A unique approach to combating harmful societal stereotypes was the focus of a recent “MTSU On the Record” radio program.

Katherine Benton

Host Gina Logue interview with Katherine Benton, one of the students behind the “Double Take” campaign, first aired Feb. 22 on WMOT-FM (89.5 and www.wmot.org ). You can listen to their conversation below.

This logo for the award-winning, student-created MTSU “Double Take” social awareness campaign incorporates the stars from Tennessee’s state flag and the crescent moon of the Islamic faith to help fight negative community stereotypes. Click on it to visit the Double Take site.

Benton, a junior advertising major from Smyrna, Tennessee, and her fellow students under the direction of Dr. Tricia Farwell, associate professor of advertising in the MTSU School of Journalism, developed the campaign during the fall 2015 semester, ending in December.

They used Facebook and other social media to enable students in debunking various misunderstandings.

While many of the messages attacked stereotypes of Muslims, others drove home other points relating to race, gender, sexual orientation and individual perspectives on social issues.

“We got the opportunity to do this campaign as a part of a competition with EdVenture Partners, Facebook and the (U.S.) State Department,” said Benton. “They enlisted people, I think, from over 43 countries, all college students, to get kind of a new perspective on how to challenge this issue of violent extremism.”

For their efforts, the MTSU students received an Honor Roll mention for their Facebook page and were awarded a trip to Washington, D.C., which they enjoyed Feb. 3.

You can also learn more about the “Double Take” campaign here.

To hear previous “MTSU On the Record” programs, visit the searchable “Audio Clips” archives at www.mtsunews.com.

For more information about “MTSU On the Record,” contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.