Dean Launches Schieffer-Themed Mask Campaign

A photo outside the Moudy South newsroom of an array of flyers promoting mask wearing in the building.

An array of flyers hang on the glass outside the Moudy South newsroom promoting mask wearing in the building.

If you’ve wandered the halls of Moudy South in recent weeks, you may have noticed the catchy Bob Schieffer-themed signs reminding Schieffer students, faculty and staff to wear a face mask.

After the campus-wide mask mandate was reinstated last month, Dean Kris Bunton decided to create a mask campaign of her own, featuring our college’s beloved namesake. She enlisted the help of Holly Rusak, director of digital media for the Schieffer College, to design a series of signs to be placed around the building. Bunton hung the first round of signs on Sunday, August 22, before fall classes started the next morning.

A photo of Bob Schieffer wearing a mask with the words, “Just like our namesake, we walk in purple socks… and face masks. Mask up, Schieffer!”

The first sign in the series.

The first sign featured a photo of Schieffer wearing a mask with the words, “Just like our namesake, we walk in purple socks… and face masks. Mask up, Schieffer!”

Bunton knew Schieffer would support the use of his image for the mask campaign. “He is very concerned about the pandemic and he and Mrs. Schieffer have been scrupulous about distancing, following protocols and mask wearing so that they can stay healthy,” Bunton said.

Later that week, a Schieffer alumna who was in town visiting campus snapped a photo of the first flyer, which she sent to Schieffer. Humored, he reached out to Bunton and remarked that the flyer was hilarious and said he was glad she did that.

A photo of Bob Schieffer kicking up a leg to show off his purple socks. The text reads, “Bob still walks in purple socks AND a mask. So should you. Mask up, Schieffer!”

The second sign in the series.

For the second week of classes, Bunton and Rusak designed a version featuring a photo of Bob kicking up a leg to show off his purple socks. The text reads, “Bob still walks in purple socks AND a mask. So should you. Mask up, Schieffer!”

Bunton emailed a copy of the second flyer to Schieffer, and he said he loved it, but joked he wasn’t sure he could still kick that high.

A photo of Bob Schieffer in his reporting days, wearing a mask. Surrounding his photo are the words, “Hi, Bob Schieffer, with CBS News. One question: Where’s your mask? Mask up, Schieffer!”

The third sign in the series.

The third design Bunton and Rusak created featured a photo of Schieffer in his reporting days, wearing a mask. Surrounding his photo are the words, “Hi, Bob Schieffer, with CBS News. One question: Where’s your mask? Mask up, Schieffer!”

Schieffer emailed Bunton and said, “I was so impressed with your mask promos that I created one of my own, inspired by Norman Rockwell’s famous Triple Self-Portrait.” Included in his email was a photo of one of his recent paintings, a hobby that has kept the legendary journalist busy while he remains safely at home during the pandemic. A CBS Sunday Morning news story earlier this year featured Schieffer and his paintings: Bob Schieffer on never taking our democracy for granted – CBS News.

A painting of Bob Schieffer by Bob Schieffer with the text, “What will get you to wear your mask? Does Bob need to paint you a picture? Done. C’mon Schieffer. Picture yourself in a mask.”

The fourth, and final, sign in the series.

For the fourth and final sign, Bunton and Rusak created a large posterboard using the image of the painting with the words, “What will get you to wear your mask? Does Bob need to paint you a picture? Done. C’mon Schieffer. Picture yourself in a mask.” Each sign is displayed on an easel in a prominent location on every floor of the building.

Schieffer’s response to the last flyer? “I just love it. I hope the kids get a kick out of it. Really great,” he wrote in an email to Bunton.