; and Great Barrington, Massachusetts. In addition to being eye pleasing, the food is amazing as well. (We all know that is important here at TVP Comms.) I will be adding the other three locations to my list this fall for the leaves and treats, of course!

Erin Hennessy
This week was a big one in the book awards world. The National Book Award longlists were released, as was the Man Booker Award shortlist. All of the NBA lists are posted here, and the fiction list will be added today. And the Man Booker list is here. If you’re seeking some additions to your “to be read” pile, these lists are a great place to start.

Kristine Maloney
Today, the Cassini spacecraft, which has captured countless images from Saturn’s orbit for the past 13 years, incinerated itself by crashing into the planet it’s been helping scientists learn more about for more than a decade. The New York Times explored Cassini’s history and contributions to science this week, complete with 100 images of Saturn that are so amazing they’re almost surreal. If you need a little break from life on earth, I recommend scrolling through the photos. They’re pretty awesome, a humbling reminder of our place in the universe.

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