This is a post regarding out “Documenting Publics” Assignment:

Rather than document my publics over the weekend, I decided to compile my information so that I would be able to reflect on it all at once.

I realize that it’s not necessarily ‘democracy’, but I decided to take an approach of viewing publics right on our own campus. A football weekend brings out many, many different publics, and a variety of different types of reporting. With thousands of people on campus, it’s hard for there to not be so many publics.

This weekend was especially different because of the movement to support Manti Te’o through wearing leis. I thought it was incredible how people could come together to do something like that. It was a simple gesture, yes, but that news had to spread somehow. Twitter and Facebook were (and, I can’t believe I’m about to write this) essential in disseminating this information.

Video served in a big way for pre-game hype – on Friday and Saturday there were youtube links abound, showing highlights of the Michigan State game as well as previews for the Michigan game. One of my favorites was this one, which served to highlight the MSU game as well as promote the group who sings the background music, who performed at Friday’s pep rally: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcqRC5gHKpY&feature=g-all-u

Just walking around the parking lot on Saturday, it was hard not to notice the co-mingling of various communities. Alumni, students, fans who never went here, friends, Michigan fans, professors, faculty, all came together to support one team. It always amazes me how Notre Dame gets like that on football weekends; there are just so many people. Rather than some type of media, the game itself served as interaction for various publics.

On Sunday, an article was published that focused not so much on Notre Dame’s victory, but rather on Manti Te’o, who has recently suffered some personal losses. The article was informative, compelling, and did more than simply scratch the surface of the importance of the game from an athletic standpoint. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/pete_thamel/09/22/notre-dame-michigan-week-4/index.html?sct=cf_t13_a0

On Monday, it was “back to normal” as it always is, but that doesn’t mean that Notre Dame stops being a part of other various publics. We are a university. We are catholic. We are nationally and internationally renowned. We will always be watched by the eyes of various publics who also belong to groups that fit these descriptions. On Monday, the university announced that they have invited both President Obama and Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney to speak on campus during their campaigns: http://www.indystar.com/viewart/20120925/NEWS0502/209250340/Notre-Dame-invites-Obama-Romeny-speak

Of course, I couldn’t avoid using FlipBoard (it’s just so cool!) so here were my favorites from over the weekend (unrelated to Notre Dame):

TIME’s 50 best websites of 2012: http://techland.time.com/2012/09/18/50-best-websites-2012/#introduction-2

Consumer reporting on a serious issue: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/23/health/new-system-for-patients-to-report-medical-mistakes.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&smid=tw-nytimes&_r=0moc.semityn.www

The Obama campaign is not satisfied with being ahead in the polls: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/decision2012/obama-campaign-redoubling-efforts-amid-fears-of-voter-complacency/2012/09/22/4945776e-0264-11e2-8102-ebee9c66e190_story.html