Victor eRecruiting is an on-line job posting service provided for you free of charge by the NIU Career Planning and Placement Center.

Go to www.niu.edu/cppc, then click on the red Victor eRecruiting banner. Use your z-ID as your username and your birthdate as your password to access details about jobs that are available to you now or in the near future.

What kinds of jobs? All kinds!

•Part-time and/or temporary jobs for students who are looking for summer employment

•Volunteer opportunities for students who want to participate in a community improvement effort

•Full-time permanent jobs for upcoming graduates from all colleges and departments

•Jobs for alumni who have lost their jobs with downsizing companies or who are career-changers

Perhaps just as important as the actual job listings themselves are the counseling services available to NIU students. For example, do you know how to write a "good" resume? One that will really communicate your skills and interests in a way that is meaningful and compelling to potential employers?

And how about your interviewing skills? Do you feel confident that you could sit down with a recruiter and respond with clarity to questions about how your work experience and education have prepared you for the job for which you are applying? Transferable skills are important to most college graduates applying for jobs for which they have little direct experience. Can you identify your transferable skills and match them up with job requirements?

Identifying employers who are likely to have the job you are looking for is a big challenge. Will you know where to start so that you can save time, minimize rejection and narrow in on that part of the job market that will be most in need of your particular problem-solving skills?

There is a lot to think about as you approach graduation or consider job opportunities available to you while you're in school. Get some expert advice — call (815)753-1641 and make an appointment with a career counselor. Regardless of your career choice or job search questions, they can offer some practical, usable ideas that fit your particular situation.

Walk-in hours also are available if you just have a quick question or want someone to review your resume before you begin to apply for jobs. You are invited to stop in on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon between noon and 4 p.m.

Looking for more online help with your job search? At www.niu.edu/cppc, click on "Student Services." All of the information there will be useful to you, but start with "NIU Majors Information" and "Job Search Handouts." There is a ton of valuable information at these sites and you'll refer to them again and again, even after you graduate.

Good luck with your job search. Please give the Career Planning and Placement Center, Campus Life Building, Suite 220, an opportunity to help you with your job search plans.

Transitioning to college is something that probably has occupied incoming students and their parents for at least a year. The stress of deciding what colleges to apply to, the anxiety about admissions and the ever-looming worries about paying for everything are barely behind you. In the relief of knowing that NIU is the college for you, it is easy to begin to think that the hardest part of the transition is over.

This may or may not be true.

Actually, one of the surprisingly difficult parts of college is that so many questions can be best answered, "It depends." This answer tends to provoke anxiety.

Should freshmen go home every weekend? It depends. On one hand, there seems to be a persistent connection between getting involved and connected at school, and graduating. On the other hand, students who have strong connections at home tend to feel more confident in stepping out into new situations. And on the third hand, at some point parents really do need to learn to troubleshoot their own computer problems!

Should students tell their parents all about the weird behavior of their new roommate? It depends. Parents can be very helpful in sorting out possible solutions to roommate conflicts, can give a broader perspective and, in general, offer support. Sometimes parents can get overwhelmed by the emotion of the moment, and get the impression that their student has a demon-possessed roommate, when actually the two of them solved the problem but forgot to pass this information along. Solving relationship problems is one of the great learning experiences of college. Just like in elementary school, it’s not a good idea to get parents to do their child’s homework, but a helpful hint can go a long way.

What should the student do who feels different because of ethnicity, race, disability, religion or sexual orientation? Is it best to look for other students who are like you, or to take a chance on mingling with other people who are different? It depends. Getting connected to an office or organization whose purpose is to work with students that share ones needs or interests can provide a sense of belonging. On the other hand, getting involved with a new group or organization can be very liberating and exhilarating. Fortunately, students can do both!

And speaking of relationships, what about students and their teachers? One of the few exceptions to "it depends" is to encourage students to talk to their professors. Most faculty enjoy connecting with students and feeling like they might be making a difference in their students’ lives. Students who ask questions, or even say hello, not only increase their chances of learning something, they are doing a good deed. On the other hand, faculty, as a rule, much prefer dealing with students rather than the students’ parents!

One of the great advantages of developing connections with faculty is that this often helps students who are trying to choose a major. Faculty know a lot about their discipline and related disciplines, and they often know about related career options. Finding a major that is a good fit is another "it depends." Since the choice depends on putting together information about interests, values, skills and careers, for many students several different majors can look like equally good choices. Talking to faculty, career counselors and employers can help in sorting this out.

Ultimately, the key is the same now as always: keeping communication open. Students who can talk with their parents, parents who can talk with their child, students who can talk to each other and to their teachers: All of these lines of communication contribute to success in college.

What to do if the communication gets too clogged up? NIU has a wealth of resources for addressing all kinds of communication problems, and one person who is very familiar with these resources is the community adviser on the student’s floor in the residence hall. Another option is to contact the Counseling and Student Development Center staff of counselors and psychologists who are available to assist students regarding personal issues, career counseling and study skills.

The Counseling and Student Development Center is located at the Campus Life Building, Suite 200. For information, call 753-1206.

Anna Beth Payne is the associate director and a licensed psychologist.

By now, you are no doubt tired of people telling you to make the most of your college years because they will be the best years of your life. However, if you can tolerate one more piece of advice, let me suggest that you listen to those people.

The endeavor which you are about to undertake here at Northern Illinois University offers the potential for more learning and more personal growth than you may have experienced in all of your life until now. Notice, however, that I say potential, for it is up to you to decide what you will make of it.

You join a long line of NIU students, numbering more than 150,000 and stretching back more than 100 years, each of whom came to this campus facing many of the same questions you are sorting out, each trying to map out a course for their future.

For all of them, NIU provided a solid foundation on which they could build their lives, and some used that foundation to help them attain spectacular heights.

U.S. Rep. Dennis Hastert built upon his NIU education degree to become the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Paul Sereno, a biological sciences major, used his NIU degree to launch a career that has seen him become one of the most prominent paleontologists of his generation.

Art grad Dan Castellaneta went on to become the voice of Homer Simpson. Theater Arts major Joan Allen has won three Academy Award nominations.

The names of those NIU alumni might be the most recognizable to you, but if you are from Chicagoland you have been surrounded and influenced by Northern graduates all of your life.

Our College of Education can claim as graduates more than 16,000 teachers currently working in Illinois and one quarter of the state's school administrators. One third of the city managers working in the state graduated from our world-renowned public administration program; our business graduates are recruited heavily by the leading accounting firms, banks and corporations. Our College of Law counts as alumni nearly 30 sitting judges.

The success stories go on and on, and each story began at the crossroads where you now find yourself. How your own story will be written will be shaped by the choices you make now, so I urge you to consider those decisions carefully and to challenge yourself at each step along the way. Rather than merely completing your requirements, seek out challenges, expose yourself to new ideas and learn how to think for yourself.

You have my pledge that the university, all of its faculty and staff, will do everything within their power to help make your experience here at NIU happy and productive.

Your time here at NIU can indeed be the best time of your life, but ultimately, the quality and the value of that experience will be up to you.

Roommates.

Even the word can cause problems if new students aren't used to living with someone.

Keith Kruchten, administrative vice president-elect of the Residence Hall Association, said the best way to handle living with a new roommate in tight corridors is to try to get to know one another.

"I highly recommend going to the events of New Student Welcome Days, and especially the RHA Block Party," Kruchten said. "Because this way not only are you doing something together, but it affords the opportunity to meet other new students on campus."

With every new living situation, Kruchten said that problems will occur. He said the best way to work through these situations is to talk about them in order to prevent further differences.

"Conflicts will occur, and the best way to solve them is to keep the lines of communication open," Kruchten said. "Too often, when problems arise, roommates stop talking to each other, and this just leads to more problems and the whole problem snowballs into something huge, when it started out small."

Freshman Lauren Mangold said communication is the key when dealing with a new living situation.

"You have to talk to your roommate about problems that can occur," Mangold said. "You also have to be considerate of the other person."

For Mangold, just going to dinner with her roommate helped her not only get to know her roommate better, but it also gave them an opportunity to spend time together outside of their residence hall.

"Always be considerate of each other's space and don't ever live with someone that you are really close with or even think you can be close with," Mangold suggests. "It will turn out bad."

Krista Hehl, a freshman pre-physical therapy major, also said communication is the key to a successful living situation.

"Be patient with each other," Hehl said. "You have to be more understanding toward people. I always had my own room and was not use to sharing it. At first it was kind of weird just talking on the phone with someone else in the room, but you get used to it."

Although there has been much debate regarding roommates living with someone they know, Kruchten said living with someone you don't know offers opportunity to meet new people.

"Getting a random roommate is a gamble, but almost always a good one," Kruchten said. "By living with someone you don't know, it opens you up to a new culture, a new way of thinking, a new ‘style' so to speak. College is about new experiences and living with someone you have never met before; it is one of the best growing exercises I can imagine."

Alex Underwood, president of the Residence Hall Association, agreed.

"Go out together, meet new people together, have fun together," he said. "The quickest way to bond is to have shared experiences."

Well come on in a sit a spell. Ya'll gonna git a rare opportunity to learn somethin' useful.

You will be able to hear the straight poop about De-town and Northern from someone who has lived in the area all of his natural life, me.

As you can tell by the byline that my name is Nick and, yes, I am Swedish. That doesn't really have to do with anything except that there are a lot of Swedes and Swedbergs in the area. This fact isn't important for this column though.

What matters is that you are new to NIU and need a guide to the tri-city (DeKalb, Sycamore and Cortland) area. Welcome to your Townie's Guide to the Lesser Metropolitan Area.

Eat

This is my favorite subject to talk about. If the type is smudged, it's probably because I am drooling on the paper.

Despite the apparent lack of any good restaurants, there are a few chic dining spots in the area.

If your tastes run on the expensive side, there are options for you. Restaurants like Johnny's Charhouse, 1950 DeKalb Avenue No. A, and La Za Za Trattoria, 2496 DeKalb Avenue, are some of the more expensive and classier joints.

However, if you are the typical college student - like me - you are poor. We have the standard fare of fast food restaurants and greasy spoons available for your dining pleasure. There also are the standard pizza places, like Papa John's, Dominos and Pizza Hut.

Some of the more unique pizzerias in DeKalb include Pagliai's and Pizza Villa, with its famous spinning clown doll. That thing still gives me the creeps every time I see it.

For all of you insomniacs and late-night partiers, DeKalb has two options for a sit-down restaurant meal. The Junction, 816 W. Lincoln Highway, offers the standard greasy spoon fare, but closes for a couple hours each night.

Around The Clock, 1039 W. Hillcrest Drive, on the other hand, is open 24 hours a day, no reservation required.

On the subject of restaurants, a buddy of mine raised an interesting question one day. He wondered whether I was a Lukolos or a Tom & Jerry's man. Both are similar restaurants that serve delicious carbo-loaded food.

Since I'm from around here, I prefer Tom & Jerry's and its famous gyros. Lukolos is not without its charms, though.

Drink

A staple of many college students' nightlife is the bars, and NIU is no exception. Each bar has a different personality.

Molly's Eatery and Drinkery, 1022 W. Lincoln Highway, is the quintessential meat market. Everyone I talk to says that is the place where all the pretty ladies go. And where the ladies are, so follow the men.

Fatty's, located downtown, is a bit more laid back but gets just as crowded as any bar on Tuesdays. Fatty's offers 40 cent drafts where others offer 50 cent drafts on Tuesdays.

Having recently turned 21, I only have begun going to the bars. They are fun every once in a while, but the prices are so expensive, you could easily drop a mint.

Be Merry

The key to having a good time, whether at the bars or anywhere else, is the people you surround yourself with.

Parties are fun, if you invite the right people. I have had the fortunate experience of partying with different sorts of people.

The first are my friends from back in high school. These friends, along with others from my hometown, prefer the laid-back good time. They like to play guitars and sing songs. They'd like nothing better than sit around a bonfire and drink beer till the wee hours of the night.

The other are the people I have met here at college. They are from all sorts of different places: the suburbs, down south, the big city, etc. The majority of them are from the bigger cities to the east and prefer the big parties with loud house music.

Some people I have met don't like to do either. They prefer to go to the movies or just hang out with their friends in their residence hall rooms and apartments.

I enjoy doing all of those options with people. The thing that you will figure out is what you prefer to do. You then will find people who have similar tastes. Now is the time to find out what you like and what you are like.

Nick Swedberg

If you’re new to NIU this year, you’re probably wondering how much you should worry about your schoolwork. Everyone, it seems, has a different message about the level of challenge associated with university-level academic work. Some will tell you that it is overwhelmingly difficult; others will tell you that if you try hard enough, you can accomplish anything; and still others will tell you that college coursework is even easier than high school.

With all of these conflicting messages, how should new students assess the true impact of a full schedule of university-level courses? This is a complicated question, and one to which the full answer probably won’t be known until the end of the semester.

Students might find that their grades are not necessarily based upon how much effort they invest into a course, but instead may be based upon whether they achieve the performance objectives established for the course. Since it takes everyone a different degree of effort to master course material, this can be frustrating.

It will help to keep in mind that university classes include a greater emphasis on self-regulated learning. For example, students usually are expected to complete textbook reading on their own (while in-class time often is spent learning different material). Having trouble concentrating on the reading? Try forming study groups with classmates. Also, try skimming each chapter before you sit down to read it in-depth. Don’t hesitate to write notes in the margins or to circle key ideas. Then, if you need additional help, you’ll be prepared to meet with your instructor.

Staying alert in class and following the main points of a classroom lecture -- things that were easy in the past -- may seem difficult once you are taking courses in unfamiliar subject areas. Being bored in a class can be a symptom of other study skills problems, so don’t be embarrassed about seeking help.

Wondering where to turn for assistance? Be sure to talk with your community adviser in the residence halls for referrals to tutoring and other resources, and consider calling the Counseling and Student Development Center for an individualized study skills consultation; we help students with time management, textbook reading, note-taking and test preparation.

It’s also important for students and families to talk with one another about academic difficulties. We often hear that families don’t want to be perceived as overly pressuring, but have a genuine interest in knowing how their students are succeeding academically. Students tell us that they want to talk honestly with their families about academic difficulties, but are worried about being perceived as failures. We encourage students to share academic concerns with their families and to brainstorm with parents about resources that might help.

As a new student, it’s normal to experience academic challenges during the first semester at a university. The key to overcoming these challenges is to understand that to be a truly independent learner, each of us needs to know when to ask for help. Because the entire NIU community -- students, their families, instructors and staff -- is invested in each student’s success, students will find that help readily available.

"Finding Your Way" is the theme for the 2003 NIU new student and family orientation programs, which take place between June 9 and Aug. 6. The staff of the Orientation Office and I hope that your orientation day will be the start of a great journey as an NIU student or family member. We are dedicated to helping you find your own path to success, both today and when you return to campus for classes in the fall.

Recently, this office conducted a survey with NIU students, alumni, administrators and faculty to pinpoint the most common issues and concerns new students have when they arrive here. They also shared their advice for making a successful transition to the campus. Here's just a portion of what they said:

Most common issues for new students

•Managing time and setting priorities.

•Achieving a balance between academics and social life.

•Balancing freedom and responsibility.

•Adjusting to life in the residence halls and living with a roommate (for commuting students, the challenge is getting connected and establishing relationships on campus).

•For transfer students, adjusting to a new institution with its own unique policies, programs and culture.

•For freshmen, making the transition from high school teachers to university faculty who expect students to take responsibility for their learning.

•Asking for help from faculty and staff when it's needed.

•Getting involved on campus and feeling a sense of belonging.

•Staying connected with family and friends at home while. developing new friendships at NIU.

•Exploring and/or confirming the choice of a major.

Advice from the experts

•Use a daily planner to keep track of classes, study time, work, recreation, etc. We recommend the NIU Academic Planner, available at the University Bookstore.

•For freshmen, be prepared to put in much more study time than in high school.

•Learn to manage your money and establish a budget. Make sure you can balance your checkbook. Watch out for credit card promotions and credit card debt.

•Open, honest communication is the key to good relationships — with your roommate, your instructors, your floor mates, and your family. Don't wait to resolve problems until it's too late. •Get involved in at least one campus organization or activity your first semester here. You can choose from intramural athletics, residence hall activities, events at the Convocation Center, fraternities and sororities, honors organizations, campus ministries, and much more. Involved students are more satisfied and more likely to be successful in college.

•Get to know at least one faculty member during your first semester. Don't be afraid to contact your instructors during office hours and via e-mail. If you need help with a class, talk with the instructor or use NIU's tutoring or study skill resources.

•Read the Northern Star on-line (www.northernstar.info) or in paper format every weekday.

It's one of the best sources for campus information and coming events.

•Learn about campus safety and resources to help keep yourself safe.

•Homesickness is normal at first. Stay on campus the first several weekends and give your new environment a chance. Invite family and friends to visit you here.

•Come to NIU with a positive attitude, self-motivation and an openness to new people and experiences.

•Bring realistic expectations to college. Great times with new friends are in store for you, but there also will be long hours of studying, especially around mid-terms and finals.

•Enroll for UNIV 101 (for freshmen) or UNIV 201 (for transfers). The courses are designed to give you the information and support you need to succeed here. One of the best aspects of the course is the chance to meet other new students in a small group environment. Research at NIU and at colleges and universities across the nation has proven that UNIV students do better academically and are more satisfied in college than those who don't take the course.

•There's help available for almost any student concern at NIU and there are people here who care about your success, happiness and well-being. You'll find them in your residence hall, in the classroom and in many of the Student Affairs and academic support service offices. Take initiative and use the many resources you have available.

Best wishes as you find your way to success at NIU!

Dear New and Returning NIU Students:

Welcome to another bountiful year at Northern Illinois University!

This year is all about wealth and wanting more. I want students to be greedy in their university experience. We have a responsibility to improve the quality of life and learning on this campus for ourselves and for future generations of NIU students, so we must constantly ask for more.

First and foremost, you are here to complete your degree. It is a daunting and privileged task, and the SA is here to help. There are hundreds of deadlines that must be met and a mountain of papers to read and write that will ensure success. I want the SA to be your wealth of information in that quest by consolidating this data and placing it at your fingertips.

But, completing your degree requires a lot more than simply going to classes and studying. Learning is more than books and exams. Your college years are often called the best years of your life. You should be rich in your life here at NIU, but you should not have to spend a fortune to enjoy it.

Figuratively speaking, this richness can be found in our social diversity. There are nearly 200 student organizations - including Greek fraternities and sororities, pre-professional organizations, and social clubs - recognized by the SA and ready to welcome new members. We will hold an organizational expo this fall to introduce you to those opportunities.

Literally speaking, higher education should be affordable at best and accommodating at least. Part of our responsibility in student government is to keep an eye on the university and state administrations and to persuade them to control the rising costs of degree completion. We will do everything in our power to communicate your need to our representatives and to influence their sympathy toward your plight.

But, your wealth is not yet secure. It is only yours if you choose to claim it. Claim it by taking advantage of NIU and the rich community it offers. And, increase it by telling us how we can invest your interests.

The Student Association is here to work as your brokers. Anyone is capable of hatching an idea to better the quality of life and learning on the campus, but making it work requires individuals committed to following the idea to implementation.

On Sept. 23 and 24, you will have the opportunity to elect your senators, your direct representatives to the SA. They are expected to be responsive to your needs, bringing your issues to the front and advocating the appropriate responses. It is your responsibility to keep them accountable to their mission.

Cooperation between the branches of government and you, the student, can accomplish amazing things. Together, we can work to enhance your wealth of education and richness of life over the next few years of your university experience. Spend and invest these treasures wisely, and always be seeking more.

Welcome to NIU. Huskie Athletics offers you exciting Division 1A sports. We are home to the best student section in the Mid-American Conference -- the Dog Pound!

Huskie Athletics is here to make your experience at NIU a memorable one. We invite all students to attend athletics events free with a valid student ID.

We are excited that Huskie football opens on Aug. 28, as we host the Top 10 nationally-ranked Maryland Terrapins. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. The game will be televised by Fox Sports Net, so be sure to wear your black and red. This is a game you will not want to miss, as more than 10,000 NIU students regularly attend NIU football games.

If you have any questions about NIU Athletics, please check out www.niuhuskies.com or stop by the Athletics Ticket Office at the Convocation Center.

Welcome to Huskie Country! We want your next four years to be a great and fun experience!

Students living off-campus don't always have the easy access to laundry facilities that students in residence halls enjoy.

While complexes where students traditionally rent apartments may have laundry facilities, not all residents find these appliances to be the most productive way to take care of dirty laundry.

The worst time to do laundry in DeKalb is on Sunday afternoons, when business at area Laundromats is at a peak, said Pat Hinkle, one of the owners of Double Bubble, 850 Pappas Drive. Saturdays also are busy days for area Laundromats.

Still, many students do laundry when it is most convenient for them, and often go to the business closest to where they live.

"My apartment building only has one washer and one dryer, so it saves lots of time to come here and do three loads at once," said junior elementary major Pam Richmeier as she waited for her clothes to finish drying at the Laundry Lounge, 818 W. Lincoln Highway.

Dave Melms, owner of the Laundry Lounge, said his business has a lot of customers who attend NIU, but a major portion of his clientele consists of DeKalb residents.

DeKalb resident Tiffany Porter said the washer and dryer at her apartment complex need maintenance and haven't worked for more than a month. She also found it convenient to go to the Laundry Lounge because of its close proximity to her apartment.

Hinkle said Double Bubble also sees a lot of students, but the clientele varies, and many non-students use the service.

She said her business always has an attendant on duty during business hours, and is the newest Laundromat in town, adding the business has new washers and dryers that are cleaned daily.

"We also have the hottest dryers in town, and you know that because we are the only ones who have dryers that display the current temperature," she said.

Other places rely less on student business to operate.

Randy Stillson, owner of First Street Cleaners and Laundry, 1110 N. First St., said about 15 percent of his business comes from students, and things really don't slow down when most NIU students leave for the summer.

"We probably have more students using our dry cleaning services than our laundry services," he said.

An NIU student was killed in an apparent train accident Saturday.

Kenneth McInnis, 23, a pre-communication major, was pronounced dead by the DeKalb County Coroner's office at 2:15 a.m. Saturday.

His body was found by DeKalb police at 1:42 a.m. Saturday after police responded to a reference to a possible train accident at the 1000 block of West Lincoln Highway, according to DeKalb police reports.

According to the coroner's report, no foul play is suspected and it is being investigated by the DeKalb Police Department and the DeKalb County Coroner's Office.

An examination of the death is pending.

"The grant will be used to study the rules that govern how animals grow up, or their so-called life history," Schwartz said. "This is a fundamental aspect of an animal's biology and a very difficult thing to examine in long-dead fossils, but new tools are allowing us to accurately reconstruct the important biological parameter with unparalleled precision."

Schwartz attended New York's Stony Brook University with initial intentions of studying physics and astronomy, but he said anthropology found him.

"I have always been fascinated with natural history, at one level or another," Schwartz said.

"My earliest memories are begging my parents to drive me into the American Museum of Natural History on a Saturday, so that I could go see all the wonderful dinosaur and mammal fossils. I always knew I would end up studying the history of our planet, whether it was from the perspective of an astronomer, or that of a paleontologist."

Although Schwartz has been teaching at NIU since the beginning of August, a variety of other schools has given him experience in his field.

Schwartz was accepted to do his master's and then his Ph.D. at Washington University in St. Louis. Before finishing, however, he went to South Africa where he taught anatomy at Witwatersrand Medical School in Johannesburg, South Africa.

He then was granted a post-doctoral research position at University College London. After that, he took up a second post-doc position at the Smithsonian Institution's Natural History Museum in D.C.

"NIU has generously supported my research since my first arriving here last autumn," Schwartz said. "It has taken a year, but my lab is finally up and running enabling me to begin my research in earnest."

Schwartz feels fortunate to work at the anthropology department at NIU because of the recognized master's program.

"It is important for these students to learn the ropes insofar as getting one's hands dirty in the lab," Schwartz said. "Students learn the most by actually doing it, and this is just the kind of research that will introduce the uninitiated to the process of scientific discovery."

Schwartz believes that anthropology gives students a more physical appeal to learning.

"More than any other subject, biological anthropology is a touchy-feely science; students have to hold, fondle, palpate, examine, etc.," Schwartz said. "The direct evidence on which human evolutionary scenarios are based. It is astounding to see the light bulb turn on in students when they are able to hold in their hands the entire cast of characters in the story of human evolution."