Augie History: Advantage doesn’t come easily; we have to go for it

As this year's seniors prepare for graduation, applying for jobs and applying to graduate schools; we wonder what advantage a private liberal arts school will bring us.

The tired slogan "Augustana Advantage" is thrown continuously at incoming students. We were told that having smaller classes with teachers who cared would make a dramatic difference. We were told that a liberal arts degree would make us well-rounded and more appealing to employers.

At some point all of us have asked ourselves if all the money has been worth it. Are we really going to have an advantage over students attending state schools or other private colleges?

I doubt it. Many students attending Augustana simply live on campus their first year, maybe get involved in building a float or taking part in an intramural sport, and that is the extent of their involvement.

For many an off-campus apartment and a part-time job to help pay for the beer each weekend becomes more appealing than campus involvement.

Many of us assume that a decent grade point average from a good school will give us the employment advantage. However, many are now finding that this attitude won't get us any farther than job service.

What we often fail to realize is that employers are not looking for passive employees, who are willing to do only enough to get by. They are looking for people who are interactive with their environments. They want employees who care.

While in the minority, I believe that many of us now know what the "Augustana Advantage" is. We know that getting involved means more than volunteering to decorate the gymnasium or participating in Dog Eat Dog activities. We know that it is about finding something we are truly interested in, even passionate about. It's about giving our time, creativity, full effort and heart. Many have even created their own clubs and programs in which to pour their energies.

The next time we hear someone questioning when, where or how the "Augustana Advantage" will affect them, we should remind them that it is their job to take advantage of Augustana.

The Augustana Mirror, Vol. 80 No. 9, 1993