Karen Suarez, newly appointed director of career services, has a message for students: Don't wait until your senior year to start the job search. "Students think the center for career and community services is only for seniors," she said. "But they shouldn't wait until the last minute to start planning. I would like to see as many students as possible come into this office."
The center has a wide variety of resources for students to draw from when looking for a job, she said. In addition to the publications, the career center has its own Web page to help direct students. The Internet is a resource for job hunters that they should not overlook, she said. Suarez can also connect students with alumni in different fields who can talk about their own work experiences. And she can acquaint students with the variety of internships available as well, which is a great way to gain experience.
Greg Saks, alumni association director, said his office can also share the names of alumni that might be a resource for students. Alumni can help by relating what they did to reach the position they have achieved, he said.
Counseling students has become more challenging because more are interested now in one-on-one coaching rather than group workshops. "They want to know what is going to work for them," Suarez said. Suarez said she is trying to increase outreach efforts to students and faculty to let them know what is available at the career center.
In a market where new jobs come and go with the speed of e-mail, Suarez tells students to "follow their hearts" when deciding on a career-and be prepared to continually develop their skills, even after college. This becomes even more important when you realize that the average professional will go through five career changes in his or her working life.
Because of the rapid changes in the job market, a liberal arts education has actually become more sought after, she added. Such training develops the skills that students can bring to a variety of jobs - leadership, communication, writing, computer and problem-solving skills.
A former associate director of career services at Pomona and Occidental colleges, Suarez said she likes working with Pitzer students. "I am really enjoying my time here," she said.
(Jobtrak, an online database of full-time, part-time and temporary job listings, is now available to students and alumni. Alumni may also post their resumes online. Alumni can access Jobtrak at the Jobtrak Web site. Alumni can also connect to other online job search Web pages
For more information, contact Karen Suarez
Connie Gumeringer Milton '92 is a detective, but you won't find her flashing a badge or interrogating suspects. Rather, she finds her clues among winding strands of genetic material in her role as a forensic scientist for the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. She analyzes DNA markers, looking for matches, trying to identify criminals.
The Helena, Mont., native returned to campus last month to talk about how DNA testing is done and offer advice to students considering a similar career.
The DNA tests are used most often on sexual assault and murder cases, she said. Investigators can gather DNA from a number of sources: skin, blood, semen, and hair. Used dental floss, hair brushes, fingernail scrapings-all can harbor what they need.
While at Pitzer, Milton, who was studying psychobiology, considered entering medical school. Unsure what to do, she took a research position at the Salk Institute in La Jolla, Calif. While there she was exposed to molecular genetics, spurring her interest in DNA testing. She credits her Pitzer background with giving her the training she needed to land the research job.
During her presentation, Milton also talked about the case that brought DNA evidence to national attention-the O.J. Simpson murder trial. She also said that DNA evidence helped prove the innocence of Sam Sheppard, the real-life inspiration for the TV series and movie "The Fugitive." Blamed for the 1954 murder of his pregnant wife Marilyn, Sheppard, a wealthy, young doctor, claimed a mysterious intruder had killed his wife, attacked him and fled from his home. Subsequent DNA evidence has been used to exonerate Sheppard, whose conviction was previously overturned on appeal.
ANNOUNCEMENTS & O P P O R T U N I T I E S
The annual "Take Back The Night" rally and march takes place at 7 p.m. Thursday at Walker Beach. Allyson Kurker, winner of the National Organization for Women's Woman Of Courage Award, speaks at 12:15 p.m. at CMC's Athenaeum, at 4 p.m. at HMC and at the rally that evening. For more information, call the five-college sexual assault task force, x76113.
The ecology center sponsors a training program at 11 a.m. today at the Grove House. The program is designed to provide students with the skills for effective campus leadership. The workshop will also explore issues of campus ecology. Catherine Estes of the National Wildlife Federation will lead it.
"How to Find Anything," a research workshop, takes place at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Lucian Marquis Library in Mead Hall. Learn how to research in nine easy steps with tips for information gathering-how to find and interview experts, alternative research methods, local library sources, how to cite electronic resources, how to keep a search log.
Those interested in offering suggestions on commencement speakers can attend a meeting of the senior committee, which meets at 7 p.m. Sundays in the Mead living room. For more information, call Angie Carrillo at x76057.
The Web page of the European Union Center of California, sponsored jointly by The Claremont Colleges and USC, has been posted on the World Wide Web. The address is http://www.eucenter.scrippscol.edu/index.htm.
The Pitzer College Summer Institute of Language and Culture invites students to apply for bilingual teaching assistant positions in Chinese, French, Japanese and Spanish. The application deadline is March 12. For more information, contact x18104.
Pitzer students can submit resumes for national and international internships through Pomona College's summer internship program. Internships are available in a variety of fields. A list of organizations, internship descriptions and application deadlines are available at the center for career and community service. For more information, contact Karen Suarez, director of career services, at x18519.
WEEK OF MARCH 1
MONDAY
An evening of poetry and spoken-word recitals by artists Carmen Vega, Carolyn Dunn and students Ariuna Greist, Griselda Suarez, Karen Lo and Gia Scott-Heron takes place at 7 p.m. at Grove House. The event celebrates National Women's History Month.
Marlon Fuentes will screen his film, "Bontoc Eulogy," at 7 P.M. in Avery Auditorium. "Bontoc Eulogy" is a fake documentary about Fuentes' search for information about his grandfather, who was exhibited as a "human specimen" in a "typical Philippine village" installed at the 1902 St. Louis World's Fair. Using actualities of historical events, staged scenes and falsified archival newsreels, the filmmaker revisits the troubled history of U.S.-Philippine relations.
TUESDAY
The European Union Center of California presents a videoconference on global economic issues from 9 to 10:30 a.m. in Avery Auditorium. Various U.S. and European universities and the European Union Commission will be linked. Participants include European politicians, U.S. congressmen, senior journalists and academics. Topics include the Euro currency; financial crises in Asia, Latin America and Russia; and trade disputes.
Alfred Hitchcock's 1940 film, "Rebecca," is shown at 7 p.m. in the Broad Performance Space.
A class on locating and using Web sites takes place at 7 p.m. at the Honnold Mudd Library in the Keck Learning Room. Call x73959 to sign up.
Julie Wakelee-Lynch from Pomona College's public policy department leads an alternative Bible study program from 8 to 9 p.m. at the McAlister Center. She bases her discussion on the book "Parables as Subversive Speech: Jesus as Pedagogue of the Oppressed" by William Herzog. For more information, contact Julie at x18189.
WEDNESDAY
The student alumni relations committee holds a psychology field group dinner, "Mind Over Matter," from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Founder's Room. This field group dinner will bring together psychology faculty, students and alumni to share their experiences. Faculty members Jeff Lewis, Mita Banerjee, Leah Light, Norma Rodriguez and possibly Hal Fairchild will be attending. RSVP to Grace Byun with your meal card number at x18814
or e-mail Grace Byun by Monday. For more information or to make a reservation, call Grace at x18814.
A class on doing research in a Web environment takes place at 7 p.m. in the Keck Learning Room of the Honnold Mudd Library. Call x73959 to sign up.
THURSDAY
The Office of the Chaplains offers tickets for "Rebecca St. James and Band" in concert for their performance at 7 p.m. in Pomona. Car pools depart at 6 p.m. from McAlister Center. Tickets are $9. For more information, please call x18685.
The Zen meditation group meets from 7 to 8 p.m. at Walton Commons, Pomona College.
Student senate meets at 8 p.m. in the Founder's Room, McConnell Center.
The Learning Circle presents the film "Birth of a Nation," by D.W. Griffith, at 9 p.m. in Avery Auditorium.
The Grove House presents "Telepathy," an improv rock band from USC, at 10 p.m.
FRIDAY
Softball team plays Azusa Pacific at home at 1:30 p.m.
Women's tennis team plays California Institute of Technology at home at 2 p.m.
Men's tennis team plays at California Institute of Technology at 2 p.m.
The Gold Student Center holds First Friday of the Month celebration at 4 p.m.
An alumni and student wine and cheese reception takes place from 5 to 7 p.m. in the McConnell Living Room. For more information contact Kristine Halverson '01 at 909-596-3825 or Greg Saks, director of alumni relations, at x78123 or e-mail Greg Saks
The Kurosawa film "Seven Samurai" (1954) is presented free at 7 p.m. in Avery Auditorium. Considered the greatest samurai film ever made, it tells the story of samurai who are recruited to defend a farming village from an army of marauding bandits.
SATURDAY
Baseball team plays California Lutheran University at home at 11 a.m.
Softball team plays Redlands at home at noon.
A Zen meditation group meets from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Walton Commons, Pomona College.
The Kurosawa film "Ran" (1985) is presented at 7 p.m. in Avery Auditorium. In Kurosawa's adaptation of "King Lear," an aging patriarch lives to regret the division of his kingdom.
The Kurosawa film "Kagemusha" (1980) is presented at 9:40 p.m. in Avery Auditorium. A thief is used as a double for a powerful warlord in an epic of warring clans in medieval Japan.
SUNDAY
The Gold Student Center activities committee presents the film "Money Talks" at 7 p.m. and "Rush Hour" at 10 p.m. in Avery Auditorium.
WEEK OF MARCH 8
MONDAY
An open mic poetry reading and spoken word performance takes place at 9 p.m. at the Grove House.
TUESDAY
Men's tennis team plays Emory University at home at 2 p.m.
George Romero's film, "Night of the Living Dead," is presented at 7 p.m. in the Broad Performance Space.
Julie Wakelee-Lynch from Pomona College's public policy department leads an alternative Bible study program from 8 to 9 p.m. at the McAlister Center. For more information, contact Julie at x18189.
WEDNESDAY
Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds perform at 7:30 p.m. at Pomona College's Bridges Auditorium. For ticket information, call Huntley Bookstore.
THURSDAY
Baseball team plays Moravian College at home at 2:30 p.m.
A Zen meditation group meets from 7 to 8 p.m. at Walton Commons, Pomona College.
The student senate meets at 8 p.m. in the Founder's Room, McConnell Center.
Live Long Day performs at 10 p.m. at the Grove House at 10 p.m.
FRIDAY
Softball team plays California Baptist at home at 2 p.m.
Women's tennis team plays Colorado College at home at 2 p.m.
SATURDAY
Baseball team plays in the California Classic at home today and Sunday. Time to be announced.
SUNDAY
F E A T U R E:
New Director Helps Students Prepare for Careers
P R O F I L E:
Alumna Becomes DNA Sleuth
COMING UP
Deadline to RSVP for student alumni relations committee's psychology field group dinner (see Wednesday).
Financial aid Cal Grant GPA verification deadline for California residents.
Low grade reports are due to the registrar's office.
The International Place celebrates International Women's Day with the discussion on "Why Women's Studies" given by Karen Jo Torjesen, professor of religion and co-director of the master's program in applied women's studies at the Claremont Graduate University. International food is served at 11:45 a.m. and the program begins at 12:15 p.m. $3.50 for students, staff and faculty. $5 for community members. For more information, please call x18344.
Baseball team plays California Lutheran University at home at 11 a.m.
Women's tennis team plays Claremont McKenna, Harvey Mudd and Scripps colleges at home a 9:30 a.m.
Scripps College's fourth annual Clay Day and Music Festival takes place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Williamson Gallery.
Baseball team plays Allentown College at home at 2:30 p.m.
A class on doing research in a Web environment takes place at 11 a.m. in the Keck Learning Room of the Honnold Mudd Library. Call x73959 to sign up.
Women's tennis team plays at University of Redlands at 2 p.m.
Men's tennis team plays University of Rochester at home at 2 p.m.
Final day to drop courses without a recorded grade. Final day to add half courses for second half of semester. Credit/no credit forms, concentration/educational objectives forms for first semester juniors and degree verification forms for May graduates are due in the registrar's office. Spring break begins after last class.
Softball team plays Biola University at home at noon.
The Southern California Chamber Soloists and the Otero Dance Company perform at 4 p.m. at The Claremont Colleges Faculty House. For reservations, call x18109.