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Show Editorial MONDAY, OCTOBER 24,2011 3 THE SIGNPOST The Signpost Viewpoint Decision process for calendar was flawed We can breathe easy now; the faculty senate voted to keep Spring Break. Although their vote isn't the final say, it's a preliminary and important step, which allows us to step away from the overwhelming concern that we might lose a beloved tradition so we can more honestly examine what we'd get with the new calendar and why we'd get it. It was about four years ago that the schedule became unsettled because of a student initiative to change the summer schedule of one four-week block and two sixweek blocks. Since then, Weber State University has experimented with a couple different schedules to meet student wishes. The latest change was driven because of the quick and unpopular transition from the Christmas and New Year's holidays to the start of school. This year, for example, school will start on Monday, Jan. 2. Essentially, the faculty senate decided the timing and quantity of vacation are the two primary issues when deciding on a new calendar. They chose to start each semester a couple weeks later and, by adding a little time to each session, end them just a week later. On the whole, the changes are rather minuscule and will not have a significant impact on most students. However, the decision might be reflective of a troubling attitude governing some faculty preferences, an attitude shared by many students, which they might not begin with but acquire as the stresses of college weigh them down: The easiest path to a degree is the best path. Or, for faculty: The easiest way to graduating students while meeting accreditation standards is the best way. Many of us probably start college with a more idealistic motivation: "The more I learn before walking for a diploma, the better." It's a view wherein the means is the end, where learning is the essential and valued part and the diploma is an important byproduct, important only because it verifies the essential: our ability to learn and love for acquiring knowledge. Faculty also likely start their careers with a similar motivation - to engender students with a love for learning. However, the faculty's recommended calendar is not reflective of a passion for helping students in the most essential ways. The calendar was chosen for 'personal preference,' as one faculty member indicated after faculty senate adjourned Thursday. It was chosen for convenience and ease. It was chosen for a few extra days off after the new year. Although they've written a catchy rationale for the recommended change, like more time for instructors to update syllabi and get grades in, it really comes down to more time for lounging after the new year. It was even listed first in a paper titled "Rationale for Tweaking WSU's Tri-Semester Academic Calendar." In speaking with faculty after the vote for the new calendar, the professor who didn't support the recommended calendar had conviction. He embraced his viewpoint unabashedly. Another professor, who wasn't quoted in The Signpost, wouldn't own up to his vote. He hid behind the idea of 'Well, regardless of my personal feelings, my job is to support what the faculty wants, and a survey shows the faculty wants what I voted for.' If he really thought his vote was right, wouldn't there be a trace of conviction? Perhaps the calendar will serve students as good as any calendar, but it does not appear that is why it was recommended. Consequently, the decision-making process was flawed. This is what's troubling. Even if the calendar proves to be excellent, if faculty consistently make choices for personal preference and not to create an ideal institution of learning, eventually students will be on the losing end. Frankly, calendars should be chosen because they create the rigor and challenge students will likely face in the professional world and because they provide the most opportunity for students to become masters of their respective studies. Time is critical to learning anything, and the new calendar, while increasing classroom time slightly, reduces the number of days a student has to prepare for a recital or a play, perform clinicals or study. Although The Signpost appreciates and acknowledges the dedication and passion seemingly prevalent amongst faculty, this latest decision doesn't seem to reflect the selling points of the university. It doesn't seem to reflect the studentfirst brand WSU has built an institution of higher learning on. As administration reviews the calendar, we ask them to approach it with a different attitude, to be governed by a desire to deliver the best education possible to students and not by personal preference. Comment on this column at wsusignpost.com L.I.F.E.'s Lessons Linkedln, Facebook Etiquette Cole Spicker • The Signpost columnist • ----m■slommotriolop KW* ICAN'T BELIEVE THAT TEACHER GOT IN TROUBLE FOR Ro5TING5OMETHING STUPID ON FACEBOOK. THAI OUR THING. Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor News Editor Sports Editor Photo Editor Business Editor Spencer Garn Stephanie Simonson Kasey Van Dyke Nathan Davis Bryan Butterfield Cole Spicker In the job-scarce USA and in light of the Occupy Wall Street movement, I think it has become even more important to "set yourself apart from others" and "get ahead of the game." Using social media to create your "personal brand" has been all the rage for job hunters coast to coast. What steps should you take to create such a beast to behold? Let's take a deeper look ... 1) Get Linkedln. I cannot say enough good things about Linkedln. LinkedIn is a site that allows you to upload your resume to be viewable by recruiters and companies. Linkedln provides these entities a way to contact you and inquire for additional information. Since Linkedln began in 2002, more than 100 million people have accounts. Similarly, Linkedln boasts executives from all Fortune 500 companies as members. Seventy-three of the Fortune 100 companies have used Linkedln as a solution to hire employees. In short, you cannot go wrong with a Linkedln account. Be sure to ask for recommendations from previous employers on Linkedln. With this information, recruiters can easily determine what type of 626-7121 626-7614 626-7655 626-7983 626-8071 626-7621 The Signpost is a student publication, written, edited and drafted by Weber State University students. Student fees fund the printing of this publication. Options or positions voiced are not necessarily endorsed by the university. employee you are. There are also many groups on Linkedln that post job opportunities in your field. Play it smart; more and more companies are beginning to use Linkedln to find future employees. 2) Get Twitter. And start twe e tin' away. Create your account and cornplete it 100 percent, with a profile picture, short biography and links to other social media and networking sites (e.g., Linkedln). Twitter offers an amazing keyword search (Twitter Advanced Search) that allows you to pinpoint a specific job, company or person. More importantly, however, you can form direct connections with others like you across the globe. Connect with others in your nook Do searches that pertain to your area of expertise or a keyword search that pertains to an industry in which you are looking to obtain a job. There are countless cornpanies that post job openings on Twitter daily. Follow and converse with them. If you tweet about your own job search, you may appear in others' searches. Perhaps those individuals will lend a helping hand and be the means by which you get a job! For an in-depth description of how to use Twitter's Advanced Search capabilities to your advantage, see "HOW TO: Use Advanced Twitter Search to Find a Job" from Mashable. 3) Create a blog or a website. This is a big step and will require dedication. Use your site or blog to brand yourself and participate in others' blogs. Being an Features Editor A&E Editor Copy Editor Adviser Ads Manager Office Manager Jerrica Archibald Kory Wood Alexandria Waltz Shane Farver Shelley Hart Georgia Edwards active participant in your niche will not only get you noticed by those similar to you (which can also help you find a job), but also by industry experts. By doing thorough research and posting your ideas and thoughts, you show that you are knowledgeable and that you care about your field, which will captivate readers. In your web space, be sure to include a link to your resume, links to your various social media networking sites, contact information and even a photo if you'd like. 4) And for goodness' sake - don't post anything off-color or even slightly questionable on Facebook Or, at least have the microscopic intelligence of setting your privacy settings appropriately! This section needs no bullet point. End of Facebook section. By following these four steps - and by doing other things (e.g., hard work, maintaining your honesty and integrity, eating well and not rubbing others the wrong way, etc.), I am confident that you will find a job of your choice. Through experience, I have determined that I want to spend the days of my life working with a company that I admire and with a job that I enjoy. If that is the case, the job won't be work, but a conduit of creation and diversion . . . and won't be so "work-like" after all. Cheers! Comment on this column ai wsusignpost.corr, 626-7105 626-7624 626-7659 626-7526 626-6359 626-7974 The Signpost reserves the right to edit for reasons of space and libel and also reserves the right to refuse to print any letter. Letters should not exceed 350 words. Letters should be submitted online to thesignpost@weber.edu and read Letter to the Editor in the subject box. |