No More Research Woes

Research.  Papers. Projects.  All good stuff!   Week 10 of the fall semester brings many CCV students conducting research for papers and projects.   More often than not, students have questions about the research process, key word searches, appropriate topics, MLA and APA, and the writing process.  To find the answers they seek, students turn to Google and then visit a multitude of sites.  What students don’t know is there no need to wander deep into webland in search of support.  CCV’s Hartness Library has incredibly helpful resources to address any questions a student might have.  

The CCV Hartness Library Research Basics Guide probably covers any question you might have about conducting research or writing a paper.  Hartness even provides a list possible topics for those of us who can’t seem to think of one.  Do you prefer to have processes explained to you?  No problem.  CCV’s Hartness Library created a series of short (we’re talking an average of two minutes short) video tutorials that explain anything you would want to know about navigating the library, writing a paper or doing research.  

If you are struggling with your research and you feel like you need some personalized assistance, ask a librarian.  You can call, email, text or chat your research questions, and a librarian will be available to help you.

The next time you are tempted to go googling for help, save yourself some time and virtually visit CCV’s Hartness library first.  

A Chance to Earn Some Money

Are you energetic and personable?  Would you like to earn some extra money?  Ascent Talent would like to hire four CCV students to serve as Marketing Assistants in Waterbury this Friday, November 9^th from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm.  Marketing Assistants will promote a local coffee company by passing out samples.  The pay is $126 for the event ($18/hour) and they are looking for articulate, energetic students to help out!

If you are interested, please email brenshaw@ascenttravel.com with your name and number, and they will work to get you on the team.

We Be Illin'

In 2007, the United States ranked 139^th in voter participation out of 172 world democracies. That’s right - 139^th place. If voting is a basic indicator of democratic health, what does 139^th place say about our democratic well-being?  To quote Run D.M.C. – we be illin’.

How might you help fix what ails us?

• Register To Vote if you have not already done so.  For the Presidential election, you must register to vote by October 31. Registration forms are available at your CCV center and at your Town Clerk’s office.

• Get Educated.  Don’t let your neighbors or the pundits make up your mind for you.  Check out Project Vote Smart to learn the candidate’s biographies, voting records, issue positions, ratings, speeches, and campaign finance information. All politicians. Instantly.  The U.S. News & World Report says Vote Smart would make the U.S. Founders “weep with joy” and the Indianapolis Star contends the project “may be the most useful voter information project in the country.”  You might also want to check out the Campus Election Engagement Project's nonpartisan 2012 Presidential Election Voter Guide, which concisely summarizes the candidates' positions on major issues, drawing on the work  Project Vote Smart has done on their candidate guides and rounded out with their own research.

• Hit the Polls on November 6. Registering to vote is a great step, but you have to follow through with the deed to make a difference.  Be sure to bring an ID to your polling location.

We’re curious – are you planning to vote?  Let us know.

Navigating the News

by Alisha Leu

Student Services Intern, Community College of Vermont

As the election draws nearer, the need to be an informed citizen grows more critical. If learning where candidates stand on issues seems overwhelming, that’s understandable, because navigating the many news outlets, the multiple pundit viewpoints, and the countless campaign ads can be difficult.

Today, most American media outlets offer a biased perspective. So, what do you do? Diversify your sources.  Use a variety of media sources that cover the full range of the political spectrum. Hopefully, you will find some consistencies in the facts presented, and you can develop your own well-rounded and informed viewpoint.

As someone who cares deeply about the political process, I can’t stress enough the importance of being informed. Politics can be very frustrating at times, but at the end of the day, being engaged in this process is the lifeline of our democracy. As President Abraham Lincoln said in his famous Gettysburg Address, we are a “government of the people, by the people, for the people.” And we can’t have a government “of the people” if the people are interested, informed, and vocal.  Let your vote be your voice.

If  you’re looking for a list of diverse news outlets, check out the Doing Democracy display at your CCV academic center, and while you’re there, pick up a voter registration form!