Reporter

The end of the year is finally here. Students are preparing for exams, turning in final projects, and working on last minute make-up assignments. You would think that the last thing that a student is thinking about would be completing their optional course evaluations. But for some, it may just be worth their while.

Each student at MUW is given an opportunity to complete an evaluation after completing his or her courses. The objective of the course evaluation is to assist in determining teaching effectiveness and improving instruction.

Teachers are well aware that some students may need an incentive to fill out this important form. Therefore, some teachers have offered bonus points for the much-needed feedback.

“I filled all of my forms out because most of my instructors use them as bonus points!" Laketra Wright, a graduating senior says.

"It gives instructors feedback on what they like about the class and what they don't like. There is a comment box for any comments concerning the instructor whether it is good or bad. There is also a question about what can the instructor do to improve the classroom or online class,” Wright says.

It is important that students take their time and complete this form as accurately as they can. Teachers should be judged fairly according to what their responsibilities are and the course objective.

Should teachers be worried that their ratings may be low because of a disgruntled student?

“Some instructors give their all and strive to work hard to satisfy the needs of their students, but some may still choose to veer another direction. This act may cause that student to not do as well as others, and they may cast blame on the instructor,” Derrick Flowers says.

The university says that instructors should provide students with adequate information in order for students to learn and excel. The instructor should be available to students and should offer times outside of the classroom for additional assistance. If the instructor is following the curriculum for the classroom and providing an environment that encourages you to study and be the best student you can be, then that instructor should receive good reviews on his or her evaluations.

Reporter

It's that time again. Spring is in the air! Although getting pedicures is the norm for spring and summer, it is very important that you maintain your feet throughout the year.

Pedicures are very popular for women, but for some reason, some men tend to shy away from pedicures. As a manicurist, I can count on my hands how many male pedicures I have ever done. Unfortunately, it hasn't been many. I assume it’s because of the beautifying and pampering that is associated with the service. However, everyone should take care of their feet, whether it is through self pedicures or going to a facility that can do it for you.

A pedicure consists of cutting, clipping and cleaning of the nails. This is important to prevent nails from growing inward and causing infection. The elimination of dirt and bacteria from your feet will also help prevent nail diseases and disorders.

Experts say that getting rid of the dead skin cells helps prevent bunions or corns, and it encourages new skin cell growth.

Selecting the right manicurists is important. You should feel comfortable to discuss any concerns that you might be experiencing with them. The manicurists should be licensed by the state. Licensed manicurists or cosmetologists have been properly trained on how to care for nails and skin. A manicurist is able to understand how to properly sanitize and disinfect the bath including the tools that they use. The manicurists should also be able to suggest products and things you can do at home to maintain your pedicure.

Helpful hints:

You should not shave your legs before you receive a pedicure. If you happen to nick yourself while shaving, bacteria can easily enter the wound and cause an infection. Shaving beforehand can also cause your skin to be sensitive to the products being used at the time of your pedicure.

Manicurists should not be mistaken for physicians. Problems such as an injuries, diseases and disorders should be seen by a physician.

Reporter

Almost every child dreams of becoming a super hero. There is something about wearing a suit like Batman or Spiderman that makes a young person feel powerful, as if he or she has the same super-human abilities like the ones in the comics or in the movies.

At the Ina E. Gordy Honors Forum held April 18, comic book industry veteran Bill Rosemann, who is responsible for creating iconic superhero stories and characters, made a visit to The W.

Bill Rosemann’s career began as a reporter for his college’s newspaper. He was referred by a man who worked for Marvel, and 20 years later he has become the stuff of legend as the mastermind behind the characters we have grown to love.

His presentation entitled, “Superheroes On and Off the Page,” was an inspiring message that taught us real heroes exist among us, and how fictional characters can help us become superheroes in real life.

“Comic books are a perfect marriage of text and art together,” said Rosemann. “Graphic novels stay with us, and are the most democratic form of artwork and read by all levels of society.”

Super heroes had such a great following because they had amazing powers, a moral code that was used to help others, a mask that kept them from receiving the credit, and motivations we can all relate to.

“Another neat contribution that comics brought to the readers is that the creators used comic books to talk about topics that mattered to America,” said Rosemann.

Superman came on the scene during the great depression. He was the social activist of that time and was greatly concerned about the issues that America was facing.  He fought against unfair landlords and abusive husbands. He was also the face of immigration and assimilation.

Batman was not the God among heroes; rather he sacrificed his own humanity for the good of the people.

"Captain America developed before World War II as a way to create a response of what America wanted, but wasn’t ready to do,” said Rosemann. “Captain America was the symbol of nationalism, and the character was used to show the strength and the will of America.”

Marvel’s “birth age of comics,” began with the introduction of the Fantastic Four. They became the first superhero team produced by Marvel. Unlike other superhero teams, the Fantastic Four was family. This allowed readers to connect with the characters in a whole new way because they could relate to the family dynamic. They no longer chose to wear masks that hid their identity. Instead, they showed the world who they were and, as a result, they became the famous celebrity heroes.

The character Spiderman, which is celebrating his 75^th anniversary, became the perfect teenage metaphor and revolutionized the idea of the super hero. Spiderman came at a time after the war when college students began to protest and question authority in America.

The comic X-men was a result of the Civil Rights Movement. The mutants represented the minorities because they were hated and feared because of their abilities, but they still wanted to show their value and uniqueness.  This comic dealt with the issues of racism and diversity. Professor X represented Martin Luther King and Magneto represented Malcom X. Magneto wanted war and wanted them to be separate by any means necessary.

“Comics talked about serious topics that impacted lives. Comics created buffers that made it easier to talk about stuff because the more you talk, it may change things,” said Rosemann. “We use comics as life lessons.”

Other characters such as, Thor, Ironman and Black Panther were created to bring light to current problems during that era.

Rosemann’s point throughout the presentation was for students to realize that they too can become a super hero for others. 

“Anyone can be a hero, whether in a big or small way. First you have to realize what your skill is, what you can do, decide and act,” said Rosemann. “The real hero is you.”

Contributing Writer

Growing up in rural Mississippi can be difficult for some. Small towns are located here, there and yonder. Sturgis, Miss., was no different. 

Sturgis is located along Mississippi Highway 12, and it is known for its liquor store and annual motorcycle rally. However, for those native to the city, it was just another day in the life.

When passing through, a visitor might compare it to Mayberry. The days are longand seem to draw out like vowels off the tip of a Southerner’s tongue. 

Most of its residents worked in neighboring cities and made the daily commute. However, for one local small town boy, it is where his dream began.

Jason Miller grew up in Sturgis, Miss., and started singing in his church at a young age.

“The first time I ever sang by myself was when I was 3 years old in Sturgis Baptist Church,” said Miller. “My grandmother played the piano, and that is how I got started.”

Growing up, he never gave his music career much thought. Miller had slowly gotten back into the swing of singing in high school, which carried over into college.

“I started singing a lot when I was a junior in high school,” he said. “I started doing competitions when I was in college, and got serious about it when I was about 22 years old.”

Miller had the opportunity to travel to New York City to display his singing ability in a talent show. The small-town boy brought back the big city award and landed a showcase in Nashville.

The showcase allowed Miller to perform in front of talent scouts. Miller signed a deal with a Nashville talent scout shortly after the showcase, but that deal was short lived. Signing at that time would have interfered with his education.

After returning from Nashville, Miller would tag along with a band named Burning Bridges.

“We would go play at different places on Friday and Saturday nights,” Miller said. “I would get up at the end when they finished and sing four songs for free. I didn’t care about making money. I just wanted to sing.

“I would sit there all night, sometimes during three to four hours sets.”

After that routine started to grow tiresome, Miller put together his own band named Second Wind.

He would then be in and out of bands for the next five years.

So, Miller decided to try his hand at forming another new group called Kyote Wylde.

Kyote Wylde drew crowds all over the states of Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana when they played.

One week before they were scheduled to play in Huntsville, Ala., they received a call from the venue owner. The owner had a chance to book this up-and-coming country artist by the name of Jason Aldean.

Aldean wanted to play the venue, but could only play the night that Kyote Wylde was scheduled. The owner talked Miller and the boys into opening for Aldean and taking a substantial pay cut for the night.

“We weren’t going to make a lot of money, but it was a chance to play in a new market,” said Miller.“Everyone was all excited, and that was back when money didn’t matter – it should always be like that.”

That night a lady, who was friends with Michael Knox, was in the crowd - Knox was Aldean’s producer and friend.

She contacted Miller after the show informing him she had called Knox about Kyote Wylde. She expressed to Knox that his group was quite impressive.

Knox then displayed his interest in Kyote Wylde playing a venue called Tootsie’s in Nashville.

“We went and played at Tootsie’sand made $11 a piece that night after we split the tip jar,” Miller said. “Michael called me the next day, and said ‘hey, I think you guys have got a shot.’

“So, we went back a few days later, and he started setting up showcases and getting songs for us.”

Knox would rent out studios for Kyote Wylde to rehearse in for hours at a time.

He also brought Broken Bow Records, Sonyand Capitol to a rehearsal to watch the band display their God-given musical abilities.

All three labels were eager to sign the group to a contract. Upon advice given by Knox, the group signed with Broken Bow Records.

Broken Bow was a new independent label looking to sign a band – they found what they were looking for.

Once they signed their new contract, they were advised to change the name of the group. Conflicts with the way Kyote Wylde was spelled made it hard to find on the World Wide Web.

“It took us weeks and weeks to decide on a name,” said Miller.“We were actually about to start a show at Rick’s in Starkville when one of the band members said I got it!

“You know how there is the Mason Dixon line and below it is the South? Well, where we’ve always played is in the South, and if we cross that line we’re taking our music everywhere else in the country. So, what about Crossin Dixon? We were all like, ‘oh yea!’ So, that is how Crossin Dixon was born.”

Crossin Dixon traveled all around the South playing different venues. It always drew faithful gatherings from dedicated fans.

The band played together for nine years. In the spring of 2012 Crossin Dixon called it quits and went their separate ways.

Miller decided to change his act and go solo. He then assembled his current band called Jason Miller Band.

“He knows what he wants now,” said Jody Calderon, Jason’s general manager. “When he was with Crossin Dixon there were three other guys in the band that were signed, so he was being pulled in different directions there.

“Now that he is a solo artist, he is more focused on doing what needs to be done for his career. He has been working together with his new band and polishing his act and stage presence. He keeps getting better and better.”

The new group has been igniting venues across the South with its roaring twist on conventional country music.

Most people know balancing a career with a personal life can be challenging. However, for those who make a living traveling, sleeping in a different hotel room each night, and living out of a suitcase, it can be more difficult than others.

This is often the life style of entertainers. They make many sacrifices in their personal life to ensure their fans witness the performance of a lifetime.

“I hope the fans take with them a good time and a positive outlook,” Miller said.“I want them to call all their friends, and say hey man next time these guys are in town I want you to come see them.”

Miller’s advice to youngsters thinking about joining the music business is to make up your mind early, and never do anything half-cocked.

“Give 120 percent in anything that you do, because if something is worth doing, then it is worth doing right,” said Miller.

Reporter

Registration has officially opened for students to pre-register for summer and fall. This can be a very exciting time for students. Freshmen especially are usually anxious to begin college, wondering what “college life” is all about. The birds are chirping even louder than normal, and the sun seems to be shining a little brighter.

Students have somewhat settled in by the time they reach sophomore and junior years. Their familiarity with college and campus has silenced some of the birds, and the sun may not be as bright. By their senior year, the students are ecstatic. They are focused on their futures and ready to begin their last year at MUW.

Registration is an important time. Choosing the right classes at the appropriate time is imperative to having a successful learning experience. One way to ensure that you are on track is by speaking to an advisor. Each student is assigned an advisor for his or her chosen field of study.

Your advisor should be someone that you have a good relationship with, and someone you can trust to guide you in the right direction. Advisors can answer questions and deal with concerns that you may have about your future.

Advisors are able to let students know ahead of time what year would be best for taking certain classes. For instance, sometimes classes are only offered once a year. If a student fails to take the class the semester it is offered, the student may have to wait until the following year. Waiting will put that student behind, especially if that particular class is a pre-requisite.

Students who have jobs and families to raise may find it challenging to fit certain classes into their schedule. Commuters may not be able to travel to campus. In these situations, taking an on-line class may be the best route.

Due to how classes are offered, one class may be face-to-face one semester and online the next semester. The option to choose face-to-face vs. online may not exist. The student has to take what is available at that time.

The option didn't exist for me last semester. I found that my traditional way of learning was being threatened by online classes.

I was reluctant, but I had no choice. I signed up for my first online class. I felt overwhelmed from the start. I missed the face-to-face encounter. “Where was my visual aid,” I thought to myself! I am an artist; I need to see what's going on! It was too late to retract my decision.

As time passed, I realized that this online class was not that bad. The instructor provided a visual aid and a podcast which gave explanation and detailed instructions. The instructor was also willing to offer face-to-face assistance if I needed it. I felt much better about the class. However, I still had to play a major part in this being a successful experience. I had to stay motivated and keep up with assignments, quizzes and tests.

Since this experience, I have changed my perspective about online classes. They can be quite convenient. However, I am still an old-fashioned girl and a face-to-face instruction will always be my first choice.

Registration Dates for 2013

Pre-registration for summer and fall began March 20. Registration for First Term and Full Term summer school begins May 28. Registration for Second Term summer school begins July 1. Fall registration will begin Aug. 18.

Reporter

I’m a big sports fan. I like football and baseball.  To be honest, I prefer college sports more than professional athletics. Growing up in the South, I would believe that most people prefer collegiate sports more than anything. I’ve even heard one person criticize another because he didn’t like sports.

“How can you not like sports?” the person said, “You’re from the South.”

For those who do like college sports, it is basically drilled into our heads from birth.  In Mississippi, you’re one of three things: a Bulldog, a Rebel or an Eagle, most commonly known as the “Big 3.”  For those wondering, I’m a Bulldog.

In the near future, there may be one more mascot added to the conversation.  Mississippi University for Women is thinking about possibly bring athletics back to the school.

When I was first thinking about going to college, athletics was a big draw for me. I didn’t play sports in high school, so I knew that I was not going to be on a college team. The high school that I went to wasn’t greatly known for its sports. From the time I was in seventh grade to the time I graduated, the varsity football team may have won five games total.

I wanted to go to a school that had great athletics. I first went to Itawamba Community College, who was pretty good at all sports. For a little bit of irony, I didn’t even go to a single athletic event while I was there. Next, I wanted to go to Mississippi State University. Since I have been a fan since birth, it was only a matter of time before I went.

That didn’t work out, so I then decided to go to MUW. I knew it had intramural sports, but no official athletics. This was alright by me. I was only concerned with my studies.

Now that the school is thinking about bring them back, I am kind of excited. By the time the school does bring them back, I will be long gone, but it is something to possibly be proud of.

Bringing athletics back can be a good thing and a bad thing.

First, athletics would raise awareness for the university. Since the teams would be traveling across the state and the South, more people would become familiar with the school and what it has to offer.

Another thing that could help the school by bringing back sports is that it might raise male enrollment. I guarantee that more men would enroll if the school had athletics. Even if it was by a small percentage, it would still be a win for the school.

Some questions are: What sports would be brought back? Would there only be women athletics? Would there also be male athletics?

I probably would agree that the first sport to be brought back would be women’s basketball. Since there are more women students, it is only be just that there would be more women sports. Some other sports that I can think of off the top of my head would be tennis and soccer. All three sports could be both male and female.

Like I said before, there are some cons to bringing sports back.

One of them is that it would take some time before the teams would be relevant. It may take 10 years before MUW is seen as equal to other universities in sports.

Another concern is what conference or association would the school be put in? I wouldn’t put them in any major associations. Since MUW is so small, I wouldn’t know where to begin on how to categorize them.

Whether it be positive or negative, I believe that bring sports back to MUW would help the school in many different ways.

Like I said before, I will probably be long and gone when they do bring them back, but I will still be proud of my school. All I can say is “Go Big Blue.”

Lifestyles Editor

There’s a gigantic Michael Jordan slam dunking a disco ball behind the DJ stand. The DJ stand looks like a basketball goal and the scoreboard announces the beats per minute. My best friend is DJing his gypsy step metal electronic set ,and I’m pretty sure this is the loudest party at the Princess. Maybe it has something to do with the 8 tuba sub woofers. March Radness, the Halloween in spring, was Saturday, March 23, at the Princess Theatre.

Metal has always been an integral part of my DNA. It is loud and obnoxious, sometimes ambient, sometimes fun, but always angry. It was something to drink beer to. Although, seeing a metal show, I hardly moved at all. Not that the audience followed my suit. It was 2008, five years before March Radness, and I was at what I dubbed the Metal House on Greensboro, in Starkville. The only reason it was called the Metal House, was that the housemates often collaborated into a metal band at their parties.

Halloween 2008, at the Metal House, my friend told me to ditch this party and walk with them to the house down the street. He told me that the Hooded Deer was having a party. I had no idea what a hooded deer was. The Hooded Deer is and was Will Bryant. And the Hooded Deer dance parties look a lot different today than they did that Halloween night in 2008. It was a simple party, with tin foil monsters decorating the house. The DJ was an iPod. And the legendary sound man, Will Howard, was nowhere in sight. This is a lot different than a metal show, I remember thinking; I am actually moving. And this time, everyone followed suit.

Even though I enjoyed those house parties, the Hooded Deer parties, and consequently every Halloween dance party at the Princess, has gotten a lot bigger and a lot louder.

Howard is the production manager and backbone to the dance parties. He tells me his story into DJing.

“I was DJing at the princess a lot in the ‘90s. Then, there was a negative connotation surrounding electronic music. You know, drugs. So I stopped DJing around ‘94 and picked it back up around... 2002?”

Mostly, as an audience member, I’ve come to realize that the themes surrounding the dance parties surround some form of exercise. Like Sweatageddon, or this year’s March Radness, which is much like march madness.

Trey Burke, who has been DJing these parties for the past five years, and is now “the coach” to novice Princess Theatre DJs explains.

“Well, I mean, no matter what there’s gonna be that druggy element or boozy element there. But what we try to do is bring a positive vibe. A healthy vibe. Like, one year our theme was the Haunted Nintendo. We had a giant monster Nintendo console for our backdrop. I mean, instantly it takes you back to a place as a kid in front of your Nintendo. Just having fun, trying to go to a different place. We try to counteract those negative connotations.”

“Yea, we go all out on our decor every year. That’s one of the things that set us apart,” Howard tells me.

Blaine Garrard, also a DJ from the last five years, and the one DJing the gypsy-step metal electronic set, is the creative director for the crew. As a self-proclaimed metal-head, I’ve always enjoyed his set the most.

“I generally start with what I call gypsy-step,” Garrard says, “I use a lot of horns, and it becomes darker and darker as it progresses. Then I launch into more metal. It gets a whole lot darker then. This year, at March Radness, I got the closest to dubstep that I’ll ever get with ‘Jawbox.’” We both smile in our dismay for dubstep.

March Radness was PJ Ladner’s — Cheatsheet — second time DJing. Though he has the coach, he admits to it being intimidating.

“It’s not only a large audience that’s scary; it’s the responsibility that I have to have to be able to read their reactions to the music. If I play a song that is too soft when the crowd is ready to dance or jump around it reflects poorly on me, but the same is true if I were to play a song that is too up tempo when the crowd has been dancing for three hours,” Ladner tells me.

Ladner played a well-done set and added, “I heard someone yell ‘yea, Cheatsheet!’ and that was reinforcement to get over my nerves.”

The dance party has been a community conglomeration over the past five years and has brought something new and interesting to Columbus, Miss.

“Blaine and Trey and Phillip were there to experience the hooded deer shows,” Ladner tells me, “I feel like it’s a tradition.”

At the end, Howard tells me, “You know, we always like to bring young people in. You’re the kind of people that we like to have.”

Lifestyles Editor

I am broke. This might be one of the biggest clichés spoken by a college student. It is the bud to all other clichés, like “I bought ramen noodles,” “I am in debt for alotta money,” “I’m eating this nonsensical combination of food i.e. jelly and tuna,” or “I’m writing an article for my college newspaper on college kids being broke.”

But no, I am broke. Not seriously broke, though. I’m not going to be a jerk and say, “I am so broke, I have no one to fend for but myself, wahh, wahh”. I don’t have kids, I’m not paying any medical bills (no financial bills at all, actually) and I’m not even paying rent. In fact, you could say that I’m living comfortably.  

There is an art to being broke. One that I have accumulated over the years of being a lazy, sometimes sort of homeless, sometimes sort of funny, but most often dumb bum.

A very short comprehensive list of the art of being mostly broke, and sort of a bum would look something like:

1. Accept your brokenness. Make it where people would like your brokenness (aka not annoying)
2. Be good to your friends. This means be a friend and not a jerk. You’re going to look gross and probably start developing a weird ego.
3. Don’t complain. Accept whatever food you can, and most importantly, always except free beer.
4. Walk everywhere. Everything is so much more awesome when you walk around. Whether it is down the block or 10 miles.

Jackie Norton is a MUW senior business student. More importantly, she is a commuter. Needless to say, she knows about making that money stretch.

“I’ve been commuting from Louisville for about a year now, so yeah, ha ha, I know about being broke,” Norton says.

“I’m ready to graduate and make that high-paying dollar, ha ha.”

Her secret to success of managing to get by are her friends and family.

“Friends and family help a lot. They help me get by on gas and maybe some food. The meal plan helps out a lot,” she says.

Braxton Maclean is a MUW communication and history major who lives on campus. Though he doesn’t share the same problems as Norton, he still has his own regimen of getting by.

“Use your flex dollars,” he tells me, “I mean Subway and the cafeteria are pretty much free if you are within that $150. Just don’t spend money on stupid stuff. Don’t smoke. Basically cut down on your vices.”

“Basically, it’s to make ends meet and go to shows, ha ha. I mean if you’re going to a show, carpool.”

Whitney Williams, a University Relations worker and communication student, dropped a jewel on my lap.

“If you fill out surveys at restaurants, the ones that are on your receipt, you get great deals. Free ice cream, drinks, maybe even food.”

She continued to give advice on making your financial aid stretch, but honestly, this broke fool is filling out surveys.

Add to the list:

1. Don’t forget your friends.
2. Figure out what you live for and spend money accordingly.
3. Complete those restaurant surveys.

Managing Editor

STOMP. STOMP. STOMP.

Each semester the sound of students’ feet pounding on the pavement, rushing to their cars, and flying to the bank can be heard. Why are they so desperate to get to the bank? Now that refund checks have been distributed, all the small luxuries previously taken away have finally returned in a small, rectangular piece of paper.

Though the money is free to be used as desired, many students take this opportunity to also use refunds for responsible purposes.

“I plan to put it into my bank account and save for next semester,” says Rayma Williams, a junior music therapy major from Pleasant Grove, Ala.

Williams is not the only student at MUW who hopes to use her money responsibly.

“I save 10 percent of all money that I receive and finance the rest out to my financial responsibilities,” says William Walker, a junior exercise science major from Ridgeland, Miss.  

Some students who do not live on campus hope the money will go toward helping them simply pay for life outside of school.

“I am a commuter, so I plan to use my money for rent, utilities, and gas,” says Elizabeth Gainey, a junior pre-physical therapy major from Star, Miss.

While many students plan to use their money for the next semester and living expenses, there are some who need this money to help fulfill bigger plans they have made for this semester.

“I am going on a mission trip to Haiti and plan to use my refund for that,” says Britney Gee, a junior nursing major from Eupora, Miss.

Reporter

College students who are beginning to look for fulfilling internships with a business or organization may think the process is difficult and a bit overwhelming, but with hard work and dedication the end results are priceless and worth the extra effort.

The Ina. E. Gordy Honors College began its spring forum series on Jan. 24 with an informative presentation on internships.  Dr. Brian Anderson, chair of History, Political Science and Geography, enlightened many honor students on the benefits of pursuing an internship that, “links work experience with textbook knowledge.” Also, honor student Karen Lott, who interned at the Washington Center, and Whitney Russell, who interned at the Holocaust Museum at Washington D.C., shared their journeys and growth with fellow students.

Anderson’s presentation, “Internships, The Value of Experimental Learning,” suggested students should begin looking for internship opportunities within the last three semesters of graduation. At MUW, there are nine degree fields that require an internship and five that are optional. “W” students must work at least 120 hours for three credit hours and 240 hours for six credit hours. To begin searching for a suitable internship, students should first talk with their advisors and inquire about opportunities that are in the area. Most internships that are available for political science majors in Columbus are usually in local government, but in some cases such as Lott’s internship, there are opportunities to intern at the federal level.

When students begin to intern at the organization of their choice, the most important requirements are to be a good employee, make lifelong connections and be aware of their rights and limits. Many interns fail to acknowledge that they are working to gain experience, not become the person assigned to do the “dirty work.” All internships stories are not horror stories, but if such a case does occur, students should schedule an appointment with their advisors so they can be assigned to a different position.

Whitney Russell, senior history major, came out of her internship without any scars. Her major did not require an internship, so she pursued one herself in the summer of 2012. She interned at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, in Washington D.C. She said her experience allowed her to strengthen her public speaking skills because she gave tours of the museum to at least 100-200 people a day. She met several holocaust survivors and the author of “Night,” Eli Wiesel even stopped by. While in Washington, she visited Arlington Cemetery, where both of her great-grand parents are buried, and toured the city of New York by herself. Her internship was a both a professional and personal growth.

Karen Lott, a senior political science major, interned at the Washington Center with the organization, “For the Love of Children.” She stressed the importance of applying for an internship because it allows you to see if that is really the career field you want to enter. If at some point you decide it’s not for you, you can always, “re-channel your efforts into something you would like to do,” she said. She also stressed to always keep in contact with your contacts because you never know when you might need them again.

Whether you think internships are worth it or not, it pays in experience, rather than monetary value. Check to see if your major requires an internship and if it doesn’t, pursue one yourself.