Archive for the ‘higher education’ Category
Target, Beer Pong and Party Schools
Filed under: college students, higher education, student affairs | Tags: binge drinking, alcohol, Princeton Review, Target, beer pong
Comments (5) Recently, members of the student affairs community were upset/disappointed/outraged at a photo of a Target end cap marketing ping pong balls, card tables and plastic cups as “college essentials” (i.e. everything you need to set up a game of beer pong…aside from the beer – where were you on that, Target?)
In related news, the Princeton Review recently released their list of the top party schools. Every year a big deal is made by media and university staff about this list. Administrators dread it. News outlets announce it as if it’s groundbreaking, hard-hitting news. Universities release statements about their efforts to address drinking issues on campus and promise worried parents they are doing everything they can. Student affairs pros condemn the list and talk about how it dangerously glamorizes binge drinking.
I don’t think the Target display nor the party school rankings are particularly helpful and it is disappointing to see companies try to maximize profit by playing on dangerous stereotypes about what college should be and/or assumed or proven ideas about college students’ drinking habits.
However, we can condemn the party school rankings and the beer pong displays as much as we want but that stuff really doesn’t matter. If the lists disappeared and Target took down their beer pong display, the binge drinking problems would still be there. Those are symptoms of the problem, not the problem itself.
Instead, universities need to focus efforts on two areas: 1) helping students make informed decisions about drinking and provide the appropriate resources to students dealing with alcohol issues, and 2) evaluating and making changes within the culture in which colleges and universities with a lot of drinking problems operate.
Here at University of Wisconsin-Madison we have students who engage in high-risk drinking because they grew up in Wisconsin, a state with a huge drinking culture (check this Milwaukee Journal Sentinel series about it – it’s eye opening). Wisconsin leads the nation in percentage of the population that drinks, binge drinking, number of taverns, drunk driving offenses, etc. It’s no wonder Sconnies have issues with alcohol. Boycotting Target and blaming stupid lists from from companies trying to make a quick buck isn’t going to change that. Our time can be better spent on other efforts to address binge drinking on our campuses.
What do you think? Am I totally off the mark? After all, I’m just a career services person who fixes resumes. I’m curious what those of you who that work in Dean of Students offices, judicial affairs, residence life and other departments that have to deal more directly with student drinking think about this.
I Think I’ll Just Stay in College Forever
Filed under: career exploration, higher education, student affairs | Tags: careers, colleges, higher education, student affairs, student services, universities
Leave a Comment If you ask a student affairs professional how they ended up working in higher education, you’ll hear a lot of different stories, but most include something like, “I never thought about student services as something I could actually get PAID to do”. University administration is not a career most people decide upon purposefully or early on in life. Have you ever heard an 8-year old claim they want to be a residence hall director or an academic advisor when they grow up? Yeah, me neither.
My path to becoming a campus career advisor was equally winding. Now that I work in student affairs, however, I can’t imagine working in another field. The pros of working in higher ed? Glad you asked…
1. Lots of college campuses are exciting, energetic, dynamic places. There is never a shortage of things going on, issues to debate or thought leaders with interesting new research to share. It usually creates a great culture in which to work.
2. There is a shared mission among staff to contribute to the greater good and to help others. Unlike for-profit employers, our goal is not to make the company money (we’ll leave that for our friends working in the university development office). I work with extremely dedicated, friendly, altruistic and creative colleagues.
3. Though universities are not immune from economic downturns, relatively speaking, it’s a pretty stable industry. Especially since people tend to go back to school during tough economic times (even if some shouldn’t).
4. I am continually impressed by the students with whom I work. They are changing the world through social responsibility initiatives, running their own businesses, and conducting mind-boggling research. In contrast, when I was a college sophomore, I could often be found on my couch, watching Golden Girls re-runs with my roommates, eating EZ Cheez. Working with the students I see everyday gives me tremendous hope. (Though, I would argue Golden Girls helped shaped my personal growth and development in monumental ways, but that’s another post.)
5. College kids usually define what is “cool”, or are the first to find out about the next big thing. So, by association, I am instantly cooler.
Student affairs can include career and academic advising, student organizations and leadership programming, diversity and multicultural affairs, residence life, financial aid, international and study abroad programs, admissions, athletics and recreational sports and academic support services. With such a wide range of specialties, student affairs allows for a lot of different personalities and talents to find success.
Working in higher ed is not without its flaws. We are subject to office politics that can get in the way of helping students, our whole reason for being there in the first place. Few of us are getting rich, budget cuts are tough and opportunities for advancement are limited.
But, college was one of the best times of my life. As a first-generation college student, I felt privileged to even be there. Now that they let me in, I’m staying for good.
