TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2003
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 3A
FedEx, Harrah's among those at job fair
By Nicole Roché
nroche@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Most employers focus on experience and references. But Brian Beatty is just looking for someone with careful hands.
As collection manager for the Snow Entomology Museum, Beatty hires students to work with insects,a job that requires attention to detail.
Beatty will meet with students tomorrow at the Spring Student Job Fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the fourth-floor lobby in the Kansas Union.
"We're probably one of the stranger businesses that will be there," he said. "We have to ask the basic entomology question:
'Do insects bother you?'""
Ann Hartley, associate director for University Career and Employment Services, said there would be about 20 employers from campus departments and off-campus businesses.
Megan Crockett, St. Joseph, Mo., senior, said she brought about 30 resumés to the fall career fair, and 18 employers called her for interviews.
"Posting a resume on Monster.com is only about 3 percent effective," Crockett said. "At a career fair, you can find businesses who are already hiring for your major, instead of you going after them."
Crockett accepted a position as a territorial sales manager at
Philip Morris and will start after graduation this May.
Crockett took a 600-level business course that outlined what to wear and how to behave in an interview, but it was her past internships and a study abroad trip that set her apart, she said.
Hartley said because this was a part-time job fair it wasn't necessary for students to dress up or bring resumés. A more formal job fair on Feb. 5 and 6 will feature 120 employers hiring for full-time positions and internships, she said.
Teresa Krambeer, student employment coordinator for student housing, said the department hired one-fourth of its student work force from
applications received at last fall's job fair.
"It's an easy way for students to learn what jobs we have available," she said.
Positions are available for custodial and maintenance staff, desk assistants and security monitors. Krambeer said.
Hartley said students should come before the last hour of the fair because some employers leave early.
Off-campus businesses coming tomorrow include FedEx, Harrah's Prairie Band Casino and Kansas Air National Guard.
For a full listing of businesses and campus departments, go to www.ku.edu/~uces.
— Edited by Lindsay Hanson
Study abroad trip lasts longer than expected
By Megan Hickerson mhickerson@kansan.com Kansan staff writer
When Madelyn Wilson left for her study abroad program in Australia last February, she knew that she'd be back in Lawrence in time for summer classes and humid weather.
Her plans changed.
think.
Wilson, Chesterfield, Mo., junior, loved the Aussie life so much that she decided to stay in Wollongong, Australia for an entire year.
"KU made it so easy for me to change my plans" Wilson said. "The hardest part was getting my Visa renewed because I had to go all the way to Sydney to do that."
Susan MacNally, assistant director at the Office of Study Abroad, said that many students change their minds and stay longer than expected. She said the process is easier than students
"Most of the process can be completed over e-mail, although we need a signed contract from all renewal students," MacNally said. "This can be really simple if students can download applications and contracts over the Internet."
Robert Wilson, Madelyn Wilson's father, had mixed emotions about Madelyn's decision to stay in Wollongong for an extra semester.
"I was ambivalent about her change of plans," Wilson said. "I miss my baby, but at the same time, I want what's best for her."
With the beach just minutes from her dormitory, Wilson found it challenging to balance her time between school and sun. She successfully completed 25 credit hours while overseas.
Wilson studied with students from all across the globe, including Singapore, Africa and Wales.
Now back in Lawrence, Wilson said the readjustment to KU has been harder than she had expected.
"Australians are so down-to-earth and not materialistic," Wilson said. It's hard to come back here and see all the different things that KU students have."
Wilson plans to return to Australia after she graduates with a degree in Environmental Studies in December. She said that the program enabled her to explore career options outside of the country.
"Study abroad is so easy to get involved in," Wilson said. "Not enough students take advantage of the programs that KU has to offer."
— Edited by Jason Elliott
Jared Soares/Kansan
Madelyn Wilson, Chesterfield, Mo. senior, sifts through a folder of Australian memories. She spent 10 months in Australia attending Wollongong University. Wilson said she would miss the beach, the weather and Tim Tams, a cookie native to Australia.
By Cate Batchelder
cbatchelder@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
SLAB will advocate Sebelius' new budget
Governor Kathleen Sebelius' budget proposal in the State of the State Address last Wednesday attracted higher education supporters state- and campuswide. Now their task is to get Kansas legislators on board as well.
Sebelius' proposal includes spending $4.49 billion, up 3.1 percent from current state spending. Detailed in it, public schools K-12 and higher education including the University of Kansas's state funding would remain the same with no new increase or decrease in cuts from former Governor Graves administration.
Alice Lieberman, associate professor of social welfare, volunteered while on sabbatical this year to get Sebelius elected. Her interest in higher education and social issues drew her to the governor's platform.
Although Sebelius didn't mention social services in her inaugural speech, her proposal would restore social service cuts in the next fiscal year.
"I think she did a great job," Lieberman said. "There are some risks in using our cash reserves to the extent that we are—which is I think 100 percent —but she's banking on the possibility that revenues are going up."
KU's Student Legislative Awareness Board is also banking on the Sebelius's budget. Johanna Maska, legislative director for student senate, said getting Sebelius's budget passed was a priority. She said that SLAB will be taking a realistic
and grassroots approach to achieving this goal.
"We want to connect the faces of Kansans to the problem of higher education," Maska said.
SLAB's tactics to sway legislators begins with education. The board sent invitations to high school student councils to come to the University for budget awareness in a program called "Educonnection: Bridging the Gap."
"We want the high school students and parents to get involved since they are the future Jayhawks or Wildcats," Maska said.
Student senators and SLAB members will be calling Kansas's 300 school districts to join the front to lobby for higher education.
The groups will also sponsor KU Lobby Days, which all University students are invited to join, and a "Jayhawk invasion" to the capital. All KU student organizations are encouraged to take a booth and information to Topeka so legislators can get a first-hand look at what the University has to offer.
University officials responded to the budget proposal on Friday.
"Since last July 1, KU's funding has been reduced by nearly $19 million, or about 8 percent," Chancellor Robert Hemenway said in a statement. "We hope the governor and the legislature will recognize the damage that has been done during the past year, and the damage that will occur in the future unless we find an answer to these budget problems."
Edited by Leah Shaffer