Editor encourages student involvement

I see new people.

Actually I see all kinds of people. This time of year I enjoy finding an adequately shaded tree to sit under and just watch people. People are the most interesting thing about this campus and if you ever stop to watch people — amid all the hustle and bustle that accompanies the first week of school — you'll no doubt experience sensory overload in a couple of hours. You can watch people all semester, but this week is the best week for observing.

I see you, freshman, walking around campus with a look for that dadgum University Hall. You walk around campus with a look of uncertainty as you choose which group or groups you want to join. Right now, you just want to get back to your dorm room for a nap.

I see you, sophomore, enjoying the lost look on the faces of the "freshmeat" — the memory of your first semester last year still fresh in your mind. You still haven't found anything to do with your free time since you're not quite 21.

I see you, junior, sitting for hours, staring aimlessly in the direction of a waterless fountain — the same fountain you became accustomed to over the last two years, which is being altered for your safety. You too have a look as if you're longing for something more.

I don't see you seniors anywhere, as you're probably still sleeping it off ("My alarm clock is 10 minutes fast, so I can hit Snooze one more time").

What I see is a bunch of people looking for some fulfillment. You all want to do something that makes a difference. You all want to leave a mark at this university before you leave in four (or five) years. Here's your chance.

So let me answer some of your questions and delete some of your misconceptions about working for the nation's largest independent daily student newspaper.

• "I didn't think it was that easy to work at The Exponent," said the junior, almost too late to take advantage of our opportunities.

Everyone thinks that working at The Exponent is like getting an internship. Well, that's partially accurate. While the real-world journalism, advertising and production experience at The Exponent is similar to the skills you'd acquire at an internship, getting started here is much, much easier.

• "But, I don't have any experience," said the unsure sophomore.

Neither did I when I began as a staff writer. It doesn't matter if you've never even written a letter to a pen pal. We'll teach you.

• "But, how do I get started and what would I have to do?" asked the freshman, waiting for the bus.

It's simple. You come to our callout at 7 p.m. on Aug. 28 in EE 170 (see Mortar Board Map coordinates H6). Show up and listen. We'll tell you all the things you need to know about changing your life. We'll tell you how, after a handful of interesting and accelerated training seminars, you'll be selling ads, composing pages, writing stories, taking photographs or drafting graphics. We'll tell you how, with more nearly 150 students on staff, you'll become a member of one of the larger student organizations on campus.

Above all, we'll tell you how gaining experience at The Exponent will affect your future at Purdue and beyond. We'll tell you how, and why, your decision to join The Exponent family is the best decision you've made at Purdue.

See you at the callout and have a great semester.

Keith Thomas is a senior in the school of Liberal Arts. He can be e-mailed at editor@purdueexponent.org.

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OPINIONS DESK PHONE:
(765) 743-1111 ext. 256

Opinions editor:
Tom McHenry