Spring Break
Finding success for life
Akéla Yarn
Issue date: 10/9/08 Section: Features
| |
|
SGA is aiming to provide solutions for common issues that face ECU students through their "Success for Life" workshops.
"Success for Life" is a series of lectures organized by SGA that brings in various speakers that present issues relevant to overall student well-being. The workshops inform students about departments and offices on campus that are designed to assist them if needed.
SGA will be hosting two "Success for Life" workshops each semester. The first took place last Wednesday.
Peter Romary, director of student legal services gave information about topics like landlord-tenant and lease issues and alcohol and fake ID laws. Romary also talked about alcohol laws in popular vacation spots for college students.
"['Success for Life'] is a really important way for me to connect with my clients. I think it is very important that we convey as much information as possible so that we have informed consumers," said Romary.
According to Romary, the most common legal issues for ECU students are landlord-tenant issues, alcohol tickets and minor traffic infractions.
Romary warned students who wish to get into the medical, legal, law enforcement or education fields that it can be difficult to get a job with any of these charges on their record.
Romary also gave advice on how to handle the Alcohol Law Enforcement (ALE), saying that students are not required to blow into an alcasensor unless they are operating a motor vehicle. The simple odor of alcohol is not enough for permanent charges.
Students were also reminded to use technology to their advantage. When there is a problem, the best evidence is visual, according to Romary. Using digital cameras and camera phones to capture questionable behavior can be used as evidence to help in a court case.
The next "Success for Life" workshop will be held on Nov. 19 in the Multipurpose Room at Mendenhall Student Center. The speaker will be a representative from Vanguard, an investment management company that handles approximately $1.3 trillion in assets across the country.
The session will focus on student financial issues, and a representative will speak about budgeting money, investing, credit cards and debt.
"It is important for students to come to these events because they will benefit from hearing the knowledge and information that each speaker shares with them," said Brad Teasley, the SGA Chief of Staff. "Many students often need legal advice."
This writer can be contacted at features@theeastcarolinian.com.
Be the first to comment on this story