Newspapers / Elon University Student Newspaper / April 21, 2010, edition 1 / Page 8
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PAGE 8 // WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 2010 NEWS the pendulum Graduates rely on experiences skills learned at Elon to secure jobs Lindsay Kimble Copy Editor Gina DeCaro will graduate from Elon University in May with a job lined up. While DeCaro said she can attribute much of her success to Elon, she said it was her personal hard work and motivation that landed her a position as a technician in a physical therapy office in Baltimore. “Elon provided me with a great set of skills in order for me to be successful not only in marketing myself to employers, but also to perform to the best of my abilities in my new position," DeCaro said. She said she got her job through an internship and wouldn't expect Elon to secure that. “Searching for jobs can be daunting, don't get me wrong, but it is in no way Elon's fault if a student doesn’t get a job right out of school," DeCaro said. Across the country, though, some graduates place full responsibility on their college for any setbacks in the job search. Lansing Community College in Michigan recently created a policy offering students a money-back guarantee if they do not receive a full-time job offer in state within a year of completing one of its four programs. A woman in New York is suing the college where she earned her bachelor's degree because she cannot find work. Colleges across the country are now expected by many to be ultimately responsible for their students' success in the work force. Through Lansing Community College, participants take one of six weeklong Get a Skill, Get a Job training programs and sign a contract agreeing to full attendance and completion of all assigned work. Students must show a “good-faith effort." Those who show the effort to find a job, but fail will get a refund after one year. “There are many who are discouraged about finding a job," LCC President Brent Knight said in a USA Today article. “This program is designed to reach those people... We know there are occupations that offer good-paying jobs to those with the required skills.” The program stems from fears regarding high unemployment rates across the nation. “I do not think that students can blame their school for their lack of job opportunities after college," Elon senior Patrick McCabe said. “College is about providing students with opportunities to prepare themselves for the real world but is not a guarantee that he or she will be successful.” Trina Thompson filed a lawsuit for $70,000 against Monroe College in Bronx, N.Y. The amount is what she spent on tuition. Thompson claimed Monroe's Office of Career Advancement has done nothing to equip her with the career leads and advice it promises. The argument doesn't hold up for DeCaro, though. “An individual is in charge of their own success,” DeCaro said. “This woman should not be getting away with suing her college for her lack of a job ... This student should have all these facts before she starts blaming other people for her own shortcomings.” Currently, Elon has no program guaranteeing money-back after graduation. Students have access to Elon’s Career Services including a Career and Job Network and counselors. “While we do pay a considerable amount for a college education, we cannot expect our university to provide us with a career,” McCabe said. “At Elon, we are provided with resources like career counselors and internships to help us understand the fields we want to work in but these are simply resources.” McCabe said it is the student's responsibility to put forth an effort and create his or her own job opportunities. Distinguished Scholar argues importance of understanding poUtical messages in post-Cold War era Melissa Kansky Multimedia Editor The dividing wall was pulled aside as a diverse stream of students, faculty and Alamance County residents pulsed through the McKinnon doors to hear lecturer Laura Roselle, this year's recipient of the Distinguished Scholar Award. Roselle's lecture, titled “Constructing a New World Order: Strategic Narratives and International Communication in the Post-Cold War Era" discussed the significance of understanding political messages in their context. “If you think about it there are really so many ways to look at the world," Roselle said. “We can look at it from outer space as a spinning planet or at a map with very neatly arranged political boundaries.” Roselle showed the audience an up-side down map to further demonstrate possible perspectives. “Our international system or world system is what we know,” she said. “It forms the core of international relations today and we tend to look at it a particular way." Roselle said during the Cold War, the United States' citizens understood their nation’s position as a world power, but after the Cold War, politicians and civilians needed to reevaluate the country’s interests. Roselle referenced a statement by former President George H. W. Bush. He said the end of the Soviet Union signified a change in the international political system. The Cold War justified certain political policies, but those interests were no longer pertinent when the war ended, he said. “Interests are not static, but rather structural and relational," Roselle said. Roselle defined a nation’s identity according to its perception of its role in the world. She said the transforming international political climate challenges each nation’s identity and contributes to the narratives used to explain history and warn against future happenings. In her book “Media and the Politics of Failure," Roselle writes about the parallels between the United State’s explanation for withdrawing from Vietnam and the Soviet Union’s justification for leaving Afghanistan in the 1980s. Both nations’ leaders argued that they did not lose, the allies were not abandoned and honor was still intact. She used the words of Dwight Chapin, deputy assistant to President Nixon, to explain the motives behind the super powers' narratives of the war. “What we should have for people is a story of the war that they can understand and live with,” Chapin said. While she said political interests and goals motivate world leaders' messages, new technology influences the public’s understanding of international relations. “The nature of the media matter in communication,” Roselle said. Within a year, social network users have increased from 244.2 million users to 314.5 million users. Roselle attributed the increase in technology to various nations’ contradicting interpretations of a same event. She described the consequences when a video featured the death of an Iraqi girl. Western nations used the video to highlight human rights issues in Iraq, while Iraqi Muslims used the video to instigate retaliation against non-Muslims, which resulted in more than 400 deaths. “More than anything this means we must learn to understand media messages across a range of platforms,” Roselle said. “I argue that we should all care how leaders craft strategic messages because they shape how we understand our world and our place in it.” She said she believes the change in international communication highlights the need for universities to learn how societies function and how to look at different angles. “Dr. Roselle is brilliant and shows depth and quality of research and understanding of two decades of complexresearch,” said Smith Jackson, vice president and dean of student life. Laura Roselle is a professor of political science and international relations at Elon. wmm ANNA JOHNSON | Photographer Laura Roselle, recipient of the Distinguished Scholar Award, addressed a packed McKinnon Hall Monday night about the importance of understanding political messages in their context. NEWS BRIEFS iMedia students to showcase work Thursday Elon University will host the first Master of Arts Interactive Media Showcase at the Carl Woods Center at Rhodes Stadium. \t 4:15 p.m., Connie Book, associate dean of the School of Communications will moderate a panel addressing “The Culture of the Digital Workplace." At 5:30 p.m., there will be a reception and a portfolio fair. Activist to visit Elon to discuss environmental lifestyles Annie Leonard will visit Elon University at 7:30 p.m. April 22 in McKinnon Hall to discuss how economic policies have instigated a trend of consumption mania. She recently created the short film “The Story of Stuff” and is the author of the book “The Story of Stuff: How Our Obsession with Stuff is Trashing the Planet, Our Communities, and Our Health - and a Vision for Change.” She has more than 20 years experience working with sustainability issues around the world. Spring service day to highlight community service in Burlington Elon Volunteers will host its annual community service event from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m April 24. Participants will have the opportunity to work in the Burlington community doing various service activities. The day will begin with a breakfast at Harden Clubhouse before the work begins. Lunch and drinks will also be provided. Williamson Avenue crosswalk to change this summer Elon University and the Town of Elon will change the V-shaped crosswalk to a traditional square at the Williamson Avenue and College Avenue intersection. The change will take place this upcoming summer and cost $60,000. Two Elon students were struck by cars at the crosswalk within the last academic year. CORRECTIONS In the Spring Step show, the fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha was incorrectly identified as Alpha Phi Omega. Also, Hayley Kniceley was identified as a senior. Kniceley is a sophomore. Crenshaw Hyundai Coupon SPRING SPECIAL For a limited time, we would like to make you this special offer. Bring in your Hyundai and present this postcard and receive: Hyundai vehicles only. Please present coupon at time of write-up. Not to be combined with other offers. Offer expires 4/30/10. Crenshaw • OIL AND FILTER CHANGE • AN AIR CONDITIONING PERFORMANCE EVALUATION • AN ALIGNMENT CHECK All for only Plus tax Please call 584-1144 for an appointment fir# HYunoni Genuine Parts & Service _HYUNDAI ■ ^ ' I (Across from Burlington Square Mall) FREE STUDENT To and from our service SHUTTLE SERVICE dept, with work order 584-1144 Service hours: Mon - Fri 7:30 am to 6:00 pm; Sat - 8:00 am to noon
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