Tuesday, November 22, 2011 twitter.com/@msureporter
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Minnesota State University, Mankato
www.themsureporter.com
Post grad
Graduates struggle to find jobs in tough economy
International accomplishments
Seven faculty members receive Global Citizen Awards
CHELSEA MILLER
staff writer
• web photo These are the percentages of students who graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in six years. Information from the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems. STEVEN VANG
staff writer With finals week approaching, there are students at Minnesota State University, Mankato who are preparing for graduation. Unemployment rates are at an all time high and the need for a college degree has diminished, leaving many graduates wondering whether going to college was really worth it. In October 2011, the
United States Department of Labor reported that the unemployment rate reached a record high of nine percent. Job openings are limited but as people are getting laid off, an average of 17,000 students graduate each year in Minnesota as reported by the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS). Bruce Yang, a doctoral student and program coordinator of the Asian and
Pacific Islander American Affairs office, graduated with a double major in East Asian History and Sociology. Yang said that his likelihood of finding a job greatly increases with having two degrees, but the jobs he could find were irrelevant to his field of study. In order to find a job that allows him to teach or research, a Master’s degree
Post Grad / page 2
Dessa Coverage see page 8
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“I’ve never heard that term, is there really such a thing as a global citizen?” local musician Connor Wehrwein questioned over some pre-class Chick-fil-A. Twenty minutes later, a few feet from the Centennial Student Union food court, Wehrwein’s question was answered. The Global Citizen’s Award Ceremony hosted Minnesota State University, Mankato professors, faculty and students, all of whom are active in the international education programs in some way. Three women and four men, each with equally impressive accomplishments, received a Global Citizen Award that evening. It became evident that these international accomplishments were not solely responsible for the air of prestige and accomplishment in the Heritage room. Some students could even use the word “cool” to describe the winners. The recipients of the awards have vast amounts of knowledge, experience and appreciation of people who are not like them. “The Global Citizen Awards honor those colleagues among us who have engaged in international research or who have gone out of their way to support international education,” said Assistant Vice President for International Education Dr. Maria-Claudia Tomany. Wehrwein might have followed up his original question with, “Ah I see, but what exactly is international education?” “In essence, international education happens when a student, professor, staff member, or a member of the community, engages
• web photo Joseph Kunkel, a political science professor was one of the seven honored at Wednesday’s Global Citizen’s Award Ceremony.
in an intellectual, social, or practical activity that crosses cultural boundaries,” Tomany stated. After many thanks were given to those who helped set up the ceremony, the seven nominees were called up alphabetically to receive their awards. Clark Johnson, Debra Gohagan, Hans Peter De Ruiter, Joseph Kunkel III, Nadja Kramer, Scott Fee and Sue Romsa, names that many may recognize, were honored. Over food and coffee, the audience listened intently to each story. The successes included the facilitating of trips, internships, and study abroad opportunities in countries like Mexico, Finland, Austria, Ghana, Germany and South Africa. “[International education] is not a big idea or a set of policies,” Tomany said. “It’s an attitude, a mindset.” This statement captures the uniqueness of the program and its facilitators. Their intentions stem from honest and informed knowledge of the many benefits to expanded international ties at MSU.
Global Citizens / page 6
MSU volleyball team has season ended by Concordia - St. Paul - Page 9