OSU gay student groups evolve from newspaper to Facebook Age marketing

PHOTO: (click to enlarge) Oregon State University gay student groups are still using the same student newspaper's Campus Calendar section to advertise meetings just like when the first OSU group formed in 1976. However, today it is also possible for an article to be run (Barometer, Sept. 25, 2012, p. 2) announcing "OSU Cultural Centers holding open houses this week," including the OSU Pride Center open house on Mon. Oct. 1 from 5-7PM. (see OSU Pride Center Fcebook page events for "Queer History Month," facebook.com accessed Oct. 1, 2012 ). Also, similar to how the first gay student group in 1976 advertised meetings, the SOL LGBT Multicultural Support Network or OSU Queer People of Color Meeting was announced in tiny 6 point print in the Campus Calendar section of the student newspaper. (See my history of OSU gay student groups: Thomas Kraemer, "Corvallis, Oregon State University gay activism 1969-2004," outhistory.org accessed Oct. 1, 2012 )

As somebody who has watched the evolution of gay student groups at OSU, from the first officially recognized gay student group in 1976, to today, and also the evolution of computer technology and communication since the 1950s, I find it interesting to watch how the internet has been slowly been replacing the old school methods of announcing meetings in so-called "dead tree" physical newspapers. Likewise, the old school Web page and RSS feeds that were implemented just a few years ago by the OSU Pride Center website are being trumped this year by social media technology, such as the OSU Pride Center Fcebook page. I guess this makes sense, given this function is social in nature, however, I am having a hard time fully seeing it because the Facebook Web pages are not designed well for low vision accessibility, which makes it hard for me to fully understand how it is being used and evolving over time. However, given my decades of knowledge, I can make a good guess about how it could be used effectively for social media purposes.

Some other interesting things I've read recently include:

• the OSU Pride Center Advisory Board (updated July 2011) included the faculty or staff member and Director of Undergraduate Programs Brett McFarlane, College of Engineering, 541 737 8765 151 Batcheller Hall, Oregon State University, 101 Covell Hall Corvallis, OR 97331-2409 email Brett.McFarlane@oregonstate.edu. I would like to know if this was a task assigned to him or if Brett volunteered for this assignment. Either way, he should be commended for helping out. In 1976 there were only one faculty member who was willing to be the required sponsor of the first officially recognized gay student group at OSU. (He signed the forms required by OSU administrators.)
• Jack Lammers, "Campus remains in midst of building boom," Barometer, Sep. 25, 2012 -- "The Native American Longhouse, located south of Moreland Hall, is under construction and scheduled to be completed in November of this year." I mentioned the opening of this cultural center in March 1976 with a blessing ceremony by Gilbert Walking Bull in my history of OSU gay student groups: Thomas Kraemer, "Corvallis, Oregon State University gay activism 1969-2004," outhistory.org accessed Oct. 1, 2012
• OSU mobile sites and apps and OSU's mobile website, m.oregonstate.edu are the next frontier to be explored by OSU gay student groups. I am sure that iPone or the Smartphone and tablets will be the preferred interface by future students, if it isn't already the case.