Emerson College - Emersonian Yearbook (Boston, MA)

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Rachel Coombs (above) makes money working at Crossroades, an Emerson favorite near Mass Ave. Mark Kelsey (left) makes his as a monitor for Emerson’s Fine Art’s darkroom, at 126 Beacon Street. The pressures of rising education costs and the need for pocket money keep students working, (photos by Gina Siciliano.) When Job Hunting, Experience Counts; Internships She sits, rigid on her chair, staring at the blank space on her job application. “There has to be something I can write in here,” she thinks. ‘Please list all jobs or previous experience in this field.’ I am just out of college, how could I have any experience?” College graduates face job experience dilemmas more and more ' today. In a world where the fight for employment is getting harder to win, practical experi- ence can mean the difference between starting at the bottom and starting at a position you are educationally well qualified for. Emerson College has always put emphasis on practical experience. WERS, WECB, and EIV and the Robbins Speech and Hearing Center plus the Thayer Lindsley Parent-Centered Pre-School Nursery for the Hearing Impaired allow the students the opportunity to learn their craft through practice, not just through book work. Emerson also offers an internship program that gives students the proverbial ace in the hole for job applications; experience in the real working world. An internship is not required, but they are enthusiastically encouraged by offering credit to juniors and seniors for their efforts. An extensive listing of internship possibilities is on hand at the Career Services Center at 100 Beacon Street as well as on key bulletin boards throughout the college. A quick perusal of the list shows opportunities in Public Relations at WCVB, a summer internship with Newsweek, five broadcasting internships with chan- nel 5, a production job at John Hancock Insurance, and even summer in- ternship possibilities in Los Angeles and Hollywood. “Students have to explore on their own. It is up to them to take the iniative to get experience,” advises Marilyn Krivitsky, Director of Career Services for Emer- son’s students. The number of potential internships is on the rise. More employers are becom- ing aware of college students and their abilities. Local television and radio stations offer internships, as do many cable companies, advertising and public relations agencies, and theatres. Internships are not limited to the greater Boston area; possibilities exist in New York City and Los Angles as well as other metropolitan areas. Practical experience encompasses more than technical learning, as senior Anna Jones pointed out; “I worked at Channel 7 last term assisting in the production of commericals. I learned a lot about working in that market, and dealing with the types of people who are involved in the media.” Juniors Libby Cohen and Diane Meehan work for Continental Cable Vision in Saugus. “We are learning to use the equipment in studio shoots and on remotes. We’re also doing our own documentary,” explained Cohen, “It’s good because I get hands on experience with the equipment; it isn’t unionized.” Meehan also enjoys her internship. “It is okay to make mistakes. Our program director knows that we are just learning and he encourages us to ask questions. It is fantastic.” She sits, relaxed in her office, looking at an old copy of her job application: NAME: Jane College Graduate College: Emerson College in Boston Please list all jobs or previous experience in this field below: WERS FM, copy writer WECB AM, News writer EIV News writer Intern at Channel 5 in news department, Interviewer’s Comments: HIRED by Jennifer Mroczkowski 27

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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

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David Burchell (Mass Communicatipns television) “A news anchorman and reporter, that should keep me occupied.” Vivian Daunt (Communication Disorders) “A teacher of the deaf; I want to teach parents how to teach their children.” John Barons (Mass Communications journalism) “In front of people, rather than amongst them: I want to move to Los Angeles and do my best to get into films.” William Turner (Creative Writing) “I want to be like the Catcher in the rye. I want to make people laugh. I want to be and live just as I am.” Larry McColligan (Mass Communications) “I will be a sportscaster.” Phil Brehn (Mass Communications Film) “I want to make films, that’s why I came to this stupid college!” 28