Once a Tiger, Always a Tiger!

Written by: Megan O'Neill PC09

"Wait, you know about sports?"

I wish I’d tallied every time those words were uttered to me. In most cases, I’m just getting involved in a conversation — something as simple as the lack of Mizzou’s offensive depth or the SEC’s draft stock this year. But yes, I do know “about” sports, and I can also tell you that the media landscape as it relates to the female voice in sports is bleak.

It’s scarce and frustrating, but most of all I think for the gregarious groups of women in media, it is a motivator. I cannot speak for everyone, but for me, it’s incentive enough to create a voice in that arena and build the content I want to read, and especially want to produce.

I work full time for a publishing company in Chicago and get home from work every day to do more work. That leads us to ZOUNation Magazine, a brand new publication that aims to tell the stories of Mizzou’s bolstering athletic community. There’s a certain amount of access that media personnel have to the athletes, coaches and alum who make up the athletic program. Our goal is to share that access with our readers.

The first thing you’ll notice about the magazine is the quality. I graduated from Mizzou with an emphasis in magazine publishing, and though I’ve worked on a number of titles, this publication takes the cake: heavier paper stock, a significant emphasis on photography and content to match. It’s meant to be collected and celebrated. So while other magazines are trimming and slimming down, we’re really catering to the fan who still enjoys holding and reading print.

Being a woman gives me a different perspective through which I can shape the magazine’s editorial path. But it doesn’t drive it. I work with my publishers to create our editorial voice and strategy. The support we’ve had is really incredible, and the future and potential is beyond exciting.

I look at the female sports media landscape that surrounds us, and there are signs of progress that exist. Look at Alison Overholt, editor-in-chief at ESPN The Magazine. She made history with her promotion to that title in February — the first woman to be named editor of a major sports magazine in the U.S. There are top-ranking female editors, writers, producers and directors at major outlets. They frame the careers that are possible for young women. But where a ripple effect of growth needs to happen, I think, is within smaller channels and at lower levels.

There’s a bit of an Erin Andrews effect with sideline reporting, although female dominated, is just a step in the ladder. As young women recognize that, maybe 10 years from now, sports pages, programs and platforms headed by women won’t be such an anomaly, right? That’s the hope, at least.

So go subscribe to ZOUNation, apply for careers in sports media, and reach out to women in sports: coaches, athletes, and businesswomen. Stand strong when someone at the bar is surprised that you like sports.

And, if you’re me, pass on that rhinestoned pink jersey.

Congratulations to our Future Veterinarian!

Written by: Jamie Selman PC14

Surprisingly, I do not have the typical story of most college veterinary students who have known since a young age that they wanted to be veterinarians. My memories as a young child would be more accurate if I were sitting on the couch watching my younger sister give our dog a checkup with a toy stethoscope.  My sister and I have always loved animals. She wanted to be a veterinarian all her life, while I didn’t even think of it as a career option until my senior year of high school. I became interested in veterinary medicine after my dog started having thyroid problems and was seemingly at the vet every other week.  I spent a lot of time in the clinic with her and soon called local veterinarians to see if I could come in and shadow them at their offices.

When I was looking at schools to apply for undergrad, Mizzou peaked my interest. It had a program called “Pre-Veterinary Medical Scholars” which was essentially a pre-acceptance into Mizzou’s vet school if I was accepted as a high school student.  I was accepted late in my senior year of high school, and consequently decided to attend Mizzou.

During my undergrad I have been fortunate enough to shadow at Mizzou’s vet school and experience hands-on participation as an Animal Science major. I have gotten a lot of practical experience and knowledge about livestock animals throughout my coursework and have had the privilege to view a tie back surgery on a Budweiser Clydesdale. Every week I am thankful to handle and learn more about live animals, and that is unprecedented to any other major at Mizzou. Although it is a challenging and time consuming path, I truly believe every second of hard work will be worth it in the end.  It is bittersweet that my undergrad years are coming to a close, but I know the real journey is starting next year.

After diligently completing all of my pre-vet scholar requirements I was accepted into the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine for the fall of 2016!  I am so excited to start my journey in becoming a veterinarian.  After I graduate in four years I hope to do a surgical internship and eventually open my own small animal practice. Most of all, I am excited to have the opportunity in working every day to advocate for animals that do not have a voice to speak for themselves.