Students are failing to use campus resources

Students are faced with many problems throughout the school year. No matter the issue, FAMU offers a variety of resources to help students when in need. But it seems as though students are failing to use them.

The Center for Human Development in Sunshine Manor is a place where students can find assistance if they have been victims of violent crimes. With a staff of three counselors and a victim advocate, the CHD also offers support for a variety of issues on campus such as relationships, suicide and many others.

“When I need help with a class in the middle of the semester and I need to study, they help me at the counseling center,” said William Dumornay, a 20-year-old sophomore criminal justice student from Miami.

Many students do not seek help from the CHD because they see it as an extreme mental place.

In the past, Dumornay has had a few personal issues, but instead of seeking help at the CHD, he turned to his family. This is also true for other students such as Shemeka Maxwell, a 20-year-old nursing student from Fort Myers. Rather than talking to a counselor she doesn’t know and trust, Maxwell turned to the guidance of her friends.

“I talk to one of my friends because they don’t really know me at the counseling center,” Maxwell said.

The CHD offers pamphlets on interpersonal skills, sexual harassment, HIV on campus and other useful information. If students wish to speak with someone other than one of the counselors, there are numbers and websites that can be found in one of the brochures.

Other on-campus resources at FAMU are used for educational purposes.

The new Writing Resource Center, located in room 100 in Tucker Hall, reopened in November 2004. In that time, about 150-200 students attended the 25-minute weekly help sessions. Most of the students who attend help sessions are referrals, but the center also takes walk-ins.

The WRC helps students and faculty with writing assistance, papers and ideas. The center also offers technical writing and grammar mechanics workshops.

“If you have any problems with reading, writing comprehension or just any subject, we have faculty and students who help to assist,” said assistant director of the WRC John Pickett. Faculty and students who have undergone massive training in writing methods staff the WRC.

Picket said unfortunately, by the time students reach FAMU their grammar skills have dwindled a bit. This is where the WRC steps in. The WRC can help students with any problems they may have with writing. The WRC does not, however, proofread or edit papers.

“We want to help students become individual learners,” Pickett said. The goal of the WRC is to aid students in increasing their language skill abilities.

For students who need help with finding a job or an internship, they can find help at the C.C. Cunningham Center, also known as the Career Center, in the student union plaza. The Career Center is a student organization that teaches students everything they need to know in order to get a job and prepares students for jobs pertaining to their degree.

“The career center is a place for students to obtain their ultimate goal and an opportunity for a career,” said Director Delores A. Dean.

Dean admits one of the biggest reasons the student don’t visit the Career Center is because they are freshmen or sophomores and they think it’s not time to look for a job or internship.

“They don’t know where we are and don’t try to find out or find a job,” Dean said.

The career center offers workshops that teach interviewing skills, help with resume writing and researching companies. Students are also encouraged to visit the career expos.

For whatever type of problem a student may have, there is help offered on FAMU’s campus. If students do not find friends or family to be helpful with their problems, perhaps one of the campus organizations will.

Contact Shayla Cooper at scooper01@att.net.