This Issue: Jan. 22, 1998
Career Services is key to students' futureStacy Freigang, Special to the Trop The bottom line for almost every student at Troy State University is money. "They would look you in the eye and say `I'm coming to get a job,'" said Alice Perrigin, former director of Career Services. The most important thing a student can do when planning for a career is to get to know people in the field and find mentors, said Lucy Riley, news director, WSFA. These people are likely to help them along their career path, she said. Perrigin said many seniors come and ask when they should start their job search. They should have started as freshmen, she said. "Don't think it's going to be a two or three month kind of thing," said Juliet Miller, executive director, National Career Development Association. Students should begin planning for careers the first quarter of their freshman year by doing a self-assessment to identify their weaknesses and strengths because those two items help them find what occupations they are compatible with, said Warren Riles, co-op coordinator, Georgia Southern University. Freshmen, sophomores and juniors should be researching occupations to find what they may like to do, said Perrigin. Taking school seriously is a part of the career planning process, said Riles. "You need to learn how to study because the learning process continues for the rest of your life," said Riles. It is important for students to do a great deal of research in their field and to evaluate themselves to ensure a match between what they value and what the employer values, said Tammy White, director of Career Services, University of West Alabama. Until a student finds out what they want to do, nobody can help them with the job search, said Perrigin. Early on, students can start building a resume and look at it to see where the gaps are, said Perrigin. Then they have time to work to fill in those gaps, she said. If students wait until they're a senior and they have gaps in their resume, then it's too late, she said. Seniors should know what occupations they're interested in, what environments they would like working in and what skills they want to utilize at work, she said. "Don't be afraid to take a job that has potential," said Lisa Chase, manager of Background Investigation Service, American Society of Employers. A job may offer a better career path than just a good starting salary, she said. Career Services can help make the transition from school to work smooth, said Perrigin. If students take advantage of this resource, they're going to leave Troy State feeling really good about their college experience, she said. The staff is very well versed in an enormous amount of occupational areas, and if Career Services doesn't know all the answers, they've got a lot of resources they can call on to help students, said Susan Pierce, director of Retention Services and IMPACT (Involving and Motivating People Across Campus Together). "We provide job search assistance," Perrigin said. "We have companies that are really awesome in the way they treat graduates as new employees," said Tonya Craft, career counselor. Career Services has built good relationships with credible companies that come back for TSU grads, said Craft. "Although I don't have any cold, hard data, I know that the students' who utilize career services success in landing a job is greater than those who don't," said Pierce. Seniors can register with Career Services, said Perrigin. Students submit a data sheet to Career Services and then they start getting job offers through the center, said Craft. Seniors should keep an eye out for on-campus recruiters and other job openings. "We do try to keep a very high profile," said Perrigin. We put postings in the Tropolitan, said Perrigin. Career Services will post interview schedules and the companies that are coming two weeks in advance, said Craft. Students choose who they want to interview with and decide if they meet the company's criteria, she said. Students sign up for the time they want to be interviewed, she said. "Show up dressed appropriately with resume in hand and ready to answer questions," Craft said. Students can get help from "Real World 101" too. "Real World 101" is a group of seminars put together by Alumni Affairs, Career Services and Student Involvement and Leadership, said Barbara Patterson, director of Student Involvement and Leadership. "Real World 101" consists of six seminars held in the evening, Patterson said. Seniors may choose any three to attend, she said. "We plan seminars that we think are relevant to seniors," she said. "They are seminars that have to do with what it's going to be like your first year out of college." The seminars cover things like finances and dress in the office, Patterson said. "Real World 101" gives students really useful information that students would not necessarily find in their classes, said Pierce. "It's fun and you get to hear from real TSU alums that are in that, quote, `real world,' she said. This year's "Real World 101" will be on Jan. 28, said Patterson. Students have to sign up for the seminars, but there is no fee, she said. Students can take advantage of the career information library at the Career Services center. Our library's career and development section is divided by the "Holland Code," said Craft. John Holland said people are realistic, investigative, artistic, social, enterprising or conventional, she said. "We're all a little bit of those, but we're primarily one and maybe two secondary," said Craft. The divisions give students an idea of what kind of job they're going into, she said. Check out these books in the center's library: Ñ "America's Top 100 Internships" by Mark Oldman and Samer Hamadeh Ñ "Peterson's Internships 1997" Ñ "A Student's Guide to Volunteering" by Theresa Digeronimo Ñ "Volunteer USA" by Andrew Carroll Ñ "Dynamite Resumes" by Ronald L. Krannich and Caryl Rae Krannich Ñ "Just Resumes" by Kim Marino Ñ "The Complete Resume Guide" by Marian Faux Ñ "Resumes for People Who Hate to Write Resumes" by Jack W. Wright Ñ "Cover Letters That Knock `Em Dead" by Taunee Besson Ñ "Dynamite Cover Letters" by Ronald L. Krannich and Caryl Rae Krannich. Career Services' library has books that give guidelines and helpful hints about securing internships, resumes and cover letters and getting jobs, Perrigin said. Students should also take a look at the "Career Development Guide", said Craft. Career Services' "Discover" computer lets students type in a job description and find out how much education is needed, daily tasks and other information about the job, said Craft. Career Services also has access to the internet, she said. Career Services has a three-ring binder where they put every internship position they receive, Perrigin said. Students can come in and see what internships are available, she said. Students can get information on interviewing and handouts of sample questions, said Perrigin. "We've been fortunate to have the resources that we've got," said Perrigin. "Of course, I'm going to be biased and think that we have one of the best [career centers] in the Southeast as far as what we're offering to our students with the population that we're serving." Return to the start of the Features section... |
Students' drinking and driving still a problemLori Miller, Special to the TropBinge drinking is a widespread problem on college campuses, including Troy State University. In a recent survey, 70 percent of Troy State University students admit to drinking, and about 70 percent or more of those are binge drinkers, according to Faith Weathington, director of Troy State's counseling and wellness services. Binge drinking is defined as five or more drinks in one sitting, Weathington said. "There used to be a time when people drank to feel good," Weathington said. "Today, I think students drink to feel numb." TSU student policies address alcohol use: "Troy State University does not, under any conditions, approve the use of alcoholic beverages ... public display or the use of alcoholic beverages in public areas of the campus is prohibited," the Oracle student handbook stated. Weathington said the biggest problem associated with alcohol at Troy State is drinking and driving. Weathington said just telling students to be responsible with their drinking is probably not enough, because one person's definition of responsible is not the same as another. "When you ask students to define responsible drinking, they typically say `don't drink and drive,'" Weathington said. "They think they can get as drunk as they want, do anything they want, as long as they don't drive." Weathington said there is a rule for responsible drinking, called the "0-1-3 Rule": - "0"-For the times when you really don't need to drink: if you are sick, pregnant, on medication, or have a test the next day. - "1"-Limit yourself to one drink an hour-that's all the body can handle. - "3"-Limit yourself to no more than 3 drinks in one day. "If you can remember that rule, you'll always be a responsible drinker," Weathington said. Melanie Jackson, 21, a junior majoring in early childhood education from Cottonwood, Ala., said universities should promote sobriety, but also offer educational programs for students who do drink. Jackson said Troy State should do a better job of enforcing drinking laws on campus. "They should also try to create more activities and programs that are non-drinking related, but it's hard to compete with a party full of loud music, drinking and fun," Jackson said. "I haven't really had any experience with alcohol since this is my first quarter here at Troy State, but I've heard T.S.U. is a real `party school,'" Jackson said. Glenda Jolly, 19, a freshman from Detroit, Mich., majoring in criminal justice, said students at Troy State think they have to drink to have fun. "I hear students talking on Thursday about getting `torn up,' then they don't come to class on Friday," Jolly said. "I thought we were here to get an education, not to get drunk." Jim Brummett, SGA president, said responsible drinking is the only way. He said not all students drink, but there are a lot who do drink. Brummett said there are a lot of programs and activities at Troy State aimed at curbing the drinking problem. "In October, we participated in national Alcohol-Awareness Week," Brummett said. "We co-sponsored an event with CAPP (Campus Abuse Prevention Program) peers called Casino Night. Basically, what we were trying to do was show students that you can have fun without alcohol." Charlotte Davis-Lott, vice president for Student Affairs, said Troy
State has several programs designed to promote responsible drinking through
educational programs, brochures and alcohol-free events. Davis-Lott said students don't want more alcohol education and that they think they already know everything about the dangers of drinking. "There is a phenomenon among college students-they think they are invincible," Davis-Lott said. "They think they will not be hurt, no matter how much harm they do to themselves. It's very difficult to overcome that attitude, but it doesn't mean we don't keep trying. "There's no one magic approach that I can say we've taken that has changed behavior on this campus, or that has protected us on this campus. But nobody else has that magic approach, either." She said one misconception about binge drinking is that there is much more of it than there actually is, as well as a misconception about the incidence of no drinking. People would be surprised to learn how many students self-report that they don't ever drink, Davis-Lott said. She said it's a much higher number than most people would believe. Some people don't drink at all, and it's their choice, Davis-Lott said. Weathington said if you are worried about a friend who you think may be in danger of alcohol poisoning, you should take them to the emergency room. She said you should never leave a friend alone who has passed out after a night of drinking. Weathington said the recent alcohol-related death of a student at Louisiana State University may have been prevented if his friends had taken him to the hospital, instead of leaving him alone. Return to the start of the Features section... |
'Messiah' combines local and college talentAaron Shiver, Staff WriterTroy's Council on the Arts and Humanities is staging a production of Handel's "Messiah" on Jan. 25. A community chorus and orchestra, directed by Dr. William R. Denison, chair of TSU's music department, will be the performers during the concert. "I think that people will enjoy this production," said Denison. "It will give us the opportunity to hear some new voices and see some new talent. These guest soloists and the orchestra are absolutely fabulous." The community chorus will be made up of TSU students, members of local church choirs and other talented singers from the Troy area. Joining the chorus will be several guest soloists from Troy, Montgomery and Dothan. The orchestra will combine the talent of Troy State students with that of several special guests from Tallahassee, Dothan and Montgomery. "Messiah" as performed by the Troy Community Choir and sponsored by the Troy Council on the Arts and Humanities will be presented on January 25, at 2:30 in the Smith Hall Auditorium. Admission is free. This concert is part of the Lyceum series. Return to the start of the Features section... |
Business School gets new assistant professorJennifer Penn, Staff WriterThis past fall Troy State was introduced to many new students and faculty. One of those faces is Dr. James L. Hoyt, assistant professor of management. Originally from Connecticut, Dr. Hoyt has many places he calls home. After nine years in Idaho, his jobs and schooling carried him to Sacramento, Boston, Florida and his personal favorite, Texas. "I'm really an honorary Texan, although I want to be a native born Texan," said Hoyt. Hoyt attended the University of California at Sacramento where he received a BS in physics. He then went to Northeastern University and obtained his MBA, and later attended the University of Texas at Arlington where he received his PhD in business administration. Hoyt teaches operations management, legistics and principles of management. Considering all of his traveling it is hard to believe that Troy could keep his attention, yet the University and the town do just that. "I love it here," said Hoyt. "I'm afraid it is the kind of place that grows on you." Hoyt wanted something he could be a part of, a smaller school with a great athletic program, which he is very supportive. "My students are really good kids," said Hoyt. "They have a lot of motivation and good attitudes." Nothing pleases Hoyt more than student involvement in the classroom. "I want my students to go out into the world and compete with students from any college in the country, understanding the realities," said Hoyt. "I want my students twenty years from now to remember me and that will be my payoff." Return to the start of the Features section... |
Save Project offers free self defense classSpecial to the TropThe SAVE Project will be sponsoring a Rape Aggression Defense Class February 3rd, 10th, and 17th from 6 p.m.-10 p.m. This quarter, the 12 hour class will met once a week on Tuesday evenings for 3 weeks. The RAD training is a basic self defense class for women. RAD is the only such course endorsed by the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement and is offered all over the nation and overseas. There usually is a fee for this training, but we are providing the class to TSU students and faculty/staff for free. The course is a combination of awareness and prevention techniques, as well as, defensive tactics designed to work for women. Please support our efforts to increase safety. Register early, class size is limited. For registration information, or information about RAD, sexual assault prevention, dating/domestic violence etc., contact Fran M. Scheel at 670-3700. Return to the start of the Features section... |
Local Save-A-Life hosts an open houseSpecial to the TropThe Board of Directors of Women's Life Center, Sav-A-Life, Troy, Inc. will hold and Open House on Sunday, January 25, 1998. The Open House will be located at 317 University Avenue. It will begin at 2 p.m. and end at 5 p.m. There will be a dedication service at 3 p.m. The Board members for the Women's Life Center include Janice Hawkins, Chairperson, Marc Davis, Dr. Owen C. Elder, Rob Faircloth, Marylin Harvey, Rev. Don Hatcher, Barbara Hewett, Sally Ingalls, Donna McGowin, Harriet Parr, Rev. Steve Rascoe, Dr. Ben Smith, Ann Williams and Pat Ezell, Director. Return to the start of the Features section... |