ouncil of 10 non-faculty exempt employees, otherwise known as NFEs, to represent the 500-plus NFEs on the SDSU campus.

They are now known as the Professional Staff Advisory Council and their job is comparable to that of the Students’ Association.

“Overall PSAC is committed to representing the professional staff on campus and working toward the continual growth and improvement of the workplace environment for all professional staff,” said James Manley, Jr., assistant director of University Housing and council co-chair.

They are the representatives for each of the five major groups being accounted for in the council. These are Academic, Business/Administration and Facilities, Extension/Outreach, Athletics, Research and Student Affairs.

“I believe this is a step in the right direction for shared governance at SDSU. Faculty and Career Service employees currently have their own governing bodies, so the creation of this council allows all SDSU employees that same outlet,” said Suzanne Stluka, FCS extension co-chair of the council.

Provost Laurie Nichols was the person in charge of bringing together a group of members to represent the NFEs as a whole. She decided it was time for the NFEs to be given recognition and have a governing body to get their voices heard across campus.

The 10 council members are: Susan Rosen, Jeff Siekman, Suzanne Stluka, Tracey Renelt, Jenna Friedrich, Mary O’Neil, Gabriela Chilom, Neal Foster, Mark Ekeland and James Manley, Jr.

Each of the members represents one of the five groups mentioned previously. Certain groups received more members than others, according to how many NFEs were in each group.

The members were each selected by Nichols and other academic professionals who went through a process to find the people to serve on the council.

“First we printed all of the non-faculty exempt employees’ names and what they did. We started classifying them down into categories,” Nichols said. “When we finished we had come up with five categories. Then went back and invited deans and vice presidents and department heads to nominate individuals to be appointed into the council and probably got back 30 nominations. Then it was just sitting down and picking people through those nominees.”

The council then needed to draft a constitution and by-laws and begin meeting once a month. The council has just finished their constitution and by doing so, they have become recognized as an official council. Their constitution consists of 12 different articles and seven sections of by-laws.

Elections will be held on a staggered three-year term. One third of the council will be up for election each year so there will always be someone from the previous term on the council. This spring semester will be the first elections they will hold. New NFEs can run, as well as current council members.

“The council is preparing for its first nomination and general election, which will see three new PSAC representatives elected in the areas of business, Student Affairs and research,” Stluka said. “We will also be busy preparing for our first annual PSAC general membership meeting, which will take place during Spring Break on the SDSU campus.”

Nichols said she hopes the NFEs will be an active voice on campus.

“We can look forward to real leadership for the NFE employees and hopefully a really active voice and what they’re thinking and what they would like to see,” Nichols said. “That’s been a void on this campus so that would be a really big change. I’m looking forward to them being a really active participant in the working of this university.”

Freshmen with undeclared majors will soon receive more personalized attention to help guide them down their academic path.

As part of the First-Year Experience of SDSU’s Student Success Model, a new freshman advising center is in the works. Students will receive assistance becoming acclimated to campus, researching majors of interest and ultimately declaring a major.

The Office of Academic Affairs has been researching students’ success at SDSU for the past 18 months, which led to the conclusion of implementing the advising center.

“The first-year advising model was identified as the best practice utilized by universities that are successful in helping students progress and graduate,” said Keith Corbett, dean and professor of General Studies.

“Research in student success indicates that first-year students need a common portal of entry to a university where they are intentionally assisted with the transition to college,” he said.

A pilot of the program is currently running through students majoring in psychology, history and pre-economics. Students are assigned to work with Academic Development Specialist and Instructor Mark Binkley, to give them the best advising information possible.

“We will likely expand the pilot to at least one full college (arts and science) beginning the Fall 2011 term. Then if all goes well, the Provost’s Office may approve the plan for all first year students beginning fall 2012,” Binkley said.

The center would go beyond just helping students pick out classes for their schedule. It would offer insight into all the majors and minors offered at SDSU, as well as help students learn more about different leadership opportunities on campus.

The intention is to prepare students for their future at SDSU and help utilize all of the programs, such as free tutoring and the Writing Center.

“Once students decide on their major, they are placed in the appropriate department to work directly with faculty in their major,” Provost Laurie Nichols said.

Freshmen Luke Erfman and Randee Matz said they would benefit from an advising center.

“The freshman advising center sounds like a great idea,” said Erfman, an aviation major. “Even though I already have a major selected, I think that it would be nice to have something like this available.”

There is currently a team on campus that will soon propose a time line to the Office of Academic Affairs for when the advising center will be set into effect.

“That definitely sounds like something that we could have gotten a lot of use out of,” said Matz, nursing major. “Freshmen in the years to come would probably get a lot of helpful advice from it.”

#1.1814367:3595471019.png:Advising-1-Ryan-Robinson.png:Abbie Schuring, freshman pre-pharmacy major, speaks with her adviser, Teresa Delfinis, about classes necessary for the upcoming semester. With the implementation of a freshman-specific advising center, students may receive advice and insight in addition to class guidance.:Collegian Photo by Ryan Robinson

Greg Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea, is on a mission to promote peace. In his book he writes, “Ultimately the War on Terror will be won by books, not bombs.”

Three Cups of Tea was chosen as SDSU’s 2010 Common Read because of Mortenson’s message to people of all ages: that one person really can make a difference.

Mortenson’s journey through rural parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan are recounted in his book. He also writes about his failed climb up the mountain K2 and how he decided to build schools in Central Asia to help those children to be educated.

The Common Read is encouraging students to learn from this book and to realize they too can make a difference.

The Common Read was established in the fall of 2009. Surveys conducted at SDSU show that (common reading) students increased their knowledge of global health issues and they were more likely to consider how they might use their talents to serve others.

“The common read is designed to raise the level of academic challenge at SDSU, enhance our awareness of diverse perspectives, increase faculty and student interaction, encourage service and promote enriching, engaging educational experiences both in and outside class,” according to the SDSU Common Read website.

“I think that Three Cups of Tea was a good choice for the Common Read because it shows how hardworking and dedicated you have to be to achieve something,” freshman Beth DeJong said.

SDSU has had numerous activities around campus, such as a Diversi-Tea, where students sat down with others at a tea and hunger banquet. The banquet was an effort to get students involved in the common read and the final event is Greg Mortenson speaking on campus.

He will speak to students and teachers about his experiences in other countries, the schools he helped to build and why he felt Three Cups of Tea was a book necessary to write.

Three Cups of Tea may seem like an unusual title since the book is an account of his failed climb up K2 and then his success at bringing education to rural places in Central Asia.

“Although symbolic, to do business in Pakistan or Afghanistan, it takes three cups of tea first,” Mortenson said, in explaining his choice for the title. “In their culture, the first cup you are a stranger, and by the second tea gathering you become a friend, and with the third cup you become family, and they will protect you with their life and are ready to do business, but the process takes several years.”

In addition to the many different activities at SDSU centered around the common read book Three Cups of Tea, Pennies for Peace is also being held at SDSU. Pennies for Peace was started in 1994 to raise money for Mortenson to build his first school in Pakistan.

At the front desks of residence halls are buckets for pennies to be dropped in to help support the cause.

“Not only does donating pennies to a great cause help you feel good, but reading a book that really gives you insight to an important issue helps you understand how far one person can go to help many,” said freshman Katie Hoff.

Mortenson will speak on Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center. Tickets are free to SDSU students with their ID and are available through Information Exchange in The Union.

#1.1730987:4255045907.png:Greg-Mortenson-2-Laura-Cox.png:Greg Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea, will be speak at SDSU about the importance of education in developing countries.:Collegian Photo by Laura Cox

Domestic Violence Awareness Month is being focused on at SDSU throughout October. Campus Women’s Coalition is hosting various events for it.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the SDSU Campus Women’s Coalition is setting up an event in hopes to bring awareness across campus.

The project will feature 13 mannequins, or silent witnesses, placed on Main Avenue in Brookings and each have a different domestic abuse story written on them.

This idea originated in Minneapolis, Minn., in early 1990s. There were 26 women, each having their own personal story, and a 27th woman to represent all of the untold stories of domestic abuse.

The women marched to St. Paul, Minn., carrying a wooden cutout of a female figure with plaques on their chests. The plaques contained the women’s individual stories on them.

The Campus Women’s Coalition will be holding their Domestic Violence Awareness event from Oct. 12-15 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.

“I think it’s important for young women to learn about domestic violence because I think that it’s an issue that more people have experience with than we would like to believe,” said Christine Garst-Santos, advisor of the Campus Women’s Coalition. “It’s Important for women to know that there are resources there for them and that they are not alone.”

Domestic violence can be identified as a variety of things. It can range from physical abuse to psychological abuse. A victim can be frightened, hurt, injured and in some instances killed from the abuse.

“This sounds like an event that everyone on campus would be interested in,” freshman Megan Merwin said. “I think it’s an important topic that everyone should know about.”

Young women can get information at this event about what are okay behaviors in a relationship versus what are red-flag behaviors that could lead to future domestic violence.

“Domestic violence should not happen to anybody, but unfortunately it does8212;and it will continue to happen if people continue to remain silent,” said Molly Miles, president of Women’s Coalition. “While women are often the victims of domestic violence, we think it is equally important that men also learn about domestic and intimate violence.”

The Campus Women’s Coalition stresses the importance for all members of society, both male and female to become informed about domestic violence.

“It’s about building social intolerance toward domestic violence, and in order to do that we think everyone needs to be involved,” Miles said.

The type of events and awareness The Women’s Coalition is involved with holds great significance for college age women just emerging into the world and finding out who it is they want to be.

“It’s important to learn about domestic violence because I think college is a time when people are experiencing their first long-term relationship,” Garst-Santos said. “We want to get out information about healthy relationships. Sometimes people feel silly saying my boyfriend did this or this. Hopefully we’ll get the information out there and they can always call the domestic violence shelter.”

There will be members of the coalition at the event as well as volunteers from the Domestic Violence Shelter. Both groups will be available for information about relationship warnings that lead to domestic abuse. Individuals may also talk to both groups about a personal experience and get advice about what to do.

People can reach help through the National Domestic Violence Hot line (1-800-799-SAFE [7233] or TTY 1-800-787-3224). Help is available to callers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. There is also local help through the Brookings Domestic Abuse Shelter at 1-888-643-5400.

Due to the recession, college students have to try harder than usual to score jobs in their career of interest once they graduate. Many students have the same question in mind: What can I do to get ahead of the game? The answer is within SDSU’s internship program. The program sets students up with internships that apply to their field of choice.

Cami Veire, is a general studies instructor who has been the part-time internship coordinator for the past three years at SDSU. Veire works with students on a variety of levels, from helping make résumés professional to finding internships that are of interest.

“The most positive part of doing this job is working with the students and listening to the goals they have for their careers and seeing the passion they have for the valuable academic experience they’re getting at SDSU,” Veire said.

Although there is currently a part-time internship coordinator, the Students’ Association has been pushing for a full-time position.

Veire said a full-time internship coordinator would be able to work on getting more employment opportunities for students and have more time to meet their individual internship needs.

SA pushed for a full time internship coordinator, but due to the economy and budget cuts, the cost of hiring a full-time internship coordinator is not plausible at this time.

“With the status of the economy8212; and we’re looking at getting another budget cut from the state legislator8212; we can’t afford a full time internship coordinator right now,” said Eric Haiar, the state and local government chair of SA. “But as to how it would benefit the students, it would make it so that there’s always someone on campus to sit down and help students with internships.”?

Veire said she and the staff in the Career Center think a full-time internship coordinator would benefit students.

“I remain optimistic about this position because it’s so valuable,” she said. “But we’re not doing justice to a Division-I school by not staffing a full-time internship coordinator.”

Veire said although not all internships prove compensation to students, they should still keep them in mind. Interning at a job that is related to your major or minor helps students gain experience, and often times, students are offered jobs after they finish their internship.

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 70 percent of employers offered permanent jobs to their interns. Also, if an intern applies to a job outside of their internship, they are more likely to be hired than a student who did not complete an internship, because it shows they have put time and commitment into a profession they are interested in.

Along with being a helpful step towards landing a job out of college, some majors at SDSU actually require students to partake in an internship including: journalism, nursing and wildlife fish and game, to name a few.

Veire said scheduling an appointment with the Internship Coordinator to discuss internships in a chosen field of study or to find out what majors require internships are steps in the right direction to landing an internship.

“We want all SDSU students to connect with the internship coordinator during their sophomore year,” Veire said. “This allows the student to share their academic and work goals and dreams, and begin looking at all internship opportunities that will enable them to take their academic experiences here at SDSU and apply their skills in a work setting.”

Students’ Association’s goal of hiring a full-time internship coordinator is, at least right now, not happening.

Although there is currently a part-time internship coordinator, SA feels the students’ would benefit more from a full-time position.

Cami Veire, the part-time internship coordinator, said a full-time internship coordinator would be able to work on getting more employment opportunities for students and have more time to meet their individual internship needs.

Despite SA’s efforts, because of the economy and budget cuts, the cost of hiring a full-time internship coordinator is not plausible at this time.

“With the status of the economy 8212; and we’re looking at getting another budget cut from the state legislator 8212; we can’t afford a full-time internship coordinator right now,” said Eric Haiar, SA state and local government chair. “But as to how it would benefit the students, it would make it so that there’s always someone on campus to sit down and help students with internships.”?

Veire said she and the staff in the Career Center think a full-time internship coordinator would benefit students.

“I remain optimistic about this position because it’s so valuable,” Veire said. “But we’re not doing justice to a Division-I school by not staffing a full-time internship coordinator.”

Veire has been the part-time internship coordinator for the past three years at SDSU. Veire works with students on a variety of levels, from helping make résumés professional to finding internships that are of interest.

“The most positive part of doing this job is working with the students and listening to the goals they have for their careers and seeing the passion they have for the valuable academic experience they’re getting at SDSU,” Veire said.

Veire said although not all internships prove compensation to students, they should still keep them in mind. Interning at a job that is related to your major or minor helps students gain experience, and often times, students are offered jobs after they finish their internship.

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 70 percent of employers offered permanent jobs to their interns. Also, if an intern applies to a job outside of their internship, they are more likely to be hired than a student who did not complete an internship, because it shows they have put time and commitment into a profession they are interested in.

Along with being a helpful step towards landing a job out of college, some majors at SDSU actually require students to partake in an internship including.

Veire said scheduling an appointment with the internship coordinator to discuss internships in a chosen field of study or to find out what majors require internships are steps in the right direction to landing an internship.

“We want all SDSU students to connect with the internship coordinator during their sophomore year,” Veire said. “This allows the student to share their academic and work goals and dreams, and begin looking at all internship opportunities that will enable them to take their academic experiences here at SDSU and apply their skills in a work setting.”

#1.1669018:2233772642.jpg:Internship-Color-Brittany-Canales.jpg:Internship events provide resources, varying from contact information to a summer internship.:Collegian Photo by Brittany Canales