Emerson College - Emersonian Yearbook (Boston, MA)

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Students like Steve Hendrix (above) and Darleen French (left) find it necessary to work at least part-time while going to school. Many find the Emerson food service, SAGA, nearby and convenient to work for. Laurie Hammond (opposite) sits desk at 100 Beacon Street, (photos by Gina Siciliano.) 25

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Working Students Emerson students often work to make a living, or part of it, while juggling classes. “I’d like to sign in my boyfriend please ... is the mail in yet . . . type this in triplicate . . . file these forms ... do you have this in a size seven . . . I’ll have the cheese and alfalfa on pita . . . come on SAGA, it’s after five . . . . ” Anywhere in Boston, in Emerson dormitories and in the business office of Mass Comm., at Jordan Marsh, the Deli Haus or the SAGA cafeteria, Emerson students are working to make a living, or part of it. The rising cost of education, the effect of federal budget cutbacks (responsible for an estimated 30% cut in financial aid for 1982-1983) and the need for pocket change have made working on the side a necessity for many Emerson students over the years. Tuition rose $800 last year and is projected to jump another $ 1 170 next semester, so it’s no surprise to hear that the conversation on the wall is not all about what class is next or the amount of home work to be done; “What shift are you working . . . what hours are you sitting . . . how’dyou do in tips last night,” are as common as “. . . did you finish the t.v. project yet?” Employment opportunities at Emerson are diverse, ranging from the federally funded work-study and the Emerson Employment Program to scooping ice-cream at Hagan-daz on Charles Street. Approximately 20% of Emerson’s full time undergraduate students hold regular work-study positions. Emer- son’s business offices employ students in typing, filing and running errands. Others spend their work time as desk receptionists in the dormitories, sign- ing people in and out and sorting mail. A benefit of the work-study program is that students can arrange their work hours around their academic schedule. Lynne Gemma, a senior, has been on work-study for two years. “I work for George Genges, Resident Director of Charlesgate, doing clerical work. It’s really convenient, since it’s right at school, and it doesn’t interfere with my classes.” Work-study provides students with the opportunity to learn skills not taught in the classroom. “My work ex- perience here will gve me something to fall back on. In case I need to, I could work in an office as a bookeeper, secretary or a clerical assistant,” ex- plained freshman Yvette Ruiz, a work- study employee in the Financial Aid Office. Work-study also encourages stu- dents to work in a job related to their field of study. Theatre majors find working down at Brimmer Street gves them experi- ence in lighting, scene design and administrative duties. A Mass Comm, major can find a job on the technical staff of WERS FM or WECB AM for in- valuable experience. Job experiences have also been found to affect a student’s decision about future career goals. “We tiy to put students in positions related to their majors as often as possible, but work experience may change a student’s mind about what he would like to ma- jor in,” said Sarah Calihan, work- study coordinator at Emerson College. Junior Bill Sitcawiich, a theatre ma- jor, has been on work-study for three years. “As a receptionist in the theatre department I answer phones, run errands and make mail runs,” he said. Sitcawich works his fourteen hours a week getting involved in the administrative core of the theatre de- partment, as well. continued on page 26 24

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Working Students Students often feel as if they are “going all day,” as Lori DiConstanzo, a sophomore and head receptionist at the theatre department explained; “the way my class schedule goes, when I’m not in classes I am here, but I like it.” SAGA, Emerson’s food service, has approximately fifty students on its payroll. As on work-study, hours are arranged by class schedule and other Emerson commitments. “I work for the radio station, but I need a few hours of work a week. SAGA is nearby and convenient,” said senior Andy Geller. Added freshman Kris Parrish, “it’s good to work with other Emerson peo- ple, you can work and see your friends, too.” Resident Assistants are not paid weekly; they receive free room and board for their services. Each R.A. works a full-time job while in school; roommate disputes, floor parties, sit- ting desk and filling out numerous work order forms are a few of the duties to which an RA must attend to. Said Emerson junior Maurpen Geurney, “it’s really a challenging job. There is a lot of give and take, but it is a lot of fun. You get a lot in return.” Emerson students are also repre- sented in the work force of the Boston community. Many students take advantage of the Career Services cen- ter at 100 Beacon Street to locate em- ployment. An ongoing list of full and part-time jobs is always available. “Students have got to take the in- itiative. They need to open their eyes to resources and to make contacts,” asserted Marilyn Krivitsky, Director of Career Services at Emerson. Rick Brown, a freshman, struck journalistic gold while job hunting through the Career Services office. “I was really lucky to get the job; the list- ing had just come in when I got there. I am the layout and production mana- ger for a weekly newspaper in the North End.” Whether employed by work-study or by Boston businesses, working stu- dents must learn to balance academics, employment and a social life. “You have got to learn to balance your time. It is difficult, but you have got to do it,” says Liz Hodges, a sopho- more who supervises coat checkers at The Hampshire House Restaurant. The working world may be a distant thought for some Emerson students, but for many more, it is already reality. by Jennifer Mroczkowski 26