Career Fest orients new students with Development Center

Welcome freshmen.\nThe phrase has spread itself all over campus this week. And once again, the class of 2006 are the centerpiece at a proverbial table filled with welcoming dishes.\nToday's main course: Career Fest 2002.\nCareer Fest will run from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on the lawn of the Career Development Center, located on the corner of 10th Street and Jordan Avenue.\nFor the past six years, the center has hosted Career Fest to attract students to the facility and orient them on how to find jobs, internships and plan their career.\nThis year Career Fest returns with prizes, food and music in attempt to draw a large number of students.\n"It's a humongous lawn party," said Jeremy Podany, a career counselor and instructor at the center. "We'll have a moon walk, free food, with chips and salsa provided by Chi-Chi's, and drinks provided by Coca-Cola."\nIncluded among the more expensive prizes is a laptop computer, a palm pilot and an e-copier, Podany said.\nStudents will also have the chance to take a brief tour of the Development Center, which Podany said will help introduce students to the facility.\nMusic for the event will be provided by WIUS, Pure Student Radio. The station will broadcast live and DJ the event from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.\n"The biggest thing to us is that they asked us to DJ the event," WIUS Station Manager Nick Blandford said. "They approached us, which I thought was very complimentary."\nThis year's Career Fest will mark the first time the student-run radio station has broadcast from the event.\n"It'll be good to help out this organization," WIUS Program Manager David Carlson said. "It gives us some exposure … so everybody wins."\nPodany said the entire campus is invited to attend, but that the primary audience will most likely be freshmen.\nFreshman Beth Pietrzak said she will probably go to Career Fest but she's not really looking for a job.\n"I don't really want a job right now, but I'm interested in seeing what they have to offer," Pietrzak said. "But I might look for one in the future to earn some money, when Mom and Dad aren't giving enough."\nBodany said he's looking forward to seeing all the new students in town and introducing them to the Career Development Center.\n"This is a big event for us," Podany said. "We got a lot of help from different constituents on campus. The community has really helped out … Just show up ready to have fun"