• Format
  • Publications (documents)
• Type
  • Text
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Identifier
  • HL_WesternCarolinian_1993-03-25_Vol58_No23_07

Volume 58 Number 23 Features The Western Carolinian Page 7 Thursday. March 25, 1993 Assertiveness can be learned, mastered Chris Gunn, PhD. Contributing Writer Assertiveness, according to today's leading geneticists, is not hereditary. Similar to word processing and driving a car, to assert oneself is a skill—a skill that can be taught, learned, practiced, and mastered. So, why do most of us have problems with asserting ourselves in certain situations, with certain people, or at certain times? The answer is typically unique to each individual, however, there are often contributing factors that many individuals have in common. First, we may lack knowledge of assertion. To assert oneself is to express one's feelings, opinions, and beliefs directly to maintain or defend one's rights. It does not involve name calling, threatening, or violating the rights of others. Only through accurate understanding of assertion can assertiveness skills be identified and learned. Second, our attitudes about assertive behavior may affect our performance. For example, if we view people who act assertively as "pushy," "demanding," or "bossy," this could result in a negative attitude— dislike of assertive behavior. Therefore, we might avoid acting assertively ourselves so as not to be seen by others as "pushy." If, on the other hand, we have a more neutral or positive attitude toward assertiveness, we will be more likely to act assertively. Third, we may lack/im- hand experience of being assertive. Assertiveness involves direct eye contact, appropriately firm tone of voice, balanced body posture, and selected verbal expressions. Experience with these specific behaviors, as with experience with word processing and driving a car, can lead to kinesthetic learning of these skills. If you would like to learn about assertiveness and practice some of the skills involved, attend a workshop in the Cherokee Room in the Hinds University Center on Tuesday, March 30, from 6:00PM to 8:00PM. The workshop is open to all members of the community. Food Services may change with new director Grill, sandwich bar, international foods may be added to the current menu Blake Frizzell StaffWriter The food service at WCU is a widely talked about subject. Whether the talk is good or not depends highly upon who is talking. So just recently, some fellow students and myself decided to make the food service the topic for discussion in a STA class. In this process, we discovered several things that might surprise many of you. The overall feeling of my group was negative when we began. We were not happy with the food, and after we ran a survey, not to mention read several editorials in the newspaper concerning the food service, we discovered thatmany people felt the same way. The next most obvious thing to do was talk to Cecil Ward. While talking to Ward, I discovered that he is very open to changes within the food service, and that he is always open to student's comments, or willing to make appointments to discuss their opinions. He also said that he had a new boss, John Thompson, Director of Auxiliary Services, and that Thompson would be the leading man in making the changes that the students want. So, my next stop was in Thompson's office. He has only been at WCU for one month, but the ideas he has will excite students, as well as make $$$COUPON$$$ / / ^^^ POPULAR ^S JZ^^"^ NAME BRANDS 40-80% OFF suggested retail price Bring this coupon and get an additional 10% off any pin-chase! 265 N. Main St. Hours: 10 to 6 Waynesville,NC (704) 452-0077 Mon. thru Sat The staff of The Western Carolinian would like to apologize for printing designer clothing names on the Heather's advertisement in the February 25th issue. them want to become more involved in the food service. Thompson replaced John McCracken, who was the previous DOAS. He is responsible for the su- pervision of the food service department, some budget responsibilities related to housing, the print shop operation, campus mail service and post office, and university vending operations such as laundry and snack vending. He has held similar positions at Florida Tech, and Ashland University in Ohio. While in Ohio, the Ashland University food service department won firstplace recognition in national competition for student menus, and student menu development. At WCU, he will be working with Ward to implement changes in the food service. While this man may seem to be the busiest person you know, he has plans for the food service that are incredible. Before I go on those plans, let me just state that these '<>< ideas are just that. Ideas. Nothing is in writing, and nothing is definite. Also, these ideas, if implemented, will not occur suddenly. If possible, however, some will be in effect in the Fall of '93. Now for the exciting part.... Starting with Brown cafeteria, new lines have been developed, and among those are a grill, aMexi- can bar, a sandwich line and an oriental line. Some of his other ideas are to maybe have an Oriental stir-fry, where the food is prepared in front of the student, a do-it-yourself Belgian waffle machine in the cafeteria for breakfast, and a chili recipe contest, where the winning recipe from student organizational groups would be chosen and remain as a regular menu option in the cafeterias. He is working for "more Ortpkato try Mart Hamiell John Thompspm variety within the existing menu, working on the existing recipes that work well for the students, and also work well with the food service workers that have to prepare the food." He plans to work on what the food looks like, tastes like, and is even open to taking favorite recipes from the students and considering themasamenu option. Obviously to do all of this, he needs student's opinions. Soon, there will be a survey placed in the paper which will have all the different meat, fish, vegetarian, pasta, salad, and breakfast dishes that can be made available to the students. When the survey comes out, all the students have to do is fill it out and drop it in the mail, or bring it to his office. So if you eat in the cafeteria, like the food, or dislike the food and would like to have a voice in what you are served, take 10 minutes to fill out the survey, and maybe the overall opinion of our universities food service will change. Students who are dissatisfied in the meantime can drop Cecil Ward or John Thompson a letter, or make a appointment to talk with them. So if you are going to complain, do it reasonably, and with someone important. Remember, only YOU can prevent bad food. r^ Last Minute ^ Productions ^ If you want to be a part of student entertainment then apply now Chair Person Position Must turn in Application by April 2 For more information vO O CM u "Roommates" from pg. 6 cials, the housing staff would throw students together randomly, even alphabetically, in dorm rooms. The past decade, however, has seen a shift to keeping students satisfied. "We know that how happy and satisfied a student is with his room, and a roommate has a lot to do with how happy and satisfied they are with their whole college experience," said Peter Armstrong, director of residential life at Wartburg College. In spite of sophisticated methods of roommate selection, such as computerized matching, roommate nightmares are so prevalent that colleges now offer conflict resolution procedures and special training for residents assistants to help bring peace to the dorms of the 1990s. When I was in school in the '60s, we thought of it as an intellectual bootcamp... a place where you had a dry roof and three squares a day. If you were from the South, you'd be thrown in with someone from Brooklyn. It was thought that you would learn more from someone from Brooklyn," said Mac Johnson, vice president for student affairs at Roanoke College. In the 1990s, however, there are sufficient challenges on campus without being stressed by an incompatible roommate. Johnson's staff has offered the Myers-Briggs personality test to incoming students for six years, dividing the class into general "types" and matching up roommates accordingly. "In the past six years, since giving the Briggs, the number of roommate change requests have dropped. Most people are satisfied with our choices," Johnson said. The problem is taken so seriously at Hood College., that Barbara Engram, director of counseling, wrote the "Roommate Negotiation Workbook." "It is only necessary to understand each other and respect each others'rights. It is not necessary that you have the same feelings, preferences and opinions," the book says. Hood College offers three procedures for roommates to work out problems. Negotiation is use when issues are not of major importance and when the students are not particularly emotionally upset. Mediation involves an outsider and is used when negotiation fails and issues have reached crisis proportions. Arbitration, the last step available for Hood students, is when an outsider meets with each roommate individually and sets rules that govern the area of conflict. "Even when roommates have already decided they will not live together in the future, the process can be a valuable learning experience and enables people to terminate a roommate relationship with dignity and respect," according to the workbook. At Wartburg College, Armstrong said "negotiation kits' are distributed to new roommates. They contain step-by-step guides to all the common problems that can occur in a residence hall room. Students are told to fill out in depth questionnaires about themelves, read them to their roommates and discuss any differences. * "We even teach students to articulate assertively on things like TV watching, noise, whether you keep the room neat or in a more casual way," Armstrong said. Roommate contracts help smooth out problems at Wilson College., where the housingstaff is taught to assist in healing roommate riffs. At Susquehanna University, housing officials try to get the best match before roommates get together by having them answer questions about personal habits. The residentassistants have roommates sign contracts if there are disputes. FRESH BAKED - -* « only CALZOXE onlv s1/1 i^L Stuffed with mozzarella and ^7^ tpL. U* O CZ Q ricotta cheeses, plus any one Q^ *3 CZ Q *P *J • " *J topping of your choice. *P *-* • " +-* 586-5860 Expires 4-25-93. Between ABC & Quin theater in the East Sylva Shopping Center. FRESILBAKED Valid with ad at participating Papa's Pizza To-Go. One offer per customer. Not valid with any other offer. Pick-up or in in only. y*»i*j jot V* Western ' Carolina Medical Clinic Total Confidential Care ♦PREGNANCY TESTING - IMMEDIATE RESULTS ♦ABORTION SERVICES *BIRTH CONTROL ♦WELL WOMEN'S HEALTH CARE STTinFrVT RATFS ♦ SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE TESTING HOURS: 8 A.M. - 6P.M. Mon. - Fri. 8 A.M. -1 RM. Saturdays "Quality HealtfiCare Scince 1979" NC State License 1-800-241-8578 1-800-241-8578 1-800-241-8578 1.800-241-8578 91/2 Reed St Ext Asheville, N.C 28813 274-7460 2 7 4-7460 2 7 4- 2 7 4 7 4 6 0 -7460

The Western Carolinian is Western Carolina University's student-run newspaper. The paper was published as the Cullowhee Yodel from 1924 to 1931 before changing its name to The Western Carolinian in 1933.

• Creator
  • Western Carolina University
• Format
  • Publications (documents)
• Type
  • Text
• Date
  • Date original: 1993-03-25
  • Date digitized: 2019-10-23
• Extent
  • Dimension: 22.75" x 14.25"
  • Pages: 10 pages
• Subject - Topic
  • College student newspapers and periodicals
  • Cullowhee (N.C.) -- Newspapers
  • Universities and colleges -- North Carolina -- Cullowhee -- Newspapers
  • Western Carolina University -- Periodicals
• Location
  • Jackson County (N.C.)
  • Cullowhee (N.C.)
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Source Collection
  • WCU Students Newspapers Collection
• Identifier
  • HL_WesternCarolinian_1993-03-25_Vol58_No23
• Repository
  • Western Carolina University Hunter Library