University Press November 1 2018

Page 1

UNIVERSITY PRESS

The Newspaper of Lamar University

Vol. 95, No. 9 November 1, 2018

IEW events to be held Nov. 14-16 Chris Harmon UP contributor

Lamar University’s office of international student programs & services will host International Education Week, Nov. 14 through Nov. 16, beginning with an open house. “(IEW) celebrates the benefits of cultural and academic exchange programs,” Mustapha Jourdini, OISPS director, said. “We have an open house to share about our different services, and how OISPS can collaborate with other university departments to ensure that we provide international students and scholars a home away from home

— a welcoming environment that is conducive to cultural adjustment and academic success.” Two sessions are planned for Nov. 15 — “Effective Ways to Help International Students Succeed” and “The Benefits of Study Abroad.” “When studying abroad, a student’s exposure to other ideas, cultures, and educational systems results in many benefits,” Jourdini said. “Chief among these benefits are becoming open-minded and accepting of different peoples and cultures, developing flexibility of thought, honing foreign See INTERNATIONAL, page 2

Cardinal View set for Nov. 10 Abigail Pennington UP contributor

The office of student engagement and recruitment will host Cardinal View, beginning at 8 a.m., Nov. 10, im the Shiela Umphrey Recreational Center. The event is designed to show prospective students what LU has to offer. Tracie Craig, director of the welcome center and campus experience, said LU hosted 616 prospective students and their families during the spring Cardinal View. Almost 1,100 are registered for this fall’s event, with 362 listed as prospective students, Craig said. “That number typically climbs significantly the week of the event,” she said. “Hopefully, that trend will hold this year. If even half of our current registrants attend, we will have the best fall crowd to date.” Registration for the event will begin at 8 a.m. in the Sheila Umphrey Recreational Sports Center, and opening activities will start at 8:45 a.m. During opening activities, prospective students will be able to eat breakfast, listen to music, participate in activities, meet admissions counselors and tour the residence halls. “There will be a DJ playing while the Cardinal Activities Board hosts several games and activities, and the College of Engineering hosts the ‘Walk on Water’ feature,” Craig said. “‘Walk on Water’ is a pool of nonNewtonian fluid that simulates the experience of walking on water.” The tours will be led by LU Crew members — current students who work in the Welcome Center and conduct daily tours, Craig said. “We are very proud of this group of young people and their commitment to excellence in the Welcome Center,” she said. “They make it their goal to be a welcoming, helpful first face for Lamar University.” Academic sessions will be held from 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. During the sessions, prospective students will have an opportunity to meet with academic deans and department representatives to discuss majors and requirements, and to ask ques-

Educator’s Career Fair today in SSC Cheyenne Ard UP contributor

UP file photo

Students toured the new Setzer Student Center for Cardinal View in spring 2018. tions, Craig said. A Student Success Fair is slated from 9:45 a.m. to noon, and will be held in the Setzer Student Center Atrium. Prospective students will have the opportunity to meet and exchange information with current LU students who are involved in student organizations, Craig said. “It’s not too late to register for a booth at the fair,” she said. “We hope that student organizations will collect the names and email addresses of guests who visit their tables, and start recruiting and involving them in the organization’s activities.” Breakout sessions will begin at 10:30 a.m., and end at 12:30 p.m.,

where participants can choose three different topics, including living at LU, applying to LU, getting involved at LU, financial aid and scholarships, and a walking tour of campus. Each session is 30 minutes with 15 minute breaks in between. “Our breakout sessions are ‘Getting Involved at LU,’ which will be led by Student Engagement, and is exactly what the title indicates — ways to get involved while studying here,” Craig said. “‘Financial Aid and Scholarships’ is an overview of the financial side of things, with opportunities to get See VIEW, page 2

The Center for Career and Professional Development will host the Educators’ Career Fair, today, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., in the Live Oak Ballroom of the Setzer Student Center. The educators’ career fair, open to all students and alumni, will allow future educators to learn about job opportunities and receive feedback from recruiters. Students should dress professionally and have multiple copies of their edited résumé for the event. Forty school districts from the Houston and Southeast Texas areas will be in attendance, Angie Thomas, associate director of the Center for Career and Professional Development, said. “This is a platform for students to get in front of a recruiter and start talking,” she said. “It helps build confidence.” The fair, part of education week, is a chance for students to practice networking and start a conversation with recruiters without feeling pressured, Thomas said. “When you apply for a job it is almost like going into a black hole and it is a lot harder to get selected through (the online) process,” Thomas said. “It’s easier to talk to someone (in person) and market your skill sets versus going through the online application.” Students can prepare by researching school districts and looking for job openings that are available and interested in, Thomas said. “Look to see who’s coming, then go to their websites to find out what openings they may have,” she said. “Tailor a plan for the day of the event so you have an idea of what you can go to the table with to that recruiter.” Students are encouraged to enter the fair with an open mind and be prepared for possible job offerings, Thomas said. “We’ve actually had school districts offer jobs right then and there,” she said. “There is a big need for teachers, so that’s a possibility.” All students are welcome, not just education majors, Thomas said. She also encourages freshmen and sophomores to attend. “(Underclassmen) may not think they’re ready, but it’s definitely something they should start early on,” she said. “It’s better to mess up now, when there is no pressure, rather than when it really matters.” The Center for Career and Professional Development is located in 102 Galloway Business Building. For more information, visit www.HireACardinal.org.

SGA to offer poll shuttle Olivia Malick UP managing editor

The LU Student Government Association is partnering with the LU Police Department on Election Day, Nov. 6, to shuttle students who are registered to vote in Jefferson County to the Alice Keith Recreational Center polls. There is no sign-up process required, just make sure to line up in the Setzer Student Center circle driveway around 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., to secure a spot in the line for the shuttle, Natalie Sfeir, senior and vice president of SGA, said. “The Lamar shuttles will begin bringing students to the site at 5 p.m.,” she said. “Shuttling back from the site will end at 7 p.m., when the polls close.” Sfeir, who came up with the initiative, said this is the first time

SGA has partnered with LUPD to bring students to the polls, but she hopes the process continues when she graduates. “It is up to the representatives serving the next academic year to keep this going,” she said. Bringing students to the polls helps those who may not have been able to participate in the voting process before due to transportation issues voice their opinions, Sfeir said. “SGA wants to ensure that every student gets a chance to voice their concerns and make a difference, not only at the state level, but in our local elections, too,” she said. “This gives them the opportunity to truly assert their position and have a say in future endeavors. “We understand that many students do not have access to transportation, and we want to make

www.facebook.com/UPLamar

sure we provide this outlet.” Sfeir said she expects more students to take part in voting with transportation out of the way. “We expect students who have not participated in voting to take advantage of this opportunity and cast their votes,” she said. “This provides a means of transportation and doesn’t require students to spend their own gas money, find parking, etc.” Sfeir said SGA encourages all those registered in Jefferson County to take advantage of this opportunity. “Bring a friend with you,” she said. “It is such an honor to have our university work with us to provide such a service. Go out, your vote is your voice, so use it wisely.” For more information, visit lamar.edu/student-governmentassociation, or call 880-7775.

www.lamaruniversitypress.com

UP photo by Cade Smith

Ricky Adams, Beaumont junior, examines the Día de los Muertos altar in the Setzer Student Center, Wednesday. For more on the holiday, see page 7.

www.twitter.com/UPLamar


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.