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by tien thuy ho Bruin Consulting (BC) is a unique organ– ization founded in 2007 by UCLA students who desired to learn and teach what business consulting really entails and prepare themselves as strong competitors for real-world consulting careers. Furthermore, BC strives to mold future business leaders and influential members of the community. Each fall quarter, BC holds its opening night, inviting all students who are interested in business or want to learn more about a potential career path. BC first addresses the question: What is consulting? A consultant advises a business how to react to its issues and concerns. But what are some business issues that companies and firms face? And how will a consultant know which piece of advice is suitable and effective? How does one become a consultant? Because there is no short and simple answer, BC takes on the challenge of showing instead of just telling students what consulting incorporates. Hence, BC encourages students to attend more events and compete in case competitions to learn how to solve real business dilemmas. BC has an executive board of nine outstanding students who lead the organization in mentoring and recruiting new members, finding sponsors, creating information workshops
TROJANSIDELINES
LANE KIFFIN
The Last Chapter of the USC Sanction Saga by elisa hernandez Just when the dark cloud over USC Ath– letics begins to clear, the last of the storm is piercing through. Players have been scrutinized and punished for past mistakes, and now the microscope is on USC football’s head coach Lane Kiffin. Kiffin faces allegations that come from when he was a coach at Tennessee. The NCAA is conducting a 12-month investigation on Tennessee’s athletic program, which lead to basketball coach Bruce Pearl being fired and the resignation of athletic director Mike Hamilton. Looking to put the past behind him and move forward with the Trojans, Kiffin has been compliant with all of the NCAA’s requests dealing with this issue. According to the NCAA, it alleges that in 2010 from Jan. 3 to 9, the Tennessee football staff made 16 calls to recruits, after being informed a month in advance that it was not allowed. Kiffin is being accused of allowing a recruiting intern to make illegal off-campus contact with high school staff members. This came after Kiffin was told that the intern was not granted permission to enter a high school’s property while accompanying a coach on a recruiting trip. So how does this affect USC? Well, if Kiffin is found guilty of these allegations or more he could be greatly penalized.
bruinco.com
Student-led Organization
and hosting career fairs. Due to the fact that BC sharpens the skills in networking and communicating ideas effectively, most of the board members have gone on to Top 10 law schools and many other graduate programs like MBA and work for the Big Four accounting firms, huge finance firms such as Intel Finance and one of the most powerful consulting firms, Deloitte. In order to aid business-oriented students in realizing that their rigorous class work actually merges into the real practices of the business world, BC hosts various events to create a world of business at UCLA. BC provides a social and informational setting where students meet and interact with clients and representatives of companies, firms and organizations from all across the United States. For example, at the consulting fair, BC brings dozens of firms to meet with UCLA students. Here, students are able to network with business professionals and even meet recruiters of hiring firms. When convincing clients to come to UCLA, BC succeeds in proving that its members know practical solutions that lead to profitable and productive results for clients’ companies. BC prepares its members through hosting a couple of case competitions in strategy and operations, human capital and technology throughout the school year. Just this spring, BC organized a Deloitte Cisco case competition, concentrating on the technology aspect of business. Students formed teams and prepared months in advance to compete in front of clients to win the competition. In Fall 2010, BC hosted a healthcare case competition as well. Logistically, BC is also in charge of several resumé workshops that help students compose a professional and coherent resumé to send to firms. BC updates Bruinview that only UCLA students and alumni can access in order to view job listings. On Bruinview, students upload their resumes and
Bruin Consulting’s Deloitte Cisco Case Competition winners cover letters, and BC members approve those documents to make sure they are ready to be viewed by employers. BC encourages its members to create their own business ideas and work with others in starting a business, and hence, UCLA projects as a strong leader in the business community. This is why each of the big four accounting firms recruit heavily from UCLA. In addition to learning about the business world, what makes BC even more special is its emphasis in helping its members achieve personal growth and development. BC has a student mentorship program that pairs new members with older members in order to help new members gain an idea of what it takes to embark on such a challenging career path and even how to survive the school years at UCLA. In BC, members are united through an understanding that academic and professional development with the help of those who are more experienced enables one to reach any goals. For more information, visit bruinco.com.
Campus Circle > Blogs > Trojan SideLines Some punishments could include him being suspended from games and a limitation on his recruiting for USC. Kiffin already rounded up an impressive class in this past year alone, getting players such as Nickell Robey, Robert Woods and Markeith Ambles – talent that is crucial to USC’s success. Since the Trojans are not going to see the post-season it’s incredibly important that Kiffin continues to bring in new, fresh talent thus creating greater competition for starting positions. Regardless of athletic turmoil, USC has always found a way to stand tall amongst its competitors. The good news that comes from all this is that a decision will not be made overnight. The NCAA investigations have not concluded, and it is still looking into Pearl’s violations. Also Todd McNair, a former USC running backs coach, is suing the NCAA for libel, slander and negligence amongst other things. He filed the suit in the Los Angeles Superior Court and is demanding a jury trial. He feels the collegiate athletics governing body is responsible for him losing his job. Besides that, the NCAA Committee on Infractions (COI) will have the burden of concluding this manner without any bias toward Kiffin. As USC awaits for this to end so does Tennessee, but of course both schools want different outcomes. As some Tennessee fans are still bitter about the fact that Kiffin abruptly left to take a job with the Trojans. Sanctions will be imposed on Tennessee nevertheless, but as for Kiffin, his punishment – if any – will come later. If any action is taken, Kiffin will have the opportunity to appeal the decision. If filed, the appeal process will delay any action for another six to eight months, where during that time Kiffin can run his athletic program normally. Although this process is frustrating, this will be the last thing on people’s minds as the bowl ban will be over by the end of this season.
Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/MCT
BRUIN CONSULTING
Campus Circle > Blogs > Spirited Bruin
USC football head coach Lane Kiffin faces NCAA allegations. Also if his appeal is denied, like McNair he can file a lawsuit against the NCAA and ask for an injunction, which will delay sanctions even longer. This will take USC into the Class of 2014 recruiting, and the last year of NCAA scholarship sanctions, which were handed down less than a month ago. If all else fails and Kiffin loses his lawsuit, USC can then decide whether or not to renew his contract, renegotiate or search for a new head coach. Regardless, by this time the bowl ban will be over and the scholarship sanctions will have ended too. Unfortunately for Trojan fans, they have to wait until 2014 to finally put all these pesky sanctions behind them for good. As for now, it’s all a bunch of what ifs? All Trojan fans can do is hope for the best but prepare for the worst. The silver lining within all of this, is that it will be over soon, and with the mentality USC Trojans have this is just more motivation to take a hold of the reins of the Pac-12 Conference once given the chance.
Campus Circle 6.22.11 - 6.28.11
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