I n d ep en d en t
Issue no.
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B o is e
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42
February 2012
Volume 24
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Boise, Idaho
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acob LaurelinstJ Journa
Vampire energy can be sucking the life out of your wallet.
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Want kids?
Here is a brief list of the republican candidates in random order
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Softball hits the diamond
The Bronco-bombers return to take on the spring season.
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Do your research Presidential election years always involve political scandal and mudslinging. Since the republican candidates announced their candidacy, we haven’t been short on either of those. With the constant humiliation following each of the candidates, it’s easy to turn your back on politics and look the other way. When it comes time to vote, many people know little more than which candidate had an affair or which candidate was accused of sexual harassment 30 years ago. “Voting is vital to the democratic process, but I can see where people get frustrated by the system,” said Jerod Shelton, a senior political science major. Amidst the scandals that seem to overtake news outlets, it’s important to do some research and see where each candidate stands on the important issues. “Too many people are un-informed and vote without doing research,” Shelton said. “Blind voting is dangerous.” There are many ways to stay informed about the candidates. The most accessible way to accumulate information is from specific campaign websites. Candidates list their stances on the issues and give background on who they are. There are also multiple websites that compare each candidate on specific issues. Be careful, though—try to look for trustworthy websites. Watching debates is where most people get the best feel for who they can vote for. It allows voters to judge what kind of person each candidate is, if he or she stays consistent under pressure. Fact-checking after debates is
a good way to keep up with the candidate’s consistency. The Idaho Statesman and other news outlets run these fact checks after debates and inform the public about how accurate each of them is. Another helpful resource is thegreenpapers.com. It has a running tally of delegates the candidates have earned and compares it to what they need. And there is, of course, the honorable Arbiter to deliver you your political fodder. “I try to keep track of the delegates,” said Richard Kinney, Ph.D., professor in the political science department. “(Keeping track) is what it comes down to in the end.” Recently, Idaho has switched from hosting a Republican Primary to doing a Republican Caucus. The difference is that in the caucus, one must be a registered Republican to vote and the process of naming a candidate takes more time—the caucus runs multiple rounds of voting. The winner will be chosen by a simple majority (more than 50 percent of voters) or the top two will face off. “If you do go to the caucus, you want to know about the candidates,” Kinney said. “People will try to persuade you if you don’t.” Even though the general election is far off, these early elections are just as important. “It’s about having a voice in your party to pick the nominee who will run later in the year against the other party,” Kinney said. Having the knowledge of how and where to vote and researching each candidate is something that can be time-consuming, but necessary. Look beyond the scandals to find out the important issues.
Mitt Romney * Former governor of Massachusetts * Wants to cut taxes and reduce gas prices * Wants to invest in alternative energy resources * Against gay marriage * Against abortion * Supports capital punishment
Ron Paul * Congressman from Texas, former medical doctor * Wants to reduce the nation’s deficit by lowering expenses * Wants to shut down the departments of education, energy, housing, commerce and interior * Advocate for a Second Amendment protection act, prohibiting the limiting of the right to bear arms * Advocate of giving the states more deciding power * Strongly against abortion, believing that it should be treated as violence * Opposes capital punishment
Rick Santorum * Former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania. * Believes America’s involvement in foreign conflict should only be necessary in times of direct impact to our country * Believes in focusing on succeeding in Afghanistan rather than troop withdrawals that seem to be politically motivated * In favor of teaching intelligent design in schools alongside evolution * Strongly against abortion * Despite historical voting patterns on gun control issues, he is now a supporter of the Second Amendment
Newt Gingrich * Former Speaker of the House of Representatives * Wants to downsize the Federal government * Wants to re-introduce school prayer and instigate rewards for girls who graduate high school as virgins * In favor of giving no-interest loans to students in math and science only * Supports the right to bear arms * Against capital punishment * Believes health care should be privatized * Against gay marriage and domestic partnership benefits for same-sex couples design by Bryan Talbot/THE ARBITER
Look for a job by looking to the Career Center
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The Arbiter
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Amy Merrill
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Jobs. Students either have one (or two), need one, or will need one in the near future. With the current statistics on unemployment painting a bleak picture, students should be doing everything possible to make themselves appear to be the most attractive candidate for employers. In the job market, appearing to be an attractive candidate (hopefully) has little to do with physical appearance and more to do with what’s in a student’s personal arsenal as far as qualifications, skills and networking are concerned. For arsenals lacking an aweinspiring stockpile of goods, there is still time to create more inventory. The one-stop shopping center, otherwise known as the Career Center has their own cache of tools to help students succeed.
Students may think the Career Center is geared toward graduating seniors or students seeking work on campus, however, the Career Center has something to offer to all students, regardless of class standing. It’s a resource available to all students, and it’s especially beneficial for individuals with no clue what they want to major in, or what kind of work they would like associated with a specific major. This is a part of career planning the Career Center specializes in. Debbie Kaylor, director of the Career Center, said students come in and say, “I don’t have a clue what I want to do.” “If students would spend more time on the front end, then you wouldn’t need us as much on the back end with the job search,” she said. Eric Lindsay, a second-year business major, used the Career Center to obtain a second
opinion on his resumé and prepare for an interview. “It was a good experience,” Lindsay said. “I found it helpful.” Kaylor stressed the importance of taking advantage of internships which can help build a network and skills needed on the job. “If you know the direction you want to go and can start targeting those opportunities and experiences you will be that much more marketable,” Kaylor said. This is precisely how careerplanning can help students get on track to be job-ready after graduation. For students who are venturing out into the job market, there are a variety of programs that can help, from a 15-minute resumé test to practice interviews and the Bronco Jobs website to browse job listings. During the 15-minute resumé test, students can expect to be provided with information
and tips on what employers are looking for. For the first time ever, students are allowed to walk in without an appointment for a 15-minute resumé test only. If students are looking for more than just a quick look over their resumé and are more interested in honing their interview skills, mock interviews are available by appointment, which tend to run about an hour and a half. The option to be videotaped is available for a comprehensive critique. Students can come in with a particular job in mind or a particular job field or major. The goal is to target specific questions while arming students with knowledge of how to handle illegal questions posed by interviewers. When seeking a job, students can take advantage of Bronco Jobs for work on and off campus, full-time or parttime positions and internships.
The extended search feature is also helpful for finding jobs in a variety of locations, fields and disciplines. Additionally, there is a feature available to search for federal or state government jobs. But Kaylor cautions there are two markets for jobs. The job market and the hidden job market. “The far majority of jobs are not even posted anymore. Employers don’t want to have to sift through 500 resumés. The job search now is all about your ability to network,” she said. Kaylor said students can come in for help developing a LinkedIn profile or learning how to use Twitter to build a personal brand. For more information on the numerous services the Career Center offers, career.boisestate.edu or call 426-1747 to schedule an appointment. There will be a career fair in the SUB next Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. arbiteronline.com