Newspapers / Meredith College Student Newspaper / April 7, 1986, edition 1 / Page 2
Part of Meredith College Student Newspaper / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
EDITORIAL How much impact does student govemment have? Spring is finally here and summer is fast approaching. Just as the heat begins to rise this time of year, so do the pres sures and frustrations of being a student. Doubts begin to circulate: will I ever fm> ish this term paper, can I meet my next deadline; does my work really matter? These popular questions with uncertain answers are brought up every year. Recently, I’ve been hearing these ques tions more and more from student lead ers. Does the student govemment really have an impact on the decisions that are made at Meredith? 1 would certainly hope it does; but, hope and reality are two different things. Certain issues have arisen this semester that make the question of student govern ment's effectiveness more timely. For example, the increase in parking permit fees has caused quite a disturbance around campus. We now know that the fee has been raised to $80 per year for dorm students. But, how was that deci sion made? Did student govemment have any part in that decision? No. On the contrary, the Student Life Parking Subcommittee had reached a decision and received approval from the administration on a parking solution. It was after this approval that the adminis tration changed its mind and voted (with out student input) to implement its own parking solution. Every day student leaders work hours to try to meet the needs of the Meredith community. How would you fee! if you had spent months working on a project only to find that the day before the pres entation your professor decided to scrap yours and show his or her own instead? This analogy couldn't come close to the frustration and disappointment the Stu dent Life parking subcommittee members must be feeling. Does student government have any impact on the decisions made at Mere^ dith? The parking permit fee example would probably lead you to think it does not. However, there is hope. The pro posed changes in the legislative process are a i^ign of that hope. One of the proposed changes deals specifically with improving communica tion between student government and the administration. 1 am referring to the pro posed establishment of a conference com mittee described in the lead article on the front page of this issue. Another sign of hope was President Weems’ recommendation to the Board of Trustees to get student input through stu dent government on the admission of men into the graduate programs issue. And yet, thequestion still stands. How much influence will student government input have on the boards decision? This question with an uncertain answer may never be answered; but, perhaps it will be addressed. The intent of this editorial is NOT to raise suspicions about the administration. I have no doubt that it acts in the best interests of the students. However, I do think the questions mentioned above need answers. I invite the administration and I or students to respond to this editor ial through letters to the editor. Betsy Shori Editor, Meredith Herald Meredith contributes to ‘Feed Raleigh’ Do you know what fun really is? On Saturday, March 22, nine girls from Meredith helped Vvith the first annual “Feed Raleigh" project and found out what fun is. Along with State and other Raleigh college students, Meredith students went in designated neighborhoods -and col lected canned goods. All of the canned goods were given to the Food Bank of Wake County and distributed to the hungry. People were very,receptive to us. Some literally emptied their cupboards while. others donated a couple of cans of food. Because of these generous contributions, Meredith made a fine showing for itself by collecting 980 cans. We came in fourth place behind Zelta Alpha, Peace, and the NCSU Textile School. As a result of everyone’s efforts, over 15,000 cans were collected. Many good things came out of what we did, but two stick in my mind. We made a tremendous contribution to the community and we felt good about our selves. I urge you all to join in the fiin! Volun teering is one of the easiest and most exciting experiences you will ever encoun ter. The only requirement is a few mo ments of your time. Last week’s participants were: Michelle Baker, Jodi Hamilton, Carmel Swanson, Christy Browder, Dorcas Hostetler, Sue Tolleson, Hope Dennis, Michele Jordan, and Donna Wilson. Donna iVilson Contributing Reporter The Meredith Herald is published weekly by the students of Meredith College during the academic year. The paper Is funded by the college and through advertising. The Herald will not print material containing personal attacks, Insults, ridicule or libelous statements. All letters to the editor must be signed unless discussed with the editor. The opinions expressed on the editorial page do not necessarily reflect those of the college administration, faculty or student body. The Herald welcomes criticism and will respond promptly to any submitted In writing and signed by the writer. Editor Business Manager Adverting Manager Advertising Sales Reporters Layout Staff IlEDALD Betsy Short Michele Cherry Sally Woolard Meredith Qreuhn Kim Allen, Kelli Barefoot, Paige Leist, Carlissa Oakley Carmel Swanson, Joy Terry Circulation Staff Mary Ann Lisenba, Jennifer Bruffey, Lori Hastings. Meredith Eaton, Kathryn Clark, Dawn Koonce Hints for the job hunter by author of The Job-Hunter’s Handbook’ So you’ve spent four (or five, or six) years getting a degree. Maybe you’ve spent your summers getting some expe rience. Will that be enough to get the job you are hunting for? The Key: Attitude There are two young men in Topeka that I would like to hire today. As yet. I haven’t a place for them, but a week rarely goes by without my wondering if I can use them. Why? Because I know that they arc good workers. Good business men are constantly looking for good employees because they are hard to find. There are lots of people with the neces sary education, experience, and/or skills for every job. What is rare is people with the right attitude. Attitude is always the difference between excellence and medio crity. Here’s a list of six characteristics em ployers are seeking, if an employer dis covers that you have these attitudes, he will want to hire you. Team SpirH Every employing organization is a team. Even if there is just you and one other person, you are a team. To be a good team member you need to: • accept the authority of your boss, • serve as an equal with co-workers. • respect the rights and needs of your subordinates. . . . 2 April 7,1986 People with team spirit give credit rather than take it. Whenever Swing Kaufman, president and founder of Mar ion Laboratories, has a chance to talk about his company, he talks about how the employees make the company what it is. He could talk about how he founded the company, had the vision, and put it into action, but he doesn’t because he has team spirit. As a result, the company has many applications for every opening. Everyone is attracted to a place where people give credit rather than take it. Solution-Orientation Solving problems is the function of every employee in every company. The problem-oriented person gripes about the problem. The solutions-oriented person observes the problem and looks for solu tions. When he finds one he tells it to whomever has the authority to imple ment. Solution-oriented employees in crease company sales and productivity and automatically find themselves on the road to advancement. Your ability to solve problems depends upon your attitude more than your intel ligence. If you choose to focus on prob lems all you will see is problems. If you look for solutions, that is what you will find. Patience Few things can disrupt the workplace more than an impatient person. Impa tience puts everyone on edge, pushes people to make mistakes, and takes the fun oiit of work. And whoever heard of someone being loved or praised or pro moted because of his impatience? The patient person does not have to apologize for words spoken in the heat of the moment. He finds the opportunity to do the right thing at the right time. The less-talented patient person often achieves more than the talented impatient person. Profcssionalbm What is the difference between a pro fessional and an amateur, the average and the expert? The professional works at developing a skill until he has achieved the best possible performance; he then works to maintain that level of profi ciency. The amateur simply performs his skill, satisfied if a job is done even if it’s below par. The pro does his best even when he doesn't feel like it. The amateur just does as he feels. The pro understands that his work and his performance are every bit as important as the company president’s. He takes pride in his job, his workmanship, and the products he pro duces. He realizes the importance of good performance. A study by the temporary-help firm, Accountemps, concluded that ’'the aver age on-the-job performance of American workers is only fifty-three percent of their total capability.” That means that most people are content to waste almost half their time at work! Be different. Be professional. Enthusiasm Former General Motors executive Harry F. Banks captured the significance of enthusiasm when he said that **A salesman minus enthusiasm is just a clerk.” Enthusiasm is the feeling that comes from a positive mental attitude. An em ployee with enthusiasm will be excited about the company’s goals and j)roducts rather than apathetic or negative. The attitude you choose determines the feeling you experience, Every employer wants happy employees. Happy people work harder, encourage others, and build stronger companies. You will probably never find these five characteristics of a good employee on the list of qualifications for any job. Never theless, they are important considerations in any employer’s mind. Even if he is not consciously aware of his desire to find someone with these attitudes, he has the desire. They are sp important that they may get you a job when you have no experience. For more job hllinting hints, read The Job-Hunter’s Handbook. A Christian Guide available at your Christian book' store.
Meredith College Student Newspaper
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
April 7, 1986, edition 1
2
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75