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Your Recognized Student Organizationbuys the roll of paper, HPQ1412A, we’ll print it,

and you’ll stretch your printing dollars

Oxfam to Help Homeless By Amanda Fernandez

Hands of Hope Aids DisabledBy Keyla Cherena

EVENTSThursday, Jan. 13Spring Involvement FairSponsored by SOAR BoardUnion Ballrooms, 11 am – 2 pm

CSA Date Aucti onCaribbean Student Associati on State Ballroom, 7 pm

Tuesday, Jan.18Jeopardy Scholarship Competi ti onHosted by HLSUGME Auditorium, 6:30 pm

Wednesday, Jan.19FIT ClubHosted by NCNWCome prepared to workout302 Union, 7 pm

Thursday, Jan. 20Seminole Futures Career Expositi onLeon Couny Civic Center9 am – 12 pm, 1-3 pm

No AgeClub Downunder Doors at 8:30 pm, Show at 9:30 pm

Friday, Jan. 21Women in Business ConferenceUnion Ballrooms, 11 am – 3:30 pm

Saturday, Jan. 22Led Zeppelin 2Club DownunderDoors at 8:30 pm, Show at 9:30 pm

Tuesday, Jan. 25Mah Jong TournamentHosted by The Chinese Language and Culture Associati on 218 SSB, 7 – 9 pm

Thursday, Jan. 27Best Coast and WavvesClub Downunder Doors at 8:30 pm, Show at 9:30 pm

Love music or want to get into the music industry? Check out MEISA: The Music

and Entertainment Industry Student Associati on. You can work and go to shows, throw events, take event photography, make contacts, perform and meet guest speakers in the industry. You can also work with Renegade State Records, FSU’s student-run record label. Meeti ngs are Wednesdays at 6 pm. The fi rst meeti ng of the semester is Wednesday, Jan. 12, in HMU126. Belly dancing is a great workout. Members of the FSU Belly Dancers are off ering free beginners courses every Tuesday this semester in Union 301 from 6 pm – 7:30 pm. New intermediate classes will be on Tuesdays in Union 302 from 8 pm – 9 pm. For more informati on about the group or a performance request, contact bellydancersfl oridastate@gmail.com. Leave Your Mark Producti ons presents I Am My Own Wife, a play by Doug Wright based on his conversati ons with German transvesti te Charlott e von Mahlsdorf. The one-man play examines the life of German anti quarian Charlott e von Mahlsdorf, born Lothar Berfelde, who killed her father when she was a boy and survived the Nazi and Communist regimes in East Berlin as a transvesti te. The show takes place Friday, Jan. 28 – Sunday, Jan. 30 in The Annex Theatre. Admission for FSU students is $3. More informati on is at leaveyourmarkproducti ons.com.

By Tiff any Lett some

Tiffany’sCorner

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Get a good feeling by helping to raise awareness about the homeless people in Tallahassee. Oxfam at FSU, the Oxford Committ ee for Famine Relief, has collaborated with the Florida State Art Therapy Associati on and The Hope Community of Tallahassee to sponsor Conversati on Pieces: Socially Engaged Art. The exhibit, art created by the people of the Hope Community, will begin Feb. 1 at 7 pm on the second fl oor of the Student Services Building. Free food

Hands of Hope is reaching out to people with disabiliti es. Co-founder Jessica Seymour said Hands of Hope is determined to tackle the barriers of discriminati on or indiff erence to foster more integrati on within the community. “We are an organizati on that does not make a disti ncti on between disabiliti es,” she said. “Nor do we make a disti ncti on between ages.”

Oxfam at FSU members

FSU SGA Student Publicati ons Newslett er Vol. 3, No. 7 January 2011

NEWS TO USE

from 1- Hands of Hope

from 1- Oxfam To Help Homeless

TIPS, News to Use, is the newslett er of Student Publicati ons, an affi liated project of the Student Government Associati on of Florida State University. E-mail submissions to mharris2@admin.fsu.edu. Graphic Designer Adrianna Cournoyer. Assistant Editor/Columnist Tiff any Lett some. Designer/Assistant Editor Renatt a Griffi th. TIPS, A302 Oglesby Union, (850) 644-0037.

Women in BusinessBy Yanique Banton

If you are interested in business and the professional world, you may want to att end the fourth annual conference of the Women in Business on January 21 from 11 am – 3 pm in the Union Ballrooms. The theme of the conference is “Your Best Foot Forward, Taking Steps Toward A Successful Future.” The conference is what college students need to do to prepare for their careers aft er graduati on. The keynote address will be given by Susan Cuthbertson, an FSU graduate who is a certi fi ed public

accountant. The Women in Business Networking Fair will go on at the end of the conference WIB, a student organizati on housed in the College of Business, is open to all students and majors. The organizati on serves as a developmental educati on and networking tool between students, faculty, staff and business professionals. Members gain exposure to a unique networking and learning opportunity with the ability to create lasti ng connecti ons with ambiti ous students and dedicated professional women. The FSU College of Business Student Leadership Council began the Women in Business Conference to both promote an awareness of the dynamic role of women in today’s business environment and to establish a forum for developing a criti cal discourse of that role. The conference serves as a developmental educati on and networking tool for students, faculty, staff and business professionals. Michelle Porter, the president of Women in Business, said, “Women in Business has helped me grow professionally as a student and prepared me for my job search once I graduate. It’s a great way to meet new people who are also proacti ve.” The Women in Business meet weekly in the Starry Conference Room. They have 65 members and 16 E-board members. Membership applicati ons can be completed through the College of Business website cob.fsu.edu. To register for the conference, go to wb.fsu.edu/wib. For more informati on about the Women in Business and upcoming events, contact Michelle Porter at fsuwib@gmail.com.

The recognized student organizati on was founded by James Seymour, Farimah Shariati , Jessica Seymour, Farnoosh Shariati and Gabriel Gomez in the summer of 2010. All you have to do to join is att end a meeti ng and start helping. Meeti ngs for Hands of Hope are every other Monday at 7 pm. More informati on can be found at htt p://fsuhandsofh ope.webs.com/. Upcoming events include the Big Bend Hospice Event on Jan. 16 from 2 pm – 4 pm. The organizati on will visit pati ents with limited life expectancy. Hands of Hope will be providing baked goods and cards to pati ents as well as a couple of hours of company and friendship.

On Jan. 20 from 6 pm – 8 pm the group will hold a Bowling with Ability First Kids at Crenshaw Lanes. This event will give you the ability to socialize with students with physical and developmental disabiliti es from Ability First. You can fi nd more informati on about Hands of Hope by searching

“FSU Hands of Hope” on Facebook and on Ability First by visiti ng htt p://www.abilityfi rst.org/index.aspx Jessica Seymour said, “As a pre-med student I was always asking myself how on earth I could make a diff erence. For a long ti me I thought that I couldn’t because I didn’t have an MD behind my name… This organizati on allows us, the students, to relate to others in a personal way in order to change the world one relati onship at a ti me.” Co-Founder Farnoosh Shariati said, “Through Hands of Hope I wish to bring hope to people’s lives who do not have the same abiliti es and opportuniti es as others. I also wish for students to see that it’s never too early or too late for anyone to get out there and help. So, if you have the heart to serve, get up and start now, because you can!” Contact informati on the group at fsuhandsofh ope@gmail.com, or for more informati on on events go to their site at htt p://fsuhandsofh ope.webs.com/ or htt p://www.abilityfi rst.org/index.aspx or their Facebook group.

and live music will be provided. “We want to use art as a way to bridge the gap between those who have homes and those who don’t,” said Nick Russell, president of Oxfam at FSU. Oxfam fi ghts for social justi ce and works to eliminate poverty. Since fall 2009, the members have volunteered at Hope, a six-month transiti onal home where homeless families receive help in getti ng back on their feet. The art was made possible with the help of the Florida State Art Therapy Associati on, students whose aim is to provide social and emoti onal support through art by providing art supplies to Hope. Oxfam’s Facebook page is at Oxfam @ FSU. Students can sign up to volunteer by clicking on the Google Documents. ______________________

Seminole Success Night is a networking recepti on held in conjuncti on with the FSU Career Center’s spring semester Seminole Futures Career Expo. The event allows employers to meet and network with diverse groups of student leaders within FSU prior to Seminole Futures. Seminole Success Night will be held Jan. 19 in the Dunlap Success Center from 5:45 pm – 7:00 pm. Food and drinks will be provided at this free event. You may register at career.fsu.edu/

Michelle Porter

TIPS, SGA Student Publicati ons, January 2011, Vol. 3, No. 7

Teach for America Helps Low-Income StudentsBy Kestrel Ambrose

Meet…By Tiff any Lett some

Juliana Crump, president of Phi Eta Sigma, a nati onal honor society, is a junior double majoring in Politi cal Science and Sociology. The society encourages and rewards academic excellence among fi rst-year college students. Kyle Dunnington, president of the State Party, is a junior majoring in Politi cal Science. State’s goals are to expose students to a diverse community, educate future leaders in a manner of truthfulness and expand the branches of excellence across FSU. Jocelayna Howard, president of The Pillar, a Bible study group, is a senior majoring in Family and Child Sciences. The Pillar seeks to educate, moti vate and sti mulate the minds of FSU students for the cause of Christ. Michelle Porter, president of Women in Business, is a senior majoring in Marketi ng. Women in Business serves as a developmental educati on and networking tool between students, faculty, staff and business professionals. Bianca Salvaggio, president of Caring and Helping in Community Service, C.H.I.C.S., is a junior pursuing a dual degree in Mass Media Communicati ons

Juliana Crump Kyle Dunnington Jocelayna Howard Michelle Porter Bianca Salvaggio Jessica Seymour Farnoosh Shariati Sandy Simmons

and Psychology. The group seeks to unify students to serve the community, promote friendship, develop character, and represent and maintain the principles of honor, generosity and altruism. Jessica Seymour, co-founder and president of Hands of Hope, is a senior majoring in Biology and Psychology. Hands of Hope facilitates the integrati on of students with disabiliti es and students without disabiliti es by providing a personal assistance program. Farnoosh Shariati , co-founder and president of Hands of Hope, is a senior majoring in Exercise Science. Through Hands Of Hope, she wishes to bring hope to people who do not have the same abiliti es and opportuniti es as others. Sandy Simmons, director of FSU SGA’s reCycle program, is a junior majoring in Physics and Astrophysics. The program encourages greater bicycle use at FSU by providing students who could not otherwise aff ord their own bike or car with a healthy and sustainable form of transportati on. “Meet...,” e-mail Tiff any Lett some details and a photograph to tsl08@fsu.edu.

Teach for America may be a good opti on for people who want to make a diff erence in the lives of low-income students. The fi nal Teach for America deadline for the 2011-2012 school year is February 4.

“Teach for America FSU is working to promote the corps’ mission on the campus of Florida State University,” said Kelsey Gilbert, the campus recruitment chair. Gilbert and the FSU recruitment staff are recruiti ng top students to join the corps and teach for two years in

rural, low-income areas around the country where educati onal inequity is a major issue. Educati onal inequity means that the level of educati on a student receives depends on where they are born. “Students in low-income areas are not receiving the same educati on as their higher-income peers,” Gilbert said. “By the ti me they are in the fourth grade, they are performing at least three levels below their peers in core areas such as reading, writi ng and math.” Gilbert said this lower level performance trickles through the middle school and high school years, and studies have shown that only half of these students will graduate from high school by the age of 18. Those who do will perform on average at an eighth-grade level, and only one in ten will earn a degree. “There are about 20 or so students from FSU who are currently teaching in the program,” Gilbert said. “By enlisti ng the nati on’s top student and professional leaders, the corps is hoping to bridge and eliminate the

inequity gap that exists when it comes to educati on.” Julian Torres graduated from FSU in Dec. 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in Criminology/Criminal Justi ce. Torres has been involved with Teach for America since June 2010. “I applied for Teach For America because I was interested in making a diff erence. As a Hispanic male who grew up in the Bronx, NY, I really connected with TFA’s mission,” said Torres, who is teaching sixth-grade Social Studies in Dallas, Texas. “I was appalled by the alarming stati sti cs that face the children of low income communiti es, and I wanted to provide them with the educati on they deserve.” To apply for the corps, people must be college seniors or have earned a college degree, and have a minimum 2.5 GPA. The applicati on is available on the organizati on’s website, www.teachforamerica.org. Applicants must also submit a resume and a lett er of intent. The process also includes phone and group interviews. Applicants must also be available to att end one of Teach for America’s residenti al summer training insti tutes. “It’s a prett y competi ti ve program because anyone with a degree can apply,” Gilbert said. “Last year we had over 46,000 applicants, but only around 4,500 were accepted.” Even with such competi ti ve numbers, Gilbert said, there is not a set maximum number that the program accepts. “It’s based on need and it just depends on who applies,” Gilbert said. “The need is there and we can always fi nd space for excepti onal applicants.” In additi on to holding a college degree, other factors can increase a candidate’s chances of being accepted. “We also look for excepti onal leadership and involvement outside of the classroom,” Gilbert said. “For instance we’re going to pay close att enti on to students or graduates who held a job, or was highly involved with a student organizati on during their enrollment.”

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TIPS, SGA Student Publicati ons, January 2011, Vol. 3, No. 7

Freeze Yer Face Bike RaceBy Rachel Sanderford

Every student director/president and fi nancial offi cer, excluding those funded by the Sports Club Council, that received funding from Bill 2010 or plan to request funding during the 2010/11 fi scal year must complete the SGA or COGS on-line fi nancial certi fi cati on packet. This training is designed to teach the policies and procedures for requesti ng and expending A&S funds. The certi fi cati on packet includes the 2010 Financial Manual, fi nancial quiz and mandatory forms. There are two certi fi cati ons: one for SGA organizati ons and the other for SGA graduate organizati ons who receive

funding from COGS, LSAC or MSC. Upon completi on, print out the necessary documentati on and take it to either the SGA accounti ng or the COGS offi ce for review. The certi fi cati on packets are at the following websites: SGA htt p://www.fsu.edu/sga/sgaacct/ and COGS htt p://sga.fsu.edu/sgaacct/_PDF/FINANCIAL_CERTIFICATION_2010. If you have any questi ons or concerns, call the SGA Accounti ng and Advising Offi ce at telephone number 850 644-0940 (A209 Oglesby Union) or the COGS Offi ce at 850 644-7166 (245 Askew Student Life Center).

Mandatory Financial Training for RSOs

Wizards and VampiresBy Keyla Cherena

Wizards, vampires and wine have one thing in common: FSU off ers courses on them. These unusual courses can help shake up your basic schedule of math and English. The Religion Department off ers the course Religion, Harry Pott er, and 20th Century Fantasy Literature (REL3112). Some who have taken the course have referred to it as “the Harry Pott er class.” The Harry Pott er course covers more than just teenage wizards. This course also covers J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia and Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials. Religion and Fantasy is off ered by Sonya Cronin and Adam Ware. “It was brilliant!” said Amber Webster, a junior. “I had Adam Ware, who was engaging and hilarious while challenging us to think deeply about the texts.” Chelsea Rogers recalls something unusual in her experience of Ware’s class in spring 2010. “I loved the drawings that a student drew on the board before each class,” said Rogers, referring to drawings that were on the dry-erase boards before each class that related to the readings for that parti cular class. If wizards or religion are not what you are interested in, the Slavic Department off ers a course named Slavic Vampire (SLL3510) that might interest you. Professor Lisa Wakamiya describes the course: “We investi gate the representati on of the vampire as it migrates from prehistory to the present day, and from East Europe to the West. We discuss a wide range of material, from Slavic folktales to Bram Stoker’s Dracula to Buff y, Blade and beyond.” Katy Williamson, a student of Slavic Vampire for fall 2010, said, “I thought the course was very informati ve and incorporated a lot of topics very well.” If you are wondering what benefi ts a vampire course can bring you, Wakamiya said, “The Slavic Vampire is off ered every fall semester. It fulfi lls the Area IV Liberal Studies requirement and Multi cultural ‘X’ requirement.” If you are over the age of 21 and would like to explore Wine and Culture (HFT4866), the Dedman School of Hospitality off ers you the opportunity. Wine and Culture is taught by Mark Bonn and is an introducti on to basic wine knowledge, including wine tasti ng and appreciati on of wine. For the sports lovers the Sports Management department off ers an array of out-of-the-ordinary courses, including Flag Football (PEL1646), Stretch & Relaxati on (PEM1121) and Ulti mate Frisbee (PEL1650).

Freeze Yer Face Bike Race is embracing the cold, the wind and the rain of Tallahassee’s winter in the name of a good cause, Food Not Bombs, an organizati on looking to bett er citi es by feeding the hungry. David Green, the initi ator of the Freeze Yer Face Bike Race, has been volunteering for Food Not Bombs and wants to help it even further. While on

tour with his band BRAINSTORM, Green saw other Food Not Bombs chapters and thought a bike race would provide a way to get the word out about it. Green, an FSU graduate, wants to make more people aware of the Food Not Bombs eff ort.

The race will be Saturday, Jan. 15. Registrati on will start at RailRoad Square at 3:30 pm. It is $5 to enter. Riders will receive a map and guidelines on where all the stati ons will be so they can fi gure out the best route. The stati ons will include fun challenges in which the cyclist receives a silver coin if they win and this will take ten minutes off their ti me. Past challenges have included capture

the fl ag, ti ght rope walking and mock gladiator fi ghts. Green said, “I want to get a prize but this race will be more focused on Food Not Bombs donati ons.” Tallahassee Food Not Bombs, a volunteer-based organizati on, receives donati ons from New Leaf Market, a cooperati vely owned grocery store on Apalachee Parkway. Jill Preston, a regular volunteer for Food Not Bombs, said, “I’m not sure how donati ons from New Leaf started but they give us a large bag full of chop (produce), some dried goods (like bread that has to be taken off the shelf because the sell by date has arrived, even though it is sti ll completely fresh), and someti mes we get milk and yogurt; all depending on the extra food of the day.” The donati ons are then cooked into some kind vegan or vegetarian meal and dispersed every Sunday at 3 pm at the pavilion behind Leroy Collins Library on Park Avenue in downtown Tallahassee. The race will provide money for the Tallahassee Food Not Bombs chapter to buy the essenti als such as serving plates and silverware. Green said, “It’ll be cold, but a lot of fun and people shouldn’t be worried if they are an amateur rider. It gives you a chance to get involved and parti cipate with the community.” For more informati on on Food Not Bombs, visit foodnotbombs.net. For more informati on on Freeze Yer Face Bike Race, email David Green at David@tallyfreshfest.com. On Facebook, search Freeze Yer Face Bike Race.

There are many benefi ts to joining the corps. “Corps teachers receive the same pay and benefi ts of teachers in the area they are assigned,” Gilbert said. “We also pay you up to $11,000 in student grants to cover higher educati on costs such as repaying student loans.” Other benefi ts include health insurance, reti rement benefi ts, and student loan forbearance for up to two years. For students interested in enrolling in a graduate program aft er completi ng their Corps contract, Teach for America maintains partnerships with top-ranked graduate schools around the country. Many schools off er benefi ts to corps members and alumni, including two-year deferrals, applicati on fee waivers and scholarships. The organizati on also holds several employer partnerships with companies in industries such as law, fi nance and science and technology. In additi on to the possibility of full-ti me employment, these partners off er fellowships, career workshops, and professional mentoring to disti nguished Teach for America alumni. For more informati on on the corps, you can follow the FSU campus recruitment staff on Facebook by searching “FSU Students for Teach for America,” or you can visit www.teachforamerica.org .

from 3- Teach for America

htt p://sga.fsu.edu/

TIPS, SGA Student Publicati ons, January 2011, Vol. 3, No. 7