Graduates’ Job Hunt More Than Just a Hunt, It’s a Full-Fledged War!

Given the bleak direction of national employment, college graduates will need to suit-up in more than just professional attire to handle the fierce battle to find job opportunities and secure full-time employment. Prepare for combat!

Current college graduates will be required to go head-to-head with fellow classmates, laid-off workers, financially struggling retirees and unemployed graduates from prior years. There are more than five job seekers for every opening, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics figures.

On a more discouraging note, only 46% of employers plan to hire spring college grads for full-time positions this year, according to a CareerBuilder survey.

With the job market in a difficult state right now, what can the University of Denver do to help both its current and future graduates?

The Career Center at DU currently offers job fairs throughout the year for undergraduate students to inform them about job opportunities and allow them to make connections with employers. “We offer a variety of resources online like DU Careers Online for students to talk to employers and alumni about their careers, industries, and possible job opportunities as a DU student,” states Tina Stack-Oldweiler, manager of the employer relations and office administrator office.

In the eyes of some DU students, DU is succeeding through their rigorous academic programs alone. “I have thoroughly enjoyed the academic experience provided by DU. I felt that not only my skills have grown, but also that my thinking has been challenged. I feel that I have been well-prepared for my future career,” stated Ashley Bogner, a 2012 graduating senior.

What else can DU do to increase their efforts in assisting graduates in their search for employment?

“Brenda Leigh’s Coming on Strong”

“The radio’s playing some forgotten song

  Brenda Lee’s coming on strong

  The road’s got me hypnotized

  And I’m speeding into a new sunrise

  When I get lonely, and I’m sure I’ve had enough

  She sends her comfort, comin’ in from above

  Don’t need no letter at all

  We’ve got this thing that’s called radar love

  We’ve got this line in the sky, radar love…”

[http://youtu.be/iAvrBsp_ULU]

Music blasts through the speaker’s as a wild 18-year-old dances around his bedroom playing his air guitar vigorously to the blaring notes from the song, “Radar Love” by the Dutch band, Golden Earring.

This rock star wanna-be is none other than my very own father, Kevin Rohn. When my dad was in high school, “Radar Love” filled his high-school days, sparking his interest in playing electric guitar, capturing my dad’s love of Rock-n-Roll. Surprisingly enough, my dad’s attachment to the rock song “Radar Love” stuck with him way beyond his high school days, serving as his inspiration to name his baby girl, Brenda Leigh, just ten years later.

At 28-years-old, my parents were expecting their second child: a baby girl. During my mom’s pregnancy, my parents would often play music in the evenings to relax after a long day. Due to my dad’s bold nature and his deep love for Rock-n-Roll, these songs were usually rock songs instead of soft, mellow, comforting melodies, however. Most generally, they were songs from my parents’ high school years, back when they fell in love.

On such a night, my dad selected the song “Radar Love.” As the music blared loud guitar streaks and screeching lyrics, my dad abruptly turned the music down after the lyrics “Brenda Lee’s coming on strong” streamed from the speakers.

Turning to my mom, he stated, “I think we should name our daughter Brenda Lee. Don’t you think it is a pretty name?” he asked. “It just has a special ring to it.”

My mom, wondering if he really was serious about selecting their baby’s name from a Rock-n-Roll song, replied, “I was hoping to name her Briana.”

At the sound of this name, my dad scrunched up his nose in disgust, “It is far too girly and prissy. Now Brenda Lee just flows in such a gentle, tender way.”

Lost in thought for a moment, my mom thought about the suggested name and the more she said the name aloud, the more she could hear the ease and beauty of the name. With excitement in her voice, she stated, “I think we just found the name for our new baby girl.” My dad hugged her with great joy and excitement.

After the bonding moment, my mom parted. Looking at my dad, she suggested, “Seeing as you got to pick the name, I get to choose the way it is spelled and I think we should spell her middle name ‘Leigh’ not ‘Lee’ because ‘Lee’ is too masculine and ‘Leigh’ looks more girly and delicate.” Since aesthetics are not really a man’s forte, my dad willingly accepted the proposed spelling, thus, declaring their second daughter’s name as Brenda Leigh Rohn.

As the daughter in mention, I have always cherished my name, Brenda Leigh Rohn, and I agree with the gentle, nature of the name and the way it flows from one’s lips. Personally, I feel the name suits me well as I am a kind, compassionate, affectionate person and I would never dream of changing my name, let alone imagine myself as a “Briana.” All I can say is thank goodness for the song, “Radar Love.”  

Metropolitan State Name Change & CU Boulder Logo Change Waste Money, No Worthy Payoff

This year the University of Colorado Boulder and Metropolitan State College proposed brand alterations through a change in logo such as CU Boulder or a change in the institution’s name like Metro. While these branding initiatives seem a good technique to improve institutional marketing, these efforts are a burden more than a blessing during the challenging economic times when institutions everywhere, public and private, are faced with extensive budget cuts and tuition spikes.

The fact of the matter is institutions spend high amounts of money on brand alterations in at inappropriate times, thus making their decision to allocate money towards such luxuries foolish. Take CU Boulder’s new logo design for instance. “University of Colorado officials unveiled a new branding of the traditional CU logo after a two-year, $780,000 effort. The four-campus system now uses a lighter gold interlocking CU logo, according to campus officials.” As important as the new logo may be to the college, theoretically, the new design looks nearly the same. Therefore, it is a waste of money to redesign letterhead and official paraphernalia, especially if it affects tuition for students. “The project was not paid for with tuition, state or donor funds, according to university system spokesman Ken McConnellogue. Instead, the money came from the president’s initiative fund.”

Despite this claim, CU recently increased their tuition by 9 percent, proving students are still impacted by CU’s decision to spend money on new branding and other luxuries. Rather than increasing tuition to cover institutional spending “CU’s president should use his “initiative fund” for something more useful like keeping important academic and research programs in place.”

On a similar note, Metropolitan State made the switch to Metropolitan State University of Denver on April 18, 2012, intending to keep the cost minimal by using existing inventory as it transitioned and supporting the name change through private donors and indirect cost recovery funds. However, many students still feel the name change isn’t worth the time and money. “Students and everyone outside of the school will still call it Metro. This name change failed to meet a major objective: new name recognition,” states a current Metro State student.

Another dissatisfied Metro student states, “Please stop feeding us the tales of how great this name change is and how hard the Board worked for it. The Board has abandoned its own students in the face of large sums of money and the political weight of DU. I am tired of hearing that my school will be called ‘Metropolitan State University of Denver’ because it benefits me.”

What CU Boulder and Metro State need to realize is when times get tough economically, the institution needs to focus their sights on the necessities such as improving the educational programs and opportunities at the institution instead of spending high amounts of money on unnecessary luxuries such as branding through names, logos, symbols, and associated paraphernalia.

Sources

·         Nager, Freddy J. "Buffaloed in Boulder: University of Colorado as New $780,000 Logo" Buffaloed in Boulder: University of Colorado as New $780,000 Logo. Atomic Tango, 22 Jan. 2011. Web. 25 Apr. 2012. http://atomictango.com/2011/01/22/university-of-colorado-logo  

·         Jacob. "Metro State Name Change." Big News on the Name Change! Metro State Name Change, 2 Feb. 2012. Web. 25 Apr. 2012. http://metrostatenamechange.com/2012/02/big-news-on-the-name-change

Titanic Reemerges in 3D for its 100th Anniversary

               After 100 years of rest in the Atlantic Ocean, the Titanic “resurfaces” to celebrate its Centennial Anniversary, capturing the hearts of a new generation as it presents itself in an entirely new dimension: 3D.

The Titanic rises from the depths of the ocean as it hits theaters nationwide in its new, life-like and riveting third-dimensional format.[LINK ] While a new generation of viewers may be captivated by the Titanic’s 3D comeback, for me, the Titanic never died.

            I can still remember the first time I saw the movie Titanic. I was just a young girl; 6 years old at the time, watching this historical, classic depiction of a real-life tragedy play out in my very own living room. I sat fascinated and entranced by every scene of the movie as I witnessed the tragedy slowly unfold. When the ship began to sink, I felt grave devastation and sorrow. Beyond the devastation, I was even more deeply intrigued by the romantic tale of Jack and Rose, [LINK] a couple who went to the end of the world (or should I say the depths of the ocean) for the sake of true love.

Seeing the movie in 3D brought back the same rush of emotions for me, yet stronger as I felt I was literally there walking the halls of the ship as the passengers spent their time onboard the “unsinkable” Titanic or feeling the desperate embrace of Jack and Rose as they spent their last moments together. Whether I watch the Titanic in its original version or in 3D, no matter what, with the Titanic, “my heart will go on and on.” [http://youtu.be/saalGKY7ifU]

Will you always remember the Titanic? What impact has the real event and/or the movie made on you?               

PHOTO LINKS

http://images.allmoviephoto.com/1997_Titanic/02012_titanic_3d_poster_001.jpg

http://images5.fanpop.com/image/photos/30400000/Titanic-titanic-30469800-463-600.gif

Metropolitan State Name Change Dispute Settles, Inside Opinions Persist

The proposed switch from Metropolitan State College to Metropolitan State University of Denver has been approved and is currently undergoing legislation. However, current students and alumni from these institutions retain separate opinions regarding the new name.

 “As with many who have gone to Metro State, and seen it change and grow through the years, I am very proud of the institution, no matter the name,” states Ryan Parker, YourHub Community Manager for the Denver Post. “If officials believe the name change will better reflect what the school is now and the opportunities readily available; I say make it happen.”

As a current freshman at the University of Denver, I, along with my fellow peers, express a concern regarding the new name as it elicits a connection to the University of Denver by tagging “University of Denver” at the end. As a Colorado resident, I have a fair amount of knowledge about Metropolitan State [http://www.mscd.edu/] and the University of Denver [http://www.du.edu/]. From this knowledge, I have come to regard the University of Denver as a higher quality institution than Metropolitan State due to the established name of the University of Denver as a private institution and the reputation established through DU’s academic programs and extensive opportunities.

Parker, in return, states, “I understand and respect DU’s position on the name change; however, with the number of higher education institutions in the state, it stands to reason there will be some overlap with names here and there. However, the schools and their histories are very different, so much so, that I am confident that most would not get them confused by name.”

If you are alumni from the University of Denver or Metropolitan State, what is your opinion of the name change?

Kitchen Hose Sprays Again, Drenching Mothers on April Fool’s Day

            Mothers, such as my own, become victim to the kitchen hose prank every year on April Fool’s Day as they unsuspectingly turn on the water and receive a good drenching.

As elementary schoolers, my brother and I attempted the infamous Water Sprayer April Fool’s Prank [http://www.instructables.com/id/Water-Sprayer-April-Fools-Prank] on our mother and, to our delight, succeeded.

In order to tamper with the kitchen hose without our mom knowing, we sent her to the store to buy Mexican food ingredients for dinner. While she was gone, my brother and I rounded up a few rubber bands from the office as quickly as possible. Together, we bound the rubber bands tightly around the trigger of the kitchen hose, making sure the rubber bands were secure before we pointed the nozzle straight forward. In a single minute, our crafty work was finished.

            When our mom arrived home, we greeted her with the news that we had found Kool-Aid mix and politely asked if she would make Kool-Aid. With a smile on her face, she grabbed a pitcher. As she approached the sink, my brother let out a giggle, which I suppressed. Unknowingly, my mom turned on the faucet only to get blasted in the face and chest with water. [http://youtu.be/5guYh5FWiOk] While we were laughing hysterically, my mother didn’t find it funny, a disapproving look on her face. I guess this means no Kool-Aid tonight.

Do you think it is right to play a prank on your mother?        [ ]  Yes        [ ]  No