4 - Friday, April 2, 2010 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com E-MAILDANIELAT DWGOLD@UMICH.EDU 74NI t igan Bat,6lV Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890. 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 ~ ,tothedaily@umich.edu DANIEL GOLD A WEEKEND OF WORSHIP 4 JACOB SMILOVITZ EDITOR IN CHIEF RACHEL VAN GILDER EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR MATT AARONSON MANAGING EDITOR Unsigned editorials reflect the official position of the Daily's editorial board. All other signed articles and illustrations represent solely the views of their authors. Elemental energy Michigan should invest in wind turbine production There's change in the air. The winds over Lake Mich- igan are just right for generating clean electricity. Last month, Scandia Wind Offshore, a Norway-based wind energy company, proposed a $4 billion wind turbine development project in Michigan that would prevent an esti- mated 2 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions and create about 3,000 jobs. If these appealing proposals are accepted, they could lead to more clean energy efforts in the state. To make Michigan a state powered by green energy, the leg- islature must commit to policies that support the develop- ment of alternative energy sources like wind turbines. joodi yriday HAS ASH _lkw c rrooo O(iewmw 6 6 Selling yourself Scandia's proposal calls for offshore tur- bines in Lake Michigan that would generate a combined 1,000 megawatts of electricity. That's in addition to the 150 megawatts of turbine-turning potential the company proposes to utilize on land in West Michi- gan. Their proposal came only shortly before the first public meeting last week of the Michigan Great Lakes Wind Coun- cil, a body created by Gov. Jennifer Gran- holm to suggest legislation for encouraging wind power development. On Tuesday, Ventower Industries, a supplier of materi- als to build wind turbines, broke ground on a 115,000-square-foot wind turbine tower construction facility in Monroe, which is expected to employ 150 people. Encouraging renewable energy and clean technology has serious implications for the creation of jobs and the recovery of Michi- gan's economy. Wind turbine construction companies should be able to build in close proximity to the lakes where the turbines will be assembled and used. To attract wind power companies to build in Michigan and create jobs and revenue, the state should provide smart, detailed laws that encour- age these green energy companies. Those types of laws are what Michigan lacks. It's up to the Michigan legislature to enact policies encouraging wind power. But a bill currently under consideration would place a moratorium on offshore wind devel- opment like the kind that Scandia has pro- posed. That bill is almost comically at odds with logical public policy that would ben- efit the state's environment and economy. And while Michigan legislators contem- plate shutting down this promising indus- try, Ontario is considering an $85 billion project that is predicted to create 66,000 jobs. Michigan's comparatively lethargic response to promoting wind power makes it easy to guess where developers will build the next new turbine factory. Economic benefits aside, the lasting leg- acy of inaction would be environmental. Supporting renewable energy is a matter of social responsibility. Though burning coal, which is currently Michigan's prima- ry energy source, seems cheap and easy, it comes with a heavy price. Coal emits signif- icant amounts of carbon dioxide as it burns, contributing to global warming. To combat the negative effects of climate change, peo- ple must change their behavior and switch to more environmentally-friendly energy options. Unlike coal, wind energy is a clean, efficient and renewable resource. Encouraging green energy isn't just tilting at windmills. Fighting this battle for clean energy could have lasting consequences for the state. The state government has a duty to act in the best interest of its constituents and pass legislation to encourage the growth of green energy sources like wind power. ut of the many, many e-mails I receive about my columns, an overwhelming number go something like this: "Hey pleas [sic] tell me how to get hired to right [sic] for the Daily?! LOL." And out of the many, many conversations I hear around cam- pus, an increasing- number go some- thing like this: WILL "And now Stepha- GRUNDLER nie has an intern- ship, I'm going c-r-a-z-y. Yeah, she's the fat one. Hey, do you think that guy is following us?" Jobs: everyone wants them, and summer is right around the corner. Today's topic is how to go out and GET them, as a student in today's economy, without getting on your knees and begging. Instead, try get- ting on all fours and begging. No, I'm kidding, it's still possible to get a job. You just have to think a little old-fashionably, by which I mean you have to think like your par- ents. Whenever I'm having a tough time getting an employer to hire me, I just remember my father's advice: "Look, just go and talk to the guy, dammit." Or something like that, I don't remember exactly. I think this was how most jobs were acquired by our parents' generation, which might explain the current economic crisis. Nowadays, what most students fail to realize is that employers aren't just looking for a snappy resum, flawless GPA and attractive physical features - they're also looking for interper- sonal skills and initiative. Some- times, just showing up, being polite and casually mentioning, "Oh hey, I'm the new intern" does the trick. Of course, this can backfire. I vividly remember walking into The Michigan Daily office a few semes- ters ago - the spackle on the wall was light brown - and asking with a smile if they needed any writers. I was hired on the spot and to this day I earn a measly $5.82 per column. So always make sure that you want to work at a place that might hire you immediately, because it's awkward to decline an offer in person. But there will be some job oppor- tunities in which you can't use your personal charm. There will be some jobs in which the only communica- tion between you and the employer will be by e-mail, or, God forbid, car- rier pigeon. And by far the most com- mon mistake made by students when writing to employers is not being able to write. .This is to be expected at a large research university that's trapped in a culture of ignorance and whose society is misinformed by an anthro- pocentric view of the universe. On the other hand, you don't want to write too wordily. Like most things in life, there is a fine balance in writing to prospective employers. For exam- ple, a common approach that is all too bare goes something like this: "Yo, I saw the position for (such and such) on your website. I go to the University of Michigan. When can we meet?" Just because you go to the Univer- sity of Michigan doesn't mean you will be automatically hired, especial- ly now that we have a losing football team. You've got to sell yourself in an e-mail, not your school. But don't sell yourself too much, as in this approach: "Why do I want to work at Sum- mer Fun Summer Camps? Ever since I spent my childhood beside the spar- kling waters of Big Bone Lake I've realized that I like to spend my time outdoors, in the sumner, preferably around lakes. It is nice and warm in the summer and there are fish to catch. One time, when I was fishing with my dad, he said, "Pass the beer, son," and I accidentally dropped the beer into the lake and we had a good laugh. Then he stopped laughing and said, "Go get it" and that's when I learned to swim. I have so many good memories like that! I want to help the children at Summer Fun Summer Camps and give them a summer to remember." 0 Employers don't want to hear your whole life story. It's nicely written, right? But it's just a bit too personal, and you don't want to make your employer uncom- fortable. The balance between writ- ing too little and writing too much is a delicate one, and can only be real- ized with practice. So to all of those students who are looking for a job, I wish you the best of luck. The search may be strenu- ous. The search may be difficult. But just remember: there are always spring/summer classes. Unless you really need a job and money. Then my advice is: Don't write columns. - Will Grundler can be reached at wgru@umich.edu. 'U' smoking, ban, federal health care bill limit choice TO THE DAILY: Alex Biles should be commended for his most recent column (Dear President Coleman..., 03/23/2010). The extreme (at least for now) mea- sures he predicts represent a logical progression from the precedent set by the president of our university. These measures also bring into question the health care reform bill passed earlier this week. For just as University President Mary Sue Cole- man is watching out for our health, so is Presi- dent Barack Obama. By mandating that every individual purchase health insurance, Obama is promoting a culture of health through a guaran- tee of medical access. However, to fund this goal, the burden of payment for one individual will be thrust upon others. Considering economics and the state of obesity in America, one might pos- tulate future government mandates that mirror those proposed by Biles. This may all sound extreme and Orwellian. But these are rational extensions of the actions taken by our leaders. No matter what side you take in the health care or smoking ban debate, there can be no argument on whether the previ- ously mentioned scenarios fall in line with cur- rent policy changes. Frankly, I find each leader's position fright- ening - and hypocritical. On one hand, Obama calls America the greatest nation in the world and Coleman frequently extols our student body as 'the Leaders and Best'. But it is also clear that neither believes we are intelligent enough as individuals to make choices that affect our own future. Nicholas Kransz LSA junior Living Arts offers students a community to learn, grow SEND LETTERS TO: TOTHEDAILY@UMICH.EDU resented Living Arts, the new living/learning community to be housed in Bursley Hall on North Campus starting in Fall 2010 (Corralling creativity will only stigmatize, 03/18/2010). Approximately 40 percent of all first-year students are housed in Bursley Hall or the Vera Baits Houses. Despite the large number of first- year students living on North Campus, all of the living/learning communities for first-year students are currently located on Central Cam- pus. Living Arts, which will house 80 students in two hallways in Bursley for its pilot year, will fill this void. Living Arts is a living/learning community primarily for first- and second-year students that seeks to enhance North Campus's already vibrant resources and to make students excit- ed about living and studying on North Cam- pus. Students who participate in Living Arts will take a one-credit class each semester that explores the creative process and collaboration across engineering, the arts, and other fields. Like all living/learning communities, Living Arts is open to all University undergraduates. Living Arts will enhance Bursley and the North Campus community by providing a gal- lery for students to display their artwork. New in-house studios designed to foster students' creative and collaborative work in art and design, architecture, and engineering. A new performance space with a sprung floor, as well as group and individual practice rooms, will be available for musicians, dancers and actors. The renovated spaces will be open to all Bursley residents and much of the programming initi- ated by Living Arts faculty, staff and residents will be open to all interested students, wherever they live and whatever their academic program. In addition to establishing Living Arts, Arts on Earth is working with colleagues across cam- pus to infuse creativity and the arts throughout the University. We encourage Block and other students to visit our website to learn more about our own programming (artsonearth.umich. edu) and to visit Montage (montage.umich.edu), the University's new online arts portal, to learn about colleagues' work in engaging students in the arts and creativity across campus. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Readers are encouraged to submit letters to the editor. Letters should be fewer than 300 words and must include the writer's full name and University affiliation. Letters are edited for style, length, clarity and accuracy. All submissions become property of the Daily. We do not print anonymous letters. Send letters to tothedaily@umich.edu. Money matters Back in September, I wrote a column about my inabil- ity to choose a major and proud acceptance of my indecision (Majorly undecid- ed, 09/24/2010). So as I sit here six months later and presumably six months wiser, I would like to update you on my progress - or LEAH rather lack thereof. Now, not only have POTI I failed to declare a major (though I have a few in mind), but I also have no direction in which to gear my sum- mer job search. I am now not only majorly undecided, but also majorly screwed - so much for asserting my uncertainty with pride. Don't get me wrong: I am by no means worried about declaring a major (I promise, it will happen even- tually). But what's an undecided girl to do when in search of what should be meaningful summer employment? Long gone are the carefree summer days filled with boardwalk fries, waitressing shifts at the local diner and pool-side lounging - here to stay are the prestigious internships with. 40-hour-plus work weeks intended to serve as stepping stones to full-time employment after graduation. But I wonder how often these internships turn into real jobs and how often the endless time put in is actually time well spent. With this in mind, I urge students to consider all the pros and cons of summer jobs and internships before committing to watching their summer go by from the confinement of an office cubicle for little or no pay. I'll admit that for students with a clear direction, attractive intern- ships might be a good route, as they could lead to potential employment in a desired field - well, lucky for them. But undecided students like me, and any other wandering souls out there, should consider other summer employment options before search- ing long and hard for an unpaid and potentially boring internship in a field we may never pursue. I feel incredible pressure from my peers to do something with my summer that's a bit more mentally stimulating than dog-walking or babysitting, but I also feel incredible pressure from my parents to do some- thing compensable with my time. Many internships might seem attrac- tive for resume building, but do these benefits really outweigh the lure of cold hard cash? I think not. When I think of how my parents and grandparents spent their sum- mers - taking a well-deserved break from academics while earning spend- ing money and still having time to enjoy chocolate-dipped Carvel cones on the boardwalk - I can't help but long for a similar summer experience. Sure, they worked, but they didn't necessarily work the way many of us overachieving Wolverines do. Many students pursue a detailed four-year plan, with perfect summer intern- ships putting the cherry on top of their already perfect resumes. Gag me. Yes, admittedly I'm a bit jealous of these students, but I think I resent them more than I envy them. Why should I feel guilty for wanting to spend my last few chances to enjoy summer doing something I actually do enjoy? The answer my friends - I shouldn't. But what I, and everyone else, should do is get creative. IfI can't get my act together enough to choose a major or find an internship that could help secure me a job in my chosen field, I might as well do something that admittedly may not drop jaws nor raise eyebrows, will put money in my pocket and maybe.even be enjoy- able. It's certainly hard to compete in the current economic environment where even people with advanced degrees are working entry-level jobs. And the sad truth is that if you don't have a connection somewhere, there are likely dozens of other college stu- dents who do. 0 You don't have to have an internship' this summer. So what better things do young minds have to offer than fresh; new ideas? Some success stories I've heard include family van turned ice- cream truck and law student turned doorman. Neither job seems espe- cially desirable for the well-educated young adult, but what have we got to lose? Students should remember this while spending hours on job search websites seeking the perfect job to embellish their resume. Upperclassmen might look down on my naivety, but even for those of you about to enter the real work world, I still believe there is a balance to be found between kowtowing to an unappreciative summer boss for no money in hopes of future employment and enjoyment of summer's diver- sions with a couple of spare dollars in your pocket. So come September, I may still be majorly undecided, but I most certainly will not be majorly screwed. Looks like once again I'll be asserting my uncertainty with pride (in the form of dollar bills). - LeahPotkin can be reached at lpotkin@umich.edu. Theresa Reid TO THE DAILY: YExecutiveDirector ofArts on Earth We would like to respond to Jamie Block's Jean Leverich recent column, which fundamentally misrep- Program Director ofLiving Arts EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS: Nina Amilineni, Jordan Birnholtz, William Butler, Nicholas Clift, Michelle DeWitt, Brian Flaherty, Jeremy Levy, Erika Mayer, Edward McPhee, Emily Orley, Harsha Panduranga, Alex Schiff, Asa Smith, Brittany Smith, Robert Soave, Radhika Upadhyaya, Laura Veith