The Wichitan Online

New graduates face tough job market
Erica Hernandez | The Wichitan

Ya-Rei Chan | The Wichitan

Freshman kinesiology major Masayoshi Kageyama, left, and sophomore political science major Mathew Thompson, student assistant in Career Management Center, look over job prospects.

As time creeps closer to graduation seniors begin thinking about what they want to do with their degrees. Ornelle Walker, who has a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology, finds it comforting to be in graduate school. “I’ve been in school all of my life and I didn’t know what else to do,” Walker said. Walker said she had no concerns when she graduated because there weren’t many opportunities. “I always knew a bachelors in psychology wouldn’t prepare me for what I wanted to do and that I needed an advanced degree,” Walker said. “What I wanted to do with my degree I wouldn’t be qualified with just a bachelors.” However, graduates are facing a tighter job market with or without advanced degrees. Some students are already preparing the tools they need to land their dream job. Heather Cherry, mass communications senior, said she will begin her job searching this summer and look into job markets in Austin, Dallas, and other areas. “I’m going to the Media Club resume workshop to build and finalize my resume,” Cherry said. According to Cherry there will be professionals from the career field to help critique and give tips for job hunting. “It’s good to have media professionals there so that I know what the market is expecting at this point in time,” Cherry said. According to the Web site, National Association of Colleges and Employers, the hiring of 2002 graduates will be down 20 percent from last year. Robert Propp, senior staffing coordinator at Dividend Staffing Services, said that employers are being choosier as a result of the economy being down. Propp said that the job market is more competitive and this is something the 2002 graduates are going to have to overcome. “College graduates are lacking the work experience that employers need,” Propp said. “Companies are having to do a lot more with less,” Propp said, “There isn’t a specific job title anymore because they are combining a lot of jobs into one.” Propp said he noticed employers are not paying the starting salaries they were two years ago but employees are advancing faster. According to Propp a few tips for graduates are to present themselves in a professional manner, take what is offered and show the employer what you can do, and be persistent as far as following up and showing that you are interested in the position. “The key to second interviews is thank you notes,” Propp said. According to Robert Shindell, director of MSU’s Career Management Center, their office is just the place for students to put together an effective resume, cover letter, and acquire interviewing skills. Shindell said that students should take advantage of the opportunities that are offered in the center early in their college years. According to Shindel, it is just as important for a freshman to begin acquiring these career skills as it is for seniors. Shindell said these skills are difficult to master and the job search process should begin from day one of a students freshman year.

Student groups plan Earth Day activities
Mandi Irwin | The Wichitan

Ya-Rei Chan | The Wichitan

Don Gregg, metal buyer at Wise Recycling Center in Wichita falls monitors the alumninum can processing.

A handful of student groups at MSU have scheduled activities to honor Earth Day. First observed internationally on April 22, 1970, Earth Day emphasizes the necessity for environmental protection and conservation of natural resources. Senior nursing major and Phi Sigma Kappa member James Dial devised an inexpensive way to do good for the environment and good for the community. Phi Sigma Kappa is planning a tree planting ceremony behind Sikes Lake Center for April 22, where they will plant approximately 10 trees to commemorate the holiday. While only the fraternity will be planting trees, but the public is welcome to attend. Circle K International has placed boxes in Bolin Science Hall to collect aluminum cans and glass bottles for recycling. MSU professor of English Tom Hoffman will give a guest lecture during a special nondenominational service at the Catholic Campus Center. Hoffman’s topic will be respecting and revering the Earth’s resources. This is Hoffman’s first appearance at the Earth Day Service. “I’m happy to do it because I think God exists everywhere and in all places,” Hoffman said. The title of Hoffman’s presentation is “God’s Amazing Grace” and will include sections from the works of Hawthorne, Dickenson, Melville, Cooper, Thoreau and Emerson. “I am trying to show how God’s relation to Earth is universal,” Hoffman said. Student Government senator Joe Cantalini has proposed a recycling and environmental awareness initiative resolution. The proposal called for a biannual event to coincide with Earth Day on April 22 and National Recycling Day on Nov. 15 to increase student involvement in environmental projects. However, Cantalini said low student awareness make it difficult for his proposal to be taken seriously. He recently sent memos to various universities to find out what efforts other campuses have made toward conservation. He said that ideas such as lab assistants turning off computer monitors when they’re not in use would not only conserve electricity, but would probably save money. Cantalini said he hopes that SGA will eventually give him the funding to hang posters around the campus in order to increase awareness and let students know of ways they can help. Cantalini said students who have suggestions or want to become involved in conservation and environmental projects should contact him in the SGA office located in the atrium of the Clark Student Center. In addition to campus events, Wichita Falls will also be celebrating Earth Day. River Bend Nature Works will be hosting two days of nature education for children who attend area elementary schools. The events will take place April 18 and 19 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. “The children will go through different areas where they’ll spend time learning about specific topics in ecology and stewardship of our national resources,” said executive director Beverly Williamson. Williamson said other events include “Animal Entertainment,” which will be hosted by the National Texas Animals Program and storytelling with Sheila Phillips. She said about 350 children are expected to attend.

New library security
Eleanor Roberts | The Wichitan

Ya-Rei Chan | The Wichitan

Eddie Smith, MSU maintenance electrician, hooks up the wiring for the library’s new security system.

A new security system has been installed in the Moffet library to replace an unreliable and potentially hazardous one. According to Cynthia Bush, head of circulation, the existing security system at the library gates was out of date and about to quit. “Part of the system was already malfunctioning,” Bush said, “and electrical problems could pose a threat to people’s safety.” University Librarian Clara Latham said frequent repairs had been made to the old system but this is the first time the system has been entirely replaced. “The system had become obsolete,” Latham said. “It was not reading some of the newer security devices placed in library material. There were times when the old system would read something that was not a security strip and set off.” The 3M company installed the new system. Latham said exact installment costs are not known as yet. When the library was built on Taft in 1964, no electronic security system was installed. The first security system was in the form of a retired gentleman who sat across the circulation desk checking bags and books as persons exited. The electronic security system was put in when the library was expanded and remodeled in 1986. Yearly maintenance for this system cost about $1,800, Latham said.

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orchid’s appeal. “Part of the attraction is undoubtedly due to the fact that 150 to 200 years ago, they were considered exotic. They were terribly expensive because rich Europeans had to send hunters to the tropics and to southern and south central Asia to collect them,” he said. “But now, since man finally learned how to propagate them, they are much cheaper.” His most expensive purchase was $55 but Gambel said he has seen some advertised for $1,000. “I also saw a breeder in California with a Lady Slipper variety of orchid, a stud plant, offered for $2,500,” he said. However, most orchids can be acquired much more economically, either from donations from other orchid enthusiasts, purchasing at local nurseries or through mail order. Orchidacea is one of the largest and most diverse family of plants, with about 25,000 species around the world. They are found on every continent except Antarctica. Many orchids have developed highly specialized adaptations for attracting, tricking and manipulating insects into cross-pollinating. “Some go so far as to have their flower look like a insect and it exudes a scent that mimics a female insect,” Gambel said. “It tricks the insect into ‘making love’ and gets pollinated in the process. It helps the flower but it doesn’t do much for the bug.” Gambel has offered a suggestion for anyone interested in growing orchids. “I recommend joining an orchid society. It really reduces the trial and error because you’ll learn so much from other members,” he said. “I’ve been growing them for the last 25 years and I’m still learning, and unlearning, things.”

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the class was split into study groups of abut six students each. Smith said it was not an ideal situation but necessary. The large class size contributed to the discipline problem that coordinators had with students. “The problem was not only the class size but also the format as well as the maturity of the students. The majority of the students were fresh out of high school, and they were adjusting to college,” Smith said. “There was an outbreak of the problem, in terms of talking but nothing more than that. I thought it would pass and it did,” she said. The tragedy of Sept. 11 also affected the students’ behavior. Students discussed the uncertainty of truth during the lecture series on philosophy and history. “This tragedy shook the class up. This was a concrete, horrifying example,” she said. In spite of the uncertain start and the less than ideal situation, both students and lecturing faculty had favorable comments about the class. Smith shared some excerpts from papers written by students. “…speakers were interesting and thought provoking” “…lectures were humorous, informative and provocative” Over the course of the semester 26 guest faculty lecturers participated, including MSU president Jesse Rogers, who was scheduled for one session but returned to do two more. The committee has taken a look at last fall’s class and has learned some hard lessons. “It was something new and we learned from what did not work,” Smith said. “We strive to continue to learn and to move forward and produce the kind of program that will become beneficial.” The introductory honors program will be offered next fall, Smith said. It will be taught in smaller groups and have a theme structure. Professors will cover at least four themes.

Campus Briefs

Banquet Tickets
Tickets for MSU’s annual awards banquet are now available at the information desk in the Clark Student Center. Tickets cost $10 and finalists receive complementary tickets. The awards banquet will be held on Friday, April 19 at 6 30 p.m. in D. L. Ligon Coliseum

Concerts
The MSU music department will be presenting An Evening of World Percussion on Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m. in Akin Auditorium. The concert will also feature music from Japan, Africa, Latin America, as well as American jazz ragtime and classical percussion. There will also be a performance by the Caribbean Pan Ensemble. Admission is free.

Yearbook Pictures
It is time to take pictures for the 2002 yearbook. There will be two sessions: April 30, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and May 1, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Photos will be taken in the Student Development Office, Clark Student Center. For more information contact Brett Lee at 397-4898.