Purdue News

November 12, 1984 Purdue Public Relations Reorganized as Office of University Relations West Lafayette, Ind. – Purdue University will reorganize its public relations functions under a new Office of University Relations, effective Jan. 1, 1985, President Steven C. Beering announced Monday (11/12). Joseph L. Bennett, director of public information at Purdue since 1981, will head the new office, which will include the university's news services, currently in the Office of Public Information; the Office of Publications; and a new Office of Community Relations. "This reorganization will give Purdue a more modern, better coordinated public relations team," Beering said. "We are competing for continued recognition among the top universities in the country, and it is vital that Purdue's story be told accurately and consistently. "The new department will report to the president and will function as the official voice of the university," he added. Beering said the new Office of Community Relations will be responsible for carrying out programs to make the university more accessible to the public. Among its functions will be the improvement of visitor information on campus, organization of campus tours, coordination of a speakers' program, publication of a community resources guide, staff traininq in public relations, special events and liaison with the local community. Bennett, a native of Lewis Run, Pa., came to Purdue from the Pennsylvania State University, where he had been assistant director of public information and news bureau manager between 1979 and 1981. Previously, he had been a Sunday magazine writer and copy editor with the Pittsburgh Press for seven years and a copy editor and makeup editor with the Indianapolis News for three years. A 1965 graduate of Duquesne University, Bennett did graduate work at Butler University and at Duquesne. He is a member of the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education and past president of the Indiana C ouncil for the Advancement and Support of Education.   Contact Purdue News Service (765) 494-2096 or purduenews@purdue.edu. To the Purdue News and Photos Page