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Thursday, March 31, 2016
Northern Star
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Pay inequality difficult to detect but should be taken seriously
Greek SA members work hard
Editorial Board Editorials reflect the majority opinion of the Editorial Board; columns reflect the opinion of the author alone. Editor in Chief & Publisher: Jackie Nevarez Editor@NorthernStar.info 815-753-0105
Adam Pope Senior anthropology major
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Faith Mellenthin | Northern Star
Safety concerns must not stop student travel
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Perspective
Kara Mercer Columnist
Recent attacks in Brussels and Paris could make students feel apprehensive about studying abroad, but students shouldn’t be discouraged because there are resources provided by NIU to ensure safety. Students should know all of their options before travelling for their study abroad experience. The Study Abroad Office can help students with their concerns in terms of travel. The department holds predeparture orientations in which they discuss health and safety with students. They also encourage students to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, said Lauren Mock, associate director for enrollment and outreach for the Study Abroad office. The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program allows students to register with the closest embassy wherever they are studying abroad. Once travelers enroll and select the region they will be travelling to, the U.S. Department of State can send alerts to those traveling abroad. On March 22, an email notification was sent by the U.S. Department of State to those registered to travel to Europe about the attacks in Brussels. The
email advised U.S. citizens to exercise vigilance in public places and when using mass transportation. It also recommended U.S. citizens stay in touch with family members back home while traveling and to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program.
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I think as the world is getting smaller, globalization is happening, we’re interacting with more and more cultures, we can’t let terrorism stop us from understanding other cultures... .” Lauren Mock Associate director for enrollment and outreach for the Study Abroad Office
“I think right now students are more aware of these incidences, and the issue I think right now at this time is, you know, no one can ever guarantee your safety, so we have plans in place,” Mock said. “We’re in safe locations, we trust our staff in country and we have full confidence in the people that are there supporting our students, and that’s the best that we can provide.” Some trips are faculty directed and so the department is always able to stay in contact with faculty and students while abroad; other trips are part of third-party provider programs
Study Abroad Office • •
Programs in more than 75 different countries Provides health and safety information while abroad
in which those providers communicate with the university and let them know students are accounted for, Mock said. Students considering studying abroad should continue trying to explore places outside their comfort zone despite some safety concerns. “I’ve thought about [the Brussels attacks], but I’m like the chances of that happening are so slim ... it hasn’t discouraged me,” said sophomore art major Paul Zollinger. “I think students need to realize that the more you live in fear, the less opportunities you’ll have as a person.” The attacks that occurred recently in different countries are extremely unfortunate but should not scare students away from learning about the world. Studying abroad is an opportunity for students make themselves more well-rounded. “I think as the world is getting smaller, globalization is happening, we’re interacting with more and more cultures, we can’t let terrorism stop us from understanding other cultures... I think we have to believe in the goodness of humanity that’s out there and continue to learn about one another, ‘cause I think we are better people for it,” Mock said.
I am an employee of the Student Association. I work the desk on Wednesdays and Fridays. I have done so since January 2015. I have observed what goes on and got to know most of the people who have worked in the office. I was here when last year’s election between SA President Nathan Lupstein’s ticket and Benjamin Donovan’s ticket got rather ugly. It’s probably important to mention that I am not at all Greekaffiliated. It is more important to mention that the current SA executives and directors work extremely hard for the students. The current SA executives and directors number 12 Greek life members and five non-Greek members. This is certainly disproportional, but not “totalitarian.” Greek organizations excel in networking, Greek students are most interested in public administration and Greek students support each other. The rest of us should be so interested in participating in student government and so engaged, but we tend to fall short. The onus to change that is mostly on us. Donovan’s letter to the editor in Monday’s issue is ridiculous. His issues with the SA have been welldocumented, and at times I felt he has valid points, particularly about the Greek “nepotism” related to last year’s board of elections. However, his notion that the One NIU ticket and previous winning tickets have had “token” members of Alpha Phi Alpha and Panhellenic sororities is egregiously insulting, at best, and borders on sexist. Former student trustee Raquel Chavez, Vice President Reggie Bates and former student trustee Paul Julion all proved they were qualified candidates and exceptional student leaders. Vice President- elect Rachel Jacob and Treasurer-elect Brian Robinson are exceptionally qualified for the positions they are running for. Jacob does not even advertise her Greek affiliation on the One NIU’s informational handouts, and as it happens, beat me to be chosen as the SA director of Academic Affairs, because she was far more qualified. For Donovan to publicly suggest otherwise and to have that take more column space than his suggestions for improvement, said more about himself than it does the candidates.
More information •
A letter to the editor from Benjamin Donovan, senior political science and history major, was published in Monday’s issue. Read the letter online at bit.ly/1pET784.
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Results for the SA senate and executive elections are out. Read more on Page 1.