A Newsletter for Parents and Families of Towson University Students Fall 2003 Family Weekend 2003 Crack some crabs and spend quality time together! Details and registration information inside F ROM THE Fall 2003 P ARENTS A SSOCIATION Parent Pride RESIDENT P Published twice a year by Student Involvement and Transitions for Towson University’s parents and families. Dear Parents, Families and Friends, Please send questions, comments or As our sons and daughters say with the vowel contributions to: sounds prolonged, “Wassup?” Student Involvement and Transitions Towson University For the Parents Association, the advocacy group 8000 York Rd. that seeks to strengthen the parent, student and Towson, MD 21252-0001 university relationship, annual dues are what’s up. 410-704-3307 [email protected] Why dues? Because budget restrictions imposed by the state of Maryland have reduced our operating income, forcing the association Paul Parker to look elsewhere to subsidize projects and offset expenses. Vice President for Student Affairs A large portion of the dues will also help fund a $1,000 scholarship – one this year Teresa Hall Assistant Vice President, and, we hope, more as we grow – to be awarded ONLY to a student of a member of Student Involvement and Transitions your Parents Association. Wanda Haskel And if this weren’t reason enough to join, membership in the Parents Association Sharise S. McGill also carries other benefits. Parents are entitled to discounts at campus eateries and the Editors University Store, get several free parking passes per semester, and automatically receive Parent Pride. Member parents will also be entered to win a free night this Pat Dideriksen Marcella Riisager spring at the Burkshire Marriott Conference Hotel, located adjacent to campus. Designers The cost? All of this for only $30 annually per family. Kanji Takeno So annual dues are “wassup” this year for your Parents Association, along with a Photographer host of benefits to make joining even more rewarding and exciting. “Wassup” in this issue of Parent Pride is your invitation to this year’s Family www.towson.edu Weekend. It’s going to be a fun-packed couple of days and a great opportunity to spend time with your Towson student. Plus, the drawing for our first $1,000 scholar- ship will happen during Family Weekend, so don’t miss it! You will not receive other materials in the mail, so take this opportunity to find out about the activities planned Towson University is in compliance with federal and fill out your registration. and state laws and regulations that prohibit illegal discrimination. The university does not discriminate I look forward to seeing you there! on the basis of sexual orientation. Mike Kreps Mike Kreps President Towson University Parents Association Pictured on the cover: Bonnie and the late Bernie Dabrowski with their daughter, TU student Katie Dabrowski (see story on pg. 10) Special thanks to Hometown Girl & Co., 1001 W. 36th St., Hampden, for the use of their crab costume. P ARENT P RIDE £ 2 £ U NIVERSITY N EWS Robert L. Caret Becomes Towson’s 12th President Returning to his Towson roots, humane letters degree from the National Robert L. Caret became the 12th presi- Hispanic University in 1997. dent of Towson University on July 1, Caret has made numerous presenta- 2003. As a former faculty member, tions and published professionally in the dean, executive vice president and fields of chemistry, chemical education provost of Towson University, Caret and higher education. He has authored served at Towson for 21 years before chapters in two monographs on the assuming the presidency of San José mission and role of institutions, and has State University of the California State co-authored and published four text- University System in 1995. Named as books in the fields of organic chemistry one of Silicon Valley’s 100 power bro- and allied health chemistry. His awards kers by San Jose Magazine in its May and recognitions include the State of 2003 issue, Caret has been credited with Maryland Governor’s Employee raising the profile of one of the largest Incentive Award, the San José Silicon universities in California and developing Valley Chamber of Commerce Leader- strong community partnerships. ship in Excellence Award (1999), the Caret received his Ph.D. in organic Italian American Heritage Foundation chemistry from the University of New Achievement Award (2001) and the Hampshire in 1974 and his bachelor’s Robert L. Caret Outstanding College President Award degree in chemistry and mathematics from the All-American Football Foun- from Suffolk University in 1969. He science degree from Suffolk University in dation (2001). He is listed in several also received an honorary doctor of 1996, as well as an honorary doctor of editions of Who’s Who in America. Homecoming 2003: The Biggest Homecoming Game Ever! Be part of history at the Homecoming football game vs. Holy Cross on October 11 as Towson University dedicates its new stadium to honor the late Johnny Unitas – NFL Hall of Famer and Towson University friend of Towson. A parent of three TU students, Johnny U. also served as community liaison for Tiger Athletics. Halftime ceremonies featuring Governor Bob Ehrlich, Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith, Mayor Martin O’Malley, former Colts star Tom Matte and, of course, Sandy Unitas, will celebrate Homecoming and pay tribute to the life of Johnny Unitas. We expect a sellout, so get your tickets early! Call the Towson Ticket Office at 410-704-2244, Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. For more information, visit TowsonTigers.com. P ARENT P RIDE £ 3 £ Not Your Grandparents’ Work Ethic The following, by Carol J. Vellucci, Career Center director, was adapted from an article published the week of Aug. 9-15, 2002, in the Baltimore Business Journal. Employers often wonder whatever their parents, they apparently did pay happened to the work ethic. There attention. appears to be a widely held suspicion The Boomer generation taught them that members of Generation X (born to question authority, identify their 1965-1978) and Generation Y (born priorities, value family, and embrace 1979-1998) have no concept of work as their individuality. Using the gifts of intrinsically valuable and important. education and technology, they created It is fundamentally true that younger an alternative work ethos that makes employees exhibit different behaviors at sense based on the priorities and values work and have different attitudes about they learned from their parents and work than their older colleagues. But grandparents. this doesn’t necessarily mean they lack a work ethic. It’s more likely that these two generations have blossomed into Towson University practitioners of the new, improved, Carol J. Vellucci, director, Career Center Career Center be-all-that-you-can-be work/life Delayed gratification: The work ethic The Career Center at Towson University philosophy. was based on the premise that hard helps students get ready for the world of work, providing a host of tools to aid Let’s take a look at two specific issues. work and personal sacrifice would lead to future rewards. But XYs are accus- in career searches and preparation, as well as services and information leading to Hard work: Do XYers work hard? tomed to instant gratification. With academic internship opportunities, and Absolutely. Do they work the same way 24-hour access to information, enter- as you, your father or your grandfather on- and off-campus full-time and part- tainment, and peers, their mantra might time employment. did? Absolutely not. They may not be “Why wait?” They use their time to spend extra hours in the office to com- solidify important family and social Career Center Services for Students plete a project by the end of a workday connections that cannot be delayed six • E-Recruiting (Web-Based Resume because the workday no longer has a minutes let alone six months. Joseph Management/Career Search System) definitive end. Telecommuting and flex Chamberlain teaches a professional time make it easier for twenty- • Career Fairs/Job Fairs experience course for Towson • Career Advising somethings to work from home at University business students who are • Career Resource Library unconventional times, say 3 a.m. or on employed as summer interns. “Each weekends, and still complete their work term, we do a values exercise, and • Graduate School Information by the deadline. Smart companies who family always emerges as one of the top • On-Campus Interviewing recognize the needs of younger workers three values.” They don’t want to sacri- • Student Employment (on- and attract high quality employees. Towson fice personal relationships for money. off-campus) University graduate Marques Jackson • Resume Referral Services ’03, B.S., computer information And why should they? Their parents • Internships systems, recently landed a job with a substituted work time for family time technology equipment firm in only to be downsized at the end of their • Professional Development Seminars careers. Corporate mismanagement has (Resume Writing, Interview Skills Training, Columbia, Md. The company offered Networking) formal hands-on training, tuition assis- robbed faithful employees of their For more information, visit www.towson. tance for continuing education, flexible financial cushions, dashing their hopes of spending more quality time with edu/careercenter, call 410-704-2233, or schedules, and an informal corporate stop by 7800 York Rd., suite 315. Hours: culture. That’s a winning combination family in retirement. So even though it appeared that young people were too Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-5 p.m., open until 7 p.m. for XYers who value access to knowl- on Tuesdays during fall and spring busy attending to the beeps and whirs edgeable mentors, flexibility, and a semesters. casual, team-oriented environment. of their electronic equipment to listen to P ARENT P RIDE £ 4 £ CLUB CORNER Campus Activities Board (CAB) Offers Events and Leadership Opportunities for TU Students Much more than just fun and games, the Campus The student-run board is the programming arm of the Activities Board (CAB) has an important function around Student Government Association and has been active for Towson University.