Guess Who's Coming to Town?

Wherever you may stand on the political spectrum, it's always good to hear from candidates up-close and personal.  This Wednesday, October 10th, one of the forerunners for the Democratic party, Barack Obama, will be delivering a speech at Prince George's Community College (just 20 minutes away).  This is a great opportunity to hear from a leading candidate first hand, and also to get some questions that you may have answered once and for all.  There has been no announcement about the formal structure of the event, however, Barack's campaign events usually follow a similar format.  Barack generally speaks on a variety of topics and then engages the audience for questions or dialogue. 

 So come see what Barack's all about and speak up to get your questions and concerns answered.  I'll be sure to keep readers posted on dates when other political candidates will be arriving in town.  Here's the info:

Wednesday, October 10th at 5:00 PM

Get tickets on Barack's website: my.barackobama.com

Prince George's Community College

mapquest.com link for directions: http://www.mapquest.com/directions/main.adp?do=nw&go=1&r=&aoh=&aot=&aof=&1a=&1c=&1s=&1z=&1y=US&1l=&1g=&1pl=&1v=COUNTRY&1ffi=&1n=&1qn=University%20of%20Maryland%2c%20College%20Park&2a=301%20Largo%20Rd&2c=Largo&2s=MD&2z=20774%2d2109&2y=US&2l=FN9j0HvuoMiyI7QwwTYi2Q%3d%3d&2g=fT81woeYSUiAYRT27jOAMA%3d%3d&2pn=&2pl=&2v=ADDRESS&2ffi=&2n=&2qn=&2qc=&q=University%20of%20Maryland%2c%20College%20Park&1pn=University%20of%20Maryland%2c%20College%20Park&1sb=University%20of%20Maryland%7c1101%20Main%20Administration%20Bldg%7cCollege%20Park%7cMD%7c20742%7c38986160%7c%2d76940147%7c301%2d405%2d1100%7cUS&1qc=Schools%20%28K%2d12%29 

See you all there!

Peace,

Pat 

Get Your Dancin' Shoes Ready....

This Friday

7pm @ the Armory

Hindu Students Council and Maryland Masti

Invite YOU to Maryland Garba/Raas 2007...

All night dancing celebration w/live music, high energy, and lots of fun!

only $7!

What's "Garba" or "Raas" you might ask? They are traditional dances performed to honor the Hindu holiday of Navaratri--where Hindu's worship the Goddess of Shakti, and attempt to cleanse themselves of the ten evils or "Dasa-Hara": passion, pride, anger, greed, infatuation, lust, hatred, jealousy, selfishness and crookedness. The common theme of the festival is to celebrate the triumph of Good over Evil. (http://www.studentorg.umd.edu/desi/article84.htm)

The actual dances vary from women dancing gracefully in circles, to faster dances performed by both men and women who use bamboo sticks called dandiya for rhythmic emphasis. And of course, the popular Bhangra will be done for the last hour! Don't worry if you're unsure what to do... Executive Board Member of the Hindu Students Council, Sharada Baddela, assured me that everyone's really friendly and encouraging of people from all cultures and religions to come together and enjoy a night of dancing.

The modern day Navaratri is celebrated with high energy and fanfare--something anyone can enjoy.

You can purchase tickets online at http://www.umdhsc.com/ or at the door of the Armory in cash.

Do something different with your Friday night... Get dressed up with a couple friends and try something new. These are the kinds of things you'll remember down the line--the times you stepped out of your normal routine and into something unique and fun.

Hope you have a great weekend,

Rachael 

PS--If you're looking for an interesting documentary to watch, come to the Community Roots meeting tonight at 5:45 in front of Tydings. We'll be co-hosting a showing of "Black Gold" about cocoa beans, Starbucks and Ethiopia with the Ethiopian Student Association and it should be really enticing! 

Check Out Peter Levine's New Book!

Peter Levine, the Director of CIRCLE (Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement) at the University of Maryland, has written yet another book.  This one is "The Future of Democracy: Developing the Next Generation of American Citizens."

In his book, he argues that we should educate all young people to be responsible democratic citizens.  That means CIVIC ENGAGEMENT!!!  If you want to learn more about civic engagement and how it effects our daily lives, read this book!  Peter introduces civic engagement, mentioning its many definitions and many interpretations.  He then argues for civic engagement, especially in our youth education today. 

If you don't think you have ever been civically engaged, or want to get more civically engaged, read this book!  Peter tells you all about the civic learning in schools, in communities, and in our everyday lives! 

You can find "The Future of Democracy" on Amazon.com and other online bookstores, but please take the time to read this book - it really makes you think about your life and education as a democratic citizen.

PS- If you're still questioning why do we need civic engagement, then read chapter 4! 

Looking for a Job? Be Proactive

I know for lots of seniors (like myself...shout out to the class of 2008) the post graduation world can seem like a looming mess with very little certainty and lots of prospective worrying and anxiety.  Seniors, relax!  There's tons of activities and groups here on campus that are here to help you find your way.  Most notably right now we have the annual BSOS career fair coming up this Tuesday and Wednesday.  Throw on your suit and tie, get yourself lookin' fresh, print out some resume copies, and head to the Stamp to check out tons of interested employers.

If you saw the Diamondback this morning you might have glanced over the Career Fair insert, which featured an article outlining the recent surge of employers hiring students right out of college.  Apparently a recent study has concluded that employers will be hiring 16% more young graduates this year than they did in last year's hiring binge.  For me this is very reassuring news.  It seems more and more that bachelor's degrees are about as common as high school diplomas (or at least it feels that way).  I know a lot of students feel discouraged towards the end of college because it has become so difficult to stand out as a superior candidate for attractive jobs on the market.  Graduate degrees seem to be a necessity for any type of really interesting work these days.  However, the information in the Diamondback this morning seems to suggest otherwise...maybe the tides are changing in our favor.  Either way, it can never help to be proactive.  Spending a half hour or so at the Career Fair could be one of the best decisions of your life.  Get out there, talk to some people, get your resume in circulation...it certainly can't hurt.

Here's the information and some of the potential employers that will be in attendance:

Fall Career Fair 2007

Tuesday, October 2nd and Wednesday, October 3rd

Stamp Student Union, Grand Ballroom and Colony Ballroom

10:00AM to 3:00PM 

Some employers that will be represented:  AFLAC, BP Solar, Americorps, AT&T, Booz Allen Hamilton, Cisco Systems, CIA, NSA, CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield, Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, Environmental Resources Management, Legg Mason, IBM, Intel Corporation, Microsoft, Marriott International, National Public Radio, Teach for America, US Dept. of Education, US Dept. of State, Verizon, Zurich North America...and tons more!  There will be over 300 potential employers represented.

Be outgoing, thoughtful, and most of all...memorable.  These employers are going to see tons of kids come through the doors, and if you can make yourself stand out it's definitely in your best interest.  Just think, seniors, dropping off a few resumes and spending some time at the Fair could potentially be a way to quell all of the post-graduation anxiety that you might be feeling.  I'll see you there!

Peace,

Pat 

You Don't Want to Miss This Deadline!

Alternative Spring Break Applications available TODAY!

Current University of Maryland students are invited to apply to participate in Alternative Spring Break 2008! Alternative Spring Break (ASB) is a week-long service immersion experience that takes place during the week of Spring Break. Participants will travel in teams to various locations and work with community organizations to address issues of homelessness, HIV/AIDS, border awareness, affordable housing, prison justice, youth arts education, community development, environmental restoration, hunger, and cultural awareness. To learn more or to fill out an application, go to www.csl.umd.edu.

Like I mentioned previously, last spring break I went down to New Orleans with 45 of the most amazing people I've met in college. Together we worked to rebuild the community both in terms of home repair and some good ole' tender, love and care. I came home learning more than I ever thought possible in one week. The social injustice in New Orleans was clear and evident. The life-stories my own community brought were amazing, fun and inspiring. And the shifts and growth inside of me were delicate but confident. We were all changed for the better. And I don't know if any other experience at UMD could have the same strong effect in only one week.

Applications are available until October 18th. Get 'em while they're hot! This is an opportunity you don't want to miss!

Let the word spread to action...
Peace,
Rachael