The News Argus Page 5
CAMPUS HAPPENINGS
WSSU'S Career
Services Dept.
■ Helps Students Prepare
For The Future
By Tonya Woods
Editor
Once upon a time a young man
named Sam graduated from college
and tried to get a job. But because
Sam did not have a decent resume,
any job skills, or any ideas about
what companies look for in
employees, he was unemployed
unhappily ever after.
Fortunately, with the help of
Winston-Salem State University’s
Career Services Department, no
WSSU student should end up like
Sam. Located in the Student Affairs
Building, the Career Services
Department is designed to prepare
students for life after graduation.
For 13 years the Career Services
Department has provided career
exploration activities, career
counseling, seminars featuring
business representatives, field trips.
resume and interviewing techniques
workshops and credentials service.
Not only does the Career Services
Department provide career
preparation services it also offers
graduate school information and
procedures to gain admittance into
graduate schools.
To ensure all Career Service
programs are serving WSSU
students, Mrs. Sandy Sosnick serves
as the director of the Career Services
Department. As a concerned staff
member, she has expressed the need
for students to come to the Career
Services Department for any and all
kinds of career counseling.
“One of the biggest problems 1
see is students coming in too late or
not coming in at all,” said Sosnick.
“We want students to come here and
see what’s offered. From there we
will prepare them for a career of
their choice.”
WSSU students are never pushed
into a type of career. Each person is
treated as an individual and the
Career Sevices Department will
attempt to place students in a career
that meets their needs, educational
background and skills. Students are
advised to register with Career
Services during their junior year.
Once registered it is the student’s
responsibility to keep their folders
updated. Senior education majors
are strongly encouraged to have a
file in the Career Services
Department to secure their chances
of employment upon graduation.
The Career Sevices Department
works year round at finding jobs for
students and sometimes WSSU
alumnus. Information about career
fair is sent to small businesses,
companies, and large corporations.
These companies respond by sending
information concerning available
jobs and recruiters to interview
WSSU students. The numerous
career fairs sponsored by the Career
Services Department are prime times
for students to get job referrals,
intern and co-op information and to
start on their careers. The
Department also sponsors Health
Fairs and a Teacher’s Fair which
present more specialzed career
opportunities.
The community also plays a role
Sandra Sosnick
in providing career opponunities for
WSSU students. The NAACP, the
Youth Motivitation Task Force, R.J.
Reynolds Tobacco Company, and the
National Urban League are some of
the organizations that provide
assistance to the department. The
Youth Motivation Task Force
Program allows many WSSU
alumnus to return to campus to visit
classes to discuss and share first
hand experiences with students about
the working world. Without a doubt
the Career Services Department of
WSSU is taking care of WSSU
Rams by preparing them for life
after graduation.
KWANZAA - An African Holiday Celebration
By Nhy Smith
Staff Writer
CHRISTMAS. Yes, the
Christmas season is here and this
year the holiday seems to be more
commercialized than ever.
Stores and business across
America will make billions of
dollars. I^ this what Christmas is all
about? You can answer this question
for yourself.
So on the other hand. Black
Americans should be aware of an
African holiday celebration.
Black Americans need to relate to
Africa more often, was the plan of
Dr. Maulana Karenga.
In 1965 Watts, California had a
number of revolts happen much like
the ones after the Rodney King
verdict. Karenga wanted to do
something to help bring hope back
into the community. He created
KWANZAA. KWANZAA is
celebrated over seven days. Several
items are needed to be used in each
of days activities. Some of the items
needed include; a MKEK, a
KINARA, a MUHINDI and a
UMOJA.
The MKEK is a straw mat with
the colors of red, black and green for
a table that is low to the floor. A
KINARA is candle holder for seven
candles. There should be 3 green
candles for a prosperous future, 3 red
candles for the struggle and one
black candle for Black unity.
MUHINDI- two ears of corn that
represent the children in the family,
male and female. UMOJA cup
(looks like a black wine glass) to
honor the ancestors through libation;
which, means liquid poured out as in
honor of a deity.
KWANZAA is Swahili for the
first fruits of labor. KWANZAA
recognizes the Black family and
community with it’s seven principles
called Nguzo Saba. Each of the
principles represent the seven days
of December 26 through January 1st.
UMOJA (unity) - Strive for and
maintain unity in the family ,
community, nation and race.
Kujichagulia(Self-determination)-
Define our name for ourselves,
create for ourselves and speak for
ourselves.
UJIMA(Collective work and
responsibility)-build and maintain
our community together and make
our sisters’ and brothers’ problems
our problems and solve them
together.
UJAMAA(Cooperative
economics)-build, maintain our
stores, shops and other businesses
and profit from them together.
NIA(Purpose)-Make our
collective vocation the building of
our community more beautiful and
beneficial than we inherited.
KUUMBA(Creativity)-Find new
ways to prosper together as a people.
lMANl(Faith)-Believe with our
hean in our people, parents,teachers
leaders, practice righteousness and
we will have victory over our
struggle.
KWANZAA is not a
commercialized holiday. Material
things are not a factor in celebrating
the spirit of KWANZAA. The gifts
that are often used are fruits and
books on knowledge of self.
On December 31st., from 7 to 10
p.m., the East Winston Branch
Library will sponsor a Kwanzaa
celebration at WSSU's Diggs
Gallery.
For more information on the
pan-Africanist Dr. Maulana Karenga
read the December issue of
ESSENCE magazine.