THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF BENTLEY UNIVERSITY SINCE 1963
THE VANGUARD VOLUME LVII ISSUE II
BENTLEYVANGUARD.COM
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014
Bentley launches PreparedU Project Experts meet in New York City to discuss millennials in the workforce With hopes of beginning a discussion about millennials in the workforce, Bentley University launched the PreparedU Project on Wednesday, January 29, 2014 at Bloomberg Media headquarters in New York City. “We’ve all heard the stereotypes—millennials are too entitled, self-involved, lack work ethic, don’t know how to communicate beyond their social media accounts and have no company loyalty,” explained President Gloria Cordes Larson in a statement, “However, like most stereotypes, we knew there had to be more to the story.” Bentley University commissioned KRC Research, an independent, third-party research firm, to conduct the research project to help uncover some of the truths and beliefs about preparedness in
the workforce. The research resulted with The Bentley University Preparedness Study, which has become one of the most comprehensive and broad surveys on the subject of workplace preparedness. KRC Research conducted
the research in October 2013 and surveyed more than 3,000 respondents. The respondent group was comprised of nine different stakeholder groups: business decision makers, corporate recruiters, higher education influential, parents of
high school students, college students, recent college graduates and members of the general public. By partnering with Bloomberg, Bentley hopes to bring the discussion to the national level and begin
Jeff Breault/THE VANGUARD
BY JEFF BREAULT
Former EDITOR IN CHIEF
The panel discussed the results of The Bentley University Preparedness Study.
a movement to close the preparedness gap. “We want our survey to serve as a springboard to engage all the players in a larger, multidimensional national conversation that will ideally help bridge the preparedness gap,” said Larson in her statement. “Together, we can find a way to ensure we’re delivering a return on investment to college graduates, while improving U.S. businesses and strengthening our workforce.” Instead of conducting research on the problems and issues associated with millennial preparedness, The Bentley University Preparedness Study also identified and tested 16 possible solutions to begin the efforts of closing the preparedness gap. The research then focused on four primary solutions that target four main stakeholders. The first solution focuses on the role SEE PREPARED, PAGE 6
BY USAMA SALIM
DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING
On January 28th 2014, the president of the free world took to the stage to deliver the yearly national address, also known as the State of the Union. With a positive start, President Obama praised the country on all the good it did in the past year. From national oil production exceeding imported crude oil, to 50,000 new jobs being created in the auto industry, the successes of the United States were met with applause by the audience. The president then went on to set a few goals for the upcoming year in 2014, including the pullout of troops from Afghanistan, a comment which was whole heartedly welcomed by a standing ovation. The president also urged the members of both the democratic and republican parties to put aside their differences and unite in making America a better place. “The budget compromise should leave us for a year to focus on creating new jobs,
not creating new crises.” The reference, of course, being made to the government shut down of 2013 which caused massive losses to the Federal government. “We’re not doing right by the American people,” said President Obama, hinting on an indirect apology the people of the United States for the shutdown. The president showed great disapproval towards the current condition of the middle class, where even in the midst of recovery, too many Americans are working too hard just to get by, and some aren’t even working at all. The job of congress is to reverse these trends, said the president, and indicated the presence of a few concrete plans that he had in mind to speed up growth, strengthen the middle class and build new ladders of opportunity. Some require congressional action, but whatever steps can be taken (without any legislation) for the benefit of families, will be considered. Opportunity is exactly what the United States stood for, and that was something
he plans to protect. A cut down on bureaucracy, as well as reducing taxes that force U.S. companies to outsource, shall also be focused on this year. The loopholes causing businesses to move out shall be closed and incentives for businesses to stay local shall be provided. In the light of such job creation and innovation, the Obama administration has launched two hubs for high tech manufacturing, where businesses have been connected with research universities. The administration is aiming to launch another 6 hubs this year. The president also urged businesses to raise wages. Lower government officials don’t have to wait for congress to pass the bills, he said. They can do it on their own, with the full support of America. The president shall deliver an executive decision in the next few weeks to raise the minimum wage for those working for the federal government to $10.10 an hour. He asked congress to say “yes” to an increase in the federal wage
Courtesy of source latimes.com
State of the Union: The past, the present and the future
President Obama delivering the State of the Union address. from $7.25 to $10.10 for the rest of the American population. Talking about energy, President Obama focused on promoting not only local natural gas production, but also an increase in funding for alternative sources. He also aimed for more energy efficiency by reducing the amount of money spent on gas by installing more economic fuel systems in cars and trucks. Carbon
pollution over the past eight years in the United States, said the president, had been reduced by more than any country in the world. The president is to work more on reducing the carbon pollution by introducing new carbon pollution standards. “Climate change is fact,” he said, refuting any debate about the phenomenon. SEE union, PAGE 5
Bean Boots
Sobering Up
Baseball
The Bean boots are more than a fashion statement.
Advice to start thinking about your career early.
Baseball team travels to Florida to kick-off the season.
FEATURES 7
OPINION 12
SPORTS 15