PAGE 4 | THE BUTLER COLLEGIAN
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2011
Student groups get involved with approaching mayoral elections ALY MARTINEZ ALMARTI1@BUTLER.EDU STAFF WRITER
With mayoral elections just around the corner, two of Butler University’s political organizations—College Republicans and Butler College Democrats—are working to educate students and the surrounding community about the importance of involvement in local elections. On Nov. 8, Indianapolis residents decide whether incumbent Republican Greg Ballard or Democrat Melina Kennedy will be mayor of the city, and some Butler students are encouraging the rest of campus to participate in the election however they can. “We have a problem of apathy on campus with students not recognizing what the impacts of local elections are on their lives,” senior Angela Miller, president of College Democrats, said. “We tend to be trapped within the Butler Bubble.” Miller has been part of the organization since her freshman year and through her experience said she has seen how what happens locally in Indianapolis affects Butler students more than most of them realize. Senior Chase Smith, chairman of College Republicans, said he believes there are many benefits to
paying attention to local elections. “Whether you call Indiana your home, or you are just here because you are a part of the Butler community, you are part of this state,” Smith said. “Caring about local elections, be it through volunteering for a campaign or helping in some other way, is one way to give back to this state.” Election day is quickly approaching and in order to spread the word of the upcoming polls, members of College Republicans and College Democrats have spent time assisting the candidates’ campaigns. Paige Newman, political director for College Democrats, said she has been involved in several events. Some activities include helping set up voter registration, promoting the debate that took place in Clowes Memorial Hall and attending a roundtable discussion with Kennedy. “Kennedy took an hour out of her day to meet about 25 to 30 college students at a local high school to discuss issues in the area and how to make people aware of them,” Newman said. Smith said College Republicans help out with the candidates whenever they can. Members have been volunteering in a series of events called “Operation Red November” that focus on reaching
Photo courtesy of Butler College Democrats
Butler University students Paige Newman (far left), Cole Collins (third from the left) and Drew Hogan attended the Melina Kennedy roundtable discussion. out to both large and small do anything from making calls on registration has already closed communities. behalf of candidates to walking for the mayoral elections. Hinkle “With the number of College door to door,” Smith said. Fieldhouse will house a polling Republican chapters around the Butler students are eligible to station for all Butler students who state, we can usually assemble a vote if they are registered at their are registered to vote along with respectable number of people to school address, although voter other residents of the city.
Social media jobs on the rise KATIE YOUNGEN KYOUNGEN@BUTLER.EDU
STAFF WRITER
Social media jobs are a relatively new and growing option for college graduates who consider Facebook and Twitter secondary majors. Jennifer McConnell, career adviser in Butler University’s internship and career services department, said social media jobs are not uncommon today. “There has definitely been an increase [in social media jobs],” McConnell said. “It has really taken off in the past two to three years.” McConnell said that according to voluntary surveys, some class of 2011 Butler grads have gone on to work in social media jobs. Michael Kaltenmark, Butler alumnus and director of web marketing and communications, handles Butler’s social media presence. To students, he may be familiar as the person on the other end of Blue II’s leash, but Kaltenmark manages a Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare and blog, among other platforms for the mascot. He said that students who aspire to work in web marketing need a
basic set of skills. “More than anything, it helps to be able to write well,” Kaltenmark said. “There are people out there who are killing it on social media without any public relations training.” McConnell said that, according to data collected by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, employers highly value communication skills. “One thing [we] hear over over again from employers is to please tell students not to email like they’re texting,” McConnell said. Social media jobs are becoming a real, viable career option for college students. On Oct. 18, students may have noticed the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile roll through campus. It’s a classic American icon that provides photo ops, Oscar Mayer merchandise and jobs. Drivers of the Weinermobile are hired right out of college for oneyear paid positions to drive around the country, promote Oscar Mayer products and do public relations and marketing work. Kylie “Ketchup Kylie” Hodges and Dylan “Dyl-icious Dylan”
Hackbarth are the “hotdoggers,” that visited Butler’s campus last week. “It’s a paid road trip,” Hodges said. “And on our off day, we get to hang out with Blue.” In order to promote Oscar Mayer, the “hotdoggers” have traveled to major events in their assigned region to meet consumers and the media. “Everywhere we go we pitch to media,” Hackbarth said. “Kylie and I had a five minute interview on CNN, because it was the 75th birthday of the Weinermobile this year.” While media pitching might seem like traditional work in public relations-type positions, Hackbarth and Hodges said they devote time to social media platforms as well. Hackbarth said they use Twitter, Foursquare and blogging to update consumers about the duo’s latest adventures. “For us, our social media is our way for consumers to catch up with us,” Hackbarth said. Career opportunities such as with Oscar Mayer are becoming more readily available to students both at Butler and elsewhere.
Alcohol taskforce gathering information to send to administration KYLER NAYLOR KNAYLOR@BUTLER.EDU
STAFF WRITER
In response to an increased number of alcohol-related hospital visits, the Butler Alcohol Taskforce is gathering information and plans to present recommendations to administration about potential changes to Butler University’s alcohol policy by the end of the semester. During last week’s Homecoming, some students worried that Butler would be cracking down on the festivities, often alcohol-related. “I think the message we are most comfortable with is if you choose to consume, do so responsibly,” Dean of Student Services Sally Click said. “It’s a perpetual topic of concern.” Chaired by Dean of Student Life Irene Stevens and Sarah Barnes-Diaz, coordinator for health education and outreach programs, the taskforce is comprised of a variety of representatives from the campus community, including Greek chapter presidents, residence life staff, Butler University Police Department, Council on Presidential Affairs, Peers Advocating Wellness for Students and faculty who have expertise in the area. “Right now the taskforce is in the phase of examining our campus policy,” Barnes-Diaz said. “And from that, we’ll make recommendations as a taskforce about potential policy changes or amendments on campus. “Our goal is by the end of the semester to have recommendations to send to our vice president of student affairs, Levester Johnson, with the understanding that he will be consulting with the president.” She said Johnson and President Jim Danko will have the ability to agree or disagree with the taskforce’s recommendation. As its name suggests, the taskforce, which was formed last March, has a clear goal in mind. “The university wants students to be part of a safe and responsible community,” senior Josh Ruff, a student on the taskforce, said via email. “The taskforce came about as a response to the trend of increased levels of binge drinking. We’re looking at what can be done to create a safer student community here at Butler.” In order to achieve this goal, the taskforce began gathering information this January in four
primary areas: alcohol education, student culture, alcohol policy and enforcement. But, issues with alcohol are not strictly limited to Butler. Stevens said a majority of the data comes from surveys and research that helps to compare campus data to national and state data. Barnes-Diaz said there seems to be a strong misconception about the taskforce. “It was clear to me that there is a real misconception that this is a group that is coming in and frowning upon drinking and looking to crack down on campus,” Barnes-Diaz said. “I would love for that misconception to be corrected, because this is a group of faculty, staff and students representing a lot of different organizations or areas of campus which are really involved in this issue in one way or another. There are a lot of different students with a lot of different perspectives; it’s certainly not a group that is looking to make Butler a completely dry campus.” Stevens said the addition of the taskforce raised some concerns that the campus would move toward a greater crackdown on alcohol policies or even a change in policy to a dry campus. “Are we going to be a dry campus? I don’t think so,” she said. “That’s just not in our frame of reference at this point.” Barnes-Diaz said the taskforce is trying to take everything into account. “That’s the way I love to see things operate on our campus, when we really talk to students about their thoughts and feelings,” she said. “I hope that’s clear that this has been a huge part of what we’ve done, and it’s not any sort of outside entity coming in and saying, ‘I don’t care what this campus thinks or needs.’” In the end, taskforce members said they have the best interests of students at heart and want to develop suggestions in a way that is fair, reasonable and promotes safety and healthful decisions on campus. “As a student on the taskforce, we’re there to give the university a viewpoint that they might not otherwise see,” senior Melanie Clark said. “We’re trying to get a feel for the alcohol environment.” Stevens agreed. “We’re just trying to help students be safer and make better choices so they don’t end up in the hospital,” she said.