History of the Week: Communications has new emphasis

By Northern Star staff

The Communications department added a Corporate Communications emphasis due to the loss of the advertising emphasis in the Journalism department, according to an August 30, 1985 Northern Star Article.

Journalism Department Chairman Irv Kummerfeldt removed the advertising emphasis primarily due to shortage of faculty members. Due to this, JOUR 421 was the only course offered that primarily had to do with advertising.

Several students resorted to the new emphasis and it will continue to gain popularity, according to communication studies undergraduate coordinator Arthur Doederlien.

“We are looking at a controlled environment,” said Doederlien. “So we won’t let it get any bigger then we can afford.”

NIU faculty expected the new emphasis to become the most popular in the department.