Students take charge of phonathon
Katie Rosenbaum
Campus News Editor
Erika Breese
This year the student phonathon underwent organizational changes. Currently students serve as the manager and lead supervisors of the phonathon. They are responsible for dealing with problems, organizing student callers and creating new ways to raise more money.
For the first time, Xavier students have taken responsibility in running and organizing the student phonathon that helps to raise money for Xavier University.
Although students working for the student phonathon have been calling alumni, parents and other supporters of Xavier for over 10 years, students have not previously been managers of the student phonathon.
The annual fund was rethinking the structure of the phonathon because there has been a high turnover of the manager. They decided that this year students would run the phonathon in order to try to create a more efficient organization, said Senior Associate Director the Office of the Annual Fund, Norah Mock. Mock supports and collaborates with the student manager and supervisors.
This year, there is a student manager, Steve Taylor, and two lead supervisors, Amanda Robinson and Erin Swietlik. There are also four student supervisors, Lauren Brinkman, Candyce Offett, Meghan Mattson and Ashleigh Sanders.
As manager, Taylor is responsible for trying to solve problems, including issues with technology or payroll and working to find new ways to increase donations or communicating with the public relations department of Xavier regarding issues that might affect donations.
Taylor said he enjoys working for the phonathon because he likes “that he is in the know about what is happening in the university.”
As a business major, he “likes the business experience that working as a manager provides. I am able to handle challenges and work to meet goals and motivate students.”
Robinson is in charge of the 33 student callers and participated in the hiring and training process for all callers. Throughout the year, she monitors and evaluates callers.
As the lead supervisor, Swietlik manages the other student supervisors, works with the development officers to set and achieve goals and supervises shifts.
“The phonathon is a mini business where students gain confidence and business experience by working through problems and meeting goals,” said Mock.
As Robinson said, “I have worked my way up the phonathon ladder, my sophomore year I was a caller, last year I was a student supervisor and a caller (and personally raised over $115,000) and now I am a lead student supervisor running the program. This can all show my future employer that I am dedicated and hard-working.”
This year the student phonathon has an official goal to raise $915,000, but according to Taylor, students hope to raise $1 million.
There is about a $44 million tuition gap and the student phonathon, part of the Annual Fund helps to raise money so “tuition does not have to increase as much as it could,” said Mock.
The Annual Fund raised $5.6 million for Xavier last year, and 15 percent of that, about $860,000, was raised by student callers.
“Our best salesmen are our students. They can relate to alumni and share memories about Xavier while garnering support for the university,” said Mock.
Meghan Mattson, the event planning student supervisor who works on monthly outings where callers get together outside of work said, “Our phone calls aren’t just about making money, they are also about connecting and networking with alumni.”
She continued, “It’s true that we do talk to a fair share of less-than-interested alumni, but one great conversation with an alumnus who still has plenty of fond memories and Muskie pride easily makes up for the bad conversations and hang ups I endure.”
Swietlick said that working on for the phonathon has “developed my communication skills, which are important regardless of the career I end up in.”
“Also, I am more articulate and I am not afraid to ask for anything. I am actually considering a career in development (fundraising), so this experience has definitely helped me learn about that field.”
Teacher Feature: Dr. Finch
Megan Jacobs
Staff Writer
Erika Breese
Communication is probably one of the most important human skills. Dr. Miriam Finch, who teaches interpersonal and organizational communications, discusses her favorite forms of communication and just how much she, like most students, could not live without her cell phone.
Q: What degrees do you have?
A: I have a B.A. in Language Communication and a M.A. in Science Rhetoric and Communication from the University of Pittsburgh.
I also received a Ph.D. from the University of Kansas in Communication Studies.
Q: If you weren’t a professor, what would you be doing with your education?
A: I would probably be doing consulting.
Q: Do you think you could survive a week without your cell phone?
A: I guess I could but it would be a very long, hard week.
Q: What is your biggest pet peeve in regards to your students?
A: Probably that most students don’t use the resources available to them, such as career consulting.
Q: What is your least favorite thing about Xavier?
A: Trying to find a parking space when I really need to park close.
Q: What was the worst part of college for you?
A: The nightmares I would have about missing an exam!
Q: What was your favorite part of college?
A: I really, really loved working with the professors and my fellow grad students.
Q: If you went back to college, what would you do?
A: I would definitely study abroad because I didn’t have the chance to do that when I was in school.
Q: Where would you go?
A: I have no idea. I think some of the fun is looking at all the places you can go.
Q: What is your favorite form of communication?
A: Face-to-face communication.
Q: If you were a contestant on “Survivor,” what would be the one item you would take that you can’t live without?
A: Probably my cell phone.
Q: What would you say is the most interesting class in the communication arts department?
A: I like all the classes because every class is different. I teach two interpersonal communications classes and both seem like totally different classes because the students in each are so different.
Q: What are the differences in communication between boys and girls?
A: Some research says that there is quite a significant difference between them, but a lot of new research disputes this and says that the communications styles of boys and girls aren’t as different and significant as we thought.
Q: What is one of the most interesting jobs you can get with a communication arts major?
A: One of the things you can do with an organizational communications major is event planning. I have a former student who is a manager for Downtown Disney. There are so many different things you can do, such as work in tradeshow productions, work for the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce and some of the most famous communication arts majors from Xavier are playing in the NBA. I don’t know if their degree helped them get there, though.
Q: Do you have any advice for your students?
A: 1) Take advantage of all the resources on and off campus. 2) Constantly stay in touch with your fellow graduates and the professionals in your field because they can help you meet people. Networking leads to a lot of social and professional opportunities.
Q: Is there anything else you think your students should know about you?
A: I am a pretty open person so I don’t really know anything because students get to know me pretty well.
Oh, I know! I had the honor of being kissed by Shamu the Whale at Sea World in Orlando.
Where in the world is Fr. Graham?
Graham travels to serve on boards, meets with donors
Stephanie Metz
Assistant Campus News Editor
Although Fr. Michael Graham, S. J. typically speaks to the Xavier community on Academic Day, this year he has already given a more formal State of the University address. This is due to the fact that Graham will be traveling on Academic Day.
For much of October, Fr. Graham, S.J. will be representing the Xavier community around the country and abroad at a number of meetings and conferences.
This week, Graham will be attending the fall meeting of the Presidents of the American Jesuit Colleges and Universities in Chicago. While in Chicago, he hopes to meet with a “potential donor” to Xavier. He will also travel to Cleveland for two more dinners with potential donors this week.
On Oct. 11, Graham will travel to New Orleans for his work as a member on the board of Loyola University.
Graham said that “work on other university boards not only helps me get a fresh perspective on my work here at Xavier,” but “allows me to be of service to other Jesuit schools.” That weekend he will fly home to Iowa to celebrate his father’s 84th birthday.
Graham, along with other representatives of the Xavier community, will attend a conference in Rome from Oct. 20-25 that focuses on Catholic-Jewish relations which will include “dozens of people from across the United States.”
During their time there, Graham and Xavier’s other representatives will have an audience with Pope Benedict. Graham hopes that this conference will provide new ways to “continue to strengthen the relationships between Xavier University and the Jewish community here in Cincinnati.”
During the last week of October, Graham will be in Philadelphia for the fall meeting of the President’s Council of the Atlantic 10 Conference, which Graham currently serves as the chair.
Police Notes
Sept. 24, 1:24 p.m.- A student reported the theft of a wallet out of an unattended backpack on the second floor of the library.
Sept. 25, 3:23 p.m.- Three non-students were warned for criminal trespassing and solicitation of signatures on the academic mall.
Sept. 29, 1:17 a.m.- A student was cited for underage consumption after being observed staggering down Herald Avenue near the library.
Sept. 29, 4:30 p.m.- A student reported finding an offensive note in the windshield of their vehicle parked in the 3700 block of Ledgewood Avenue.
Sept 30, 1:15 a.m.- Campus Police and Cincinnati Police responded to complaints of large party on the 900 block of Dana Avenue. There were approximately 150 students in attendance. The matter is now being handled by the Dean of Students.
Sept. 30, 3:17 a.m.- Two students acting suspicious behind the McGrath Health Center were cited for possession of marijuana, drug paraphernalia and underage consumption.
Sept. 30, 5:39 a.m.- Residence Life reported that someone had drawn offensive words and images in two of the residence halls.
Sept 30, 11:09 a.m.- A Physical Plant employee discovered damage to an exit sign in the Commons.
Oct. 2, 1:02 p.m.- Campus Police found two subjects soliciting advertisements in the O’Connor parking lot. One suspect was arrested on outstanding warrants and turned over to Cincinnati Police. The other filled out a field investigation report and was released.
Police Note of the Week
Sept. 30, 4:06 a.m.- Officers responded to a complaint about a subject causing a disturbance in Brockman Hall. A 16-year-old non-student from Miami University was later identified as the subject. The disturbance was caused by the subject going into an unlocked room looking for a friend and then climbing into bed with another student that they did not know. The minor was released to his/her parents and criminal charges are pending.
Katie Rosenbaum
Campus News Editor
Flu shots
Starting Tuesday, Oct. 16, flu shots will be available to students, faculty and staff on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. at the McGrath Health and Counseling Center. The cost will be $20. Students can have the charge put on their Bursar bills. No appointment is necessary. For more information, please contact Mary Rosenfeldt at x3022.
Book fair
The fourth annual Academic Book Fair will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 3 from 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. in GSC 330. There will be a display of academic textbooks and a light lunch will be served. Raffle prizes will also be given away. Contact Papania@xavier.edu or x3740 for more information.
Coffee hour
There will be a Japanese coffee hour on Wednesday, Oct. 3 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Faces of the World Lounge on the second floor of the Gallagher Center. For more information email mckinneys1@xavier.edu or call x2872.
Service Learning
There will be an informational session about the Academic Service Learning Semester trips in India and Nicaragua from 4:00- 5:00 p.m. and 5:00-6:00 p.m. respectively on the 10th floor of Schott Hall. This session is a great way for interested students to learn more about XU’s ASLS in India and Nicaragua. There will be an opportunity to meet with students who have participated in past years’ programs, see their photos, hear stories and ask questions of the ASLS staff. For more information, please contact hodgson@xavier.edu or call x3541.
Black-out day
The Black Student Association is sponsoring “Black-out Day for Jena 6: The Fight for Justice and Equality” on Tuesday Oct. 9. There will be a peaceful demonstartion under the “unity tree” from 7:00-8:30 p.m. and a slideshow presentation in Gallagher from 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. The BSA is also asking students to wear black all day and sign the petition in support of the Jena 6.
Jazz concert
There will be a jazz concert on Friday, Oct. 5 from 7:30-9 p.m. in the Gallagher Student Center. The concert is free and open to the public. Contact tatmant@xavier.edu or call x3801 for more information.
Taize spirit
There will be a special service for the Spirit of Taize on Thursday, Oct. 4 from 7-8 p.m. in Bellarmine Chapel. This event is sponsored by the Edward B. Brueggeman Center for Dialogue, and co-sponsors, the Peace and Justice Programs, Campus Ministry, Department of Theology, the Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations and the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. For more information, contact cummins@xavier.edu or call x3922.
Leadership workshop
There will be an Effective Catholic Board Leadership Workshop on Saturday, Oct. 6 from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Conaton Board Room. This event is presented by Xavier University’s Center for Business Ethics and Social Responsibility. Presenters include the region’s foremost experts on board leadership, finance and fundraising, planning strategies and legal issues. Registration and tuition are required. To find out more, contact lsrandalll@xavier.edu or call x3564.
Swing concert
There will be a swing concert hosted by Ed Polcer on Sunday, Oct. 7 from 2:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. in the Gallagher Theater. Contact huber@xavier.edu or call x3161 for more information.
Ensemble concert
There will be a Jazz Ensemble concert on Sunday, Oct. 7 from 8:15 until 9:45 p.m. in the Long Recital Hall. This concert is free and open to the public. For more information, contact tatmant@xavier.edu or call x3801.
SNAC meeting
There will be a Student Network for Accessibility Awareness in the Community meeting on Thursday, Oct. 4 at 4 p.m. in the Dorothy Day House. Email XUSNAC@gmail.com with any questions.
Resume workshop
There will be a resume workshop entitled “Ramping up your Resume” on Thursday, Oct. 4 from 4-5:15 p.m. in the XMBA room on the first floor of Hailstones Hall. This event will be hosted by Andy Gibson, an ‘05 Xavier Grad. Contact Maggie Meyer at meyerma1@xavier.edu for more information.
Poetry readings
The English Department Ryan Series is presenting three poetry readings in October: Michael Heller, Tuesday, Oct. 16, in the Gallagher Clock Tower; John Menaghan, Monday, Oct. 22, in the Honors House and Cate Marvin, Thursday, Oct. 25, in the Honors House. Contact Dr. Norman Finkelstein at finkel@xavier.edu for more information.
