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Work
Assignment: The President's Office
Students get insight into diversity |
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- by Linda C. Reynolds
Jesse Jackson didn't sing "Happy Birthday" to Gina Fugate,
but he managed to make her birthday the most exciting ever.
Gina, a sophomore who turned 20 on Sept. 18 and works in the president's office,
walked into the office that morning to find everyone in a flurry of activity.
Scattered across the conference table were papers, files and newspaper articles.
"I knew this was not going to be a normal day seeing things scattered all over," said
Fugate.
Audrey Fessler, executive assistant to the President, hurriedly explained to
the student employee that the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who was on an Appalachian tour,
unexpectedly had decided to stop in Berea to make a speech.
"Dr. Fessler handed me her hand-written notes and asked me to type a draft of
what would be the President's introduction of Rev. Jackson," said Fugate.
"I quickly typed the draft and ran it back to her. Then she and I began sorting
through the table full of material that would be used to improve the draft. Even
though that was only the beginning of what President Shinn would build on to
introduce Rev. Jackson, it was a wonderful, exciting experience for me."
Fugate is one of four students working the the President's Office. The others
are senior Cynthia Andrade, freshman Jennifer Brown and sophomore Neela Swanson.
The students all agree that Sept. 18 was not a normal day. A normal day, they
explain, is filled with tasks like filing, typing and running errands.
However, these tasks have enabled them to know the campus well, and with all
the interaction, they've learned details about every office and building on campus.
Also, they've learned most of the staff and who should be seen for what purpose.
"Learning the campus wasn't as hard as I thought it would be," said Baker. "Working
here really helped me learn about campus and who you need to see about something."
After answering the telephone or learning of a request or problem, they're able
to discern whether one needs to see the provost, vice president or whomever.
Knowing the proper channels is the best way to begin finding a solution, they
agree. When Neela was hired her peers said, "You'll be in on all the good stuff,
all the dirt and scuttlebutt. You'll see and hear what the rest of us never know."
She said that's not true.
"It's really not that way," said Neela. "There are confidential matters, but
that's true of any office. Aside from typing, filing and taking messages we do
lots of copying. President Shinn likes to do his own personal cards and thank-yous,
so we make copies of everything for him. We have a lot of deadlines in the office
and sometimes that makes us pretty uptight until the work's completed."
The students are quick to point out that their work assignment affords them no
preferential treatment.
"I have to make an appointment to see President Shinn like any other student
on campus," Gina said. "I was concerned about a matter and felt I needed to speak
directly with him. I got an appointment and we talked it over. He gave me the
same attention he would give to any student who needed to see him. He makes himself
accessible to any student who is willing to set up an appointment."
As to what kind of student should work in the President's Office, they unanimously
agree - "someone who is dependable, punctual and a 'people person.'"
"Actually, the job requires the same qualities that any office on campus desires
in its students," Jennifer commented. "We're not unique students who have been
weeded from dozens of applications. The President's Office is not an Ivory Tower.
The same hiring procedures are practiced here as in any office on campus."
Neela also noted there's a "nice cultural diversity mix in the office." She's
from Thailand, Cynthia is from Morelia, Mexico, Jennifer's hometown is Somerset,
Ky., and Gina's home is Dayton, Ohio.
"It wasn't planned this way, it just happened," Neela explained. "But it makes
for an interesting office composition. It probably makes international students
feel less intimidated if they need to stop by our office."
From Gina's perspective, there is a convenient dovetailing of interests between
the Development and President's Offices, something she understands since she
works for both.
"Before, I didn't realize how much the two offices overlapped," said Fugate.
One example of a shared interest came from a South Carolina church representative
who wrote President Shinn, explaining that the Church wanted to be a donor and
also correspond with a student. Gina, who had been the writer's Berea pen pal
for several months, was a logical choice. Her work with donor relations in Development
and her knowledge of the President's Office allowed her to answer questions effectively
and explain the campus activities from a student's viewpoint.
"I feel honored that I was chosen to perform this special task and I enjoy doing
it," said Fugate.
There are poignant recollections as well. Cynthia says she will never forget
the bridal shower that Melissa Gardner, Rita Kimpton Shouse '76, Susan Curtis
Vaughn '80 and Linda Varwig (Academic Vice President and Provost's Office) hosted
for her. Away from her home and family, she was very touched that everyone made
such an effort to make her wedding to Maxim Chyobotov, senior business major
from Russia, so special.
"This can happen at Berea because the labor program adds that something special
to our education," Cynthia explained. "We have the opportunity to really know
our supervisors and make friends as well."
"We hope to return to Berea to visit," Cynthia continued, "and look forward to
the time we can contribute to the College."
"We want to give something back, because Berea is very special to both of us."
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