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(02/17/09 7:04am)
It may only be February, but Spring Break is almost upon us. Though with the alternating 30- and 60-degree days we’ve been having, I can see how you might be confused as to what season we’re even in.In anticipation of the break, people already are hanging up winter coats, trading boots for flip-flops and doing that weird wire-walking thing between trees on the Lawn. The groundhog may have seen his shadow, but we college kids aren’t swayed by the meteorological predictions of rodents.Never mind that spring doesn’t begin for another month — our vacation is a week-and-a-half away, and we’ll be damned if we’re going to usher it in with scarves and sweaters.Ah, Spring Break, that time of year when thousands of college students flock south to thaw, like birds who got left behind. A time when you ignore the pleas of your professors and skip your Friday, Thursday and maybe even Wednesday classes before vacation. A time for road trips, sunburns, $10 margaritas as big as your head — and if you’re lucky, a lot of laughs at the expense of wrinkly old dudes in Speedos.In years past, my Spring Breaks mostly have been low-key. I’ve never had what the show “Friends” once aptly referred to as “Spring Break woohoo!!!”The “Spring Break woohoo!!!” may sound like a disease you catch from a wonky hot tub, but it’s actually the mythic sun-and-alcohol-soaked holiday that only seems to appear on TV and in movies. It’s when characters on teen dramas make the mistakes that will haunt them until the finale. It’s when coeds in horror films face karmic punishment for loose morals and wet T-shirt contests.Take, for example, the cautionary tale, “Spring Break Shark Attack,” a 2005 made-for-TV movie. Assuming you aren’t among the six of us who actually watched it, the brains behind this deliciously terrible gem helpfully spelled out the plot in the title. Add all the cleavage that primetime can get away with and a sprinkling of “ironic” dialogue like, “No way! The guys there are sharks!” and you have a pretty good idea of what I’m talking about.Which is, of course, pure awesomeness, the best of the worst. As I watched, my reactions went something like this: “Have these sharks evolved to feed on silicone breast implants? Does all that fruit punch in the water mean someone died? Did that fellow just purposefully windsurf into a shark’s mouth?” Needless to say, it was educational and entertaining.In essence, “Spring Break woohoo!!!” is the first half of “Spring Break Shark Attack.” It’s a week-long clothing-optional party — only at the end, no muscled guy in a muscle tee saves you from the danger of an approaching dorsal fin.It’s the kind of vacation we grew up watching on MTV Spring Break, but perhaps without quite so much staged dancing and karaoke — or maybe with more. It’s a place where neon bikinis and mesh half-shirts are the height of fashion, otherwise known as A.C. Slater’s version of heaven.The “woohoo!” at the end of “Spring Break woohoo!!!” is the necessary verbal indication of how much fun you’re having. You can tag it onto any sentence, particularly with a high-pitched voice and an accompanying fist pump. On Spring Break, exclamation points are more than just a way of speaking. They’re a way of life.And yet for all its cultural resonance, I am somewhat doubtful that the “Spring Break woohoo!!!” actually exists. I believe that the combination of tequila and heatstroke results in debauchery, but I also suspect MTV might have blown things out of proportion. It was likely an effort to shock those 13-year-olds — myself included — who were sneaking in some after-school cable before their parents came home.It is possible that the “Spring Break woohoo!!!” — like other mythic beings, from unicorns to Bigfoot — is only spotted on rare occasions by the truest of believers, those that never take off their mesh and “woohoo!” in the face of every obstacle. For the rest of us, it’s the kind of thing we can only carry our cameras around in the hopes of spotting. In fact, as with Bigfoot, we might run scared if we ever actually did come across it.But regardless, come Feb. 28, many will go out in search of the elusive “Spring Break woohoo!!!” I wish you the best of luck. Just, you know, watch out for sharks.Rebecca’s column runs biweekly Wednesdays. She can be reached at r.marsh@cavalierdaily.com
(02/13/09 7:17am)
It happens once a year. Some dread it and watch horror films with their like-minded buddies, while others look forward to it as an opportunity to spend some quality time with their loved ones. Regardless of whether you are on the edge of your seat waiting for Freddie Kruger to make an unwelcome foray into some innocent teenager’s nightmare or are perfecting your best come-hither look, participating in some form of special activity on Valentine’s Day is virtually unavoidable. Fortunately, there is one activity to which everyone can look forward and that triumphs over all others: Eating good food.In an effort to raise money to fund an Alternative Spring Break trip to New Orleans, second-year College student Danielle Barnes came up with the idea of putting together a cookbook that would be a perfect — and practical — addition to anyone’s kitchen. Barnes said the idea behind the book was to “involve the U.Va. community in something it can actually contribute to and have a final result.” The cookbook, entitled “Poetry — Recipes — Romance: An Evening for Two,” is a compilation of student-submitted recipes and poems.The concept of the cookbook, Barnes said, is to enjoy cooking a full meal with or for someone special — with some poetry to add to the romance. It also offers a nice alternative to typical Valentine’s Day gifts. “Cookbooks are way sweeter than chocolates and teddy bears,” Barnes said. Fourth-year College student Graham Evans, the site leader for the ASB trip, added that the goal was “mainly to do something different and interesting. The poetry provides something special that people can enjoy and share together along with the food.”Something different indeed, as Barnes and other participants of the ASB trip — third-year Architecture student Carla Jones, first-year College student Andrea Brennan and third-year College student Michelle Ferng — completely handmade the books. The cookbook is made up of a tea-colored cardstock cover and light beige pages, bound together with hemp. It has 30 original recipes, including appetizers and side dishes, entrees and, perhaps most importantly, desserts.With recipes compiled with romantic poetry — a four-to-one recipe-to-poem ratio — to set the mood, the cookbook offers students much more than what they would normally get at just another bake sale. The poetry submissions are mainly public domain poems, in addition to a few original pieces the submitters wrote themselves. “I recently have been getting into poetry and think it can really add richness to the magic and romance of everyday life,” Evans said.Furthermore, the recipes included are not your ordinary cake recipes. Some submissions, such as the “Avocado Pie,” are sure to be crowd-pleasers, as well as head-turners.Avocado PieIngredients:1 graham cracker crust2 medium avocados14-ounce can of sweetened condensed milk1/2 cup lemon juicea pinch of nutmegDirections:Place peeled and pitted avocados, milk and lemon juice in a blender until smooth. Pour into crust. Sprinkle nutmeg on top as desired. The pie should be chilled an hour before serving. Serves as a dessert for two, midnight snack and/or sweet morning treat.While the cookbook’s intended romantic influence makes it perfect for Valentine’s Day, contributors agreed that it is practical for any occasion. “My friends and I are always watching Paula Deen and making dinner for each other, so it’s really an ingenious idea,” fourth-year College student Hannah McCollester said.Although cooking may not be on the top of every college student’s to-do list, the creators of the cookbook hope it will be successful. “I hope people buy it, if only for their sake. They will be surprised to see how much use they get out of it,” second-year College student Rachel Burns said. Burns contributed two dessert recipes: “Bombshell Brownies,” which she claims are always a hit, and the “5-minute Chocolate Mug Cake”, which she added to go along with the romantic theme. “It’s a cake you make in a mug so it should be perfect for two.”Regardless of whatever this Valentine’s Day entails for you — whether it is a romantic date or casual movie night — good food is always appreciated. For those who have the luxury of a kitchen, a good cookbook can make any night of the week a tasty one. “It’s always good to have recommended recipes on hand,” Burns said. “And some of the recipes are not just for two — most of them are geared towards small groups of people, which is perfect for college students.”So whether you want to impress a certain someone or simply want to have an impromptu get-together, the use of a good cookbook goes beyond just a holiday. “Most cookbooks have themes, so Valentine’s Day is just that,” Burns said. “My roommate and I enjoy making dinner for each other and so we will probably use it regularly — regardless of what day it is.”
(01/14/09 5:00am)
Herpes is a viral infection and a resilient one at that. Knowledge of the disease has been around since the time of Hippocrates — think old, Greek — but it is clear that herpes is not going anywhere. Although the incidence is decreasing, according to the CDC Web site, about one out of four women and one out of eight men in America is still infected with genital herpes. More than half a million new cases are diagnosed each year. The numbers are even higher for oral herpes. In short, those are some serious statistics, so it is pretty important to know the facts about oral and genital herpes, how they are transmitted and what you can do to protect yourself.There are two types of the herpes simplex virus: herpes simplex type 1 and herpes simplex type 2. Herpes as a disease, however, is usually classified by the affected site. For example, oral herpes, which is usually referred to as cold sores or fever blisters, is generally caused by HSV-1, and genital herpes is usually caused by HSV-2, but these viruses are adaptable, so HSV-1 can also cause genital herpes — in up to 50 percent of cases, actually — and HSV-2 can cause oral herpes. Confusing, right? Basically this means that you can contract herpes from oral sex, but more on that later.How have all of these people caught herpes? As a rule, sexually transmitted diseases, such as genital herpes, are spread by, well, having sex, or via contact with the genitalia of an affected person, whether it be through oral sex or something more creative than I can even imagine. Oral herpes is spread when the virus — from the mouth of an affected individual — comes into contact with your mouth, especially if there is a break in the skin.Initially, many people who contract oral herpes will be asymptomatic, while the unlucky ones will trade ignorant bliss for inflammation of the cheeks and gums or possibly ulcers on the mouth, plus or minus a fever and sore throat. To put this into perspective, an estimated 90 percent of Americans have antibodies to the HSV-1 virus, meaning their body has encountered it before. Only a small fraction of those, however, will become symptomatic. Luckily, these symptoms will resolve in a week or so, but this does not mean the virus is gone. This stealthy virus will make itself a home near the original site of infection and wait until you are sick or stressed to make its grand re-entrance — just what you need during finals or right before your spring formal. Some people will experience recurrences throughout life, while others may get by without these.As for genital herpes, the first outbreak usually occurs within two weeks of sexual contact and can consist of painful ulcers on the genitalia and flu-like symptoms. Some people are unaware that they have contracted genital herpes and will have only mild outbreaks that can be ascribed to other causes (e.g. allergic reaction, insect bites ... I would imagine people could get quite creative on this front if it means avoiding the alternative). Even if a partner is asymptomatic with no visible lesions, however, you can still contract genital herpes.Unfortunately, there is no cure or vaccine for herpes. Once you have genital herpes, you cannot get rid of it, but you can take daily medications to suppress outbreaks and keep you feeling well. Herpes can affect other organs, such as the brain or eye, particularly if you are immunosuppressed, and it can be passed on to children during childbirth, which can be debilitating, so early diagnosis and a strict medication regimen are key. If you have genital herpes, this can be socially stigmatizing, but it is by no means the end of fun and intimate relationships. Be honest with potential partners and use condoms to decrease the risk of transmission. There are many support groups online and dating Web sites for young people with herpes, both of which can be invaluable resources. Overall, be well, be happy and remember that you can never be too careful when it comes to a condition like herpes.Emily is a University Medical student. She can be reached at e.graham@cavalierdaily.com.
(01/13/09 5:00am)
So, here I sit. It’s 10 days before I am supposed to leave for South Africa, and I still do not have a visa. Or a passport. Trying to obtain a visa has been a pretty trying process since I am not only dealing with one government agency, but three. The Embassy of South Africa requires a criminal background check before issuing a visa. So all I needed to do was call my local police station and it would simply hand a document over to me, right? Wrong. Way wrong. I had to contact the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, which informed me that I must mail it a set of fingerprints and it would send me the results of a criminal record search 10 to 15 days later.I headed down to the Charlottesville Police headquarters in order to obtain an official set of fingerprints. (I actually had to go there twice since they only fingerprint on certain days for a few hours.) I gained three things from my first trip: the knowledge of when and on what day the department fingerprints individuals, a parking ticket, and the knowledge that, yes, the University does in fact ticket your car after 6 p.m. On my second trip to the police station I was fingerprinted by an armed police officer in the same room where they book criminals. I have to admit that this was a little intense but well worth it as I emerged an hour later with fingerprints in hand. I had to immediately overnight them to the North Carolina SBI so I would be able to get the results in time to apply for my visa.Now, I don’t have a criminal record and have never even gotten a ticket other than a parking ticket. So, it came as quite a surprise when I received a letter stating that since arrest activity had occurred during the search, I should request another one in 30 days. Um, excuse me? Luckily my parents believed me when I told them that, no, I wasn’t leading a double life as a drug trafficker or insider trader. But I still needed a document stating that I was not, in fact, a criminal. Fortunately, the problem was remedied more easily than I expected, and after a letter, an hour-long phone call and three days, I had the corrected report in hand. I immediately mailed the report, along with a birth certificate, doctor’s certification that I don’t have contagious diseases, passport (please don’t lose this!) and the promise that I am not a member of a radical political organization attempting to overthrow the government, to the South African officials.While the visa application process has been strenuous, there are many other things I still need to do in preparation for my trip. For instance, I need to figure out how to pack an entire semester’s worth of clothes and toiletries into one bag. I also need to work on finding something to do on the 20-hour flight. I am also worried about the food since I know the South African diet has been significantly influenced by Indian food. On my Alternative Spring Break trip to Trinidad last year, which also has a sizable Indian population, my stomach did not appreciate my determination to try a new cuisine.All in all, though, I am really excited. My trip to South Africa promises to be an adventure unlike any other I have experienced. I am grateful to the University and the Study Abroad Office that I can have such an adventure — and even be granted credit for it and still graduate on time with two majors. I encourage every student to consider studying on the other side of the world. It is possible with just about every area of study. So while I am praying that my passport with my approved visas arrives before my flight and that I will successfully close my over-packed suitcase, I hope everyone at the University has a great first week of classes. Next time from South Africa!Megan’s column runs biweekly Tuesdays. She can be reached at m.stiles@cavalierdaily.com.
(10/27/08 5:22am)
What defines a true American? The United States is often described as a country of immigrants, and in every naturalization ceremony, new citizens are told by the president they “are just as American today as the descendants of the Founding Fathers.”To reach that naturalization ceremony, applicants need to meet a number of requirements set by US Citizens and Immigration Services, such as being at least 18 years old and having lived at the same address in the United States for a minimum of five years.Some University students entered the United States on a G4 visa — a non-immigrant visa that allows members of international organizations to participate in business activities in the United States — before obtaining their status as legal permanent residents because their parents worked in US offices of these international organizations, Fourth-year College student Christopher Kyle, for example, has been naturalized but is still a New Zealand national. While he “had an easy trek,” he said he has heard plenty of horror stories of “bureaucratic nitpicking.” “The hardest part was the waiting,” said fourth-year College student Carolina Ferrerosa, a Colombian national, of her experience becoming a U.S. citizen in September. “It’s tough not to become a conspiracy theorist, to start thinking, ‘They’re working against me. They don’t want me to vote.’”Most applicants apply for a green card while they are still overseas, although it is possible to do in the United States if one has a short-term visa or diplomatic passport, Law Prof. David Martin said.Many immigrants who apply for a green card do so because they have close family members living in the United States who are American citizens, they have employment opportunities or on a variety of humanitarian grounds, but they often prefer to remain in the United States as legal permanent residents, never applying for citizenship. Kyle said many of his international friends who live in the United States have chosen not to naturalize, as they want to keep their national identity. So long as all conditions for naturalization have been met, an application should be processed within 120 days, Martin said. After this time an applicant can take his case to court to have the matter settled. Ferrerosa said that during summer 2007 there was a significant increase in the number of applications for naturalization, which resulted in delays in application processing times, from six or seven months to upwards of 14.Martin said processing delays first began in the mid-1990s when the Immigration and Naturalization Service experienced a large backlog of applications and a rise in litigation ensued. As a result, authorities sought to develop a more efficient system.Closer scrutiny of the naturalization process, though, exposed vulnerabilities with fingerprint and other security checks, prompting an effort to improve the security of the system as well, Martin said. Now a full FBI background check is required before a person can be naturalized, he said, something that was further intensified after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.Fourth-year College student Teemar Fisseha, who will be applying for citizenship in March 2009, said he felt the INS “give[s] preference to some countries over others ... My Muslim friends from Ethiopia have names that are clearly Islamic and their [applications take longer to] process; there is definitely an element of discrimination.”Martin said in the last decade there has been more emphasis on complete background checks and noted that the INS would be more likely to conduct a more rigorous inquiry of an applicant of Middle Eastern decent. Martin noted name and birthdate matches with potential security threats are more common within certain ethnicities and need to be more thoroughly investigated. This has caused some problems within the INS because of insufficient staffing and resources, he added.Once the initial background checks and fingerprinting have been completed, the final step in the naturalization process is an interview. In the interview, applicants must prove basic speaking and writing competency in English and verbally answer five or six questions pertaining to American government and history, Kyle said.A list of a possible 96 questions is given to applicants as a study aid before the interview.“It is designed to be accessible to someone with a limited education,” Martin said. “It is very easy for university students.”Those applying for naturalization have a variety of reasons for doing so, but the right to vote was an important issue for some students at the University, especially because of the upcoming presidential election. Ferrerosa said she found it was hard to be politically active around Grounds when she was personally unable to vote. Kyle, meanwhile, said he feels more secure as a voting citizen. Green card holders can serve in the military and even be drafted, but they cannot vote for the government that is going to draft them. He said that element in particular disturbed him.There are also many University programs and scholarships that are only offered to American citizens, as well as a number of internships and public service programs across the nation.“You don’t notice how many things require American citizenship,” Ferrerosa said. “It’s tough — it feels like doors keep closing on you.”While Ferrerosa was applying to the University, for example, she encountered problems with her status as an in-state student. Although she had lived in Virginia for 17 years, her father was an employee of the International Monetary Fund and therefore did not pay commonwealth taxes. Though she was able to prove she was an in-state student because of her personal employment record and taxes she had paid, she was not able to qualify for several scholarships because she was not a citizen.Fisseha had similar issues when applying to the University; she said it took a long time for her financial aid to be processed because the University had to contact the USCIS directly to ensure she was a legal resident. Now that she is looking to apply to graduate schools, she said she is still unable to apply for many scholarships because of her status as a non-citizen.While citizenship can help to resolve these issues, students also cited the value of U.S. citizenship for travel abroad, as the U.S. government has a well-established overseas support network for its citizens. Ferrerosa said during an Alternative Spring Break program in which she participated, the students had a day stop-over in Spain. All the other students were able to explore the country, but because of her citizenship, she was prevented from joining them and had to remain in customs.“Americans can travel wherever they want,” Fisseha said. “An American passport is like a license to navigate.”Kyle noted, though, that he fears distaste abroad for Americans at times, “but the United States has a much more developed safety net for travelers around the world.”While newly naturalized students can begin to take advantage of various benefits of being American, they must also grapple with the question of how to identify themselves.Ferrerosa said she feels she is “between two worlds,” and when she is asked her nationality, she cannot answer Colombian or American. Kyle describes himself as an American born in New Zealand. He said although he is patriotic to the United States, “there will always be something in where I was born ... when I see residential New Zealand areas something in me says ‘That’s what houses and streets are supposed to look like.’”
(10/24/08 4:00am)
COMMUNITY service is a big part of life at the University. When Madison House takes over Newcomb Plaza to promote all of their service programs, the sheer number of poster boards to choose from is amazing. Programs such as Alternative Spring Break have more volunteers than they know what to do with, getting so many applications that three more winter programs were created. Only at the University is community service competitive. Yet the rush for community service hours is sometimes more directly related to the state of one’s resume than any true desire to improve the community. While any community service is certainly beneficial to the community, what is more important is that people commit to causes they truly believe in. Sleepout for the Homeless requires a commitment to ending homelessness because participants must give up their warm and comfortable beds, at least for one night. This embodies the true spirit of community service, giving to a cause because it is important to you and not just because you think you should. Sponsored by the Jewish Social Justice Council, Sleepout for the Homeless originates from the Jewish holiday Sukkot. Sukkot is celebrated by sleeping outside in a temporary shelter known as a Sukkah to remember the 40 years the Israelites spent wandering in the desert. Zev Lebowitz, Chair of the Jewish Social Justice Council, said that Sukkot is a time of celebration, but that the committee thought it was appropriate to consider those who have to sleep outside as well. Lebowitz also said that one of the goals of the program is to, “Raise awareness among U.Va. students,” about homelessness in Charlottesville. Sleepout for the Homeless brings together students of all faiths for one week to realize the struggle of being homeless and to raise money for the benefit of those who are. Students can sleep for one or more nights and get family and friends to sponsor them for the nights they spend sleeping out. The money raised from these sponsorships goes to a different program that supports the homeless each year. Lebowitz said this year Charlottesville Health Access was chosen from seven proposals because “Health services for the homeless are really lacking in the community,” especially considering that health care costs can sometimes cause homelessness. Additionally, “A lot of volunteers are U.Va. students, and we wanted to support our colleagues at U.Va.”There is nothing glamorous about spending the night in a tent, and certainly nothing convenient about it on a school night when you have class the next day. There isn’t even any kind of instant gratification to be had, unlike being a tutor or mentor. Spending the now very cold October nights outdoors in order to raise money for the homeless is a self-sacrificing act for the betterment of the Charlottesville community, and that’s it. This program will continue to grow because it is self-reinforcing: Experiencing a small bit of what it is like to be homeless makes the participants want to do more to help the homeless. Too often, the meaning of community service gets lost as students struggle to fit the requisite hours into their schedules. That’s not to say that everyone doing community service is only doing it to impress graduate schools and future employers. Most people doing community service believe in the causes they support and enjoy the time they put into bettering the community. However, community service has changed from doing it because it’s worthwhile to doing it because it’s expected.Sleepout for the Homeless is a model for true community service because it helps students identify with the homeless. With the many activities students are involved in, not to mention the reason we’re all here, getting a degree, it should not be expected of everyone to be actively involved in community service unless that service is meaningful for them. Giving back to the community only makes sense if you support the values of the community you live in. Community service should be about fixing what you personally think is wrong with the world. No one can make a difference by being in five different organizations and only doing a little bit in each one. Only by focusing on a passion can one person hope to truly affect change in that area. Community service is more valuable when it comes from the heart, both for the server and the community. This kind of community service will produce programs with more passion, more enthusiasm, and better results. That is what makes Sleepout for the Homeless such a great program: Its focus is on those truly committed to making a difference in the lives of the homeless, because its volunteers have lived it, if only a little bit. Working for a cause that is close to your heart is much more rewarding than working for a cause that looks good on your resume. Community service should be about more than a good cause — it should be about a good cause that you believe in.Annette Robertson is a Cavalier Daily associate editor. She can be reached at a.robertson@cavalierdaily.com.
(10/16/08 4:40am)
On the fourth floor of Scott Stadium, the luxury skyboxes that typically house suite-holders at football games are also home to the On-Grounds Interviewing program, through which job opportunities can come a-knockin’.The program’s goal, according to Barbara Hampton, University associate director for employer services, is to consolidate the interview process for both employers and students by bringing them to a single location. Last year, representatives from just fewer than 400 companies conducted about 7,000 to 8,000 interviews, and 47 percent of these interviews were conducted by University alumni.“It’s definitely convenient for the employers to come to the University and have an opportunity to meet with multiple candidates at the same time and decide who they want to invite to participate in the second round of the interview process at the organization,” Hampton said.Fourth-year Commerce student Jason Liu has used the On-Grounds Interviewing program for the past two years.“It provides a lot of good opportunities to meet employers ... [who] do have an interest in us, and it’s a good system to connect the two parties that are interested in each other,” Liu said, comparing the program to his other methods of applying to jobs in the past, which were “not very effective.”Before a student can set up an interview, he or she must first create an account on CAVLink, an online resource that provides job listings for full-time positions, summer internships and externships, according to the 08-09 Hoos Career Guide, distributed by University Career Services. In addition to searching for potential job opportunities within CAVLink, students can also upload up to 25 documents — resumes, cover letters and other documents — to share with potential interviewers and view upcoming events such as career fairs.“In terms of [how] CAVLink works, you drop in your resume, and you know exactly when you’ll have an interview or not,” fourth-year College student Sri Gopalan said. “Whereas if you drop it in a company’s Web site, it’s like a black hole — you’ll never know if someone is looking at it, but here, you know for sure.”After creating a CAVLink account, a student must then attend a mandatory 30-minute orientation in order to qualify for the On-Grounds Interviewing program. He or she has the option of attending one of the group orientations, which concludes with a brief question-and-answer session, or completing the newly launched online version, followed by a brief quiz. The online orientation is available at the UCS computer lab Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. “In the orientation, our main goal is to share with students how the process works from start to finish, what their rights and responsibilities are as participants in On-Grounds Interviewing and what to do as they’re preparing for interviews,” Hampton said.The orientation stresses the program’s “No-Show” policy and even includes examples of unaccepted excuses for failing to show up for an interview, such as, “I cut myself shaving, and it won’t stop bleeding.”“Barring hospitalization and major illnesses, it is important to attend [an interview], because employers actually travel here and spend a great deal of money in order to make a recruiting trip,” Hampton said. “We definitely want them to be pleased with the service and the students they meet throughout the day, so if they plan on meeting 13 students and only 5 show up, U.Va. suddenly takes a big dive in terms of how interested they are recruiting here in the future.” After completing the orientation session, students are granted On-Grounds Interviewing access and can search for and apply for positions in the On-Grounds Interviewing as well as the non-On-Grounds Interviewing sections of CAVLink. The submission period for applications varies, depending on the employer, and can range from one week to several months. Employers then evaluate the submitted applications and request an interview schedule — typically from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. — to meet with students. Students either are invited to be interviewed or are selected to be alternates and have a set period, which can be as few as two days, in which to choose an interview time slot. “In some cases ... an employer can have up to 200 applications or more, and they may only have those 14 interview slots, so we definitely encourage students not to be discouraged if they’re not selected for interviews, just because it’s a competitive process,” Hampton said.Hampton noted that about 10 to 15 percent of the students who use the On-Grounds Interviewing process ultimately obtain jobs from the program. “I applied to 80 jobs and might have had around 10 interviews,” Liu said. “It depends on how selective the firm is, how the market is.” With that in mind, Hampton emphasizes that students who sign up for an interview slot should be genuinely interested in working for that particular organization. “We want students to participate in the process and get the most out of it ... [but not by] taking a time slot to practice their interviewing skills,” Hampton said, adding that UCS offers mock interviews to serve that purpose.On the day of the interview, students can either park in the metered spaces in front of Bryant Hall or take the bus, which stops directly in front of the building, and then proceed to the fourth floor of the building.After a few minutes in the student waiting area with “coffee, water, and a TV ... [to] try to help people work their nerves out a little bit before their interviews,” students are taken to one of the suites in which the interview will take place, Hampton said. If a student is selected for the next round of interviewing, the employer will contact him or her directly. On-Grounds Interviewing’s role in the interview process ends once the student accepts an offer and withdraws all other applications. On-Grounds Interviewing runs from Sept. 22 through Dec. 5 in the fall semester and Feb. 2 to 26 during the spring semester, which also includes late recruiting after Spring Break through the middle of April.“I think students should use [On-Grounds Interviewing] and explore it, because in my opinion, it’s the easiest way to find a job as a student here ... because you don’t need connections to get a job,” Liu said. “I think students should take full advantage of it; it’s one of the great resources that [the University] has, and it would be a shame if students didn’t take advantage of [it].”
(03/17/08 4:00am)
Since its founding in 1992, Alternative Spring Break has provided University students with an escape from the stereotypical alcohol-fueled beach trip and the chance to spend their week-long break making a difference. ASB participants have traveled all over the world, from New Orleans and California to international locations such as Jamaica and Bangladesh.
(03/12/08 4:00am)
Blasted by a gust of humidity and blinding sunlight, my eyes quickly adjusted to the atmosphere in which I found myself suddenly immersed: the Dominican Republic. Greeted at the airport by towering palm trees, bongo drum beats and straw-roofed buildings without walls, I took in the tropical paradise for the first time. This turned out, however, to be merely the beginning of my cultural experience.
(03/11/08 4:00am)
THIS PAST week, about 650 University students traveled throughout the United States and the world on Alternative Spring Break trips. I went on a trip to Washington, D.C. and served food to HIV/AIDS patients. Founded in 1992, ASB has received a great deal of criticism from participants and uninvolved observers alike. Before leaving, I had my concerns about the group's stated mission, goals and modus operandi. After completing an ASB trip, I've decided that much of the criticism is unfounded or wrong. Like any group, Alternative Spring Break has its flaws. However, its core ideas and ideals are correct, and critics should focus on these issues rather than petty concerns.
(03/11/08 4:00am)
THIS SPRING Break, nearly 600 University students gave up a week of relaxation and debauchery to trek around the world, from West Virginia to Honduras, and participate in various forms of service. Through the umbrella organization of Alternative Spring Break, site leaders worked with organizations at over sixty locations worldwide to help communities in some way, from youth services to environmental conservation projects. I participated in a disaster relief project in Hancock County, Miss. While some trips surely have more of a tangible impact on communities than others, it is only a matter of degree rather than substance. No trip can be attacked as completely unworthwhile. Rather than constantly having to deflect criticism from various individuals and organizations at the University, Alternative Spring Break should continue to expand because its positive impact is undeniable. At the same time, ASB should consider constructive criticism and work to make their service projects as effective as possible.
(01/16/08 5:00am)
The University saw 72 of its graduates become Peace Corps volunteers in 2007, regaining its ranking as the No. 1 producer of Peace Corps volunteers among mid-sized colleges and universities .
(01/16/08 5:00am)
The University saw 72 of its graduates become Peace Corps volunteers in 2007, regaining its ranking as the No. 1 producer of Peace Corps volunteers among mid-sized colleges and universities .
(01/16/08 5:00am)
The University saw 72 of its graduates become Peace Corps volunteers in 2007, regaining its ranking as the No. 1 producer of Peace Corps volunteers among mid-sized colleges and universities .
(12/04/07 5:00am)
THIS PAST week, I received an unexpected package in the mail from one of the kind matriarchs of my church back home. Ripping open the package, a smile crept across my face as I recognized what it was. An Advent calendar -- a cruel tradition for Christian kids. The concept of the calendar is that every day, from December 1 until Christmas Day, a family opens up a little box in the calendar and inside is a piece of chocolate, inevitably to be fought over by siblings. The Advent calendar symbolizes the expectant waiting Christians experience as they commemorate the waiting for Christ millennia ago.
(11/30/07 5:00am)
ON THE Friday before Thanksgiving break, hundreds of high school students from around the country arrived on Grounds. They did not swarm the admissions office, or line up for a University Guides tour. They were not just on another college visit. Instead, they came as delegates -- not for their respective schools, but for the countries they would represent in the Virginia Model United Nations (VAMUN) conference.
(11/01/07 4:00am)
I'VE WRITTEN for the past two weeks about secret societies, arguing that their tags have no place on Grounds and that tradition is an inadequate justification for the secret societies' prominence in the University community. I want to continue my inquiry and discuss another important reason, besides tradition, that I think these institutions are accepted and even admired.
(10/25/07 4:00am)
Students can often be heard commenting about the competitive nature of extracurricular organizations at the University -- after all, one can't even go on Alternative Spring Break without going through an application process. And musical theatre is no exception.
(10/15/07 4:00am)
EVERY YEAR Alternative Spring Break receives a number of criticisms, among them the assertion that placement of individuals in ASB trips should be randomized instead of competitive. Though the goal of objectivity behind this suggestion is a noble one, the proposal reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of ASB's mission and operation -- to deliberately bring together members of the University community who might not otherwise interact in their usual social spheres in the common goals of service to and education about the global community.
(10/12/07 4:00am)
SATURDAY and Sunday last weekend, as part of the reading days, the University Transit Service put the brakes on the bus system?. UTS could have more aptly stood for "usefulness temporarily suspended." With the exception of CTS trolleys, no bus service was provided during the weekend, and students who opted to stay on Grounds were forced to find alternative modes of transportation. As usual during breaks, the lack of bus service frustrated and inconvenienced many students. During future breaks, partial bus service should be provided to all students who opt to stay on Grounds. ?.
