Volume 124 Issue 112
kansan.com
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
the student voice since 1904
Proposed bill would provide improvements to Wescoe Beach
CAREERS
CIA looks for recruits at KU
RACHEL SALYER
rsalyer@kansan.com
Editor's note: The CIA employees who visited campus asked to not be named in this article for security reasons.
He swan dives of out an airplane, rips off a jumpsuit to reveal a tuxedo and has a beautiful woman on his arm to help him steal international secrets at dinner.
Two CIA members discussed the unrealistic practices of James Bond and other government agents from movies and what it really takes to work for the agency, as well as career opportunities with the CIA on Tuesday evening. The two talked with students during an information session at the University Visitor Center.
The two work for the National Clandestine Service (NCS), a division of the CIA, which focuses on national security and foreign policy through counter intelligence and covert action. In other words, this is where James Bond would work if he were American.
The pair, a man and a woman, discussed a variety of careers with NCS and other divisions within the CIA, including language officers and advanced positions, but focused on field-based positions through the NCS, in which employees work overseas to gather intelligence.
The woman candidly discussed lying to her children, her mother and everyone except her husband about where she works. She wanted the audience to understand that applying for any NCS position is not for the faint of heart.
"People ask me how I can lie to my own children, but I do it for my country and for my own safety as well as theirs," she said.
The ability to keep a low profile is essential to the program. Those attending were asked not to share they went to the meeting on Facebook or with others, and the pair said the CIA does not have a Facebook page. Trying to accessing any Facebook page that claims to be the CIA, they said, may cause malware to infect the computer, because the site is a fake .
VOTE OF CONFIDENCE
Both the man and the woman had worked in field-based positions and discussed how to be selected for one.
An applicant can obtain a field-based position through two programs: the Professional Trainee (PT) program and the Clandestine Service Trainee (CST) program. In the PT program, an applicant must be between 21 and 25 years old and have a college degree. It is for people with limited professional or military experience. The CST program is for people with professional or military experience who are between the ages of 26 and 35.
are between the ages of 21 and 30. The two made it clear that anyone applying to work for the CIA must be willing to work in Washington D.C. and wherever
Automatic disqualifiers for CIA applicants:
Use of illegal drugs or prescription drug abuse within the last year
Not a US citizen: you don't have to be a natural-born citizen, but you must be a citizen when applying and your spouse must be willing to become a citizen if he/she is not one already. US citizens can only apply while in the US, as overseas computers cannot access the CIA government website.
Criminal convictions or pending criminal charges
Deviant sexual behavior
A failed lie-detector test
Alcohol abuse
Difficulties for CIA applicants:
CAMPUS
(These may prohibit consideration, but it is important to refrain from those activities after applying.)
Lawrence police and Lawrence-Douglas County Fire and Medical officers evacuated the Kansas Union after a fire alarm sounded Wednesday at 8:50 p.m.
Jaybowl pin machine causes Union fire alarm
Serious computer misuse/electronic copyright violations
Failure to register with Selective Service
Substantial financial debt, student loans are not considered substantial, but major credit card and loan debt are.
Peace Corps membership within past five years; there is a formal agreement between the CIA and the Peace Corps to help protect Peace Corps members overseas.
they are sent for field positions. They also stressed the need for integrity and good judgment.
"We're looking for diverse people who can solve problems, and common sense is critical!" the man said. "If we could find a program offering a degree in common sense, believe me, wed promote the hell out of it."
They asked anyone applying to take interest in international affairs and recommended seeking news through international outlets, such as BBC and Al-Jazeera.
The same extensive application process is required for any job with the NCS. Applicants must apply online at cia.gov and the entire selection process takes between 12 and 18 months. It includes interviews, trips to Washington D.C. for aptitude tests and examinations by medical personnel and members of security.
The CIA receives 10,000 applications a month, but the man said those who are selected will never be bored with their jobs.
Edited by Corinne Westeman
"If I can look back on my life and say 'I can't believe this is my life,' the man said, "that's a pretty amazing thing."
Steve Remlinger, building services associate, said the fire alarm went off after the motor in a pin machine at
Jaybowl on the first level of the union malfunctioned and released smoke. Remlinger said the building was evacuated for about 30 minutes while emergency crews cleared the smoke from the area and checked for signs of a fire. The union was re-opened and regular activities resumed at 9:20 p.m.
— Rachel Salyer
CLASSIFIEDS 9
CROSSWORD 4
ROMNEY IN LEAD
Total Delegates Earned by March 6
CRYPTOQUIPS 4
OPINION 5
DELEGATES NEEDED TO WIN NOMINATION: 1,144
Index
SPORTS 10
SUDOKU 4
Romney won five states in Tuesday's primaries
VIRAJ AMIN
vamin@kansan.com
Presidential candidates Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum led the pack in Super Tuesday victories.
As of now, Romney has secured 396 delegates, extending his lead over Santorum, who has 158 delegates. Newt Gingrich has secured 103 delegates, while Ron Paul has 60 delegates. To secure the GOP presidential nomination, a candidate must earn 1,144 delegates overall.
Romney earned primary victories in Virginia, Vermont, Idaho and his home state of Massachusetts, but his most influential victory of the night was Ohio. These
Edited by Caroline Kraft
The results from the Kansas caucus will be revealed at 5 p.m. on Saturday.
Three of the candidates will be in Kansas this week. Rick Santorum will be in Kansas City, Kan., today and Wichita on Wednesday, while Newt Gringich will make stops in Wichita, Topeka and Kansas City on Friday. Ron Paul will be visiting the Lied Center in Lawrence on Friday.
According to Todd, the race in Kansas is pretty open; history shows that Kansas is an independent state and doesn't always go with the front-runner.
University of Kansas College Republicans president Ashley Moretti said she is excited about the Kansas caucus because of the amount of attention Kansas has been receiving from the Republican candidates.
victories will help him inch closer to receiving the Republican Party nomination.
Gingrich's only victory of the night was in Georgia, and Ron Paul ended the night empty-handed.
The GOP presidential candidates now turn their attention to the Kansas caucuses, which take place Saturday. According to Douglas County GOP chairman Richard Todd, there will be 40 delegates from Kansas going to the Republican National Convention.
cited about."
Santorum earned victories in Tennessee and Oklahoma primaries and in North Dakota caucuses.
al committee members will also be committed to the statewide results," Todd said. "Finally, the remaining 14 will be committed by congressional district. Each congressional district will have a winner, and those delegates will be committed on a proportional basis."
FAFSA gives additional aid to students
"Statewide, 25 delegates will be committed to whoever wins the Kansas caucus. Then, three nation-
"Kansas isn't usually as influential in our caucus," Moretti said. "I think this year we have an opportunity to be nationally recognized. This is something on a college level as well as statewide level we are ex-
MARSHALL SCHMIDT mschmidt@kansan.com
Because Coryn Mickleson, a junior from Oathe, is paying for school by herself, it was important that she turned in her FAFSA form by the March 1 priority deadline. But as an aerospace engineering major, taking out loans is worth paying for her education, she said.
FINANCES
"I know I'm going to have debt when I graduate, but I'm getting a good degree that can pay it back in the end," Mickelson said.
Almost two-thirds of students require some form of financial aid to attend college. Of those students, three-fourths rely on federal loans acquired through filling out the FAFSA, according to the Institute of Education Sciences.
ents, unless stated otherwise, © 2012 The University Daily Kansan
"The FAFSA is a starting point for all federal financial aid," said Jill Jess, spokeswoman for the University. "Many private lenders and scholarship and grant programs also use the FAFSA information."
The priority application deadline for FAFSA has passed, but the final deadline for Kansas state aid isn't until April 1. Federal aid isn't due until June 30. Before filling out the FAFSA, students should acquire their tax returns and PIN, a number required to access personal records, which can be retrieved at pin.ed.gov.
National Student Financial Aid Data
Caitlyn Perry, a senior from Las Vegas, uses federal financial aid to help pay for her out-of-state tuition, which is two to three times as much as that of in-state tuition. Along with that federal
Data is for all undergraduates.
Source: Institute of Education Sciences FEDERAL AID
ANY AID GRANTS STUDENT LOANS ANY AID GRANTS STUDENT LOANS
65.6% 51.7% 38.5% 47.0% 27.6% 34.7%
aid, Perry said she relies on money from her parents to cover the costs of college. Regardless, Perry said the University was one of the most affordable out-of-state options she found.
"My parents haven't said specifically that I'm expected to repay them, but it's inferred," Perry said.
a dependent of her parents. She's thankful for the FAFSA, because without it, she wouldn't have been able to go to school out of state.
"Without financial aid, you wouldn't see 30,000 people going to KU." Perry said.
Perry filed this past January as
Edited by Taylor Lewis
Stop by the fourth level of the Kansas Union for the Big 12 Tournament Watch Party. The event begins at 11 a.m.
Today's Weather
Mostly cloudy and windy,
with a 50 percent chance
of afternoon showers and
thunderstorms.
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