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Ted SetterlundStaff Writer
A new bill was passed into law on March 26. Titled Section 735, or Farmers Assurance Provision, it was signed by President Obama as the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act 2013 in an attempt to insure the protection of farmers.
The Farmers Assurance Provision first came to light in the summer of 2012, when it was part of the initial draft of the 2013 Agriculture Appropriations Bill, according to Russia Today. The website also says that it was added as a last minute addition by the House of Representatives, and was kept unknown by most democrats.
The bill is most commonly known by the media and opposers as the “Monsanto Protection Act,” due to the bill removing Congress’ ability to halt sales of genetically modified seeds, regardless of whether the product is bad for one’s health.
Monsanto is one of the top makers of genetically modified seeds. Hence, this protects Monsanto’s ability to make and sell the product.
Parkland College is surrounded by agricultural environment and activity, including the college’s Agricultural Department. It
remains to be seen what effect, if any, this bill will have on the department.
Section 735 has been subjected to controversy since day one. A petition is now being circulated for those who oppose it, called “Food Democracy Now.” Currently the petition has over 300,000 signers, many of whom are farmers and rural citizens.
Monsanto themselves did not ignore the controversy, and sent out a message shortly after the bill passed to explain their position.
“As we understand it, the point of the Farmer Assurance Provision is to strike a careful balance allowing farmers to continue to plant and cultivate their crops subject to appropriate environmental safeguards, while USDA conducts any necessary further environmental reviews.”
Monsanto has been the center of controversy for several years regarding their support of genetically modified plants. The company has also ignited criticism from several farmers regarding patents that Monsanto controls, resulting in several lawsuits over the years.
Department Chair of Business and Agri-Industries Bruce Henrikson recalls one lawsuit involving the company and a farmer.
“Monsanto had modified the genetics in the seeds and therefore patented the seed itself, so the farmers are not supposed to use the kernels they grow as seed. One farmer, named Vernon Hugh Bowman, decided to do it anyway. So what he did was he planted kernels he bought from a local grain elevator, knowing they were likely all “Roundup Ready” beans (and not intended or legally, according to Monsanto, used as seed), which they wouldn’t allow.”
He continued “He took it all the way to Supreme Court, and he lost. The Supreme Court said that the patent on the genetic modified seed is legal, and Monsanto should be compensated for that.”
Director of Corporate Affairs at Monsanto Tom Helscher said the following about Section 735.
“Section 735 is identical to language that was contained in the House agricultural spending bill last year and approved in both the House Ag Appropriations Subcommittee and House Appropriations Committee. However, the Ag Appropriations bill did not move further before Congress adjourned,” he said.
He continued, “Major grower groups which had farmers’ best interests in mind such as the Farm Bureau and American Soybean
Association, as well as other groups like the Biotechnology Industry Organization and former Secretaries of Agriculture supported it, as did Monsanto.”
Despite the negative
feedback, there is some confusion over what the bill actually does. According to a blog post by Monsanto, they said “virtually none of
Ernie Springer Staff Writer
Last week, Parkland students continued a tradition as old as the college itself by electing this year’s student government representatives.
Denise Lujan was elected president, Holly Bass won the vice president position and Christian Sheehan took the position of trustee.
Two of potentially ten student senators were elected Wednesday, Vernon Porter and Sam Putera.
“I know a lot of students and I’m very sociable,” Putera said. “I will be able to talk to the students and communicate their complaints and ideas to the president.”
Putera’s senate seat was unopposed as were the majority of the other candidates who ran for positions on student government last week.
The presidential race, however, was a three-way contest between Ty Bridgeman, Denise Lujan and Jill Patterson, all of whom ran on a platform of improved relationships between students and student government officials.
“All of the presidential candidates possess individual qualities that a president should embody,” current Student Government President Rosa Juarez said. “I just want to ensure that this year’s student government president understands his or her responsibilities and commits to enhancing the college experience of the ongoing Parkland students.”
Juarez didn’t express any preference toward a winner.
Voters elected Lujan by an almost 2-1 majority.
“I have talked to her and I think she has the best intentions for the students,” voter Javier Zanil said on Tuesday after casting his ballot.
“Honestly, she gave me a sucker,” Tre Sylvester said, holding up the lollipop that Lujan had given him.
Before the election results were posted on Wednesday, Lujan discussed some of the goals she would like to accomplish throughout her term.
“Something I am very passionate
about is raising more money for scholarships through fundraising,” Lujan said.
According to Lujan, Parkland is already involved in a number of fundraisers for different groups around the Champaign area. She would like to start new fundraisers that would help students pay for the rising costs of
attending school. “Another thing I like to do is create a
variety of events that will unite various organizations,” Lujan added. “At the new student life building, I’d like to have an office for all the different school organizations to meet up. Communication between organizations would be a lot better that way.”
Ultimately, Lujan hoped her election win would pave the way for Parkland students to have their voices heard.
“The most important responsibility of the president is to listen to the students and there is always room for improvement,” Lujan said.
On April 18, Lujan and the rest of the elected student government officials are scheduled to attend a meeting in the student life room on campus. At this meeting, the officers will officially begin their terms and start the work that student government completes throughout the year.
According to Director of Student Life Tom Caulfield, these duties include sitting on various committees and dealing with campus concerns.
“They are the voice of the student body,” Caulfield said. “If there is a complaint, it goes through student government.”
Additionally, student government representatives sit in on conduct hearings, according to Caulfield.
“If a student is in violation of policy, they vote as members of the hearing and determine actions on the student that has violated policies,” Caulfield said.
Caulfield added that student government representatives are also on a programing board that plans, markets and promotes various dances and events throughout the year.
The student government representatives elected last week will serve one-year terms. However, another election will take place this fall to assign positions not filled during last week’s vote.
“There is no secretary and there is no treasurer,” Caulfield said. “We can take up to ten senators and we currently have two. We came up short for these positions and the (fall elections) will be a chance for us to get some freshmen involved as soon as they come to the college.”
Caulfield encouraged all students to participate in student government at Parkland. Any student wishing to do so is encouraged to fill out one of the forms located at any of the Prospectus News racks.
How to get the best summer job
Opinions - Page 4
Learn to beat the stress before
your test
Annual International Cultures Fair
a success
News - Page 2
Full Story - Page 8
Full Story - Page 7
Volleyball sophomores make plans to move on
Lifestyle - Page 3
WednesdayApril 17, 2013Volume 5, Number 15
Your source for Parkland College news, sports, features and opinions.
Digital distribution of
games on the rise
April is named for the Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite.
(Find the answer on page 4)
Photo by Briana Kay Stodden/Prospectus NewsDenise Lujan won this year’s race for Student Government President, earning 200 votes on April 10, 2013.
New student government representatives elected
Section 735 causes controversy over Monsanto
Photo by Burke Stanion/Prospectus NewsMonsanto has a facility, which is located East of Thomasboro.
See MONSANTO on P. 2
NewsPage 2 - Wednesday, April 17, 2013 Prospectus News
www.prospectusnews.com
Spencer BrownStaff Writer
This past Wednesday the world was on display at Parkland College. It wasn’t necessarily the whole world, but a large number of countries put on a great showing at the college’s International Cultures Fair.
In its sixteenth year and located in the Flag Lounge, the event was hosted by Parkland’s International Students Association and the Alpha Psi Eta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society.
If it was mystery to anyone before about how much cultural diversity existed on campus, this three hour event completely dissolved any remnants of confusion.
The school hosts more than 300 international students that represent 41 countries. A lot of those countries were front and center at the fair.
The fair provided many attractions. They included henna tattooing, performances by Parkland students, professional international music and dance artists, an international fashion show and a buffet from local restaurants.
“The importance of the international fair is to be able to explore other countries and enhance your perspective on cultural views,” Theresa Pham said.
Pham was a student representative of the Vietnamese table.
“There is so much the world has to offer outside of the U.S. There’s different cultures, different traditions, different beliefs, values. I just love how we get to go altogether and see all these countries,” she
explained.Dilara Efe, an international
student from Turkey, echoed Pham’s remarks.
“Normally I can search on the internet,” Efe said. “It’s different here because I can talk to people who are from different countries.”
That knowledge can be a valuable asset to those who are involved in international
studies or plan to travel at some point. It is easy to rely on a reference source, but nothing compares to a firsthand account from someone who not only knows the culture, but is the culture and embodies everything their respective country represents.
In the midst of the fair, a few misconceptions arise.
Haider Amin, international
student representing Pakistan, addresses one.
“It’s not only important for the American students but the international students as well,” Amin stated.
All too often, events of this cultural magnitude and wide range of diversity tend to provide the assumption that it is directed toward the American students only. The
international students have a great deal to learn about other countries as well and the interest is just as high, maybe higher. It is truly a great experience for all.
Other misconceptions are dispelled just by speaking to individuals from different countries.
“Most Americans that I know, they do not think that
Indonesia is not a part of Asia,” Feby Riani said.
Riani was Indonesia’s representative at the fair.
Riani jokes that the assumption is made because she, like most people in her country, do not share the prototypical eye shape of other well-known Asian races.
“America is more open and they have freedom of speech,” Riani added. “They can speak anything to anyone, even older people. In Indonesia we cannot, especially to older people. We cannot call our friend’s parents or teachers by names because it is considered impolite. Older people you can’t call by name also.”
This is just one of the many fun facts provided at the fair.
The fair also served as a fundraiser for Doctors Without Borders.
According to their website, Doctors Without Borders is an international medical humanitarian organization created by doctors and journalists in France in 1971.
This organization currently provides independent, impartial assistance in more than 60 countries to people whose survival is threatened by violence, neglect or catastrophe primarily due to armed conflict, epidemics, malnutrition, exclusion from health care and natural disasters.
For more information on this and other campus events, visit www.parkland.edu. For more information about Doctors Without Borders, visit http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org
JoJo RhinehartStaff Writer
The Boneyard Arts Festival is a 4 day exhibition of art hosted in many different venues all around Champaign County. These exhibitions include performance, literary and visual arts that the public is welcomed to view and purchase, as well as participate in.
The festival is presented annually by 40 North | 88 West -- Champaign County Arts Council. According to their website, “40 North is dedicated to fueling the growth and well-being of Champaign County by nurturing its arts, culture, and education community.”
Venues that are included in this 4-day event are bookstores, home studios, street corners, and anywhere else that an artist’s work can be safely and securely shown. Venues that were interested in participating were asked to register with 40 North and pay a small entry fee.
Artists and venues alike are meant to collaborate in order to make a successful festival every year. This means that in order to submit work, an artist must first contact a venue to secure a place to show their work.
Artists are encouraged to think outside of the box when choosing their venue. The Boneyard Arts festival website offered tips on how artists could approach the daunting task of choosing where they would like to host their artwork.
Any place from ice-cream
parlors to eye-clinics have been used to showcase artwork registered in this event. Artists from every background or artistic style are encouraged to enter their pieces to be shown, and are even able to sell their work individually during the festival.
Artists who submit work will not have their work critiqued or juried; it is up to the individual artist to decide
which of their pieces they want to exhibit.
“Both Peggy Shaw and Craig McMonigal, the two instructors that I have had in the photography program here, are quick to encourage their students to become involved with the shows and organizations that will broaden our experience in the art of photography,“ Photography major Gary Price commented
about his participation in the festival.
Price and other photography students were not the only artists from Parkland that entered their work. Performers, 3-D designers, graphic designers, writers and many other artists from Parkland were able to enter their work to be showcased throughout Champaign-Urbana.
The festival has three different districts that it is held in. On Thursday, the U of I campus is highlighted throughout the day for students and others within the area to submit or view work.
Champaign-Urbana hosts the event on Friday and Saturday, with showings of the area’s most creative. On Sunday, the festival is promoted throughout Champaign
County, concluding this event with street festivities and outdoor venues.
Students who participated in the festival were able to get a lot out of it. Photography major Ashleigh Martin said that she was able to get her work out in the public, which is not something she would normally be able to do.
“I applied to the art institute in Tennessee and this is something that they look for when you transfer so I thought I would give it a shot,” she explained. “I have enjoyed the festival, my favorite part so far would have to be just walking around and looking at all the art work, I love looking at my art work and what other people have done, sometimes it gives me an idea.“
Artists that participated in Boneyard were also encouraged to connect with other artists, and expand their artistic style with the creative ideas they received. Boneyard Arts Festival offers a blog that artists are welcomed to post to with questions or ideas for upcoming events.
“I did not submit anything, but so far I have really enjoyed just walking around and looking at all the art. It has really been a lot of fun, and I definitely think I will return next year,” Boneyard Arts Festival attendant Jane Royer said.
For more information on the festival or to learn how to get involved next year, visit http://www.40north.org/programs/boneyard.
Boneyard Arts Festival brings variety to community
Photo By Emily Sur/Prospectus NewsFine Arts major Gary Price views “The Something I Love Show” display at Art Coop in Lincoln Square Mall on Saturday, April 13, 2013.
Annual International Cultures Fair a success
Photo by Craig Towsley/Prospectus NewsFor the International Cultures Fair students on left, Arif Shad, in the middle, Haidev Amin, and on the right, Samreen Anwar display a large assortment of Pakistani items, April 10, 2013.
the people protesting actually read the provision itself. Those who did found a surprise: it contains no reference to Monsanto, protection of Monsanto, or benefit to Monsanto. It does seek to protect farmers, and we supported the provision.”
The post also mentions that other organizations were in support of Section 735, including The American Farm Bureau
Federation, The American Soybean Association, The National Corn Growers Association and others.
John Entine for Genetic Literacy Project said that, “The howling over the so-called Monsanto provision is all show and little substance.”
The company Monsanto is one of the leading agriculture corporations in the world. They currently own several seed producers such as Asgrow and Dekalb and are one of the leading producers of Glyphosate, marketed as Roundup,
which is a type of herbicide designed to kill weeds, which also receiving criticism from environmentalists.
Although the Farmers Assurance Provision has just recently been put to effect, many expect it to only remain throughout this fiscal year, until September 30, 2013.
For more information about Monsanto’s write up on Section 735, visit monsantoblog.com.
MONSANtOcontinued from page 1
Genetically modified cropsIn the last 15 years, farmers have made genetically modified (GMO) crops the dominant varieties for several major U.S. crops; GMO varieties as percentage of planted acres:
© 2013 MCT
100
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research ServiceGraphic: Chicago Tribune
20
40
60
80
NOTE: For herbicide-tolerant crops
’12’11’10’09’08’07’06’05’04’03’02’01’00’99’98’97
Soybeans
Cotton
Corn
9380
73
2012
LifestyleProspectus News Wednesday, April 17, 2013 Page 3www.prospectusnews.com
summer sessions @eiu2013
on campusoff campus
onlinegeneral education
electivesstudy abroad
Summer 4 May 13 - June 8
Summer 6 June 10 - July 20
Summer 8 June 10 - August 3
Registration for Summer Sessions begins March 18.
Make your summer really count.
Choose from daytime, evening, weekend and online offerings to get the schedule that’s right for you.
Visit the searchable course schedule at
www.eiu.edu/summer
Notice to Students and Faculty Regarding FINAL EXAMINATIONS
A final exam is expected in each credit course at ParklandCollege. Final exams for all full-semester and second-half-semestercourseswillbegivenduringfinalexamweek(May13-17)accordingtotheofficialpublishedschedule.Theschedulecanbefoundonthelastpartoftheprintedsemesterclassschedule.Thesefinalexamsarenottobegivenearly(duringregularclassperiods).Finalexamsforallother courses (those ending earlier) will be given at the last regularly scheduled class meeting.
Allrequestsfromfacultytoalterscheduledfinalexamtimesordates must be reviewed and approved by the Department Chair and the Vice President for Academic Services.
Incourseswhereafinalexamisnotappropriate,asdeterminedby the Department Chair, an educational alternative scheduled during theweekoffinalexamsisexpected.
Students:TheseofficialCollegeguidelineswereestablishedtomore fully ensure that you receive the full set of instructional class periods for which you paid and to which you are entitled; and that you have the appropriate amount of time to prepare adequately for your finalexams. Ifyourfinalexamisgivenearlierthanscheduled,oratadateand time that is not consistentwith the college’sfinal examschedule, please contact the Department Chair or the Vice President forAcademicServices(351-2542,RoomA117).
Threefinalexamsscheduledonthesamedaymaybeconsideredaconflict.Conflictsmayberesolvedbyarrangementwiththefacultyofthese courses.
Questions or concerns about these guidelines should be directed to the Vice President for Academic Services.
Amy BaldwinStudent Health 101
There is a famous scene in the movie Summer School where a group of students is about to take a test. One classmate lets out a blood-curdling scream and says, “Tension breaker. Had to be done.” This likely resonates with any student who has felt nervous about taking an exam.
While a loud scream might not be a possibility, there are some easy strategies to maximize your success while minimizing your test-taking anxiety.
Roots of Test AnxietyAccording to a recent
Student Health 101 survey, more than 75 percent of students have experienced test anxiety, and there may be as many reasons for this as there are academic programs.
Jeffrey Hall, a professor at Ashford University online, believes that preparation is one factor that influences the internal discomfort students feel when they take exams. He explains, “I think [test] anxiety
[can be] caused by a lack of preparation. If you have waited until the last minute and have not thoroughly reviewed the materials, you [may] feel anxious. That is not the best frame of mind for taking a test.”
So how can you prepare and keep test anxiety at bay?
Study in StyleOne of the first steps is to
prepare in a way that benefits you the most. Thorough preparation is the foundation of less stress, worry, and anxiety about how well you’ll do.
“Don’t try to mimic the study habits of others if it’s not your style,” says Derek Moore, a success coach and instructor at Pulaski Technical College in North Little Rock, Arkansas. He advises his students, “Know what type of learner [you] are.” He suggests that this can lead you to the methods of studying that will work best for you.
A Little at a TimeResearchers at Washington
University in St. Louis, Missouri, have found that
one proven study strategy is connecting what you’re learning now to what you already know. They also advocate studying in short spurts, spaced out over several days or weeks, rather than cramming everything into one huge study session—likely the night before your exam.
Starting early with smaller bits of information makes studying more manageable for your brain, and allows you to practice retrieving the information rather than just memorizing or storing it. Though you do want to commit what you’ve learned to your long-term memory, that won’t help come test time if you can’t call it up and write it down.
Virginia Nichols, an instructor at the Community College of Denver in Colorado, advises her students to use small periods of downtime as opportunities to study. She explains, “Develop ‘pocket work’ for those ‘dead’ times: waiting for the bus, hairdresser, doctor, etc.”
Some students find it helpful to color code their notes or flashcards according to topic.
Don’t Get Caught Speeding... Through a TestEven well-prepared
students can inadvertently sabotage their good study habits by making simple mistakes during an actual test. To avoid fumbles, follow these suggestions:
Arrive at your test location on time or a little early. You don’t want to feel the extra pressure of being late or rushed.
If taking an online test, find a quiet location that is free of distractions. Make sure you have access to all materials needed.
Read all instructions slowly and carefully.
Follow the directions; don’t ignore them in haste!
Respond to questions about the material you know before tackling the more difficult ones.
Speak to your instructor if you need clarification on something being asked.
Give yourself time to review your answers before you submit your work.
Leslie acknowledges the
importance of answering the questions she knows before going back to ones that are more challenging. This tactic boosts her confidence by allowing her to convey the knowledge she has. She also finds that reviewing her work helps her to catch any small mistakes before they add up to a big plummet in her grade.
These strategies can also help you feel more confident that you did your best, which may prevent what for many students can become a post-exam rumination cycle.
Keep Calm and Carry OnOver 60 percent of the
Student Health 101 survey respondents indicated that they use deep breathing to help them stay calm during a test. Sixteen percent said they turn to visualization techniques, and together these can help your body stay relaxed.
Tom says, “I calm myself by trying to relax through deep breathing.”
If you find that test anxiety is impeding your ability to study effectively or remember material on the spot, consider
talking with an expert. And lastly, don’t
underestimate the value of getting a good night’s sleep before an exam. While cramming before a test may seem helpful, if you’re drowsy and drained the next day, you won’t be able to perform come test time.
Sleep actually helps build cognitive ability and solidify memory, so it’s necessary for being sharp on test day.
Hall finds that it’s small habits that build the confidence students need to stay calm during a test: reading materials on time, taking adequate notes, and being able to apply concepts. He explains, “Being prepared and confident is the best way to reduce test anxiety. Having command of the material will give you the confidence you need in order to successfully navigate a test.”
Copyright 2013 Student Health 101
Learn to beat the stress before your test
Earth Week 2013Starting April 22, Parkland Sustainable Campus Committee will present Earth Week
2013. The week-long event is aimed at educating the public about sustainability, helping keep the community beautiful and celebrating the Earth.
MondayEvent: Join the Child Development Center kids and staff for a groovy recycled art
project. What do YOU know about recycling? Play this game and find out!Time: 11a.m.-1p.m. Place: College Center
Event: Free film screening: Thin IceTime: 11a.m.-1p.m. Place: C118
TuesdayEvent: Ride your bike to campus and join Sue Jones and friends for “the ABC quick
check bike tune-up.” Did you take the transportation survey? You might be a winner!Time: 11a.m.-1p.m. Place: College Center
WednesdayEvent: Put on your work clothes and head to the Fowler FarmTime: 10a.m-1p.m. Place: Fowler Farm
Event: I.D.E.A. store re-purposed art projectTime: 11a.m.-1p.m. Place: College Center
Event: Learn about Parkland’s Sustainable FarmTime: Noon-1p.m. Place: Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning in the Dwing
ThursdayEvent: Free workshop: The Path to Sustainable ChangeTime: 8a.m.-noon Place: 1307 N. Mattis Ave. (call 351-2235 to sign up)
Event: Fowler Farm workdayTime: 9a.m.-noon Place: Fowler Farm
FridayEvent: Parkland Prairie trash pickup, meet at Student Life to get gloves and bagsTime: 11a.m.-noon Place: Student Life room X152
Event: Fowler Farm workdayTime: Noon-2p.m. Place: Fowler Farm
All events are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Hilary
Valentine [email protected] or call (217) 351-2399.
OpinionsPage 4 - Wednesday, April 17, 2013 Prospectus News
www.prospectusnews.com
ProspectusNews
Los Angeles Times
When the U.S. Postal Service announced in February that it would end Saturday mail delivery this summer, most Americans reacted with a mixture of wistfulness and resignation. Yes, it was sad that the mail carrier wouldn’t be dropping off letters on Saturday anymore, but scaling back to five days was a necessary concession to the agency’s financial problems and a reflection of changes in communication wrought by the Internet.
But not everyone saw it that way: The unions representing postal employees and their champions on Capitol Hill were especially determined to block the change, and a continuing resolution passed by Congress last month prohibited the USPS from curtailing service. On Wednesday, the Board of Governors of the Postal Service bowed to Congress’ will, while warning that it will be impossible for the agency
to meet its cost-reduction goals without changes in the delivery schedule.
Unless Congress is willing to approve an infusion of government funds for the service - which receives no taxpayer support for its day-to-day operations - it should back off and allow the Postal Service to introduce sensible efficiencies. By moving to five-day delivery of mail (while continuing parcel delivery six days a week), the Postal Service hoped to save $2 billion a year. That would be a significant contribution to the service’s solvency.
Before the advent of email, eliminating one day’s mail delivery would have imposed a significant hardship on American households. That wouldn’t be the case today, when Americans can communicate on their telephones as well as their computers.
The advent of email and the emergence of private delivery companies have deprived the Postal Service of revenue. That fact, combined with
the Postal Service’s responsibilities for retiree health benefits, has already required it to make significant cutbacks. Even so, the agency lost nearly $16 billion last year and the Board of Governors has directed management to try to reopen contract negotiations with unions.
Although critics of the elimination of Saturday mail couched their objections in terms of customer service, much of the opposition actually reflects the desire on the part of workers and their union to preserve hundreds of thousands of relatively well-paying government jobs. But the Postal Service’s primary purpose isn’t to serve as an employment agency; it’s to provide an appropriate level of service to its millions
of customers. As we have observed before, the scope and nature of that service needs to be reconsidered, perhaps radically. Rightly or wrongly, Congress has entrusted the responsibility for that reappraisal to a quasi-independent agency that is
responsible for managing its own financial affairs. Unless Congress wants to start paying the bills again, it shouldn’t prevent the Postal Service from trying to make ends meet.
---(c)2013 Los Angeles Times
Eddie LouMCT
School is out in only a few weeks, so the time is now for those considering a summer job.
Everyone has a different reason to get a summer job. He or she might want spending money or may want to stash away some cash for the next school year. The applicant might be looking for an experience to build a skillset for the future. The summer job is a big step toward transitioning to adulthood. If any of these reasons resonate, then the student needs to get ready as many employers start recruiting well in advance of the summer.
First of all, he or she will have to decide on the type of summer job they want. Most summer jobs provide transferable skills that can come in handy down the line. Retail positions offer a great opportunity to learn universally needed sales techniques, if the applicant is sociable and able to interact with the public in a team setting.
Food-service jobs provide regular customer interaction. These jobs _ servers, hosts and busboys _ are often better paid than hourly workers thanks to tips. Babysitting, which requires responsibility and patience, could be another
good experience. An internship in social media, marketing or finance might provide valuable business experience but often pays far less, if at all.
There are many other options as well. Whether you’d like to be a golf caddy or lifeguard at a country club, working at a sports stadium or amusement park, working outdoors on a farm or nursery or mowing lawns, or joining a hotel as a front desk clerk or housekeeper, choose quickly because hiring has already begun.
Finding the best summer job requires action. Here are a few suggestions to get the ball rolling before it’s too late:
1. Look beyond the usual websites: Don’t just look at a school’s career site or a government job bank. There are many sites with job lists.
2. Network: Referrals and word of mouth are a great way to get a summer job. Many small businesses prefer to hire from referrals. Applicants should tell others they are looking for a job. Life is about who you know, so applicants should start with parents, parents’ friends, teachers, counselors and coaches, and friends and their parents. Be professional and show enthusiasm and see if they know anyone hiring.
3. Stand Out: Six seconds. According to a 2012 study, that’s how much time recruiters
usually look at a resume. A stellar academic record and long list of accomplishments must all fit in those six seconds, so be sure to format a resume or online profile carefully. Find ways to stand out and show off personality and influence.
4. Clean up an online persona: An online presence speaks volumes to a potential employer. Google a name and see what comes up. Increase security settings on Facebook and Twitter profiles. Applicants should update a professional profile on LinkedIn if seeking a white-collar career, or create a work profile on Shiftgig.com if seeking shift work.
Summer can be an invaluable first work experience. Get a job that pays, but also learn a marketable skill. Get accustomed to a team environment. Improve ability to communicate with customers. The summer experience is a perfect way to demonstrate an understanding of the value of a hard-earned dollar, show ability to work as a team player, practice customer service and dealing with conflict resolution, and be responsible. These are all important experiences that employers look for when hiring.
———(c) 2013, McClatchy-Tribune
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Originally created as the Parkland College Prospectus in 1969 in Champaign, IL, Prospectus News is a student produced news source in print, Web, and design media formats. Prospectus News is published weekly during the semester and monthly during the summer.
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Puzzles & ComicsPage 6 - Wednesday, April 17, 2013 Prospectus News www.prospectusnews.com
BlissClassifieds Sudoku (Intermediate)
xkcd.com
Fill in the blank squares so that each row, each column and each3-by-3 block contain all of the digits 1 thru 9.
If you use logic you can solve the puzzle without guesswork.
Need a little help? The hints page shows a logical order to solve the puzzle.Use it to identify the next square you should solve. Or use the answers pageif you really get stuck.
© 2012 KrazyDad.com
Sudoku #8
Intermmediate Sudoku Puzzles, Volume 3, Book 50
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2 1 32 6 5 9
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ACROSS1 Ted Danson’s role on “Cheers”4 Character on “The Simpsons”9 “__ Wants to Be a Millionaire”
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based on an Alex Haley novel22 Actress on “Up All Night”26 Sink-unclogging product27 Treat without respect, for short28 Ugandan tyrant __ Amin29 “Murder, __ Wrote”32 “The Sixth __”; movie for Haley
Joel Osment35 “Dancing with the Stars” host39 __ de Ville; Cadillac model of old40 “The __ Burnett Show”42 Actress __-Margret
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ear”51 Curvy mountain road52 Begin53 Ping-Pong table center
DOWN1 “Duck __”; Marx Brothers movie2 “Old MacDonald had __...”3 White House daughter4 “A Flea in __”; movie for Rex
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film for Bing Crosby37 Actor __ Bean38 Actor Nick __39 Actress Blanchett41 Money, slangily44 Cereal grain45 Gun rights org.46 Continent next to Asia: abbr.
FOR RELEASE JANUARY 15, 2012
THE TV CROSSWORDby Jacqueline E. Mathews
Solution to Last Week’s Puzzle
(c) 2012 Tribune Media Services, Inc.All Rights Reserved.
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SportsProspectus News Wednesday, April 17, 2013 - Page 7www.prospectusnews.com
Alex WallnerSports Writer
Golf is back and it’s time to tee it up as Parkland hopes to continue the trend begun in the fall. This team wants to continue to win and place in tournaments and doing that in the spring would mean a lot, considering the difference in toughness between the two seasons.
Unfortunately, the Cobras are off to a not-so-hot start, finishing sixteenth twice and seventh in three out of their four scheduled tournaments. The fourth tournament was cancelled.
Their fortunes could all turn around this weekend at the Mid-Western Athletic Conference tournament to be played at Lick Creek Golf Course in Pekin. The Cobras are in need of a boost and with a good finish or even a win this weekend, their confidence could rise heavily.
Sophomore David Keenan thinks that his team has the talent to reach to the highest level, which is the National Tournament.
“I expect us to get back to playing the way we did in the fall. We need to play our games and get things rolling as the Region tournament approaches. We want to peak for Regionals, so playing solid at conference would be a step in the right direction for us,” Keenan explained.
It is always good going into a tournament thinking you can place high or win. For Parkland, that was the case in the fall when they won a tough tournament which featured power houses John A. Logan and Rend Lake among others.
The team has since placed in the top five in numerous tournaments. In one tournament the team finished third. That tournament featured conference rival Illinois Central College and Lincoln College. In another tourney, they finished second beating Rend Lake and John A. Logan yet again.
Parkland now takes their struggling finishes to Pekin, where they hope to take a step in their ultimate direction, which is getting this team to Nationals.
“Every year my goal is to win conference and qualify for Nationals. With the number of teams we have in our region right now, that means we’ll have to win Regionals. This team has the ability, because they showed some strength in the fall, but at the same time, it’s now in their hands, they got to believe it. This team has all the tools necessary to get to Nationals, so it is truly in their hands,” Head Coach Zach McNabney said.
McNabney, who has had talented teams in the past, thinks this team has the chance to do something special. He believes that it
all comes down to the amount of time and dedication each player puts into every shot and whether they do what it takes to improve their game.
Taking six players and counting four of the six scores, is easier said than done. Of course getting four scores in the seventies is needed. McNabney thinks everyone on the team has the ability to do so.
McNabney is not the only one who feels confident about his team, sophomore Nate Overman agrees.
“I believe we are able to accomplish everything we wanted to accomplish at the beginning of the season,” Overman said. “The cold weather up till the end of March pushed us back for a while and we struggled at the start of the spring season but with Regionals coming up, we feel confident after being able to have some good practices recently. Our hope is to go to Nationals and compete and I feel like the team we have now has the opportunity to make a run at it.”
Their hopes can become reality with a big win over the weekend against their conference rivals. The team has the ability and the talent to win, but with the limited practices, coming out with gold makes limited practices seem irrelevant.
Mark RoughtonSports Writer
There’s no secret to why the Parkland College Volleyball program has been so successful over the past few seasons. It starts with good coaching and good players, both of which the Cobras have, and ends with a tradition of excellence that the team has developed over many years.
Helping to continue that great tradition this past volleyball season were sophomores Megan Scharnett (Centennial), Shelby Geers (St. Joseph-Ogden), Jessica Galotta (Mother McAuley) and Dana Belcher (Warrensburg-Latham).
Scharnett has made the decision to sign with Columbus State University, an NCAA Division II school in Columbus, Ga.
Geers has recently signed with the University of Illinois-Springfield, an NCAA Division II school in Springfield.
Galotta has received an offer and signed to play at St. Xavier University; an NAIA school in Chicago.
Belcher is weighing a few offers but plans to get a four-year degree in nursing, which is very difficult to do while playing a sport.
Seeing the success of his players both on and now off the court doesn’t surprise Head Coach Cliff Hastings.
Hastings has watched these ladies grow into talented players during their two years at Parkland.
“It’s very easy for me to pick
up the phone and call any coach in my network to describe why they would be lucky to have these young ladies,” Hastings said.
The two-year record of these four sophomores at Parkland is an astounding 85-16, including two Nationals appearances finishing ninth and third respectively.
Not only do these four carry the success in terms of wins and losses with them to new schools, but they each provide their own unique skill set which is part of what made this 2012 team so strong.
Geers was a first team all-American and one of the best players in the country on the offensive side with her team-leading 505 kills while Scharnett (733 digs), Galotta (660 digs) and Belcher (383 digs) were a great wall on the defensive side.
“Shelby got a million individual awards so everyone knows who Shelby is on the volleyball court,” Hastings said about Geers. “She’s a physical presence that dominated teams both offensively and with her blocking.”
Equally important to the squad was that wall of defense and executing the little things necessary to win volleyball games.
“The cool thing that the trio of Megan, Jessica and Dana illustrated to coaches across the country this year was that defense and serve-receive wins games,” he said. “These three were made for defense, and they put a ton of work in over two years to be good at
it.”Libero Scharnett made the
choice of Columbus State after narrowing it down to Grandview University in Iowa and her choice of Columbus State.
Her opportunity is a unique one and she just couldn’t pass it up. Columbus State will move up to Division I her senior year as well as re-starting a brand new volleyball program after a 29 year hiatus.
“To say that I’m starting a program means a big deal not only to me but to the community,” she explained. “So I thought that was awesome.”
For Geers, the decision to go to Illinois-Springfield came over the many of the same schools on Scharnett’s list such as Columbus State, Grandview, Tiffin University and St. Xavier University.
“Here at Parkland it’s pretty intense practice and season wise so I’m definitely looking to calm down a little bit,” Geers said. “I think it’s going to be a good fit.”
The UIS volleyball program was a little smaller than the other schools on her list which will allow Geers to come in and impact the program immediately. For Geers, it helped that it’s closer to home than the others as well.
In the case of Galotta, St. Xavier University in Chicago was the logical choice over Notre Dame College in Ohio due to Chicago being her hometown.
“I am ready to move back to Chicago,” she said.
A key component of them being able to make these decisions is thanks to Coach Hastings. Hastings was a big part of the process.
“He was there to answer all the questions that I couldn’t really answer,” Scharnett said. “The past four years he’s been my coach, so now with it not being him anymore it’s going to be really different.”
“They actually contacted him first and asked if he had any middles,” Geers explained about Hastings. “They gave her my information and then she contacted me.”
Many of the sophomores weren’t sure right away if they were going to transfer to play but coming into their sophomore seasons they
decided it was worth it.“I would miss it too much if I
didn’t,” Galotta simply stated. Scharnett realized after a
fantastic sophomore season that she simply couldn’t quit volleyball now.
“After getting third at nationals my mindset was ‘yeah, I want to keep playing’,” she pointed out. “It’s been nice to have that opportunity that helps me see that I can go on and go bigger.”
For these sophomores, it means the end of college careers together and being together as roommates in college. It’s something that will take some getting used to.
“To know we have less than two months together then we’re going our separate ways, it sucks, but you have to grow
up sometime,” Scharnett said. Scharnett and Geers have
played together since the seventh grade when they started club volleyball at Prime Time in Champaign.
“We’re all really close and I love everyone I’ve played with,” Geers said.
“The overall experience and all of my teammates I met lifetime friends and the coaching staff was awesome,” Galotta said. “There’s not just one good thing.”
Galotta said it best, there’s not just one great thing about this accomplished class of sophomores that stands out. It’s a great era of players that has continued a long tradition of success amongst the Parkland Volleyball program.
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Photo courtesy of Parkland Marketing and Public RelationsLibero Megan Scharnett makes a dig during a regular season game in the Dodds Athletic Center last October.
Volleyball sophomores have plans of moving on
Cobra golf looks for a win
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Mace MackiewiczStaff Writer
The distribution method for video games has been shifting from physical to digital over the course of this generation. The impact of changing to digital has been felt by everyone on almost every console.
The PC has enables players to download games digitally for the past decade. PC-users could use “Steam” to download all the new video games as soon as they are made available. The success of games like “Minecraft” and “Terraria” show that there is a market for download-only games.
With consoles, it wasn’t until this generation that video games have been downloadable. This generation of consoles has even had its fair share of download-only titles available on “XBox Live” and “PSN.” Games like “Journey,” “Castle Crashers” and “Bastion” have all seen significant success.
Digital distribution is somewhat cheaper than physical distribution. For one thing, it saves the customer gas money. Additionally, digital distribution cuts money on packaging of games, including pamphlets and online codes. It saves the companies money and makes it easier for them to make a profit.
Some of the mechanics of distribution have been the source of irritation for many gamers in the past few years.
The new generation of gamers will never know what
it was like to trade and borrow games from their friends. Even if it sounds petty, it was an important way to play games as a child since games are expensive and not everyone can afford a copy of the game they want to play.
Going digital has also had a part in killing the video game rental and used-game markets. The push-to-go digital and curb piracy has introduced online passes to the video game world. This is a code included in the game that unlocks content and the option to play online.
Undecided major Rachel Hodge weighs in on this topic, saying, “I think it’s a blatant attempt to get consumers used to having to buy games or game elements via digital means in order to more easily transition to a complete adaptation to digital gaming,” Hodge said. “I’m not really a fan.”
Digital games have also recently run into the problem of certain developers making the games playable only when someone has an internet connection. Games that have the single-player function still have to be connected to the internet to play and if the servers of the company goes down then the game itself becomes unplayable.
Media Arts and Production student Krystyn Pruitt said, “I don’t think video game companies should ever require players to have internet connection just to play the game as some people cannot
afford or do not have access to internet for whatever reason.”
“This feature would prevent them from being able to take part and enjoy games. Gaming as an experience is designed to give players control and not to control the players.”
A recent example was the new “Sim City,” a game with the always online requirement. EA’s servers couldn’t handle the players and, as a result, even people who wanted to play the game as a single-player were locked out. They
spent $60 on an unplayable
game because the company messed up.
The gaming industry also recently introduced a model of downloadable content, or DLC, that allows the player to pay a down payment when the game is released to receive a certain
amount of DLC at a discounted price. This new purchase is called a “Season Pass.”
The “Season Pass” has both upsides and downsides. The upside is the player gets a handful of DLC at a later date for less money. The downside is a question of whether or not planned DLC should already be in the game at the launch or not.
DLC can be a good way to expand the story, but for certain games like, “Asura’s Wrath” and “Dead Space 3,” the DLC includes the real ending to the game which certainly should not be something someone pays extra money for.
General studies student Robert Bales shares his view on the “Season Pass,” saying, “I think Season Passes are great. They are easier, cheaper and once you have them, they are there for good.
“It’s basically the same as buying a disk with the DLC on it, except you don’t have that disk just lying around,” Bales continued. “The game companies will also make money because people won’t be passing around free DLC cd’s like candy. With more money in their hands, the games get better.”
For, all gamers can do is wait and see how going digital will ultimately change the market. It may eventually make things easier and cheaper for everyone, but right now in the intermediate stages of the transition, many feel that it’s causing unneeded headaches for the consumers.
Digital distribution of games on the rise
Illistration by Jonny Ashikyan/Prospectus News
