CSU Graduate Student, Kate Duncan
Clever camaraderie was explored during a week-long collaboration between Colorado State University and Oklahoma State’s student-run music Instagram accounts.
Led by CSU grad student Kate Duncan, with extensive help from OSU undergrad Thomas Tran, the so-called #BorderlineFriends campaign was introduced on the @CSUSMTD and @OKStateMusic Instagram accounts on Nov. 8:
This week on CSU Music, we will be collaborating with the musicians of Oklahoma State University to hear about their exciting projects and to share our own. So be sure to follow @okstatemusic so you can keep up! Our goal with this collaboration is to forge a friendship between these two music programs that lasts, so that we provide our students the chance to network with, and encourage one another, for years to come. #BorderlineFriends #CSUMusic #OKStateMusic
While an undergrad at OSU, Duncan, who earned her B.M. in Saxophone Performance, discovered @CSUMusic and was inspired to recreate it at OSU through their Music Student Advisory Council (MuSAC). Now studying at CSU, Duncan wanted to “pay tribute to CSU Music for the idea by giving it some publicity to OSU kids, and develop a friendship between the music programs.”
Duncan, who is in the LEAP Institute (Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Arts Advocacy and the Public) Master’s program at CSU, and a member of several music ensembles, believes in the effectiveness of social media as a modern form of journalism. “It is so special that [for CSUMusic], this particular medium is almost entirely student-run,” she said.
Since its inception in Aug. 2014, dozens of students have taken over the CSUMusic Instagram account, posting about their lives as CSU Music Majors. The account not only keeps students connected, but is also a recruiting tool for the program. “[It} totally inspired me when I first saw the [CSUMusic] account a year ago, and the OSU team is so thrilled with how theirs is running now that they've taken the idea on,” explained Duncan.
The special #BorderlineFriends posts, which featured students conversationally introducing themselves to each other on the opposite school’s account, while sharing a unique aspect of their program, concluded with this friendly message:
Hello, Rams and Cowboys! Thank you for following as we explored the music programs at your universities. We hope you have enjoyed getting to know each other this week! If you would like to look back or see what you might have missed, you can find all of our posts at #BorderlineFriends. You can stay updated on the happenings of Colorado State University at @CSUMusic and Oklahoma State University at @OKStateMusic. See you around!
“I had an absolute blast [with] #BorderlineFriends,” said Duncan!
A Sampling of Posts from the #BorderlineFriends Campaign
Hello Rams! Thomas Tran here again. Today, I would like to tell you about one of the student organizations I am a part of on campus. The OSU Music Student Advisory Council (MuSAC) functions as a student council for the Music Department and serves as a liaison between music students and the faculty/administration by sharing ideas and concerns as well as coordinating multiple department projects and activities throughout the academic year. Some of our ongoing and completed projects include fundraising for a water bottle filling station in the Seretean Center, establishing a grant for students in need of financial aid who are looking to further their education in music, replacing mirrors in the practice rooms, and maintaining the OKStateMusic Instagram account. Serving as President of this organization has taught me so many invaluable skills including organization, team leadership and management, communication, and time management. Today's music industry requires people to be multi-faceted with a variety of skills and I know that the training and experience I have gained through this organization has prepared me for the professional world. Fun Fact: Your very own Kate Duncan (OSU BM 2015) also served as President of OSU MuSAC! Pictured is MuSAC Secretary Emily Thygesen and me during the installation of full-length mirrors and hooks that our organization funded for the new OSU practice rooms. #BorderlineFriends #OrganizationHighlights #OSUMuSAC #OKStateMusic
Hello Cowboys and fellow sisters! My name is Kelly Perry and I am a senior here at Colorado State! I am a double major in History and Political Science with a concentration in Environmental Politics and Policy. I currently serve as the Vice President of membership and Event/fundraising Chair in our Sigma Alpha Iota Colony at CSU. I am the founding President and am so excited for us to become a chapter!
We have been fundraising like crazy, learning a TON, and building our sisterhood even before we are initiated. In talking to my sisters we would describe our sisterhood and welcoming, supportive, sparkly, enthusiastic, positive, and simply beautiful. I can’t imagine how much better is it going to get from here. This is only the beginning! I also love that even though we are distant from one another and attend different universities; our sisterhood bonds us, which is something that will last our entire lives. We would love to keep in touch with you! There is so much we can learn from y’all and your chapter. #BorderlineFriends #SigmaAlphaIota #SAI #CSUMusic
Hello from the OSU drum majors! Our names are Kyle Norris, Amelia Rosenberger, and Andy Twiss. We have had a blast leading the band this year. Our favorite game day traditions include taking pep bands around before the game to tailgating events as well as during the game to all of the stadium suites. We love taking music to the fans. During pregame we enter the field with a "Run On." Here the drum majors literally sprint across the field which is super fun! After 3rd quarter the tuba section plays Spain, a crowd and band favorite. We all dance and sing along with them. Then after the game, the band has 5th quarter. We come back on the field and perform the halftime music to all of our fans. This year we've performed Bruno Mars, Beyoncé, and music from Back to the Future. The crowd reactions have been great! Thank you for your awesome video greeting! Go Pokes and Go Rams!