WTF 101: LET'S GOVIRAL
Art by Max Weinstein
Male journalism students of Syracuse University, rejoice! Rather than make MySlice less migraine-inducing or invest in air conditioning for the Hall of Languages swamp biome, SU just announced a new initiative to provide resources for even more men to start podcasts.
This semester, SU launched the Center for the Creator Economy (CCE). It is a wide-ranging initiative including a planned physical space in Newhouse 3, workshops and mentorship events. From Cake Boss star Buddy Valastro to alumni with podcasts we haven’t heard of, professional creators will soon be available to guide SU’s TikTok stars of the future.
School of Visual and Performing Arts alum Thomas O’Brien graduated from SU in May and is now the Project Coordinator for the CCE. He sees it as a step into the future of education.
“There's a narrative that's been becoming increasingly more popular that college is a scam, it's a waste of time, it's not worth it,” O’Brien said. “College needs a little bit of an update.”
A clickbait Instagram post from ArtNEWS announced the CCE launch with the headline “Syracuse University Pauses Some Fine Arts and Digital Humanities Majors, Opens Academic Center for Podcasters and Influencers.” Comments include “I’m getting a doctorate in ASMR with a minor in Unboxing,” and “Sounds like a headline from The Onion.”
When asked about those (objectively hilarious) comments, Whitman School of Management Dean Alex McKelvie said the CCE has received positive feedback and excitement from alumni, current students and prospective students.
“I don't think the university should stop creating new innovations that are really in touch with demand and future demand, so I think they're two separate conversations,” McKelvie said. “Our focus is obviously on doing the best thing for the university.”
Junior Spencer Howard was filming a TikTok outside Sadler Hall in August when he was approached by Vice Chancellor Mike Haynie, who asked to meet with him and fellow student John Spina for content creator insight on the CCE.
Howard and Spina both run popular TikTok accounts, with 22,500 and 774,800 followers, respectively. Howard described his content as “shitposting” and said he posts as if he is sharing content on his private story.
Howard likened the creator economy to the acting industry. Early Hollywood actors relied on “star power” and luck to be successful, but now we have BFA programs—hello Syracuse Stage—and thousands of programs to train people to succeed onstage.
On Nov. 12, the CCE officially launched with an event in Whitman featuring former marketing lead for Instagram and YouTube, Jon Youshaei. Future events hope to create a “community of people who have a presence online,” O’Brien said.
“Whether you're the content creator or you're more on the back end, the business end of things, we want the center to be a place for students and alums to feel empowered,” O’Brien said. “To create, and to collaborate, and to spread positive ideas and messaging together.”