Volume: 59 Issue: 3
SEPTEMBER 9, 2015
driftwood.uno.edu
UNO Students encouraged to take advantage of available resources Nigel Washington Editor-in-Chief Privateer Plunge, the calendar of endorsed events that kicks off every fall semester, offers activities that involve multiple organizations around campus. The Office of Student Leadership and Involvement (SIL) and the Office of Enrollment Services (OES) plan the six-week event that has become an important introduction to UNO. Without their collaboration, Privateer Plunge would not be possible. “That’s how the university should be. It shouldn’t be these isolated offices doing a whole bunch of work. It’s better if we work together and make a program really successful,” said SIL Director Dale O’Neill.
Privateer Plunge offers the faculty members to meet not huge, they did not bring workshops on resume build- with their students outside of back the event this year. ing, interview tips, job-search the classroom setting.” Christy Heaton, Associate The organizers evaluate Director for Orientation and strategies and stress management workshops to prepare the success of each event to First Year Student Success. students for life outside of determine whether they will “We might have the classroom, in had anywhere addition to social from six to ten Data from the Plunge over the last events. students, but for four years show that students who Alumni and facthose six to ten participate in at least six events have ulty also help with individuals they these events to aid a 7-10 percent higher retention rate came every week the younger stuand they estabthan the average freshman or student dents as much as lished connections transfer. possible. with each other.” - Christy Heaton “[Having alumHeaton’s assisAssociate Director of Admissions for ni and faculty tant Lindsey DesOrientation and First Year Student Success support] is very selle was one of important. We rethe students who ally stress that,” ran every Tuesday. O’Neill said. “That’s a huge be offered again. Privateer Not all students take advanpredictor (of college success) Plunge previously hosted an tage of this opportunities like and we think it’s important event called Fight The 15 Desselle did when it was her for faculty of college de- to connect students to each time to Plunge. partments to participate in other and promote a healthy “Unfortunately, sometimes Privateer Plunge because it lifestyle. students don’t realize all the provides the opportunity for Because the turnout was resources they have until they
leave college and then they want to go to a workshop on meditation and they can’t do it and they realize they have to pay all this money to do it,” O’Neill said. Fraternities and sororities use Private Plunge to promote themselves and their mission; they do more than just recruit. “They are definitely wanting to recruit,” O’Neill said. “…but these events that they are putting on are not recruitment events. They are a service to a community. If a fraternity puts on an event, they know that it is for everyone to come out and participate in. I think for them it’s about being able to be visible and say that they are around and they are here to boost up campus life and student morale.”
Continued on page 4