This document summarizes an ethnographic study of a campus entertainment group called SEC. The SEC plans and coordinates campus activities with a goal of attracting students through cost-effective and diverse events. SEC has weekly open meetings and is advised by faculty. Prior successful events are mentioned, but a concert with the Plain White T's had communication issues resulting in the band's no-show. Theories on relationship-building, uncertainty reduction, and influence of majority opinions are discussed. The study aims to understand group dynamics and leadership when the researcher joins as a new member in their final semester.

1. Ethnographic Study
By
Brooke Farber
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2. SEC
Purpose and Goals
 Event planning and coordination for entertainment
based campus activities
 Membership open to all students
 Weekly general board meetings open to the public
 Additional meetings dependant upon planning stage
of events
 Direct relationship with administration for approval
 Limited annual budge: funding from Student Activities
Fee
 Goal-Cost effective and diversified activities to attract
the most students
 Advisor
 Elected officers
 President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasury,
Special Events Chairperson

3. Successful Prior SEC
Sponsored Events:
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4. Useful Communication Skills
Dialogical Listening
Non-Verbal Cues
Transparency
Self- Trust
Proxemics QuickTime™ and a
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5. Uncertainty Reduction Theory
 Highly regarded theory by Berger and
Calabrese continues to be applied in the
establishment of new relationship as
experienced in my study
 As we meet new people we often attempt to
reduce uncertainty about one another to
establish a early premise of whether one is
liked or disliked
 Anxiety is due to a situation or environment
based upon a level of uncertainty
 Uncertainty must be reduced in order to feel
at east and more comfortable in that new
environment or situation.

6. Spiral of Silence Theory
 Theory by Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann’s in
regards to fear of isolation was initially
experienced with my personal immersion in
new community
 Failure to voice one’s personal opinion or
thoughts due to fear of future judgment or
nonacceptance
 Feel at lowest level of hierarchy
 Follow crowd even if in disagreement with a
statement or decision

7. Emphatic Listening
Put your own judgments and prejudices
aside to listen to others, ideas,
thoughts, and opinions.
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8. Plain White T’s: The Big Event
 Spring music concert
 Excellent planning by SEC yet breakdown in
communication with Plain White T’s and SEC on
night of performance
 Council performed crowd control with many
disappointed student
 Negative reflection of SEC after Plain White T’s
failure to appear
 Rider News: Front page coverage “Plain White
Tease”
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9. My Study Prediction
 Group members would be skeptical of my
interest to join the group during my last
semester.
 Skeptical that group members would respect
my opinion on upcoming events and value my
comments
 Hierarchy type of leadership
 Study would help reinforce my career goal in
public relations and event planning
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10. My Study Prediction
 Group members would be skeptical of my
interest to join the group during my last
semester.
 Skeptical that group members would respect
my opinion on upcoming events and value my
comments
 Hierarchy type of leadership
 Study would help reinforce my career goal in
public relations and event planning
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.