It’s not unusual for students to have that one professor they will never forget. Sometimes it’s for good reasons — sometimes not.

In a random, unscientific survey taken through surveymonkey.com, about 75 Oakland University students from a variety of majors pointed out what frustrates them most about professors.

The top three complaints were:
— The required textbook was not used in class.
— Material on exams was not covered or barely covered in class.
—  Students didn’t know their grade or progress.

College textbook prices have increased 812 percent since 1978, according to an article in the Huffington Post.

“It’s frustrating having to spend all that money on a book you open maybe twice the whole semester,” said Adrian Michel, sophomore biology major at OU. “It would be more convenient if the professor gave us handouts on the few key sections we needed, instead of having us purchase a textbook.”

The National Association of College Stores and College Board estimate students, on average, will spend $1,168 on books and materials per year.

But yet the textbook may not be helpful if the professor doesn’t integrate it within the class lecture in preparation for what the students can expect on the exam.

Students assume that anything covered in class is fair game to show up on the exam. If they follow the designated readings that correspond with the class lecture, they should be prepared.

Sometimes, though, reading is not enough if the exam includes material not covered at all.

So after the exam-cram and the Scantrons have been filled out, students wait to find out how they did. But weeks — perhaps longer — might pass before students find out results and can calculate grades.

Professors have several ways of notifying students of grades, including OU’s Moodle.

If the professor doesn’t use Moodle or updates grades, the students are left in the dark. Students must go out of their way to find time to meet with the professor to discuss grades.

“I don’t want to have to take the time out of my schedule to go up to my professors and ask them what my grades are and if I need to change my study habits,” said Ryan Kallabat, a junior studying physical therapy at OU. “They have the resources to post grades, they just need to use them.”

At OU, Moodle is the main outlet for communication from students to professors, aside from email.

Not all professors are active Moodle users, though. Some professors, regardless of their department, are reluctant to learn and use it.

“The new teachers coming in are younger and have been using technology more throughout their student-teaching, and I just think it’s going to become the standard,” said Julia Key, a member of Moodle support about the use of Moodle and online teaching.

“A lot of teachers don’t use Moodle because they’re not comfortable with the technology, and they’re also not comfortable with changing their way of teaching,” she continued.

According to the survey, a third of students complain that professors do not use Moodle. If more professors utilized this resource, it could take the guessing game out of students’ progress.

“Moodle can incorporate email, papers, documents, resources and lectures all in one spot,” Key said.

OU offers Moodle workshops for professors throughout the year.

“The workshops go from Moodle one to Moodle five and it teaches you from the basics of logging into Moodle to building your grade book and creating exams,” Key said.

Despite the university’s push to have more online teaching, it’s hard to get professors to take classes to learn the necessary software, according to Samantha Thom, Tori Tomaszewski and Key, all members of Moodle support within the e-LIS department

Moodle, like most online teaching software, integrates resources in one spot. This helps students stay organized as well as eliminates the hassle of checking multiple venues for schoolwork.Tweet

Coaches stress to their student-athletes that the student comes first, then the athlete.

But many collegiate players put their sport as their No. 1 priority, hindering their chances for success after college.

Kylie Schalz, a recent Oakland University grad and former infielder for the softball team, worked hard during school to score her internship for an engineering company in New York City this summer.

Kylie Schalz

Before landing her internship, Schalz had several phone interviews, including one from Adidas in Germany, but was passed up because she was told she didn’t have the proper background.

“It was a challenge for me to score an internship opportunity because I lacked experience in the field,” Schalz said.

In contrast, Jordan Howenstine, a senior basketball player, is diving right into a job with Disney immediately after graduation.

Howenstine snagged a public relations internship with the Detroit Pistons, who worked around his own basketball and school schedule.

“The fact that they understood my priorities were my schooling and then basketball, but were willing to work around them, says a lot,” Howenstine said. “If I wasn’t coming off of my internship with the Pistons, it’s very likely that I would still be looking for a job.”

When hiring, employers look for qualities such as experience and particular skills that pertain to the job.  According to Forbes, employers look for five personality traits:

• Professionalism
• High Energy
• Confidence
• Self-Monitoring
• Intellectual Curiosity

So how do athletes land jobs after college with little to no work experience?

OU alum and former star outfielder Kelsey Krych said many skills students garner during college carry over into the working world.

“I had no experience before I started working at my physical therapy center,” Krych said, “but the skills that I’ve acquired by playing a sport and being a student did carry over.”

Skills that employers like seeing on a resume include: working under pressure on deadline, learning teamwork and leadership, and balancing work and personal life.  All are familiar to student-athletes.

Academic Adviser Evan Dermidoff said a college athlete with no field experience shouldn’t hold back any employer who needs an intern.

Evan Dermidoff

“That’s exactly what an internship is set up for — experience,” he said. “Our student-athletes gain so much necessary skills that carry over in the workplace that there should be no excuses as to why they can’t hire a student-athlete.”

Dermidoff said student-athletes are goal oriented, prioritize their work assignments and have excellent time management due to their hectic schedules.

OU’s Athletic Department staff encourages all athletes to join Career Athletes, which is similar to LinkedIn. Here, athletes create profiles, upload resumes, and create a network and connections to their particular fields.

“It’s a great site that really helps athletes kick start their careers,” Dermidoff said. “When athletes utilize their resources, they have just as much opportunity as anyone else when it comes to their success after college.”Tweet

South Dakota State University clinched The Summit League 2012-’13 Food Fight by raising more than 22,500 pounds of food during 18 designated basketball games that collected donations for charity.

Overall, the Summit League, which includes Oakland University, raised more than 65,680 pounds in canned food.

OU finished second in the league with 11,528.50 pounds, which is 3,900 more than last year. OU has won the food fight twice since the competition began in 2009.

Holly Kerstner

“The Summit League Food Fight is such a great way that we can give back to the community,” said Holly Kerstner, OU assistant director of athletics for student-athlete services. “The hard work that all the staff and athletes put in to help is tremendous and always pays off.”

The Summit League introduced a viral competition to this year’s food fight.

Each contending school created a video that portrayed the life of a student-athlete. All videos were uploaded onto The Summit League’s YouTube channel. Fans voted for their favorite. The video that received the most “Likes” throughout February would get an additional $770, or 2,002 pounds of food, added to their total.

South Dakota State won the viral video competition with 623 “Likes.” In second place was North Dakota State with 540.

The Summit League will keep the viral video with next year’s food fight, according to Robby Stewart, faculty representative for the OU Athletic Department.

All proceeds and food collected during the food fight are donated to charities that are teamed up with each university. Some of these charities include Sioux Falls Food Pantry (SDSU), Alba Bales House (NDSU) and the Pontiac Lighthouse (OU).Tweet

BY JOSEPH ABRO
OU News Bureau

Drew32 is becoming a nationally known name.

Andrew Parks — a Michigan rap artist who goes by the name of Drew32 — has produced and performed his music for more than eight years. His work has put the 21-year-old in the spotlight.

The Oakland University student from Auburn Hills is studying to get his degree in marketing. He said he believes knowledge of business is important.

Drew32 has a self-described “do it yourself” attitude. He does the majority of his producing and recording in his own home because he has all the essential equipment.

“No one’s going to hand you anything,” Drew32 said.

Drew32 adds notes from his keyboard to the beat he is producing. PHOTO/JOSEPH ABRO

“I took it upon myself to learn how to produce my own beats, record my own vocals, design my own mixtape covers and website, and when it came to getting my music out, I took the initiative to go out and develop relationships with the right people who have shown me support throughout my career.”

ESPN’s widely viewed sports debate show, First Take featured Drew32’s music throughout February. He’s also recently had his music played nationally on Shade 45, on Sirius XM satellite radio.

“When I started off it was definitely more of a local thing, but I never really considered it a hobby because I was constantly putting out music and my fan base was slowly but surely growing,” Drew32 said. “It led to me to meeting my manager, Mark Hicks, and he is well-connected in the music industry.”

Hicks was a co-manager of D-12, Eminem’s old group.

Drew32 opened for J. Cole in 2011 and also Gym Class Heroes at last year’s Grizzlypalooza part two at Meadowbrook Music Festival on Oakland University’s campus.

He’s also performed on the same stage as The New Boyz, Kirko Bangz, Hoodie Allen, Timeflies and Travis Porter. He’s collaborated with artists such as Royce da 5’9”, Jon Connor and Shorty Da Prince.

He recently  was in Austin, Texas, to perform at the SXSW Music Festival.

“Along the way, while putting out eight mixtapes online, I met a lot of DJs that would spin my tracks, including the Channel 955 Bomb Squad, who helped me gain a lot of my local support,” Drew32 said.

DJ Skee, who has been recognized as one of the most influential figures in today’s entertainment business by both Forbes and Billboard magazine, hosted his latest mixtape, “Label Me.”

Drew32’s remix of Drake’s “Headlines” has more than 300,000 views on YouTube. His new music video for “I Am King” featuring Jon Connor was digitally distributed by Empire Distribution. The music video can be viewed on his new VEVO channel.

“Drew’s success has been a culmination of something we’ve been working on for a few years now — this is just the fruits and spoils of all the development and hard work Drew has put in,” Hicks said.

“I’ve been doing this for over 20 years now and I can tell this is climaxing at the right point at the right time. This is how artists break.”

 Tweet

Students can learn from mentors about how to use technology and check out equipment for free. PHOTO/AMANDA HORWITZ

BY AMANDA HORWITZ
OU News Bureau

College students once turned in hand-written term papers and registered for classes in person.

Now, it’s common to see students taking notes on a laptop and signing up for courses through a website.  With technology more sophisticated than ever, incoming college students are expected to be familiar with the most up-to-date technology.

That means knowing how to use such popular devices as laptops, iPad and tablets.

Tech Center Teaches Students

The Student Technology Center at Oakland University offers hands-on computer training.  Its main goal in helping students is to meet the ever-increasing technology needs and requirements.  The staff helps about 500 students per month.

Angela Nyakairu, a mentor at the center, said freshmen tend to be more uncertain about technology than upperclassmen.

Mentor Angela Nyakairu helps students at the Student Technology Center. PHOTO/AMANDA HORWITZ

“Freshmen usually have a lot of questions when they first get on campus,” Nyakairu said.  “They need to know how to use computer editing software for writing classes, and we help them get familiar with the different programs.  By the end of the mentoring session, they have a better idea of how to do their project.”

Students who show up at the center typically have prior experience and need help to improve their skills.

“There are a lot of services on campus where students can get help with technology,” Nyakairu said.

The Pew Research Center found that college students have becoming increasingly dependent on technology and 98 percent of these students own an ereader or read etextbooks.

Josephine Ruckerford of Southfield, a freshman majoring in business, said she owned a Mac throughout high school and had a good idea of how to use the basic programs such as Word, Excel, Powerpoint and iMovie.

“In one of my first classes, I had to interview people and make a video out of it,” Ruckerford said.  “I recorded all of the interviews on a Flip Cam and uploaded them to my laptop on iMovie.  I didn’t have a hard time editing the footage and adding music to it, but I was able to help a few of my friends who didn’t know how to edit.”

Ruckerford said she learned how to use most of the essential programs in high school.

“I think it is easier to get to know how to use computer programs in middle school and high school so you can have an easier time when you get to college,” Ruckerford said.

Tablets taking over

Touch-screen tablets have exceptional resolution and allow students to type notes and read textbooks anywhere.

SOURCE: pearsonfoundation.org

Tablet ownership among college students has more than tripled from a year ago, according to a Pearson Foundation survey.  These devices are easy for them to use.  It’s also a way for students to have all of the information they need in one gadget.

The survey found that college students and high school seniors believe that tablets are just as helpful for learning purposes as they are for leisure.

The Student Technology Center has a technology loan program so students can check out iPads, camcorders, digital cameras, Flip Cams, voice recorders and laptops for free.

“If the student does not know how to how to use the loan equipment, we give brief training while the student is checking it out so they can learn to use it,” Nyakairu said.

 Tweet

If he can impact one person’s life in a positive way, Nick Kristock believes he has impacted the world in a positive way.

His first step is Gigs for Good

Morgan Spann, left, and Nick Kristock count money after a fundraising event Feb. 10. The Oakland University men’s soccer and women’s softball teams raised a combine total of more than $600 for Gigs for Good. PHOTO/SHANNON CLEVELAND

Gigs for Good is a nonprofit organization started last year by a group of Oakland University men’s soccer players: Kristock, Morgan Spann and Andrew Barrett.

“What Gigs for Good does is sponsor and fund missionaries and trips and spread the word of Jesus,” Spann said.

In January 2012, the three talked about how they wanted to help change the world. They decided to put their ideas into action.

“The main reason we started this was because we saw all of these extra dollars floating around,” Kristock said. “Everyone in the Oakland Center probably has one extra dollar in their pocket and they would probably spend it on something they don’t need to spend it on.”

Within months, the group filed paperwork with the state and was recognized as a corporation.

Since then, the group has expanded to five, all with Christian backgrounds. Gigs guarantees that 100 percent of what it raises goes to the missionary it helps fund.

The first person that Gigs sponsored was Kristen Steffes, a member of the OU women’s soccer team who was going on a mission trip to Haiti.

“We knew how passionate she was about her missions and we knew she was the first person we wanted to help and send her down to Haiti.” Spann said.

Gigs for Good will help fund a mission trip to Honduras for Chelsea Carena, left. With her is Gigs member Morgan Spann. COURTESY/GIGS FOR GOOD

Gigs had to build from the ground up and did just that through can drives.

Gigs had $0 in its account when members started helping Steffes. The group collected cans from campus apartments and ended up with more than $1000 to help fund her Haiti trip.

Can drives, as well as coin drives, are Gigs biggest source of income. Gigs has had one major donor, another nonprofit organization called Bike and Build, which donated $1,500. Three riders from Bike and Build decided the $500 each raised from their ride would go to Gigs for Good.

Gigs’ latest mission is helping Chelsea Carena, a member of the OU softball team, go to Honduras this summer alongside 2,000 other missionaries, the world’s largest mission trip to date, according to One Nation One Day, a nonprofit group that organizes mission trips.

“I knew that I needed help fundraising a lot of money.  I couldn’t do it on my own,” Carena said. “So I contacted Morgan and Nick and they decided that they absolutely wanted to help me.”

Although Gigs is small now, Kristock’s ending goal is to be the number one person-to-person charity project network.

At the Gigs for Good website, blogs and short videos are uploaded to keep people up-to-date with the missionary and fundraising events.

Eventually, Kristock envisions people uploading videos onto the website about why they are going on their mission trip. Others from all over can view that video and donate right on the spot.

“Seeing the look on Chelsea’s face when we told her that we were going to be able to help her out made every second, every can worth it,” Kristock said. “We’re looking forward to a lot more of those moments.”

 Apply online to Gigs for Good or simply donate to a current mission. Visit Gigs for Good’s Facebook page for more information Tweet

Oakland University students can receive guidance toward a career path by speaking to a consultant at career services. PHOTO/AMANDA HORWITZ

BY AMANDA HORWITZ
OU News Bureau

Finding a job after graduation is the main target of college students, but this remains difficult although the Great Recession ended more than three years ago.

Rutgers University found in 2011 that college grads were having a tough time finding a job and those who did find one were paid less to do work that wasn’t up to par with their skill level.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment rate for college graduates increased from under 2 percent before the downturn to a peak of more than 5 percent in 2009.

Due to the slow economic recovery, recent graduates are competing against one another for fewer jobs.  In addition, they are competing against workers who are more experienced and graduated a few years earlier.  An employer with an opening might hire someone who has more experience rather than someone right out of college.

Career Services benefits students

At Oakland University, students have the benefit of career services, a program that works with students to help them find a job after college.

With this program, students have a better chance of becoming employed after graduation with a career they enjoy. The staff at career services is trained to assist students in writing a resume and give tips about job interviews.

Denise McConkey is a career consultant who advises students.

“Career services provide career fairs and networking events with employer representatives,” McConkey said.  “We also have an online database called OUCareerLink.com where you can upload your resume and apply for jobs right from your computer.”

Amy Jacovetti, a student coordinator at Oakland University, said there are jobs for college graduates, but students need to be aware of what career they are pursuing.

“Many students don’t know what they want to do,” Jacovetti said.  “This makes finding a job harder than it should be.  When students know what they want to do and have a passion for it, I think it’s easier for them to find jobs.”

Despite the study from Rutgers, professors encourage students to keep their eyes open for the jobs that are out there.

Holly Gilbert, an OU journalism professor, talks to her students about the importance of building digital portfolios and the importance of networking.

SOURCE/SALARY.COM

“I tell students to create a digital portfolio because many employers like for things to be digital,” Gilbert said.  “I also discuss up-and-coming jobs with students so they are aware of what’s out there.

A recent Forbes magazine article said students should take full advantage of their career services office.  Dan Schawbel, a Forbes contributor, created a student career development study that found only 29 percent of students use the college’s career office.  He said these services can make the job search easier.

Oakland University has consultants come to classrooms to encourage students to visit career services.  This is especially common with freshman students because consultants can help guide them earlier to a career.

Career service is at 154 North Foundation Hall at Oakland University.  To make an appointment, call 248-370-3250 or email careers@oakland.edu.Tweet

About 3,000 people are waiting for a life-saving organ in Michigan today.

The Gift of Life is a nonprofit organization that helps ensure successful organ donations in Michigan, as well as, leading the way in getting the word out to Michigan residents.

“If you have the opportunity to help someone else live their life at a higher level, it’s the most gratifying feeling in the world,” said Glenn McIntosh, dean of students and assistant vice president of student affairs at Oakland University.

McIntosh has been a donor for 17 years and hopes his organs might be used one day to help save a life.

Gift of Life is the only federally designated organ and tissue recovery program in Michigan and is available 24 hours a day as a liaison between donors, hospitals and transplant centers.

In 2012, the generosity of 261 organ donors resulted in 777 organs transplanted to those in need, according to Gift of Life. Additionally, 861 Michigan tissue donors provided the gift of healing to thousands of patients in need of tissue.

Misconceptions with organ donating are common according to Bassam Hanna, Oakland University’s Gift of Life president.

SOURCE/GIFT OF LIFE

“Most people don’t know how organ donating works, they don’t understand or take the time to learn about it,” Hanna said.

Along with fellow students David Atto and Ragda Hindi, he hopes bringing the Gift of Life organization to OU, which didn’t have an organ donating club, would help inform students how the process works and get them to join the registry.

By joining, donors have the option of donating their heart, kidneys, pancreas, lungs, liver and intestines. They can also donate eyes, and tissues such as heart valves, cardiovascular tissue, bone, soft musculoskeletal tissue and skin.

“One organ donor can save eight lives,” Hanna said.

Most major religions support organ donating, viewing it as a charitable and a loving act that betters human life.

People who become donors view it as a rewarding opportunity, Hanna said.

“It’s an ethical decision and when people hear they can save a life they want to become a donor,” Hanna said.

Alaska and Montana are tied for having the greatest percentage of their adult residents on the state organ donor registry with 79 percent. Vermont has the lowest percent with 1 percent, although Vermont is one of the nation’s newest donor registries. It was created in 2009.

As of Jan. 2, 2013, there were 2.97 million people on the Michigan Organ Donor Registry, which is about 30 percent of Michiganians. It leaves the state 43^rd in the nation.

Even with increased efforts to get more people to join the registry, there is no way of knowing who every donor is because of the different ways a person can indicate they are a donor.

“We know there are a lot of people who have signed the back of their driver’s license, but we don’t have access to that and don’t know who they are,” said Jennifer Tislerics, special events and partnerships coordinator of Gift of Life Michigan.

Although Michigan’s organ donor registry is one of the oldest in the nation, it lags primarily because other states have asked their residents for years to join the registry when they renewed their driver’s license or state ID.  Michigan didn’t, relying on organizations to promote and spread the word any way they could.

“The system wasn’t effective as it needed to be,” Tislerics said.

SOURCE/GIFT OF LIFE

In recent years, Michigan Secretary of State clerks began asking customers that question with every transaction. Numbers have increased ever since.

For a look at Michigan counties, view this interactive map.

Throughout the country, each state at a different time has set up its registry.

“Each state is unique in its personality, its government systems and how its donor registry is promoted and managed,” Tislerics said.

Through their involvement, college students are showing they’re open to the idea of organ donation.

“The Gift of Life Campus Challenge is a fun way to get that message to students,” Tislerics said. “Since the Campus Challenge began in 2004, it has inspired nearly 32,000 college students to donate life.”

In January, the group at OU signed 95 student and faculty members. OU and 12 colleges in Michigan helped register more than 700 donors in the first month of 2013.

You can register online, visit any secretary of state branch office or call Gift of Life at 800 482-4881.

 Tweet

Social networking has consumed Internet users.

There are members of all ages from different backgrounds, but one issue among many Facebook users is the tremendous number of people who publish posts that seem to have little rationale.

Facebook has 1 billion users, with 604 million accessing it through their mobile devices. Daily posts of personal information increase as the website gains more subscribers.

So what is it that drives people to oodles of postings? Here are some reasons:

• For the attention
• Stay connected
• Boredom
• Share their interests
• Promote personal events
• Show passive-aggression
• Share opinions
• Create conflict

Check out the video for advice on what not to post on Facebook.Tweet

Instead of using the Indigo plant, manufacturers now use synthetic Indigo called aniline to dye denim. PHOTO/AMANDA WILCZAK

BY AMANDA WILCZAK
OU News Bureau

Denim has been a hot fashion trend since the 1950s and has evolved with a number of styles and washes from bell-bottoms to the latest craze, jeggings.

But sometimes fashion comes with a price. This price is denim transfer, which is when the dye rubs off onto objects that come into contact with the denim.

The most common place to find denim transfer is on handbags, especially cross-body bags that constantly rub on the side of the pant leg. Not only does the dye rub off on handbags, but also it can transfer onto any object the denim touches, such as, couches, car seats, other clothing and skin.

Oakland University student Jenna-Lyn Joyce has had experience with denim transfer.

Denim transfer can occur on any object, but is most common on handbags. Once the dye is on the bag, it is almost impossible to remove. PHOTO/AMANDA WILCZAK

“I was mad because my new coach cross body was all blue on the backside from rubbing on my jeans,” she said. “It happens more often when I wear my Hollister jeans.”

There is not much hope when this happens.

Leslie Littell, Oakland University costume specialist, said: “If the item is white, dye removers can be used. Otherwise, the remover will take the dye out of the item and leave spots on it.”

She suggested a textile soap also called “quilt soap” or Reduran if the dye is on skin. Another tip is putting a bit of white vinegar in the washing machine with the denim.

“The acid will help to set the dye and may help with the color from transferring as much,” Littell said.

Carolyn Welsh, Fossil manager and former Coach employee, said: “You can’t get it off. But vinegar and water may take some of the transfer off. You can use it on fabric, but on leather you have to be careful because it might lift the color.”

Indigo dye from the Indigo plant originally was used to give denim its color. Today, manufacturers use Aniline or synthetic indigo dye instead of real Indigo dye from the plant.

“The color is easier to control for mass production,” Littell said, “but sometimes if the dye is not done correctly, the color will more likely rub off.”

“True denim” is when the inside of the jean is white and the surface of the pant is blue where the fibers have absorbed the dye. If the pant as a whole is the same shade, it was piece dyed, which is common with extremely dark denim.

Piece dyeing is when the garment is dyed as a whole. When the denim fibers are forced to absorb more dye to make the color darker, it is more likely to transfer.

The American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists has more information about dye testing.

 Tweet