Job seekers browse booths of different businesses. (Photo: Nicholas MacDonald/Collegiate)

GRCC job placement holds annual fair
By Nathan Wood
Collegiate Staff Writer

With 29 job positions available to students of GRCC, last Wednesday’s Job Fair attracted many students seeking summer employment.

“Currently I’m working as a student tutor here at GRCC, but I don’t think I’ll be here for the summer so I’m here looking for a job until next fall,” second year GRCC student Garien Sutliff said.

Several big name companies including Best Buy, 5/3 Bank, UPS, and DK Security Services were present that day. Each had their own way of attracting students to their stands be it though colorful pamphlets, assorted sweets, or various hand-outs sporting their companies names and/or logos.

Chris Allen, Coordinator of Off-Campus Student Employment estimated that some 300 students attended the event that day.

“We had put on a job fair last year in late April for summer positions, but it ended up being too late as most employers had already hired their summer help,” Allen said, “unlike last year, where we put up the posters indicating the arrival of the Job Fair way before the actual date, this time we had them up within the same month so students would see it and not forget about it.”

Businesses such as DK Security and UPS allowed students to promptly sign up for an assured position of providing crowd control at an upcoming Dave Matthews concert as well as loading and unloading part-time jobs.

Stress a common factor among GRCC students
By Sandra Sabin
Collegiate Staff Writer

Hearing that alarm clock an hour after falling asleep is a common struggle for college students.

According to the US Department of Education, “Students at two-year institutions are more likely to have dependents, work full-time, and delay enrollment than those at four-year institutions.” Therefore, the department believes community college students adopt more stress than university students do.

The main reason why many students enroll in a community college is because everyone is welcome: undecided high school graduates, transfer students, students trying to find themselves, or parents trying to better their family.

“Community college is more stressful. Students do work and that can get busy, but my stress point was while I was getting ready to transfer to an university. Students must follow certain forms to complete all credits needed and some credits won’t even transfer,” Andrea Schuiling, a transfer student from GRCC to Ferris State University, said.“I spent way too much time and money.”

Not only are community college students responsible for his or her academic load, but the responsibilities of completing the right classes, transferring information, and finding a major increases throughout the semesters.

Ann Lejeune, director of transfers and advising at Grand Valley State University, said, “I don’t see a lot of difference, but learning how to balance time could consistent in this area. Balancing school with free time is a stress struggle for most students.”

Most university students live on their own close to campus or on campus. Lejeune said creating a “social world” is a big part of life during these four years.

She suggests a formula: the amount of credits a student takes multiplied by two should be the number of hours studied. Then that number minus 60 should be the amount of hours a student can do extras, like work.

Stress is usually associated with negativity, but Krista Ainslie, a sophomore at GRCC said, “I work better under stress. Being busy helps me organize my studies and gets my on track.” Students who are introduced to this system of forces during college years may not know how to handle it. Healthy.net suggests to follow these small six steps:

First, stop drinking caffeine. Stress and caffeine work together. Caffeine causes a nervous, irritable, anxious feeling.

Getting a full eight hours of sleep can increase energy, decrease stress. Relaxing at the end of the night is very important. Do not study before you go to bed. Do something enjoyable, like reading.

Exercising and eating healthy will increases endurance as well. This alone should decrease stress.

Most importantly, students must remember to breathe. Once stress approaches, sit down, take a deep breath, and then go out. Do not beat yourself up.

Science department wins honor
By Rebekah Young
Opinion Editor

GRCC’s Social Sciences Department was awarded with an honor never before bestowed upon a community college.

The honor sheds a favorable light on GRCC, specifically the Social Sciences Department, and it will be beneficial to any GRCC students transferring to other universities as geography majors.

Given by Gamma Theta Upsilon, the honor establishes a charter for a chapter of the International Geographical Honor Society on campus. GRCC’s branch, Lambda Upsilon, is the first branch to be enacted at a community college.

“The people making the decision are part of the world of higher education, and they don’t always think highly of community colleges,” Social Sciences Department chairman Steve Abid said. “The fact they bestowed this upon us means we’re teaching at a level offered at four-year universities.”

Most community colleges across the United States do not offer enough geography courses to be considered for the award. GRCC, however, has been expanding this department over the past five years, nearly doubling the number of social science classes available to students.

According to a GRCC news release, an estimated 700 GRCC students enroll in geography courses each year. Mike DeVivo, GRCC’s associate professor of geography, is the only full-time instructor who teaches these courses.

“There were some people that didn’t like the idea of an honor society chapter at a community college,” DeVivo, the chapter sponsor, said in a press release.

DeVivo said those involved in the program persevered through a rigorous application process beginning four years ago. He called those students pioneers in the history of geography and science, and said GRCC has now set a precedent for other community colleges.

By receiving the honor to set up the new GTU chapter, “(We) challenged international scholars by demonstrating that the quality of higher education at GRCC is just as good, if not better, than larger research institutions,” he said.

Abid said the new GTU chapter is a significant achievement for GRCC. The honor of the charter shows GRCC’s social sciences program has “withstood the test of academic scrutiny on an international level.”

Abid said the charter is also important because it gives GRCC a “special distinction as the only community college able to meet the demanding requirements for chartering a GTU chapter.”

The Social Sciences Department reports that GRCC’s Lambda Upsilon branch is not a formal organization yet, but as an honor society, it is expected to focus on offering academic activities.

GRCC worker pushes for student success
By Ashley VanderLoon
Collegiate Staff Writer

An unknown man ventures around GRCC in a blue satin shirt and worn khaki pants with a philosophy for college life.

Not many people know that this man is both a GRCC student and tutor at the reading and writing lab at the college. He also works in the Academic Service Learning Center and publishes their pamphlets.

Born and raised in Grand Rapids, David Jackiewicz, 26, witnesses student success every day while performing as a tutor and intern for the Academic Service Learning Center.

The Academic Service Learning Center is intended to help students find “unique learning opportunities” in order to focus in on their career.

“Tutoring introduces me to a very diverse student body and help hone my own writing and editing skills. I love the atmosphere at GRCC, and I respect the instructors,” Jackiewicz said.

He is interested in the impact that service learning has on GRCC and the relationship between the community and technology.

“I learned that character building was an important outcome of these students’ experiences. They also gained an enduring understanding of community,” he said.

The college has granted him with many lifelong experiences towards his communications and English major.

Jeff Kissinger, who manages the English Language and Computer Lab in Cook Hall, has known him for about two years.

Kissinger hired him to work in the labs as a computer assistant because of the personality and skills he enhanced thru his work.

“He’s an exceptional writer. When I had the opening, I wanted to hire him,” Kissinger said.“He’s also a good tutor, students can identify with him.”

He has provided students with skills to take with them so they can achieve their goals. Kinnsinger said Jackiewicz developed a good rapport with the students because they will come in and request him.

Community Leison Michael Schavey of the Service Learning Center said he has been a huge asset to the team.

“The impact of his efforts will advance the Center both short and long term. He has created many new relationships with the variety of communication modes at GRCC to promote and market the important work we do,” Schavey said.

While he steadily combines working 30 hours a week and keeping up with his studies, he still has time to ride the rivers with his sturdy kayak and play a few poker games with his friends.

He also has traveled a bit and lived in Albuquerque for six months.

Although a daily paycheck can be crucial, Jackiewicz finds learning through his internship to be an important part of life with money not being a concern.

“The money is not nearly as important as being sure that a field is right for me. That is why I took this position because I want to know more than the classroom can teach me about what working in a certain field requires,” Jackiewicz said.

He has interviewed many students working with the programs the service learning department offers. GRCC students have had the chance to tell their testimonials through the program.

“All of these things have helped immerse me into academia in a way that gives me the most valuable college experience much more than just going to class I get exposure to a diverse student body of dedicated goal oriented people,” he said.

Questions about service learning can be found in the office on G2, e-mail at servicelearning@grcc. edu, or by calling 234-4162. Jaciewicz is always willing to help.

Campus Events for March 26, 2008
Compiled by Charles Jurries
Web Design Editor

Open Mic Night
March 26, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Sponsored by Black Student Union. Held in the Quiet Café, located on the second floor of the Student Center.

Diversity Lecture Series XIII
March 26, 7 p.m.
Dr. Robert Bullard speaks about environmental justice and racism. Free and open to the public, held at Fountain Street Church.

International Festival
March 28, 6 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Belly dancing, food, drink, and entertainment are all part of this annual event. Sponsored by the International Student Organization. Tickets now on sale at the Student Life Office.

Women Writers in 19th Century Russian Literature
March 31, 4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Professor Kim Wyndgarden will lead an informal discussion based on her sabbatical research involving Russian women writers. Held in room Cook 518.

Careers in Forensic Sci/Criminal Justice
April 1, 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
A workshop to help understand careers in Forensic Science and Criminal Justice. Held in room 336 of the Student Center building.

Eric Schwartz/Smooth-E
April 8, 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Eric Schwartz, or, “Smooth-E,” will be performing in Winchester Alley. Schwartz is a comedian, sketch player, rapper and actor. Admission is free.

Final Exam Preparation
April 8, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Learn how to create a successful study plan and gain helpful tips for taking essay, multiple choice, short answer and true-false tests. Held in room 336 of the Student Center.

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