What can be done to help?

The major areas of assistance that the DCAA needs to help the Cardinal are basic: career services, professional services and mentoring.

A job and internship network would require one person or a small group of people (maximum of about five) to poll Cardinal alumni who would be able to offer either (a) informational (non-hire) interviews to Cardinal staff and alumni to build their knowledge of a particular industry and sharpen their interview skills; (b) an outright interview for a job or internship, as that person is in the position to hire or (c) use their industry connections to set up one of the other two opportunities with another agency. Most of these people are being found through the sending and return of membership forms.

In addition, more alumni would need to inform this contact person wthat they are in a position to help in one of these three ways. Finally, the main contacts must have the ability to answer or route some inquiries by students or alumni seeking positions.

The DCAA could also use the assistance of individuals who are in the position to offer a service to the Cardinal or DCAA at little to no charge. Legal, accounting, printing, internet hosting, merchandising and like services would be welcome. If you are, say, in a PR firm (or own one), an offer to help build a publicity strategy for the Cardinal would be advantageous. (Remember, the Cardinal and DCAA are tax-deductible educational charities.)

Finally, any individuals willing to serve as a mentor to a student staff member would be an invaluable help. Like an academic advisor, the students could use the assistance of someone who help them figure out Cardinal problems. Answering an email or two a day may go far to solving problems students have with the paper or with balancing it with other parts of their life.

-- Interested? Contact the DCAA (see page 12).