MAC Club Takes on D.C.

by Chelsea Ayers

This weekend was one to remember for the Media and Communication Club. Nineteen of WVU Parkersburg’s MAC Club members made their way to Washington, D.C. to visit the Newseum and everything D.C. has to offer. It was a weekend the club has worked hard for since the beginning of the school year.

After arriving in D.C., the weekend kicked off with dinner at The Union Market. This establishment has almost anything you could think of to eat, like Korean tacos, pasta, fresh smoothies and even vegan options. After dinner, the group relaxed in the hotel for the next day.

On Saturday, the group awoke for breakfast and then made their way to the Newseum. This museum encompases the history of journalism, photography and broadcast. This museum has seven levels of exhibits with 15 galleries and 15 theaters. Some of the most popular exhibits include the Pulitzer Prize Photograph gallery, which features photos from every Pulitzer Prize winners dating back to 1942. Another popular exhibit was the 9/11 gallery featuring the broadcast antennae from the World Trade Center, which is surrounded by every front page that featured the attack. Other exhibits include a Berlin Wall Gallery, news history including original newspapers dating back to the 1700s and the journalists’ memorial.

The next day was spent exploring the National Mall. The group visited the Washington Monument, the World War II Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial and the Vietnam Memorial Wall. After paying respects, the group had lunch from food trucks that line the walkway. From there, the group broke up to visit different Smithsonian Museums like the Natural History Museum and the Air and Space Museum.

After arriving home, the group is more connected. President of the MAC Club, James Liebau, is especially pleased with the way the trip turned out.

“The trip to D.C. was a great experience,” Liebau said. “It allowed the Media and Communication Club and the Journalism department to come together as a whole and learn more about any and all types of journalism and communication at the Newseum.”

Photography by Nate Knobel