College life fall 2015

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College Life

OswegoCollegeLife.com FALL 2015

Becoming a ‘Townie’ Tips for living off campus

SORRY, YOU’RE NO MARK ZUCKERBERG But you can still start a business out of your dorm.

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Sexual Assault on Campus

From 2011-2013, there have been 15 reports of sexual assault on campus, according to SUNY Oswego’s safety report. Find out what’s been done to eliminate the problem. Also read: ‘4 Things Women Can Do to Lower Their Risk of Sexual Assault’

College Internships: A Real Life Crash Course

Taming the Burnout Beast College is a juggling act, so make sure you are tossing the right balls. Here are 11 simple tips to handle it

New Minors Nutrition and illustration are two new minors at Oswego

DEBT

10 Ways to Decrease Your College Debt 1 Fall 2015

Big Dollars, Big Dreams

Campaign for SUNY Oswego has raised $35 million in private philanthropy of the $40 million targeted. Why should you care? Funds will be used to support programs and provide scholarships to students

WELCOME NEW YORK CITY STUDENTS — Admission officials expect to get SUNY Oswego’s largest freshman class ever from New York City, about 300 students this fall. See inside

Reality Sinks In Lesley Semel, a recent SUNY Oswego grad, faces the complexity of the real world

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SUNY Oswego names Pamela Michel dean of education

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UNY Oswego President Deborah F. Stanley has named Pamela Michel as dean of the School of Education, effective July 1.

Michel has been interim dean of the school since 2011 and headed up SUNY Oswego’s 2014 reaccreditation process with the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. The flaw-

less evaluation by NCATE’s board of examiners included many commendations noting areas of excellence.

“Dr. Michel has proven a highly effective leader both as interim dean and previously as chair of one of our largest academic departments,” Stanley said. “She brings to her role as dean extensive experience as a

professor, scholar and administrator and productive engagement with educators in our region’s schools.”

After a teaching career in several Central New York school districts, Michel began her tenure at SUNY Oswego in 1988 as an assistant professor in the curriculum and instruction department. In 2000, as a full professor, she

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became department chairwoman, serving in that role for more than 10 years.

A scholar of literacy and reading education, she has presented widely at local, state, national and international levels throughout her career on issues related to evaluation of reading difficulties, future directions for literacy clinics, children’s perceptions of reading, and other facets of literacy.

Her many publications include the book “The Child’s View of Reading: Understandings for Teachers

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and Parents,” published by Allyn & Bacon.

Before joining SUNY Oswego, Michel directed the Syracuse University Reading Clinic for several years and served as a consultant for various school districts and businesses.

Michel earned her doctorate in reading and language arts from Syracuse University and has a bachelor’s degree in music and elementary education from Elmira College and a master’s in reading education from Syracuse University.

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living

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Becoming a ‘Townie’ Here are some tips for living off campus

By Hannah McNamara

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ncoming or returning students may be familiar with SUNY Oswego, but stepping outside the boundaries of campus is a whole new world.

Taking on the responsibility of living off-campus can be a challenging task for students. Here are some helpful tips that may ease the anxiety caused by off-campus living.

Revise your lease before you sign it

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A lease is a contract between two or more parties that shows proof of an agreement through a signature on paper.

Although you may be quick to sign your name at the bottom after scanning through the first three sentences, don’t! Once your signature is plastered across the bottom of that paper, there is no taking it back.

Make sure you take the time to read through the lease carefully because the small print is what’s important to pay attention to.

Take a close look at penalties for late rent, what pets are allowed (if any), and policies on painting or altering the apartment, because those factors can leave a big impact on your wallet in the long run.

Budget your money As a college student, it’s not easy to set aside $400 to hand over on the first of every month. It is a painful procedure for all of us and it really never gets easier. The first few months are simple because maybe you saved up the money from a summer job or your parents helped you out.

But when you’re staying in on Saturday nights and taking 30-second showers because you’re so broke, it’s time to learn to budget your money.

An easy way to do this is to pay six months of rent in advance. It’s tough to watch your bank account dwindle, but it gives you a realistic number on how much money you have to spend.

Befriend the landlord It’s important to remember that being friendly and respectful to your landlord can go a long way in a service exchange such as this.

You don’t have to invite your landlord over for pasta

dinner on Sunday nights but make sure you form a healthy relationship from the start. More than likely, you are going to need things within your apartment repaired.

Whether your washing machine breaks or your electricity goes out, it’s important to be able to call your landlord and have the problem fixed immediately.

Late rent is another issue that can cause friction between you and your landlord. To avoid this problem, just pay on time. If you mail out the check a few days in advance, you will never run into any problems and that is exactly what leads to a positive tenant-landlord relationship.

ed next to your English 302 class.

For those of you who have a car, make sure you are prepared for the winter months off campus. That means snow tires, working heater, and most importantly, a snow scraper. I’ve seen students use butter knives, hangers, and their bare hands to break the ice covering their windshield and none of them ever succeed.

For those of you who live off campus without a car, these are some things you can’t live without: facemask, goggles, snowsuit, and heavy-duty boots. All I can say is good luck, may the odds be forever in your favor.

Record any problems

Ask about utilities

First of all, never rent a house without looking at it first. When a landlord gives you a walk through of the apartment or house, it’s important to look for any damage and record it so you don’t get stuck paying for it when you move out. Taking pictures of any holes in walls, broken windows or doors, kitchen appliances that don’t work, and stains on the carpets will only benefit you in the long run.

This is crucial. If your utilities are included, make sure you find out exactly which ones this refers too. If they aren’t, it’s easy to calculate their prices online and find out how much money you should be setting aside annually.

It’s also a good idea to talk to the tenants who lived in the house before you, find out how much a typical monthly electricity bill is or how they maintained their gas bill in the winter months when they weren’t living there.

Most likely, cable and WiFi will not be included in utilities and that will be a separate bill all of its own.

Just remember, Netflix is just as sufficient as cable and a whole lot cheaper.

Prepare for winter months Living off campus means you’ll have to leave more than five minutes before class to get there on time. Your house may be conveniently located next to a McDonalds on the west side of the city, but not conveniently locat-

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College Life

new minors College’s new minor in nutrition keys on healthier eating, living

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UNY Oswego’s health promotion and wellness department recently began offering nutrition as a minor, opening opportunities for students to focus on a booming field that tries to combat national issues with what people eat and why.

“Obesity has become public enemy No. 1 in public health,” said department chairwoman Sandra Bargainnier. “We talk about exercise as a gateway to good health.

Equally important is good nutrition.”

The new minor holds the potential to broaden future employment and graduate school opportunities for students in majors such as wellness management, biology, psychology and more, and appeals to students interested in self-improvement or in coaching others in wellness, Bargainnier said.

While so many people love food, Bargainnier said many don’t understand the chemical, emotional, social, spiritual or even the financial components of nutrition; the new minor equips students with foundational

5 Fall 2015

understanding in all of those realms across the human lifespan.

Junior wellness management and biology dual major Brianna Favata has added the nutrition minor. With a career goal as a physician’s assistant, she said, “I always wanted to get into the field of pediatrics, to deal with how children exercise, what they play, what they eat.”

Favata, who received a firsthand look at children’s health issues as she job-shadowed a Fulton doctor, said two of her favorite classes have been “nutritional concepts” and “scientific foundations of fitness.” Courses available for the minor are offered in chemistry, health promotion and wellness, and counseling and psychological services.

Among other potential career paths, Bargainnier said, is worksite health — wellness coaching is an emerging demand of companies across the country. “Our students will be the people who help the doctor put into practice what he or she prescribes for obesity,” she said.

Illustrating a point — SUNY Oswego art department chairwoman Cynthia Clabough (right) speaks with senior graphic design major Connor DeHaahn (left) and John MacDonald, chairman of accounting, finance and law, about a new graphic novel DeHaahn is illustrating for the School of Business’ risk management and insurance program. A “bridge between the fine arts and the applied arts,” as Clabough describes it, illustration recently joined the college’s roster of minors. Photo submitted by SUNY Oswego.

‘Re-emerging’ art of illustration added as minor at SUNY Oswego

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new minor in illustration promises to provide SUNY Oswego art majors and students across disciplines with a strong foundation in a skillset that art department chairwoman Cynthia Clabough

says is enjoying resurgence in demand.

“Illustration is re-emerging as a contemporary communication form,” she said. “It is a bridge between the fine arts and the applied arts.”

Clabough said that making art illustration a minor — the required courses already are offered — adds weight and legitimacy to the experience and qualifications of graphic design and studio art students as well as majors in disciplines that offer illustration-rich careers, such as the sciences, creative writing, and cinema and screen studies, among others.

As a case in point, John MacDonald, chairman of accounting, finance and law in the School of Business, was looking for a way to interest college-bound high school students in insurance, particularly in Oswego’s risk management and insurance program.

“It hit me that a graphic novel might pique their interest,” MacDonald said. He approached Clabough with the idea.

Senior graphic design major Connor DeHaahn and recent risk management and insurance graduate Walter Wilmshurst answered the call, working on the illustrations and the text, respectively, for the book.

“Combining illustration with graphic design is almost fundamental,” said DeHaahn, who plans to move west after graduation and start out designing such products as brochures and shirts for a ski resort. “As a graphic designer, you can be good on the computer and work with typography, but it’s always valuable to do things by hand.”

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Taming the Burnout Beast College is a juggling act, so make sure you are tossing the right balls.

Here are 11 simple tips to handle it

By Melissa Stefanec

E

ver feel like you have so much to do that your head was placed in a paint mixer for the past five minutes?

Ever stop, look around, and wonder how exactly you are ever going to get everything done that needs doing?

The term papers, the studying, the midterm, the club meeting, the sporting practice, the party, that whole sleeping thing.

Sometimes, college can be a wild and fun ride that you desperately want to get off of.

If you feel this way sometimes, you’re not alone.

College is extremely busy and demanding. You are constantly juggling the demands of classes, extra-curricular activities, jobs, social obligations, and family. It can feel like there simply isn’t enough time in the day or night to get everything done.

Being an over-utilized and over-busy student is a step on the path to becoming an over-utilized employee and stressed-out adult. No one actually wants that to happen, but it can seem overwhelming or darn near impossible to break the over-scheduling cycle.

I’ve spent much of my life as an over-utilized student and then a similar employee and adult. I’ve also picked up some tricks on how to rein in the madness.

Dare I say, on my better days I have even found ways to keep the madness at bay.

Having balance in your life is essential to achieving happiness. Being overly stressed and utilized isn’t sustainable or desirable.

So, the sooner you start revamping your time-management skills, the better off you will be. You are going to need top-notch time-management skills when it comes to being a great employee, volunteer, partner, parent, friend, or any other role you are planning for yourself. If you can’t keep up now, it’s time to tame the burnout beast.

Taming technique #1 — Have a plan When your schedule is overbooked, procrastinating, avoiding it or freaking out isn’t going to make matters any better. First, get away from all of your distractions.

Then, sit down in front of your computer, a piece of paper, or an app and get all of your to-do items in one place. Keep that medium handy so you can add to it as things pop into your brain.

Taming technique #2 — Prioritize Prioritization can make or break your time-management skills. Look at the items on your list and decide which ones are the most important and which ones you can realistically accomplish.

If you need to input from others (e.g., professors or bosses) about what is a priority, don’t be afraid to ask.

Everyone wants everything yesterday, but a lot of those items aren’t crises. Figure out what needs to be done and can be done and when it needs to be done. Then make yourself a realistic schedule.

Taming technique #3 — Write it down By now you probably have a list with changes, scribbles and notes. Make yourself a clean copy. Write it, type it, or put it in a calendar on your phone. Commit a clean and prioritized schedule to something other than your brain. You will get tired, distracted and forgetful. Take the time to schedule something that isn’t prone to human failure.

Taming technique #4 — Sleep right A lack of sleep will make even the most easily achievable schedule seem like it’s out of control. Sleep is crucial to good physical and mental health. Almost everything in life hinges on sleep.

Getting a good night’s sleep in college can be difficult. There are lots of distractions. Cramming for a test or

fraternizing until 3:30 in the morning isn’t going to reap any benefits. If you make yourself a reasonable and well-thought-out schedule, you will have time to do things you have to do and things you enjoy, including sleep.

Taming technique #5 — Eat right If you are running on breadsticks, granola bars, hot sauce and cookies, you are going to run out of gas.

Eat your meals. Eat healthy snacks. Don’t wonder why you feel like crap when all you ingest in a day is a pop tart, three beers and slice of late-night pizza. If you know you won’t be able to get a meal in, plan ahead and pack yourself something that will actually feed your body and mind.

Taming technique #6 — Exercise Exercising gives you energy. The hard part of exercising is finding the energy and motivation to take those first few steps. We humans are very good at falling into habits and then letting those habits become a routine. You might be in a routine where exercise isn’t part of the equation.

The only way to change the output of that equation is to change its inputs. Get out there and exercise a few times. Pretty soon your body and mind won’t know what to do without it.

Taming technique #7 — Learn the power of no Many people feel

over-utilized because they are. No amount of scheduling or planning can undo it.

If you are a go-getter, people are going to seek you out.

This is when you have to learn a very important word — no.

It’s OK to say no sometimes. It’s important to learn how to say no. If you don’t have time to commit to something, politely decline doing it. It’s better to say no early, than to say yes and not come through on your word or deliver a sub-par product.

Learning how to say no will be one of the most important successes in your life.

Taming technique #8 — Recharge You deserve some of your own time. Everyone else doesn’t deserve to own one of your most important commodities. Carve out time in your schedule to do nothing. Sit by the lake. Read a book that isn’t an assignment. Catch up with an old friend. Go for a walk and clear your mind. You are the most important item on your own to-do list.

Taming technique #9 – Take a step back Go easy on yourself.

Sometimes we think that failing at something or saying no is going to set back our entire lives. Chances are, it’s not. If you bomb one test, say no to one project or miss one social obligation, very little is going to change and hardly anyone is going to notice.

Don’t convince yourself that every to-do list item is do or die. In life, some things are

going to slip by the wayside. Get used to it now, and nudge the things that have to go on their merry way.

Taming technique #10 – Quit multi-tasking Study after study has shown that most of us think we are good multi-taskers, but in reality, none of us is very good at it. When we multi-task, nothing gets the attention it deserves. We are more prone to making mistakes, and we are less likely to commit things to memory.

We deliver less than our best.

When you decide to do a task, do it. Turn off your email; turn off your phone.

Go to a place you won’t be disturbed. Shut your door.

If something is important enough to demand your time, give it your time. Don’t give three-eighths of your time.

Taming technique #11 — Turn off the screen Seriously, turn off the screens. The Internet is a hideous little time goblin that will eat free time, brain cells, creativity and productivity.

Don’t feed it. Let it have its proper place in your life, but don’t let it dictate your life.

You need to take power over your devices, and the only way to do that is to unplug, shut down and silence them sometimes.

So next time you are feeling over-worked, completely stressed and entirely depleted, ask yourself what you can do to stop the madness.

You are the only person that can set yourself free. Do it.

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life after Reality Sinks In Recent SUNY Oswego graduate faces the complexity of the real world

By Lesley Semel

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tudents are preparing for the fall semester at SUNY Oswego by registering for last-minute classes, picking out fresh room décor and trying on outfits for weekend escapades.

But not me.

I wait patiently by the phone hoping someone calls me back for my first real-world job.

For a month I relaxed following graduation in May, enjoying what I accomplished in four years. Coming to Oswego, I had no idea where life would take me during that time.

I was still undecided in my mind as to what kind of career I wanted to pursue.

Journalism seemed promising and challenging since I enjoyed writing, but I felt shy when it came to talking to people. Being able to be pushed out of my comfort zone and realize that I am the person who allows a person’s story to be told made my love for the career soar even higher.

But the question is how can I describe that to an employer through paper?

Let me tell you, it’s

Lesley Semel celebrates upon completion of her degree at SUNY Oswego in May. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism and is seeking a job in communications.

that company.

With only a couple of months out of college, some of my friends have landed jobs in their field; others have yet to send out resumes. I have heard back from a few places for upcoming formal interviews for editorial and reporter positions, and some have just straight out rejected me.

But the key is not to be worried. Send as many resumes as you can because one out of the 100 places you apply to, one hopefully will reach out.

While job finding has been an interesting and frustrating experience, my responsibilities have increased.

As soon as I came home in May, my father took me aside and asked for my credit card.

He took the piece of plastic and cut it up in front of my face and said, “You have to apply for your own now.

There is going to be no more of me paying $50 a month for this thing,” he said.

So now my financial situation has been about prioritizing what I spend and how I spend it. My finances include paying for my car, auto insurance, my phone bill, and credit card payments. And in the next couple months, I will have to start paying back my student loans.

At this point, I’m thankful I’m not paying for rent! I appreciate and understand

tough. You have to literally sell yourself to companies by putting down attractive descriptions of your skills, your qualifications, and how you can bring those to the table to

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what my parents are doing for me. They are helping me become an independent adult. These are going to be some of the main expenses I will have to pay for when I’m on my own.

Life after college seems hard, but everyone starts at the bottom only to rise to the top in the future. I know there is no manual for the real world, but I can’t wait for what life has in store for me next.

Lesley Semel graduated from SUNY Oswego in May with a degree in journalism and creative writing. She served as an intern for Local News, Inc. in Oswego last spring semester.

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Christopher Harris, an assistant professor of computer science at SUNY Oswego, is doing research on human-computer interaction in Finland. Photo by Jim Russell, SUNY Oswego.

Finland, HCI and Secret Sauces

SUNY Oswego prof off to Finland for computer research

By Melissa Stefanec

H

uman-computer interaction is becoming a crucial part of our everyday lives, though few of us ever stop to think about its existence or evolution.

One professor at SUNY Oswego is traveling halfway around the globe to study HCI in one of the nations that is one of the best in the HCI business — Finland.

If there’s one thing the Scandinavian countries have down to a science, it’s gaming. Many of the most popular games in the world have been designed in Scandinavian countries. Video games such as “Angry Birds,” “Minecraft,” “Softcell” and “Farmville” all originated in Scandinavian countries.

These games have been played by millions of people all over the world. The designers of these games understand what it takes for a game to appeal to the masses. They have what Christopher Harris calls the secret sauce, and like any sous chef, he is going to study at the feet of the masters.

Harris is an assistant professor of computer science at SUNY Oswego, and as such, he was able to apply for a Fulbright award. He was awarded a Fulbright grant for teaching and research, and is on his way to study and teach HCI in Finland.

His degree and area of specialty is in informatics and computer science, and he specializes in HCI. When he travels to Tampere University of Technology in Finland, he will be teaching classes on HCI. For those of us not privy to the world of HCI, here is an overview. HCI is an area

of research that focuses on the design and use of computer technology. People who study HCI observe how humans interact with computers and subsequently design technologies based on their observations. Harris is going to be analyzing the secret sauce in Finish gaming, the sort of sauce that is all over games like “Angry Birds.”

“People pick up ‘Angry Birds’, and whether they are 6 years old or 60 years old, they can pick it up and understand it without instruction,” said Harris. “There’s some sort of magic appeal to games created in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe.”

Harris credits the designers in this geographic area with being able to think outside of their borders.

When people in these areas design games, they can’t design a game just for their own countries or nearby nations. Populations in these areas are much smaller than they are in other areas of the world, and as such, the designers have to think outside their borders if they want to sell to larger markets.

Creating global appeal For example, there are only about 5 million people in Finland, so designers have to think about mass appeal when designing new games and hoping to market them.

“The designers in Finland are incredibly good at this,” said Harris. “They are thinking about other cultures. Finland’s done it very well. There aren’t a lot of countries globalizing what they do very well.”

Harris leaves for Finland

in August and will study and teach there for about 10 months. He will be teaching classes at the graduate level.

The language barrier won’t be an issue for him while teaching because most graduate-level classes at the university are taught in English.

He will be teaching classes through the department of pervasive computing. These classes will focus on mobile technology, programming and HCI. Besides teaching, Harris will also be conducting research. His research will focus on the cross-cultural user experience. Besides researching the gaming industry, Harris also plans to research the design and ideology behind some successful applications, mostly focusing on e-commerce. He cited a successful mobile payment system called M-PESA. This system is ubiquitous in Kenya. Its designer tried to launch a similar program in India, and it wasn’t nearly as successful. Harris plans to research the causes of such occurrences.

He plans to bring the results of his research and wealth of experiences back to his colleagues and students at SUNY Oswego. He is even toying with the idea of writing a book. According to Harris, there isn’t a lot of research in this area; it’s an emerging field of study.

There has to be some key elements in designing successful cross-cultural programs, and Harris wants to learn those rules.

“It’s something that will help our HCI program [at SUNY Oswego],” said Harris.

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College Life

your life

10 Things to Do Right Now to Help Your Future

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

H

ere’s the article your future self would send to you — if that were possible.

1). Complete your education. Future employers are not as impressed with “credits towards” as they are with your earning a degree. The latter shows you finish what you start. We’ve all read the stories of millionaires who dropped out of school to become entrepreneurs, but for each of these, thousands have ended up without a degree, working dead end jobs for years.

2). Learn from your collegiate experience. In addition from the academic work, seek new experiences that stretch you as a person. Joining extracurricular groups, experiencing your college town’s cultural offerings and getting to know people different from yourself represent just a few ways in which college can help you mature.

3). Network. “You need to develop relationships, not just parents or relatives, for when you get out of college,” said Paula Behm, owner of Careers

by Design in Syracuse.

Behm “Get their advice and do informational interviews to position yourself for the future. People will start taking an interest in you now.”

Even now, reaching out to the professors, mentors and students who share your professional interests can help you someday. Stay in touch through social media so that in the future, you can reach out to them when you could use their advice or connections.

Remember, networking Demishkevich

9 Fall 2015

goes two ways, so throw some opportunities their way as well.

4). Build a professional portfolio.

Either as a volunteer or a part-time consultant, do something that is like your future career. You can use these experiences in a resume or your future business website. Even now, blogging about your growing expertise in your industry, for example, helps get your name out there.

“You should look at building and promoting your personal brand as an investment in your future,” said Maya Demishkevich, principal at a Web marketing firm in Rochester and founder of brandEDU, a personal branding company for academia and professionals.

“A strong brand can bring high returns, while a poor online presence can hurt your chances of reaching your goals.”

5). Get experience.

“Always do an internship,” Behm said. “Get letters of recommendations and references from those with whom you work at internship.”

Work jobs that will help your career. Even if it’s not exactly on-target, a job in the

same general industry will help you gain experience and demonstrate your interest in the field.

“Learn communication skills,” Behm said. “Communication skills are the No. 1 thing employers are looking for and also how you treat people within the organization.”

6). Don’t get wrapped up in romances. You may meet the love of your life freshman year, but don’t bet on it.

For now, focus on your career path. Relationships take a lot of mental and emotional energy that you should funnel into your professional life.

7).

Avoid debt like the plague.

Since most students already graduate with student loan debt, it is absolutely vital that you avoid credit card debt and, if possible, car loan debt. You may hate using a two-year-old phone or driving a clunker, but pretention always costs money. Spend only the money you have.

8). Don’t financially link yourself to anyone unless you are 100 percent certain he is trustworthy and that their ideas are sound. Run it by your parents if you and a buddy want to invest in a business opportunity. They may not understand the cutting edge technology company, fashion line or whatever business you want to launch, but they have boatloads of sense about finances.

9). Stand up for yourself.

If a “friend” wants to do anything illegal, risky or that makes you uncomfortable, he’s no friend. Be true to you.

10). Appreciate others: your parents, family, and friends. College is a fleeting and special time in your life.

Give props to all those who have helped you get where you are and where you hope to be in the future.

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The Truth Behind Women’s Rugby Growing in popularity, rugby features intense, hard-hitting competition

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s rugby grows in leaps and bounds throughout the United States, there is no better time to be a rugby player than in 2016.

Although the sport of rugby has been under the radar in the U.S. for over 100 years, rugby has become the fastest-growing youth game in the nation, according to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association.

This may come as a surprise to many in a day and age where sports-related concussions and injuries are in the spotlight more than ever. However, statistics show the extreme physicality of rugby plays a major factor in its popularity as its participation rates continue to increase. In the five years through 2013, average annual U.S. participation increased 14 percent to climb to a total of 1.2 million participants throughout the country.

That’s not the only leap and bound that rugby has recently overcome. Due to its recent popularity, rugby is finally being recognized as an Olympic sport in the 2016 Summer Olympics for the first time since 1924 in Paris.

And to top it all off, the U.S. women’s rugby team qualified for the Olympics for the first time in history and will compete this year against teams from countries such as Australia and England.

Rugby enthusiasts know this is a milestone for the sport and due to the strong performances seen by the men’s and women’s U.S rugby teams, there are high expectations for them in the 2016 Summer Olympics.

This year, the SUNY Oswego women’s rugby team will achieve milestones as well.

After recently getting moved from a Division III college team to Division II last spring, the SUNY Oswego Black Widows have been working to overcome some of the toughest obstacles it has faced since its founding in 1992.

Club level status The SUNY Oswego Women’s Rugby Club is a Division II club sport that competes in both the fall and spring semesters. During the upcoming fall season, the Black Widows will compete in seven games against

SUNY Oswego’s women’s rugby team.

Division II teams throughout New York state.

Students who participate in varsity sports are under a certain amount of pressure to commit the necessary effort to sports training while maintaining satisfactory grade averages. Club teams are those that, in principle, any student can join based on his or her athletic abilities and interests.

Weekly practices are usually held, sometimes more than once per week, and competitions are arranged with other institutions, but because the student’s involvement is recreational in nature, there is less pressure with regard to meeting training and academic demands.

After over three decades of competing against fellow Division III teams, this year’s team will face some of the strongest teams in its division, including Syracuse University, Ithaca, and Buffalo State University.

In order to adjust to the recent division changes, the women’s rugby club has gone to extreme measures to ensure it is more prepared than ever for the upcoming season.

This season, the team has taken the initiative to hire coach Kara Gottschalk, a resident of Oswego County. With eight years of prior rugby experience, the team is confident that this is a positive step in the right direction.

However, the recent division changes aren’t the only obstacle that women’s rugby will face this season. The women’s rugby

team receives significantly less resources compared to opposing rugby teams in the division that are considered varsity sports on campus.

“We have adapted to staying motivated and working hard with what we are given,” said Amber Bentley, scrum captain of the women’s rugby team. “Every club or organization on campus deserves recognition because we all work as hard as we can to better the club, sport and organization as a whole and to better the community here at Oswego.”

However, even though women’s rugby is a club sport at SUNY Oswego, team members still feel they have benefited immensely from becoming part of the squad.

“Exercise is shown to help improve brain function, so what better way than to join a sports team to keep you active and meet friends at the same time?” Bentley asked. “Being part of a team also helps with time management and prioritizing as well.”

Gearing up for season This fall season, the Black Widows believe they have what it takes to compete against seven of the toughest women’s rugby teams throughout New York state in the Division II sector.

In order to prepare for this upcoming season, the team will be focusing solely on exercise and fitness in the coming weeks.

“Rugby is 10 percent skill and 90 percent fitness, so in order for us to succeed, we must be in the best shape we can be,” Bentley said.

A rugby game consists of two 40-minute halves where two teams of 15 players push their minds and bodies to the ultimate limits. The object of the game is to score as many points as possible by carrying, kicking, grounding and passing the ball backwards to the tri zone. Seeing as the only protective gear used is a mouth guard, the 80-minute game is bound to be very physical, demanding and aggressive.

“When it comes down to it, the game of rugby is the most organized chaos you will ever see,” Bentley said.

“In order to compete against other D2 women’s rugby teams, it takes an unwavering perseverance, team chemistry, open minds, humility and optimism,” said wing captain Kaitlyn McCue. “No matter how much progress we make, we can always grow and improve as players and as a team.”

While achieving success on the field as a team, the Oswego women’s rugby team also hopes to break barriers and common misconceptions about women’s rugby that are often perceived by the public.

McCue said as of now, women’s rugby doesn’t receive the respect and recognition it deserves. However, she personally feels that joining the women’s rugby team at SUNY Oswego has transformed her into the woman she is today.

“Countless people are stuck on the backwards assumption that a woman loses all sense of what it means to be ‘female’ in playing a rough, contact sport such as rugby, but I beg to differ,” McCue said. “Playing rugby makes me feel empowered and it allows me to showcase both my strength and power.”

With their goals set high with unwavering motivation, the Black Widows are a force to be reckoned with this upcoming season. They have accepted their challenges and worked to overcome any obstacles that could possibly get in the way of their success.

“This season, you can expect to see improvement, positivity and relentless perseverance from some of the strongest women at Oswego,” Bentley said.

Fall 2015 10

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College Life

reputation

Applying the ‘Grandma Test’ Protecting your online reputation

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t’s time to shape up your line reputation. Pictures, comments and links that seem hilarious now can negatively affect your future.

“Want it or not, employers often assess candidates’ online presence to determine whether a candidate should be hired,” said Maya Demishkevich, Ph.D, principal at a Web marketing firm in Rochester and founder of brandEDU, an online personal branding company for academia and professionals.

“Today, your digital identity serves as an extension of your job application,” she added. “Would you include photos of excessive partying and drinking on your resume?”

In addition to calling your references and confirming your education, the human resources department recruiter at your future employer will likely search for you online to help judge your character, professionalism and fit with the company culture. That’s why it’s important to keep your postings PG-rated or better.

Of course, the more professional image that’s required, the more important that your online reputation is sterling. Creative careers may be more lenient with how you express yourself online. Industries involving handling money, processing sensitive information, and that otherwise involve trust hire people who look stable.

How do you represent yourself online?

So what builds a poor online reputation? Anything that makes you appear undependable, dishonest or immature.

“Anything you put on the Internet will stay,” said Paula Behm, owner of Careers by Design in Syracuse.

“Employers will Google you when you apply for a job.

Put yourself in their shoes.

Would you hire someone that got drunk all weekend and partied it up? Would you think they will come in on time on Monday?”

The “Grandma Test”

11 Fall 2015

can help you determine if something’s in poor taste. If you would feel embarrassed for your grandmother to see it, it probably doesn’t need to go on the Internet. Don’t post photos depicting you doing anything illegal, immoral or dangerous.

Don’t post comments peppered with profanity or crude language. It only makes you appear immature.

Learn to express yourself without it to demonstrate your strong command of the language.

Before you post anything, think about others’ perspectives. A strong opinion about a topic may be expressed respectfully.

Avoid name calling. Would you behave that way in the boardroom?

Don’t make others appear foolish on the Internet.

Future employers may wonder if you’ll carry personal attacks into the workplace.

Remember the Golden Rule and go only as far as tasteful, gentle jibs. Posting hurtful remarks, unflattering photos or angry comments frames you as a bully.

Keep tabs on what others post, too.

“Googling yourself is not vain, it is the necessary strategy for managing your personal identity,” Demishkevich said. “I always advise that students periodically Google their name.”

Limit your selfies. If your social media postings are always about you, others may thing you’re not much of a team player. Share more

photos on other topics. In a similar vein, don’t make your online presence a constant stream of boasting, which turns off people.

It’s fine to share accomplishments, however, avoid over-sharing. Does everyone need to know every meal you eat, place you go and thing you do?

If your family and close friends tell you “TMI” you can feel sure online acquaintances don’t want to know either. Over-sharing online may make the employment recruiter wonder if you will you spend your workday gabbing or working. Just highlight the big moments.

Use your postings to help build a positive reputation online.

“You need a Linked In profile,” Behm said. “You can separate your personal life and professional life.”

Use a different derivation of your name, such as William Smith could use his childhood nickname “Billy” on Facebook and William W. Smith on Linked In. If you volunteer (whether organized or sporadically), post a thank-you to anyone else working alongside you. This underlines your good deed while extending gratitude. As stated above, occasionally listing an accomplishment—especially a professional one—can help build a solid reputation of growth and progress.

In general, don’t display your dirty laundry. If you need to vent or iron out a disagreement, “call your mother,” Behm said.

After all, phones still work to call people.

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College Life

Sexual Assault

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SUNY Oswego zeroes in on awareness, educational programming. From 2011-2013, there have been 15 reports of sexual assault on campus, according to SUNY Oswego’s safety report

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resident Obama launched his “It’s On Us” sexual assault prevention campaign recently urging all colleges to take a pledge to prevent sexual assault on all campuses.

It’s On Us aims to shift the way people think about sexual assault by inspiring people to see it as their responsibility to do something, big or small, to prevent it.

The campaign reflects the belief that sexual assault isn’t just an issue involving a crime committed by a perpetrator against a victim, but one in which the rest of us also have a role to play, according to the White House website.

In 2011, a “Dear Colleague” letter was sent to colleges and universities by The education department’s Office for Civil Rights to further clarify how colleges must handle sexual violence cases under Title IX. “Four years ago, we started with the push during student orientation right away and included a couple of slides about what Title IX is, what it covers and how to report,” SUNY Oswego Title IX Coordinator Lisa Evaneski said during an interview last spring.

Title IX of the education amendments of 1972 is a comprehensive federal law that protects people from discrimination based on sex-in-education programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance.

Colleges must promptly respond to complaints of sexual harassment and violence in a way that limits its effects and prevents its recurrence, according to the Title IX page on the SUNY Oswego website.

Evaneski is spreading prevention and awareness through different information sessions for campus and community members.

The school targets a number of groups, including new employees and department meetings attendees, student organizations, residence hall staff and athletes.

If a crime has been committed, it is up to the victim if he or she would like to

report the case or not. Some choose to move on from the situation and others can start the process with Evaneski.

SUNY Oswego model institution “Students and employees can report directly to me. We can help them connect with medical, counseling and other resources on and off campus, and assist them with academic, housing and work concerns.

A survivor can also choose to report immediately to the police. If the crime happens on campus, they should go to University Police; if it happened in the city of Oswego, they should go to the Oswego police,” she said.

SUNY wide, Oswego was one of the first to implement distributing sexual assault information on campus.

The school has been a model for other SUNY schools and been doing more than most campuses when it comes to prevention and awareness, Evaneski said.

Title IX covers elementary schools through college.

One of the biggest struggles Evaneski has seen is that there is lack of awareness at some schools.

“I recently got invited to present to the Oswego County school systems and before I went and did my presentation, I went onto their school websites to see if I could see Title IX. One of the biggest requirements is to know who your coordinator is and how to report something, and I couldn’t find it anywhere,” she said.

From 2011-2013, there have been 15 reports of sexual assault on campus, according to SUNY Oswego’s safety report. But since the start of these programs, Evaneski said services and responses to these cases are more comprehensive and

collaborative.

She is seeing an increase in reporting. However, it doesn’t mean more assaults are happening; more people are finding the courage to come forward.

The hardest part of being a coordinator is working with a person who has just gone through a traumatic situation.

“It’s very rewarding to help someone through that, but every case is different.

I feel the criminal system is difficult for our survivors and it’s hard to watch them go through the process of deciding. The system is better than what it used to be, but it’s still not easy,” Evaneski said.

This year, SUNY Oswego will continue with the It’s On Us campaign and the Title IX awareness and training programs. The school piloted a bystander intervention program that some test groups have experienced this year.

All student organization officers will go through a program that includes Title IX awareness programs and bystander intervention starting in September.

For more information about Title IX policies, resources and reporting, visit www.oswego.edu/about/ titleix.

Fall 2015 12

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College Life

4 Things Women Can Do to Lower Their Risk of Sexual Assault A s many as a quarter of women in college experience sexual assault at some point during their four years on campus, and while some colleges use rape prevention programs, many of these programs have not been tested for their effectiveness.

However, a recent study found that a new program, called the Enhanced Assess, Acknowledge, Act Sexual Assault Resistance, could reduce the risk of rape among college women by nearly 50 percent during participants’ freshman years. The researchers are now taking steps to make the program more accessible to other colleges.

Here are some methods used by the program to prevent sexual assault.

Identify risky situations People often think that rapes occur when someone is walking home alone at night or sitting in an unlocked car, and is attacked by a stranger. But in reality, about 80 percent of rapes are committed by someone known to the victim, and about half of rapes occur either at home or within 1 mile of home, according to RAINN, an anti-sexual assault organization.

It’s not necessarily “walking home alone at night,” but rather, being isolated that increases the risk for rape, because it gives a perpetrator an advantage, said Charlene Senn, a professor of applied social psychology and women’s studies at the University of Windsor in Ontario, Canada, who developed the program.

So one high-risk situation for rape could be if a woman goes to a room at a party where no one can hear her, Senn said.

But women can take steps to undermine perpetrator advantages, Senn said.

For example, at a party, a woman could make sure that everyone knowns where she is going to be, and ask people to come get her after a certain amount of time.

Trust your gut feeling Before a sexual assault, women often say they felt like “something was off,”

13 Fall 2015

about the perpetrator’s behavior — the person was acting in ways that made the woman feel uncomfortable.

But women don’t always trust this feeing. Senn’s new program on rape prevention aims to reinforce the idea that women are right to trust their feelings, which may prevent a risky situation from progressing.

Understand that perpetrators could be someone you know If a perpetrator is someone you know, it may be difficult to come to terms with the idea that this person is a threat to you. Women may feel like they need to be polite, and not hurt people’s feelings. These feelings are understandable, but they can delay action that could be effective in preventing rape.

For example, a woman may be alone in her dorm room when her roommate’s boyfriend stops by to visit, and insists on coming in even though the roommate isn’t there, Senn said. The boyfriend could then act in ways that make the woman feel uncomfortable, but she hesitates to do something because she thinks her roommate will be upset.

“These are all perfectly normal reactions to abnormal threat, but they delay action,” Senn said.

Senn’s program also teaches ways to help women overcome these emotional barriers, so they can take action more quickly.

Use verbal or physical resistance If a perpetrator is someone you know, a normal reaction to the individual’s

behavior is to plead with the person to stop, but this is not usually effective at preventing rape, Senn said.

Women may think, “’if he only knew more clearly’ — but you’ve been clear,” Senn said.

The most effective ways to fight back during sexual assault are to use forceful verbal resistance — such as yelling loudly or swearing in the perpetrator’s face — and physical resistance, such as tactics taught in self-defense, Senn said.

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College Life

Serious Business

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College Internships A Real Life Crash Course Soon-to-be graduates gain competitive edge with experience-based learning

By Hannah McNamar

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ollege attendance rates this year are showing that more students in the United States are graduating with college degrees than ever before.

Although at one point, a college degree was considered a ticket to a good-paying job, in today’s economy, it’s simply not enough.

Experience-based learning through internships and co-ops allow students to build their resumes and gain hands-on experience in their field of choice.

According to the National Association for Continuing Education, 64.8 percent of college interns were offered jobs by their employers after graduation in 2015.

But in today’s competitive job market, it comes as no surprise that participating in internships as a student can give recent graduates an advantage over others when entering the real world.

With 21 million Americans expected to enter college in 2015, every student is looking for what will set them apart from their peers.

One resume-builder that many students have confidence in is completing an internship before graduation.

The benefits that come along with participating in a college internship as a student are endless. It not only boosts your resume, but it gives students a competitive edge over others in their field. It’s like a crash course within their career before they graduate and enter the real world work force.

Aside from this, there is no better way to build connections and relationships with potential employers in competitive careers.

SUNY Oswego senior Emmeline Ortiz spent her past summer interning abroad in London, United Kingdom as a brand manager for a fashion designer.

As a marketing and communications double major, she felt she needed something to set her apart from the rest of her competition when she graduates this year.

The experience edge “By interning abroad, I was able to gain an immense amount of experience that I couldn’t have learned in the classroom,” Ortiz said.

“I gained some experience working in a cross-cultural setting, hands-on experience in the fashion and retail industry, and definitely gained some marketing experience relevant to my coursework and career aspirations.”

As a marketing intern in London, her responsibilities included maintaining social media sites and a blog, tracking customers for marketing research, helping enhance search engine optimization on the blog page and assisting in retail and sales.

“I think all students should participate in internships because it prepares you for what is to come after graduation,” Ortiz said. “It’s also like a movie preview. If the preview isn’t good, would you decide to watch the movie? Students can see what a job related to their major is like through internships and sometimes students find out what their studying isn’t for them.”

Ortiz said she learned what her career passions and inspirations are through previous trial-and-error internships.

“Now post graduation, I will be looking for marketing positions in the retail and fashion realm, since I know I enjoy it,” Ortiz said.

Another SUNY Oswego student and criminal justice major, Emma Handleman, said she gained valuable experience and knowledge at her internship that has pointed her in the right direction after graduation.

Erases uncertainties This past summer, Handleman was able to receive hands-on experience at the Bivona Child Advocacy Center in her hometown of Rochester.

Prior to this internship, she was unsure of what direction she wanted to take with her career. Howev-

Summer intern Emma Handelman talks with the office manager of Bivona Child Advocacy Center in Rochester New York. “I think I’ve become more independent and I’ve gained a lot of insight on the different employment opportunities there are in the criminal justice field and what each position is specifically responsible for,” Handleman says of her experience. er, through the experience and insight she gained as a student intern, she was able to get a hands-on feel for what kind of career she was looking for.

“I think I’ve become more independent and I’ve gained a lot of insight on the different employment opportunities there are in the criminal justice field and what each position is specifically responsible for,” Handleman said. “These are things that you are unable to learn in a classroom setting and I’m grateful for the eye-opening experience this internship provided me with.”

Just like many other students graduating into a

competitive job market, recent SUNY Oswego graduate Matthew Stone was exposed to a whole new skill set by interning as a college student.

During the summer of 2013, Stone had the opportunity to intern with “ABC News: Good Morning America” and in 2014 took on an internship with “LIVE! with Kelly and Michael.”

During his time there, he worked alongside the producers of the show while completing various tasks such as creating content for the show and preparing the set.

“Nothing is better than getting the experience

first-hand in a live setting. I learned how to take criticism and how to thrive under pressure,” Stone said. “I am well prepared to head out into the work field after graduation and I know what it takes to succeed in a competitive television environment.”

As a journalism major, Stone is among many students who is entering a job field that unfortunately doesn’t feature a growing job market. Through his multiple internships with big-name broadcast television shows, Stone was able to build relationships and make connections in his field before graduating.

“Students really can open the door for themselves post graduation if they can intern before they graduate,” Stone said. “It was an experience that 20 years from now I will look back on fondly and say that is where it all started for me.”

At SUNY Oswego, the Center for Experiential Learning offers students the opportunity to gain experience-based education outside of the classroom. Whether a student is interested in an internship, co-op, or the mentor-scholar program, the Center for Experiential Learning is prepared to help students who want to prepare for their own future.

SUNY Oswego has also made the internship search process much easier for students by creating Laker Leads, a website that lists all possible paid and unpaid internships as well as job openings in the area. Due to Laker Leads, the opportunities are right at a student’s fingertips if he or she is motivated and eager to gain experiential knowledge in their field.

For students who need more guidance and professional input on internship placement, The Compass, which is located in the SUNY Oswego Campus Center, is able to provide students with the extra help they are looking for.

Fall 2015 14

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College Life

Starting a Dorm-Based Business Why not? Mark Zuckerberg did it

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By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

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hances are, you won’t be the next Mark Zuckerberg. If you start a business from your dorm room, count it a success if it keeps you in pizza money.

Here are a few ideas of flexible, dorm-based businesses you could start.

Design and sell T-shirts.

Instead of Generation Z, it’s more like Generation Tee with the popularity of snarky, snide and all-out-funny T-shirts around. Engage your creative side and make a few designs to market through a site such as Zazzle. com. Order a few for yourself and give away a few to pals to get the word out. Even if you’re not all that artsy, a clever expression that relates to current events or something popular on campus can make your design or catchphrase a winner. Just avoid copyrighted materials.

If you’re crafty, try Etsy. com. You can make and post items when you have spare time and market to friends through social media.

Remember, originality is key.

Etsy also sells vintage items, which you might find for resale at second hand stores and garage sales.

Enjoy writing? See if your local newspaper needs a freelancer on campus or to cover local events occasionally. Perhaps you can land

a regular column. You can write only when it fits your schedule and start building a portfolio, too.

Market your skill to fellow students. If you have a knack for repairing and altering clothing, minor car repair, or tutoring, get the word out on your social media pages and good, old-fashioned posters on campus bulletin boards.

Quality service and moderate fees should help you build a good clientele.

Sell your photography skills. If you’re handy behind the lens, showcase your past work online (or perhaps mock up a few shots for reference) and start booking gigs for weekends, such as weddings and reunions. Not everyone can afford professional photography fees.

Sell snacks, supplies and basic toiletries. If you buy in bulk and mark items up a little so they’re comparable or less that the prices at the school store, vending machine or local convenience stores, students will come to you when they’re short on time and you can meet their needs. Who wants to walk a few blocks when snacks are just down the hall? Store your “wares” in a locked footlocker so customers won’t help themselves.

Sell other students’ stuff

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Provide rides to students without cars. Make sure your fee covers the cost of gas and maintenance, plus a little profit. If you provide prompt, responsive service, you can build a good business and even a roster of regulars.

Create websites for individuals and companies.

Since it takes no capital to start, anyone moderately handy with design can build websites. Search for gigs on sites such as www.elance. com or www.guru.com. As with freelance writing, you can build a portfolio through this enterprise.

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15 Fall 2015

College Life

Serious Business

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What Makes a Great Employee?

Here are 10 things that managers want to see in their hires

By Brandon Smith

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s a manager, I see some very good and some not-so-good qualities in my employees.

The following are some of the qualities I see in my best employees. These people make our clients use us rather than our competitors and contribute to a work atmosphere that is needed to sustain the business. When you start on the path to your professional career, you can keep in mind what type of employee this manager wants on his team.

Likeable with charisma.

In any industry, at some point in time, you will interact with a human. That interaction should be better than the customer’s expectations, or they will likely continue to seek another company that does exceed their expectations.

Someone who can charm people effortlessly is invaluable, no matter what their role is. And no matter how advanced technology becomes, I am convinced that you can’t program an app to be likeable. That’s job security! In addition, when you spend more time at work than you do at home, it’s pretty important that you get along with your co-workers.

So if you are a real charmer, consider yourself two steps ahead of the rest.

Confident in abilities and desire to learn new skills.

Are you someone who always wants to know more?

Do you view education as something that never ends?

You might be a nerd, but that’s a label you should be proud to wear if it means you are humble enough to continue challenging your limits.

One of my favorite things about managing people is discovering a talent no one ever knew they had.

It’s one of the most rewarding parts of my job, and it is made possible by those who are willing to take a chance at failing. So believe in yourself and accept new challenges, even if they are outside your comfort zone.

Willing to accept constructive criticism; not defensive.

No one wants to make mistakes but they happen.

When they do, you can be accountable and learn from them, or you can set yourself up to make the same kinds of mistakes again and again.

I am the first to fall on the sword if I feel I could be at fault, and that makes me very cognizant of how accountable my employees are for their own actions.

In addition, the time it takes to dance back and forth between excuses and happenstance is like watching a bad movie trailer — that is time I can never have back.

Independent but willing to seek help.

Nothing is more comforting than knowing that I can leave for vacation and

you will be just fine without me. I’ve never aspired to be a micro-manager, so I love employees that are able to handle their dayto-day tasks without me.

The flip side of that is it can be worrying when someone never asks for help.

That makes me worry that they’ve gone onto cruise control and have stopped challenging themselves to grow. So be able to work on your own, but don’t be a stranger.

Competitive with your peers but understand the importance of the team.

I think by now everyone knows to use the phrase team player on his or her resume, but what does that mean? To me, it means that you sometimes make sacrifices for the good of the team.

It means that you respect others and they respect you enough to have healthy competition. No matter who wins the individual honors, you can all celebrate the team’s success. It also means that when a client has a need you can’t fulfill, you offer them a better solution even if it doesn’t benefit you today.

For example, a client can only meet on Wednesdays.

You have a conflict and can’t help them with their needs this week, but another team

member is available.

If you can be big enough to pass that client along to a peer so their needs are met now, even if you miss the chance to throw a few more bucks in your paycheck, you’ll be making two people very happy. And what goes around comes around.

Helping your peers, not throwing them under the bus.

As stated earlier, we all make mistakes. We should be accountable for our mistakes.

But should we force everyone else to be accountable for every error they make in their careers? I believe the best employees know when they should offer their peers

Done when the job is done.

I don’t desire for my employees to be workaholics. I would rather they found a work-life balance that allows them to live their lives. Work isn’t everything. But when someone comes in early or stays late as needed to finish the job, that makes me very happy. It tells me that they value their own success and the company’s success enough to make sure goals are being met, but they still have a work-life balance that makes them happy and is sustainable. Do not stay late just to stay late. Be efficient and make that extra commitment when it’s really needed.

Working while you’re at work.

A strong foundation to build on.

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some constructive feedback, and when a manager is really needed to intervene. Worst of all, if you get in the habit of bombarding your manager with every fault you can uncover, they are more likely to overlook a real issue that needs to be addressed. Don’t be the employee who cried wolf.

key.com

This seems like a no-brainer. Yet, if I were somehow able to add up all the time my employees cumulatively wasted on their smartphones each year, I could probably hire an extra person to give us all back massages and cook our lunches. I get that everyone has personal lives, and I need to help you find a work-life balance. I’ve had to step away from my desk to schedule a doctor’s appointment or to fight some erroneous billing error too.

However, this does not give everyone license to drop what they’re doing every

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time a new Facebook post enters your network. So please, if you can’t control your cell phone use, please lock your phone in your desk before it destroys your career.

Able to identify problems and offer feasible solutions.

Just as I accept that you’re not perfect, I also accept that I’m not perfect and neither is this company, or any other company you’ll work for. Before you put your gripes in the suggestion box, what are you proposing that we do to fix the problem? Is your proposed solution feasible, or is it unrealistic or cost-prohibitive?

There is no rule that every complaint needs to be accompanied by a perfectly crafted solution. However, offering a reasonable solution is more likely to cause management to see your concerns as being reasonable and more likely to be addressed. Plus, this will make your opinions and insight all the more desirable, and you’ll be seen as someone improving the situation, not making it more negative.

Stay on point with meetings.

Meetings are designed to get a message to the group more efficiently than can be done individually, and to encourage thoughtful questions and discourse. It is not, by design, an excuse to spend less time working so we can plot our contingency plan for a catastrophe with a 1:999,999,999 chance of occurring. A thoughtful question that is relevant to our business objectives? Yes, please!

This is by no means a comprehensive list. But I hope that as you meet with managers to interview for a job, sit down to do your annual review with your regional vice president, or in whatever capacity you interact with those who manage people, please think about these qualities. Showcase the ones you’ve mastered and care enough about your future to work on those that are still in development.

Brandon Smith graduated in 2006 from SUNY Oswego with bachelor’s degree in broadcasting.

He currently manages a team of financial professionals for a global company based in Syracuse.

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SUNY Oswego University Police earn national recognition

UNY Oswego’s University Police Department took first place in the college and university category of the 2015 National Law Enforcement Challenge, the International Association of Chiefs of Police has announced.

Cornell University police came in second, and the University of Maryland police took third place honors.

This is the third consecutive year that Oswego’s

tion and education, enforcement activity, and effectiveness of efforts in the areas of speed enforcement, occupant restraint, driving while intoxicated enforcement, and state or local issues. The local issue highlighted was distracted driving.

The award will be presented at the International Association of Chiefs of Police conference scheduled for Oct. 24 to 27 in Chicago.

SUNY Oswego Univer-

sity Police Chief John Rossi and Assistant Chief Kevin Velzy thanked all of the University Police officers for their hard work and dedication to making the SUNY Oswego community safe.

“This is a terrific recognition of your excellent care for and expert focus on keeping our campus community protected and safe” said SUNY Oswego President Deborah F. Stanley. “We are fortunate to have such a dedicated team.”

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17 Fall 2015

University Police has been selected as a national winner — and the first time it has come in first — in the competition. The National Law Enforcement Challenge is a traffic safety awards program that recognizes excellent law enforcement traffic safety programs.

Police departments are judged on their department policies and guidelines, training of officers, incentives and recognition, public informa-

8/5/15 4:46 PM

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Grant to support Oswego faculty member’s research on lava flows

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achel Lee of SUNY Oswego’s atmospheric and geological sciences department will research the behavior of lava flows on the island of Hawaii and in laboratory simulations, thanks to a highly competitive twoyear, $30,000 grant from the National Science Foundation.

Working as co-investigator with colleagues from the University of Pittsburgh, where she earned a doctorate and did post-doctoral work, Lee will study the molten rock at temperatures exceeding 2000 degrees Fahrenheit to better predict the flows’ behavior as the lava cools.

The overarching goal is to alleviate hazards through more accurate prediction.

Lee plans to do much of her data analysis at SUNY Oswego. She will involve undergraduates in that work and in experiments using thimble-size samples of lava. Larger scale lab work will take place at Pitt and at Syracuse University’s Lava Project. Other collaborators on the NSF project include researchers from Blaise Pascal University in France and the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

The fieldwork, likely next summer, will take place at lava flows on and around the Big Island’s Mount Kilauea, a volcano that has been erupting continuously since 1981. Researchers will study the properties and behavior of the flows using instruments that are handheld as well as satellite-based.

Kilauea’s relatively slow, basaltic flows have destroyed some 215 structures, including homes and buildings in Kalapana Gardens and Royal Gardens as well as the visitor center at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. A recent threat to Pahoa in northeast Hawaii has abated for now, though low levels of seismic activity continue, according to the daily monitoring of the U.S. Geological Survey.

“Particularly from a hazard perspective, this (research) gives us a lot of information on where the lava may flow as it cools and how fast it may progress,” Lee said.

“Ultimately, we hope to modify flow models to help mitigate hazards and loss of property.”

Advanced instruments During work on her

Rachel Lee conducts research on lava flows from Mount Kilauea last summer. (Photo by Michael Ramsey) dissertation under Michal Ramsey at Pitt, Lee built a micro-furnace to study samples of lava as it cools to a glass. She plans to modify the Pitt-based device for the new grant, installing a fiber-optic camera to make continuous observations and a nitrogen-dry air gas flow to minimize oxidation.

The laboratory work informs and validates research data, but fieldwork is essential, Lee said. In Hawaii, she will use a multispectral infrared camera with filter attachments as well as data from the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer aboard Terra, a NASA satellite.

As lava cools, it forms a thin crust, which gradually thickens to a glass. Lee will study temperature, crustal thickness, and flow direction and speed, along with variables such as elevation and air temperature.

She has observed lava flows around the world, as recently as this summer in Italy.

“It’s fascinating to me to see geological processes happening before your eyes,” said Lee, who started as a biochemistry and pre-med major in college but changed after a particularly enthralling geology class.

But the accuracy of the data gathered in scientific monitoring of volcanoes and lava flows is of more than scientific interest, she noted. “As more and more people live in these areas, it’s more and more important to understand these flows and to mitigate the hazards,” she said.

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College Life

Serious Business 10 Ways to Decrease Your College Debt

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

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ost students graduate with some amount of college loan debt. The Institute for College Access and Success states that seven in 10 seniors (69 percent) who graduated from public and nonprofit colleges in 2013 had student loan debt, with an average of $28,400 per borrower.

The site further states that the average New York student attending the same types of schools averaged $26,381 in post-graduation debt and 60 percent of students moved out of the dorm with debt.

The average SUNY Oswego student graduated with $26,675 of debt, lower than the national average, but the number of students with debt — 80 percent is quite a bit higher.

At Syracuse University, the average graduate had $33,455 hanging over his head. Sixty-seven percent of the Orange had debt.

Figures for Cayuga Community College were not available.

Control and Prevent Huge Debt Chances are, paying off that debt won’t be easy. It’s far better to prevent a huge debt load by taking the following steps.

1

Get all the free money you can. Scholarships, grants and awards, even small ones, all add up. Ask at your school’s financial office about what’s available.

Research organizations to which your parents have belonged, since some of these can help you. Ask around at your employer. Even parttime or summer jobs sometimes offer scholarships. If you excel in any area, search online for any awards available.

2

Work at least full-time during the summer and at least part-time while

you’re taking classes. It’s tough, but if you work on or near campus and with a flexible employer, you can do it. Prioritize your time and plan ahead for tests, quizzes and projects.

3

Lighten your academic load during the year by taking electives online (make sure they transfer before signing up) and shortterm block classes during the summer. That way, you can work full-time during the school year easier.

4

Sell what you don’t need. Unloading outmoded cell phones and electronics, outgrown clothing and sports equipment, and anything with a motor can help you keep your school bill under control.

5

Stay within your academic plan. Taking courses that look interesting but are outside of your degree plan add extra

expense. Or, if you take classes out of sequence, you may have to attend school longer.

If you live on campus, that makes your education cost more.

6 7

Choose your major carefully. Switching majors costs money.

Don’t buy new books if you can help it. Buy used, borrow, share or go with cheaper e-books if available. Of course, it should be the same edition as the syllabus states.

8

Sell any books you don’t want once you’re done with them. Pass along the savings and recoup some of your investment.

9

Consider renting books with a long shelf life.

Sometimes, a professor will assign the same book

for a few years. If you trust the person to whom you’re renting to use it carefully and return the book, you could actually break even or make a little money by renting books. Make sure renters realize they’re not purchasing the book and write your name and contact information (and the word “RENTAL”) inside. History, science and technology books don’t make good rental candidates.

Subjects such as classic literature and grammar have more staying power.

10

Ask family to help you out. Owing money to Uncle Sid is better for both of you than owing it to a loan company, since you can negotiate a lower interest rate than the bank, yet a higher return for Uncle Sid than he could otherwise obtain.

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Free (or Nearly Free) Fun!

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

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ored and low on cash? You can still have fun off campus trying these ideas.

Check out your local trails.

Whether you’re biking, walking, cycling, geocaching or snowshoeing, CNY’s parks (www.nysparks.com/ recreationtrails) offer plenty of ways to get out and enjoy nature. Some parks charge a nominal parking fee.

Once Christmas decorations go up, park in a well-lit neighborhood and stroll with your friends to enjoy the lights. Or, split up into teams to compete, such as the first group to snap and post pictures of 10 Santas.

In addition to Sundays, many area churches offer free (or nominal

fee) dinners, programs or activities, open to the public.

Check community papers or bulletin boards (both physical and online) to see what’s going on, from ziti dinners to harvest festivals and more.

Join the YMCA. Most offer a sliding scale fee if you can’t swing the regular membership and you can participate in most activities free for the duration of the membership. Plus, you can avoid gaining the “Freshman 15” from the typically sedentary college life.

Experience the festivals, events, and points of interest in CNY (www.iloveny.com).

Close to home, Warm Up Oswego (http://warmuposwego.com), The Annual Skaneateles Dickens Festival (www.skaneateles.com/visit/events-a-attractions/dickens-christmas), and Syracuse Winterfest (www.syracusewinterfest.com) represent just a few of the many fun events in CNY. Take in local performing artists. Most offer tickets for pittance compared with companies presenting shows and concerts in larger cities, and the homegrown talent in CNY is impressive.

Here is a sample of some

venues:

ARTSwego (www.oswego.edu/ arts), Oswego Music Hall (www.oswegomusichall. org) Oswego Players (www.oswegoplayers. org) Merry-GoRound Playhouse (www.fingerlakesmtf. com) Theater Du Jour (www.dujourcny.com) CNY Arts Center (www.cnyartscenter.com) Consider bowling (www. syracusebowling.com/Links. aspx), which provides pretty affordable entertainment.

Lakeview Lanes in Fulton (www.lakeviewbowling. com), for example, offers $1 Thursdays, where games, shoe rental, and selected food and drink items cost a buck each. You could spend an entire evening out for the cost of an average lunch.

Be a “cheapskate” and go roller skating. Bilou Roller Skating Rink in Fulton (on Facebook) charges only $6

admission, including skate rental.

Window shop the area’s shopping centers. If you can stick to a budget and leave your credit cards behind, walking the mall can help you beat winter boredom.

Syracuse’s Destiny USA (www.destinyusa.com) and Great Northern Mall in Clay (www.greatnorthernmall. com) should supply plenty of shops to peruse. Or check out the shopping districts in area towns, such as Skaneateles, Towne Center in Fayetteville, Armory Square in downtown Syracuse, and Central New York Regional Market in Syracuse. If you’re up for a drive, Waterloo Premium Outlets, just off the NYS Thruway on Route 318, represents the largest outdoor outlet mall in the region.

Wherever you go off campus to unwind, fill up your car with pals to split the cost of fuel and ramp up the fun. You’ll also save money if you eat a meal before you go and bring along an energy bar or other high-calorie snack. Ask about student rates. Don’t forget your student ID.

Effective Note-Taking: How to Get the Most from Each Class

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

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ttending college isn’t just about earning a degree, but also about learning how to succeed at your future career and life.

If you want to become well-educated, taking good notes at class can help you in many ways, both now — helping you not flunk — and later, when you want to land a job and you need to know how to work in your chosen industry.

Choose the note-taking method that works best for you, whether on your laptop, notebook or audio recording. Taking notes isn’t so much making a record of what happened in class, but a means of helping you internalize the material offered.

If you type very fast and accurately, taking electronic notes makes sense. As with pen-and-notebook note taking, you have to mentally

process the lecture in order to reproduce it, so that may help you absorb material better. A roller ball style pen with a large barrel helps prevent fatigue from writing so long.

The problem with manual note-taking is that you may miss important points.

Audio recording ensures the best accuracy (as long as environmental sounds don’t interfere), but since you’re getting everything the professor says, you’ll end up with a lots of material to sort through later.

Combining the two — manual note taking while recording — can help you highlight the important stuff while capturing every word.

You can also make a note to yourself about parts you want to especially review, such as “check 15:22” so you know where to find that part of the

recording.

Should you go with typing or hand writing notes, try to follow the professor’s verbal outline. Record the main points and indent minor points. If she makes a big deal out of something by spending lots of time on it or illustrating it in a significant way, highlight it in your notes. It will probably be on the test and may help you in your future career.

Compare your notes with other students’ notes in a study group. You can see how accurate you are and fill in any gaps.

If you miss a class, it’s fine to ask another student for his notes; however, paying another student to take notes for you cheats you out of the learning experience. College is far more enriching if you attend as many classes as possible. You see the

professor’s expressions and hear his asides. You can engage in class discussions and break-out groups, too.

You likely won’t keep notes from your classes in their literal forms; however, as you use notes to study for tests and exams, you’ll keep their most important points with you forever.

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summer in europe My Life-changing Journey

Hannah McNamara enjoys a Guinness while visiting the Guinness Brewery in Dublin, Ireland during her recent internship overseas.

SUNY Oswego student travels to Europe for summer internship experience

By Hannah McNamara

T

he most rewarding decision I’ve ever made was to take my education global.

This past May, I embarked on a study abroad trip where I spent two months studying, working and traveling in one of the most upbeat and lively cities in the world. London.

For those of you who don’t know what London has to offer, imagine a city with a diverse multi-cultural lifestyle that is drowning in rich culture and history at every street corner. London may be considered a very westernized city, but after spending time there, it’s clear that it still thrives off of its individuality and unique culture.

Although I knew I was going to have the time of a lifetime with experiences I would never forget, I wasn’t prepared for how life changing my time in London truly would be.

I made the decision to go to London six months prior to departure after hearing about a study abroad program called CAPA that partners with SUNY Oswego. CAPA hosts students in multiple foreign countries including Sydney, Dublin, Shanghai and London and pairs the students with an internship that is complementary to their field or major.

The concept behind CAPA is to allow students to gain international experience in a job field in order for them to adapt to the continuous globalization of organizations and companies today.

I can honestly say that thanks to the internship that CAPA partnered me with upon my arrival in London, I was able to maximize my educational experience in every aspect.

When applying for the CAPA program as a public relations major, I requested to intern for a travel or luxury company as a public relations or marketing intern in order to gain hands-on global experience in my field.

After many surveys and interviews, CAPA partnered me with a company called Proscenium, which is a student tourism agency in the heart of London.

Proscenium is located

21 Fall 2015

along the River Thames in the London borough of Lambeth, where there is constantly the hustle and bustle of city life.

Its mission is to provide students from around the

world with day and weekend trips throughout London and other European countries such as Ireland, Amsterdam and Paris. Proscenium was exactly the company that I was hoping to land an intern-

ship with so I was passionate about the job placement before it even started. However, once I started working for them, my experience only got better.

Within the Proscenium

office, I worked with a small group of individuals on the sales and marketing team to help them build the brand and keep it growing at a continued on page 27

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person you become.”

Dan Saccocio, a business administration student at SUNY Oswego, had a vision to help students and other organizations set personal goals in order to ensure success in their futures.

After an extensive ninemonth process, his vision became reality when GPS became an official student-run business organization at SUNY Oswego.

Saccocio was motivated to help other students set life goals after learning about a study done at Harvard Business School in 1979.

The study was made up of two questions: “Do you have life goals?” and “Are your goals written down?”

Then 10 years later, the same students were asked another simple question: “What is your current salary?”

The results showed only 3 percent of the students had written down their life goals, and those 3 percent had made more money than the 97 percent that did not set goals.

Richard Skolnik, dean of the SUNY Oswego “Seeing numSchool of Business, and Dan Saccocio, a business bers like this made administration student at SUNY Oswego. me wonder why all

Five Business Groups at SUNY Prepare Students for a Successful Future

By Hannah McNamara

T

he future of business is in the hands of our student leaders.

At SUNY Oswego, there are five student-run business organizations: Enactus, GPS, Investment Club, Business Management Club, and DECA. They are helping to shape the future leaders of America into well-rounded and goal-driven professionals with skill sets that make them stand out.

“It’s important for students to be involved in business organizations because that shows they are putting leadership into action and taking initiative,” said Richard Skolnik, dean of the SUNY Oswego School of

Business. “They are applying the concepts they’ve learned in the classroom and that’s going to serve them well as they go out into the business world.”

These student-run business organizations provide students with an opportunity to network, gain internships and net job offers.

“Members of these clubs are gaining three essential skills that are crucial in every business organization: leadership, project management and collaboration,” Skolnik said.

New on the scene — The most recent club to be added as a student-run business organization on campus is GPS: Goals, Purpose, Suc-

cess.

The mission of GPS is to provide students with the means and knowledge that will empower them to determine their goals, discover their purpose, and achieve success.

“GPS is helping students develop important habits such as defining goals and managing time that will become habits of success later on in their lives,” Skolnik said. “What you think and what you do make you the

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students didn’t set goals,” Saccocio said. “I came to the conclusion that the majority of students didn’t set goals because they either don’t know the true effectiveness of goal setting, or if they do, they do not know how to properly set goals.”

With this in mind, Saccocio created GPS to help students understand and commit to the power of creating personal vision.

One resource that GPS offers is a handbook that helps students organize their goals and define their purpose in order to achieve success.

“The GPS handbook not only gives students the opportunity to set effective goals, but also acts as a daily planner in which members will create an action plan for the current day, while keeping the end result in mind.”

Saccocio said. “The daily planner section gives clear guidelines for maximizing daily productivity, personal motivation and living a balanced life.”

After being an active organization for one semester, GPS has already created real-life plans for 23 students and is continuing to grow.

The organization has recently implemented the mission of GPS to Syracuse University and Auburn University.

“It is my belief that any professional organization is searching for goal-driven people with a vision,” Saccocio said. “We’ve created a club that doesn’t just boost your resume, but boosts the person behind the resume.”

Business organizations at SUNY Oswego — GPS is not the only club preparing emerging leaders and entrepreneurs of SUNY Oswego for a successful future in business.

Each of the five organizations is designed around a different area of business expertise to benefit students and help them gain crucial leadership and business skills.

DECA — DECA is a business club that allows young entrepreneurs and leaders to test the waters in marketing, finance, hospitality and management. Through membership in this club, students are able to find a fitting career path and learn how to apply their skills into a professional setting after graduation.

“DECA is designed around its competitions.

Students choose an event as either an individual or team and present a case study to a board of judges,” said Max Luttinger, DECA president.

“The events are designed to simulate real projects and problems that a professional

23 Fall 2015

would have to solve and many members even bring their events into job interviews to prove to employers what kind of work they can do.”

Enactus — Enactus allows business students to use the concepts they learn in the classroom to create community outreach projects that benefit local businesses. This semester, Enactus is working on three major projects with small businesses in Oswego, including DIGITIZE, Enclothe Oswego and Money Smart.

“Each project gives members the opportunity

to gain hands-on business experience while applying the concepts they learn in the classroom to help others,” said Mark Michel, Enactus president. “By participating in Enactus, students get to prepare for their future careers while simultaneously making Oswego a better place to live and learn.”

Business Management Club — The Business Management Club focuses on providing students with the skills they need to compete in a demanding job market.

Members of this club work on building their brand in order to connect and network

with business executives after graduation.

“We provide workshops that equip our members with the skills necessary to be successful in the business world and the way our club is structured allows for our members to gain leadership experience in their specific field,” said Billy Reese, vice president of marketing and head of recruitment for the organization.

Investment Club —The Investment Club focuses on students interested in the financial sector and allows students to manage a real-money portfolio, suggest

companies to invest in and take part in hands-on equity research.

“We manage real money, and have watched our portfolio grow from $100,000 to over $135,000 in under two years,” said Dianora DeMarco, vice president of the club.

“Involvement in the Investment Club is truly rewarding. You really take what you learn in class, apply it and make it your own,” DeMarco noted.

Story was originally published in Oswego County Business, Central New York’s only business magazine.

College Life

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Big Dollars, Big Dreams

Campaign for SUNY Oswego has raised $35 million in private philanthropy of the $40 million targeted

By Melissa Stefanec

C

EASY FOOD

Morning,Noon,and Night

hances are, if you have spent any time on the SUNY Oswego campus or received any mailings from the college, you have heard about With Passion and Purpose: The Campaign for SUNY Oswego.

It’s a big name and a big effort. To get the skinny on the campaign and its benefits to students, College Life newspaper spoke with Kerry Dorsey, vice president for development and alumni relations.

Al Roker’s selfie at the With Passion And Purpose Launch in 2014.

The 411 on The Campaign Oswego help fill in the gaps. for SUNY Oswego “In our quest to be a

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College officials launched The Campaign for SUNY Oswego in the fall of 2014. It seeks to secure $40 million in private philanthropy to support SUNY Oswego’s priorities. The campaign will end June 30, 2016, and is well under way with meeting its goal. “[We are] finalizing our year-end numbers now, but we have raised approximately $35 million of the $40-million goal, said Dorsey.

Other SUNY schools are currently in the midst of capital campaigns, but SUNY Oswego has the largest targeted amount.

Need for private funding SUNY Oswego may be a state-funded school, but not all of the money the school needs to operate comes from New York state.

To close gaps in budget and vision, officials looked at ways the college could receive additional private philanthropy dollars, and thus a campaign was born.

According to Dorsey, SUNY Oswego President Deborah F. Stanley’s leadership was critical in creating a culture of SUNY Oswego philanthropy among alumni, faculty, staff and students.

Early on, she recognized how essential private philanthropy would be to the future of SUNY Oswego.

She recognized the college could not rely on dwindling state support. So, initiatives like The Campaign for SUNY

premier institution, President Stanley’s vision to align our resources with our aspirations established a margin of excellence through philanthropy,” said Dorsey.

In other words, Stanley and the campaign are doing a lot for SUNY Oswego’s endowments and the programs they do and will support.

Endowment, in layperson’s terms Some donors choose to give an endowment to an institution. This is a form of private philanthropy.

According to Dorsey, an endowment occurs when a donor makes a gift with the understanding that the college will never spend the original gift. The college will instead use a portion of investment earnings to fund various programs. This model helps maintain sustainable funding and lets future generations of SUNY Oswego students benefit from the gift.

What students will gain from campaign According to SUNY Oswego’s Endowment 101 webpage, SUNY Oswego has about 175 endowed funds that provide more than $500,000 in scholarship and program support to Oswego students. About 250 students per year benefit from direct awards funded by donor-endowed scholarship funds.

These funds are in addition to those provided by the campus.

The Campaign for SUNY Oswego will raise money for additional endowments, and that money will be put to work for the students.

According to Dorsey, there is programming at SUNY Oswego that is infused with private philanthropy. Students will see the results of The Campaign for SUNY Oswego in some very real ways. Funding will be used for things such as faculty-student research projects, student presentations at conferences, state-of-the-art technology and equipment, and international experiences.

What students are doing to help Students have been an important part of the campaign. They are on the front lines of donor recruitment.

They work as telefund callers and speak with alumni in an attempt to gain financial support. There is also a group called the Future Alumni Network that is central to leading student campaign efforts. Students have been engaged in such events as Love a Donor Day to thank donors and National Philanthropy Day to recognize and celebrate gifts.

Students also work on other campaign endeavors.

Students were also prominently featured in the fall 2014 campaign launch in a multitude of roles, including its broadcast production, as panelists and as entertainment.

Fall 2015 24

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College Life

Worship

St. Paul’s

Catholic Church The Rev. Guy Baccaro

College Students & Their families

ALWAYS WELCOME

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CONFESSIONS Saturday 3 - 3:30 pm MASS Saturday 4:00 pm MASS Sundays 8 & 10:30 am Air Conditioned • Handicap Accessable

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134 E. 5th St. Oswego

Freshmen’s Sleep Risk for sleep disorders among college freshmen may predict retention, success

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new study suggests that the risk for sleep disorders among college freshmen may be a predictor of retention and academic success.

Results show that students at risk for a sleep disorder were more likely to leave the institution over the three-year period, although this association was weakened when covariates were included. Risk for sleep disorder also predicted grade point average (GPA) at the end of the first and second years.

‘A survey that screens for sleep disorders administered when students first enter college may identify a potentially modifiable risk factor for leaving before completing a degree,’ said lead author Jane Gaultney, a professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. The research abstract was published recently in an online supplement of the journal Sleep and was presented June 10, in Seattle, Wash., at SLEEP 2015, the 29th annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, LLC. The study group composed of entering freshmen screened for risk for sleep disorders using a validated survey. Participants were examined over a three-year period to see if they were likely to leave the institution or have a lower GPA.

25 Fall 2015

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St. Stephen the King Church www.hallnewmancenter.org

138 Niagara St. Oswego NY 13126 315-343-0350 st.stephentheking@gmail.com www.ststephensoswego.com

College Life

1966.

“The drop-off in total college enrollment the last two years follows a period of expansion: between 2006 and 2011, college enrollment grew by 3.2 million,” Kurt Bauman, chief of the Census Bureau’s Education and Social Stratification Branch, said in a news release.

Bauman said the level of growth exceeded the total enrollment increase of the previous 10 years combined, at a total of 2 million from 1996 to 2006.

According to the recent statistics, the drop in enrollment was equally divided between older and younger students. Enrollment of students 21 and younger fell by 261,000, while the enrollment of students older than 25 fell by 247,000, statistically about the same from the change in enrollment of students 21 and younger.

Overall, 40 percent of those 18 to 24 were enrolled in college in fall 2013, after having reached 42 percent in 2011.

Students walking past the Campus Center at SUNY Oswego. Photo provided by SUNY Oswego.

Diverse Student Body

Enrollment at SUNY Oswego Stable, Despite Trend Declining population of college-ready students in Upstate hasn’t had negative impact on SUNY Oswego

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s incoming freshmen begin studies at colleges across the country, SUNY Oswego is one of those “enjoying a very stable environment” in student enrollment and expects to do so in the future, officials there say.

“It is our goal to maintain that enrollment — no small feat in the midst of a flat or declining population of college-going students in Central and Upstate New York.

And, as a Griffin parent of a student starting college this fall in SUNY, I’d love to see tuition go down,” said Daniel Griffin, SUNY Oswego director of admissions.

SUNY Oswego remains successful in attracting students despite projections of fewer people reaching college age in the years to come.

“In general, Oswego’s goal has long been to hold a steady enrollment course — enrolling enough students to fill our spacious campus without straining our resources and still allowing each student plenty of personal attention,” said Julie Harrison Blissert, director of communications and marketing at SUNY Oswego.

The college strives to be “relatively selective” in admissions “while casting a wide net,” Blissert said.

The plan has been successful to date, said Blissert, who stressed individual SUNY campuses have no control over tuition.

“Administrators in several areas pay incredibly close attention to numbers and trends and strategize to hold enrollment steady,” Blissert said.

Stable Quality Academic quality of the SUNY Oswego freshman class has stayed very stable as well, Griffin said.

“Over time, one would see perhaps a one- or twopoint change in the average

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high school GPA of admitted freshmen, and perhaps a 10 point change in the average SAT — up or down,” he said.

In recent years, a 90 GPA and 1,100 SAT have been average for incoming students, an indication of the quality of each freshman class, Griffin said.

SUNY Oswego has had record on-campus occupancy over the last few academic years, averaging out at about 4,400 students.

“To maintain a healthy, robust enrollment and keep our dorms filled, admissions has been implementing a few strategies with some success,” Griffin said.

That includes “re-doubling efforts” in what has historically been the strongest market for SUNY Oswego — Upstate and Central New York, Griffin said.

“At the same time, campus officials recognize the population decline and are going to where the students are,” Griffin said.

Griffin said that includes Downstate, New York City, Long Island and the greater metro New York City area in

general.

“We’ve also been pushing into new markets like Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Washington and [also] creating partnerships with international schools and agencies,” Griffin said.

Results have been favorable.

Griffin said that this fall, SUNY Oswego will likely enroll its largest freshman class ever from New York City, about 300 students. One of the largest incoming groups from out of state, about 70, will also begin studying this fall at SUNY Oswego.

Census Bureau Report — Nationwide, college enrollment declined by 463,000 students between 2012 and 2013, marking the second year in a row that a drop of that magnitude occurred, according to a 2014 U.S. Census Bureau study.

The cumulative two-year drop of 930,000 was larger than any college enrollment drop before the recent recession.

The Census Bureau began collecting data on college enrollment in this survey in

Griffin said that related to the expanded recruitment effort at SUNY Oswego is the significant increase in the diversity of the student body.

“This fall I am projecting over 30 percent of the freshman class will be from an underrepresented background, compared to less than 20 percent just six years ago,” he said.

Overall, Griffin projects a “very healthy” freshman class numbering about 1,500.

“We’ve been successful lately for a number of reasons,” Griffin said.

They include “forward-thinking administrators, in particular President [Deborah F.] Stanley, who wisely positioned Oswego to be attractive to a wider audience through new, modern facilities.”

Griffin noted the investment of nearly $1 billion on campus in the past decade.

Griffin also cited new in-demand programs in engineering, business and education; and innovative study abroad and internship experiences, including coops.

“And, in general, a very student-centered culture on campus that really puts the students’ best interests and success in front of everything else,” he said.

The SUNY Oswego acceptance rate has been steady for about the last five years, at 48 to 50 percent.

This story was originally published in Oswego County Business, Central New York’s only business magazine.

Fall 2015 26

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College Life

At Cayuga Community, Enrollment Expected to Be Flat

A

t the Fulton and Auburn campuses of Cayuga Community College, enrollment is projected “to remain generally flat,” said Jeffrey Rosenthal, CCC vice president of student affairs.

Projections are for about 2,850 full-time equivalent students for the next three to five years, Rosenthal said.

With a drop in the population of college-ready students, “we think we’re levRosenthal eling off in Fulton and college-wide with enrollment,” Rosenthal said.

He said that strategies for stabilizing and building enrollment include offering additional courses to high school students via the college’s Cayuga Advantage program, expanding online offerings and developing new academic programs, including event management, advanced manufacturing and occupational therapy assistant.

It’s unlikely tuition will go down at public colleges in New York state, Rosenthal said.

With tight resources at the county and state levels, tuition is our only other significant revenue source.

Raising tuition is always a difficult decision and is only done when absolutely necessary,” he said. “Even despite tuition increases, community colleges, via their open admissions policies, remain an accessible entry point for many.”

Cayuga is an open-admissions, full-opportunity institution, Rosenthal said.

Anyone with a high school diploma is accepted for admission, pending verification via a high school transcript or other credential such as a GED.

SUNY Oswego student travels to Europe for summer internship experience Hannah McNamara, a public relations major at SUNY Oswego, strikes a pose by the Louvre Museum in Paris during her recent internship in Europe.

My Life-changing Journey continued from page 21 rapid pace throughout the summer months.

Having never completed an internship in the tourism field prior to this, I was expected to adapt and adjust to the fast-paced environment that the small team at Proscenium dealt with on a daily basis.

My internship allowed me to test the waters of the tourism field before jumping in headfirst. But even more than that, for the first time in my life it helped me realize the public relations field is exactly where I want to be after graduation.

By the end of my summer internship, I even gained the opportunity to tag along with company employees for a trip to Paris where I was able to see the behindthe-scenes work they handle for each and every trip they manage.

College Life College Life — For Students at SUNY Oswego and Cayuga Community College — is published twice a year by Local News, Inc. Mailing Address: P.O. Box 276, Oswego, NY 13126.

Phone: 315-342-8020. Email: editor@oswegocountybusiness.com Visit us at OswegoCollegeLife.com.

Copyright 2015 by Local News, Inc. All rights reserved.

27 Fall 2015

I was able to see the importance of intercultural communication, global awareness and international work standards in a world that continues to benefit from globalization in the work force every day.

Personal development Aside from the internship I completed with Proscenium, the personal development I gained from my study abroad experience in London cannot be measured on any scale. Throughout my two months abroad, I found a sense of personal growth and confidence that I wasn’t aware of before I left.

For the first time in my life, I was in a foreign country by myself with endless opportunities in front of me. There is no better way to completely step out of your comfort zone than to get on a plane and fly across the world to live in a place you’ve never been.

I was forced to adapt to the currency, education system, transportation and a city I’ve only seen in pictures.

But as the days progressed in a city full of strangers, I felt like I had been living there my whole life.

It wasn’t until I was sitting inside of a pub after working with a handful of

my co-workers that I realized how much I had grown. I thought to myself, “Wow, a few weeks ago I was a lost American girl wandering the streets of a foreign city like a giddy tourist but here I am surrounded by friends in a city that I have learned to love.”

I couldn’t help but think that if I could conquer the fears of being in a foreign city alone, I could truly conquer anything.

It gave me a sense of self-confidence and personal gratitude for the person I had allowed myself to become. I was proud of the experiences and knowledge I gained due to my willingness to step out of comfort zone for the first time in my life.

I recognized a positive change in my personal development every time I traveled to a new country during my study abroad experience as well. Since I was working and going to school during the week, I spent every weekend traveling to places I’ve dreamed of seeing my entire life. By the end of the two months, I had visited Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Denmark.

The most incredible part of European countries is that unlike the United States, each country is so incredi-

bly different that I had the chance to indulge in multiple different lifestyles and cultures within just a few short weeks.

With each country I visited, I saw myself gaining a new outlook on life and what it has to offer.

I was constantly exposed to different cultures throughout my travels to other countries, which truly allowed me to gain a different perspective on the world.

It diversified my thoughts and values and made me question my own mindset and worldview for the first time in my life. I now am able to look at things from a perspective that allows me to not only recognize differences between people, but accept them as well.

For those of you who are on the fence about studying abroad, I was once in your shoes. It’s expensive and nerve-wracking to embark on a journey to another country with no idea what to expect.

However, I can promise you that there is no better time to fall in love with random cities and indulge in a world that you didn’t even know existed than your college years.

• Hannah McNamara is a senior at SUNY Oswego studying public relations and creative writing.

College Life

DIS OV ER

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Â&#x160;

Small Classes.

Great Professors.

School of Business Accounting Business Administration

School of Sciences, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)

cayuga-cc.edu 1-866-598-8883

Computer Science Computer Hardware/Software Design Computer Information Systems Information Technology Mechanical Technology Electrical Technology: Electronics Geographic Information Systems Liberal Arts & Sciences/Mathematics Liberal Arts & Sciences/Math & Science

School of Media and the Arts (SOMA)

Humanities & Social Science Studio Art & Design Telecommunications: Audio-Radio Production Telecommunications: Radio & TV Broadcasting Telecommunications Technology

School of Health Sciences

Nursing Liberal Arts & Sciences/Health Science

School of Social Sciences and Education

Criminal Justice: Corrections and Police Early Childhood Liberal Arts & Sciences/Childhood Education Liberal Arts & Sciences/Adolescence Education Liberal Arts & Sciences/Humanities/ Social Sciences

Online Fulton Auburn

Fall 2015 28