The bell rings and school’s out for sum­mer. This means tanning, baseball and no responsibility for Drake University stu­dents. But wait—schedules without lectures and finals also means more time to work.

It’s the jobs seen posted on online job boards or hanging with pull-off tags that are left for students to grab. The lucky ones get that rare break—the job that fits with their passions, like fashion, sports or journalism—but usually work for students is undesirable. The downright dirty jobs of dishing out fries, washing plates and husk­ing corn are left for young adults strapped for cash.

The average cost of undergraduate tuition at a private four-year university is $26,273, according to the College Board. This is up 4.4 percent from 2009 and many students will have to pay that price with a part-time, minimum-wage job.

Despite the U.S. unemployment rate at 9.7 percent as of March 2009, accord­ing to the U.S. Department of Labor, there are still jobs outside of the college campus bubble.

The lowest paying job, according to the CareerBuilder web site, is food preparation, serving workers with an average hourly wage of $8.03.

Byron Spears, a junior politics and his­tory double major, said he would rather work in a fast-food kitchen than at his last summer job again. As a night staffer at a juvenile detention center he was required to sit on watch from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. He had to perform a variety of unwelcome tasks.

“If any of the kids peed in bed, guess who got to change the sheet and clean them up?” Spears said.

Bad jobs can serve as a great party con­versation starter. Lyn Schneider, a senior public relations and politics double major, can casually throw in that she worked in a factory on bombs.

“I tied knots on bomb car­tridges for eight hours a day,” Schneider said. “But this year, over Christmas break, I got to move up in the world. I got to rub the lids with a toothbrush on returned bomb cartridges from Iraq.”

Schneider said she needed money the summer before she studied abroad and after her other lifeguarding job.

The job of passing out sam­ples at a grocery store is also of­ten a focus of underpaid students. Norah Carroll, a junior magazine and English double major, got a temporary agency job serving samples at Sam’s Club the summer before college. The agencies will contract employees for a limited time—which was just fine with Carroll.

“I wasn’t very good at it, though, be­cause I don’t really eat meat and I was serv­ing meat,” Carroll said. “People kept asking me what it was and I had no idea. So, they moved me up to shampoos and my job was to sit on a stool for six hours and answer questions about Pantene shampoo, if peo­ple asked me—which they didn’t.”

From a student perspective, the best jobs are usually the highest paid. This year’s highest paid student part-time job, accord­ing to the company Studentpayouts.com, is working with technology as a computer lab assistant. It might not be glamorous, but fixing printers and rewriting HTML pays an average of $21.78 per hour.

Clerking as an administrative assistant and instructing aerobics are also well-paid enterprises.

Exercise enthusiast Kelly Kretschmer, a sophomore vocal performance major, advises contacting the Bell Center about opportunities to instruct exercise classes. Kretschmer said she gets to work up a sweat teaching step aerobics twice a week while getting paid.

Like Kretschmer’s job, employment op­portunities that combine salary and enthu­siasm are the most sought after.

Dan Behrens was lucky enough to find a job through his love of the outdoors. The junior health sciences major guides groups of high school students on five-night trips along different waterways in Minnesota, near the Canadian border.

Behrens said he likes taking a vacation from the hubbub of college. The break is forced as his main campground base is an hour away from cell phone service.

“I love being in such an isolated place because it helps you appreciate the simple things in life,” Behrens said. “Everything you do is an adventure and you never know what will happen on any given trip.”

He has stories to tell about bears steal­ing food, sleeping in severe storms and ca­noes tipping over in the middles of rushing rivers.

“It is a rewarding, challenging and unique job experience that I will be doing again for the third straight summer,” Beh­rens said.

Tents, mosquitoes and dirt aren’t for everyone and to make bank, students don’t even need to venture off Drake campus. There are many options to pad those pock­ets with green at a number of on-campus jobs.

Deb Wiley, assistant director of Drake human resources, encourages students to equally weigh all employment opportuni­ties, on and off campus.

“On-campus jobs are great if a student needs, or wants, to take classes at Drake,” Wiley said. “With the on-campus jobs dur­ing the summer a student can work up to 40 hours per week, so it will feel like a regular full-time job.”

Eric Gudmundson, a senior public rela­tions major, loved his on-campus job as an orientation leader so much that he attempt­ed to obtain the position, only allowed for current students, again.

“Being an orientation leader was super flexible, so you don’t think of it as a pay­ing job,” Gudmundson said. “It’s different than any other type of job, because you get to work with co-workers, administration, parents and students.”

Internships are also a beneficial use of time in the summer. With the economy in a standstill and hiring in a lull, many companies are cutting paid interns in ex­change for free labor.

Outside the door to Car­lyn Crowe’s office is a list of opportunities everywhere from Washington D.C. to California. Crowe, intern­ship coordinator and ad­junct journalism professor, will offer advice to all students who contact her.

“The biggest tip I have for looking for an internship is to start at your network of professors, advisors and speak with them what advice they might have,” Crowe said. “Spread the word to get the game go­ing.”

Crowe suggested many resources for students to figure out that looming issue of finding a summer job.

“LinkedIn is a great resource for net­working,” Crowe recommended. “I defi­nitely advise getting and keeping up a pro­file.”

Go to www.drake.edu/hr for a complete listing of on-campus jobs. Because there are few students on campus in the summer, on-campus positions can be limited. Profes­sional and Career Development Services have an online database, called Career bluePrint, which employers use to post off-campus jobs and internships.

Stay a step ahead of the competition and make sure to have all the right tools when applying for your summer job

1. Resume
Keep your qualifications to one page. Include experience, education, involvement and skills that are applicable to the job. Alter your resume depending on what each company is looking for.

2. Cover letter
Keep the introduction to the application concise. Indicate how you heard about the position, why you are interested and what makes you qualified. Don’t repeat what’s already listed in your resume.

3. Reference sheet
If your resume sheet is filled, put three to four current people of professional reference on a separate sheet. Keep the header the same between your resume and reference sheet, so they coordinate. Make sure and notify your references that you are using them as potential contacts for recommendation.

4. Business Card
Have a clean-looking card that shares your contact information, including phone number, e-mail and Web site (if you have one). If possible, have the colors on the resume and card coordinate.

5. LinkedIn
Manage your contacts and network with potential and past employers on LinkedIn.com. Keep your working status updated and ask for recommendations from co-workers and bosses. Make sure the profile picture is a plain headshot, with little background distraction.

The festival, named after the intersec­tion of interstates 80 and 35, has drawn more than 30,000 attendees over the Fourth of July weekend for two days of live music in Western Gateway Park. The festival is organized by the volunteers of the Greater Des Moines Music Coalition (DMMC), a nonprofit movement committed to build­ing a stronger and more diverse live music economy.

The big-name headliners that will play include Spoon and Slightly Stoopid on July 3, and Modest Mouse and Railroad Earth on July 4. Other acts include The Walkmen, Avi Buffalo, Earl Greyhound, Cashes Rivers, The Heavy and Dar Williams. All of the acts will be announced by 80/35 by mid-May.

Tickets are available through midwestix. com and cost $60 for a two-day pass, and $35 for a one-day pass. Tickets are also sold the day of the concerts for $40. VIP tickets are on sale for $175 and include a two-day festival ticket, free and discounted food and beverages, a preferred viewing area near the main stage, access to separate restrooms and select free merchandise.

Spoon is an indie-rock band from Aus­tin, Texas, that was formed in 1994. Since then, they’ve had three albums debut in the Billboard 200. In 2009, Metacritic ranked Spoon as the Top Overall Artist of the De­cade, based on the band’s success between 2000 and 2009.

Slightly Stoopid hails from Ocean Beach, Calif., and boasts music that’s a blend of reg­gae, punk and ska. The band was discovered by Sublime front man Bradley Nowell in 1995 and has released six studio records, crisscrossing the country on an almost-con­stant tour schedule.

You won’t want to miss these bands performing at 80/35 music festival:

• MODEST MOUSE Indie rock band, was nominated for a Grammy in 2004. Will perform July 4.
• SPOON From Austin, Texas They have released seven albums and were featured in “500 Days of Summer”
• THE WALKMEN Indie rock group, incorporates piano beats and vintage instruments.

While many students eagerly anticipate heading home for the sum­mer, a fair amount of young professionals find places in Des Moines for the summer. Therein lays the dilemma: Should we stay or should we go?

In most cases the decision is out of students’ hands, depending more on employment status and budget than personal preference. Like miners once crossing the country westward in search of gold, much of our genera­tion will go wherever jobs and internships are available.

There are several factors to consider before deciding whether to stay or leave for home. First, is there a job in the destination of choice? Drake offers leads on Des Moines jobs and internships, but with a week of school remain­ing, are those positions still open?

Bryant Moeller, a sophomore, said he would just like to be employed.

“I’ll pretty much go wherever I can find work,” he said.

No matter how much Drake students love opportunities, not many parents would be excited at the idea of their pride and joy just “hanging out” for a summer, unsupervised but not quite inde­pendent.

Should you decide to stay in Des Moines, the process of finding housing for a summer or beyond is not exactly a brief and simple process. Cheap housing can be found— not as cheap as living at home, of course—and most students can find enough to do to keep occupied during downtime.

At the very least, there’s more to do here than in many students’ hometowns. Living independently, doing laundry and cooking are all part of the “growing up” life stage. On the decision to go home side of the argument, finding employment there could be just as hard.

So what about old friends back home? New memories will be made no matter where the summer is spent. Friends from high school went off to college or the workforce too, likely facing the same living choices. It’s not realistic to ex­pect all of the old crew to be home for the summer or to expect all your Drake friends to stay in the 515.

There are both pros and cons to staying around Drake. No parents will be here to force students out of bed at noon on a Sat­urday to mow the lawn here in Des Moines, but don’t expect to have breakfast waiting.

>> Decide to stay in the 515? Get active!

>Ride: Gears & Grinds

When: May 23, 10:30 a.m.
Where: Start at Java Joes – 214 4th St.

>Run: Dam to Dam 5k & 20k

When: June 10,
Where: 5k starts downtown, 20k starts Saylorville Dam
Check out: www.damtodam.com

>Tri: Hy-vee Triathlon

When: June 13, times vary
Where: Swim starts at Blue Heron Lake in Raccoon River Park

Those getting tired of linear games with Mission A that has to lead to Mission B could just cut loose with “Just Cause 2.”

This sandbox-style epic, developed by Ava­lanche Studios and Eidos Interactive, puts you back in the control of Rico Rodriguez. Rico’s new mission is to travel to the fictional island of Panau and overthrow the oppressive leader, Pandak “Baby”

Working with the three main anti-govern­ment factions: the Ular Boys, the Reapers and the Roaches, gamers must instill chaos across the island and weaken the government’s hold. Players can advance the storyline by completing Agency missions, or they can simply open other areas of the island through faction missions.

Things aren’t as simple as they seem, how­ever, and a conspiracy and international power struggle over Panau’s precious oil fields explodes, leaving players with the choice to determine who will remain in power once the smoke clears.

“Just Cause 2” is a healthy blend of great game elements; the scenery is lush, vibrant and extremely realistic. Watching the sun set over the mountains or the glistening of water in the bays really looks like it would on an exotic is­land. There isn’t a single portion of land players can’t access through the plethora of vehicles, in­cluding cars, planes, helicopters or boats.

Rico’s grappling hook and parachute really set the game apart from others in the genre. The hook allows players to reach any point, high or low, rapidly; combine this grapple effect with a never-ending supply of parachutes, and you can slingshot yourself anywhere on the island.

Here is where the game parts with its thus far realistic tone. Rico can never run out of para­chutes, and the physics of the game are a little skewed. If you happen to fall off of a cliff, Rico instantly hits terminal velocity and goes “flying squirrel,” gliding freely without the parachute. Hit the grapple button, and Rico pulls him­self rapidly to Earth, sustaining no damage. In general, a fall from almost any distance will not be fatal. Even plunging a car headfirst into a valley will result in little more than a dent to your health. Whereas other games like “Call of Duty” or “Grand Theft Auto” try to keep things realistic, “Just Cause 2” allows for a temporary suspension of disbelief. Whether it be multiple gunshot wounds, standing on top of grenade blasts, being hit by a car or staying underwater for 12 hours, Rico just does not die.

The artificial intelligence is also not too bright, even on the hardest setting, so there is never a mission where a player might find him­self overwhelmed. There is a challenge, but the game lacks the killer-instinct AI that can make a game difficult.

Most people will say that the lax AI, unre­alistic physics and low-difficulty make the game a poor choice, but they are actually what make “Just Cause 2” so fun. It takes itself seriously, but only to a point. When it comes to just having a good time, cutting loose and exploring/destroy­ing an island, “Just Cause 2” reigns supreme. The lapse of reality and physics doesn’t detract from the game — it adds to it.

“Just Cause 2” mixes a realistic setting and premise with a ridiculous, straight-from-an-action-flick feel. The plot is weak and the voice acting is sub-par, but that’s not the point. The focus is the gameplay and extremely sophisticat­ed sandbox engine. The missions are designed to showcase the different aspects of the system and let the user have a lot of free-roaming fun without completely letting them off the chain. Gamers looking for structure and plot will find a decent attempt, and the fun-loving adrenaline junkies will find more than ample room to have a great time with no strings attached.

Your band was supposedly created with intentions of wooing crushes and entertaining friends. Have you been successful?

Absolutely. We all weren’t around when it first started, but that’s the main focus of the band. Still is.

What can we expect to hear on your new album?

The new record is pretty much done. There are three more songs that need some more vocals and there are 11 songs in all. It should come in around three months. It’s going to be different than the last record because there’s not going to be as much synthesized stuff. We’ve added a lot of strings and horns. There’s a lot more orchestration in that sense. It’s still a pop record, but it’s just a little more in the classic sense of the genre.

What’s your favorite song to play live?

The last one we played, “Touchdown Turnaround” and “When We First Met” are fun. The new ones are always fun to play just because they’re so new.

What’s the best part about being on the road?

The best part is traveling and seeing cool places. You get to take a break from the world. It’s a life break, and you get to be around people who actually want to be around you.

What’s the worst part about being on the road?

The only part that’s bad is the flying. That really sucks. The lines are terrible. If we could just get a pass that would let us through every time, we’d be so stoked.

As the saying goes, the best things come in threes. Strings will converge with the Time for Three trio in the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines this weekend for the season finale concert of the Des Moines Symphony.

Time for Three (Tf3) is comprised of Zachary De Pue and Nicolas Kendall on violin, with Ranaan Meyer on double bass. The men began playing together as students at Philadelphia’s Curtis Institute for Music and have been making an innovative sound ever since.

Tf3 resonate a mix of classical, jazz and bluegrass genres to the stage and

Brahms Symphony No. 2 and Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody are also on the program for performance.

The triad returns to the Civic Center after a well-received performance in 2008.

Want to catch this energetic group while you have the chance? Student rush tickets for $10 will be available for the performances on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Get tickets by visiting the Symphony Website at dmsymphony.org, through Ticket Master at 800-745-3000 or visiting the Civic Center Ticket Office.

There’s something to be said about an ac- tion flick where things start blowing up in the first five minutes. “The Losers” is just that kind of movie—lots of guts, lots of guns and plenty of things that go boom. It’s the type of mind- numbing action that reminds you why you go to the theater in the first place. It’s an escape, a hot-blooded roller-coaster ride that’s way more fun than it should be.

When a CIA black ops team is betrayed and left for dead in Bolivia, these “losers” decide to take matters into their own hands. In seeking the ultimate vengeance, team leader Clay (Jeffrey Dean Morgan of “Watchmen”) enlists the aid of the sultry and mysterious Aisha (Zoe Saldana of “Avatar”). Of course Aisha isn’t exactly what she seems—she’s a wild card with an agenda of her own. The rest of the team remains skeptical

with a woman around, but Aisha holds her own as the team takes on some of the CIA’s dirtiest top players.

Based upon the graphic novel by Andy Dig- gle, everything about “The Losers” is over the top, even a little contrived. With a new graphic novel being adapted for the big screen each year, it’s easy for these films to eventually all seem the same. But there’s something about “The Los- ers” that’s genuine—possibly even original. De- spite the cliché that is becoming the Hollywood action franchise, this one has the perfect mix of action and comedy, big fights and gun shows, hot women facing off with bronzy men.

Idris Elba, Chris Evans and Columbus Short join Morgan and Saldana along for the ride, with a particularly smarmy and oftentimes hi- larious Jason Patric as the bad guy. The result is a cast that’s easy to root for. Along with explo- sive effects and tongue-in-cheek humor, “The courtesy of http://images.allmoviephoto.com Losers” makes anything the A-Team ever did seem like child’s play.

For a few hours every Thursday afternoon, the forest behind the Roger Knapp Tennis Center turns into a war zone.

Each week, students who are a part of the Army ROTC program at Drake complete a combat scenario lab. The labs are designed so students, enrolled in Reserved Officers’ Training Corps, called cadets, can take the knowledge they learn about warfare in the classroom and apply it to a simulated battlefield.

“We try to make everything as realistic as we can,” said Lt. Benjamin Davis, an ROTC instructor. “We train them the same way they’ll train once they’re soldiers in the Army.”

Students who take part in the ROTC program pursue degrees in their chosen major while also completing military education.

“I’ll be graduating with a double major in economics and management,” senior Kyle Lewandowski said. “After that, I’m going to active duty for four years. My first assignment is officer training school in Missouri.”

On April 8, cadets were ordered to report to the grassy clearing next to the Roger Knapp Tennis Center at 5 p.m. One by one, the cadets showed up. Each cadet wore his camouflage battle uniform complete with combat boots. Before the start of the lab, most of the cadets talked over what to expect of the simulation.

“What we train is the general officer-ship stuff,” Davis said. “Everything we train them to know are infantry basics. Everybody needs to know the basics. Everything goes off of that.”

Once Davis and the other instructors arrived, the cadets fell into ranks. Lewandowski briefed the mission leaders on their objectives.

“Mission: First Platoon, Bulldog Company, conduct an area ambush to destroy enemy patrols,” said Lewandowski, the platoon leader for the lab. “Prevent the enemy from locating avenues of approach.”

The actual scenario took place in the woods near the tennis courts. Armed with empty M-16 rifles, the cadets moved into position in the forest along the main trail. The mission went as planned, with the squad suffering just one casualty. A cadet was “shot” in the leg while detaining an enemy combatant.

“That looked pretty good,” Davis said. “There’s always room for improvement. It’s starting to get where they are really coming together as a team on this ambush mission.”

Not all the cadets participating in the lab are new to the Army way of life. Senior Patrick Hendrickson, who will be graduating in May with a biology degree, is an Iraq war veteran involved in Drake’s ROTC program. He’ll be returning to the Army once he graduates.

“I’ll be an infantry officer in the Army,” Hendrickson said. “My next deployment is slated for next December, to Afghanistan. Once I get done with this next deployment, I plan to take the MCATs and hopefully go to medical school.”

Lewandowski is aiming for a position in a special sector of the Army.

“My goal is to work in the intelligence division of the Army,” he said. “I have to serve three years in the Chemical Corps first, and then I’ll move to the Intelligence component. That is where I’d like to specialize, working with locals in different countries and figuring out how they can help us or hurt us. We need to know that stuff so that when guys go out there they have the information they need to be successful in their missions. That’s what I’m really passionate about.”

Although ROTC can be a grueling program, many cadets say they enjoy the organization.

“ROTC has been great to me,” Lewandowski said. “I’ve gone from being the learner to the instructor, and then to the overseer and the coach. It’s cool to go through all of those roles.”

Some students have a lot more going on in their schedules than attending and studying for classes; they’re also working on campus. The program is called Federal Work-Study and yes, there are more jobs outside of Hubbell and Terrace Court. The work-study students also enjoy their jobs.

First-year Shannon Kerr works as a lifeguard at the Bell Center. For Kerr, becoming a Drake lifeguard was not difficult because she already had her Lifeguard Certification, CPR Certification and over three years of experience.

Kerr was also on her high school’s varsity swim team for four years and has been swimming since she was eight years old.

“I like sports,” Kerr said. “I like athletics and I’ve done this before. It’s just nice to relax and it is a nice break from studying. It’s easy.”

She doesn’t mind the $8.25 per hour going into her pocket either.

Senior technical design major Michael Draheim is one of seven technical assistants and a House Sound Manager in the theatre shop in the Fine Arts Center. Draheim’s job assignments change depending on what shows or projects they have coming up.

This job goes along with what he is learning in his area of study, so not only does he get a hands-on experience, but he also gets paid for it.

“Even though times can get really stressful, it is really not that bad,” Draheim said. “It’s a pretty relaxed place to be. It’s a lot of fun and very rewarding. I love my job.”

Approximately 1,000 time sheets are submitted every month, which means on average there are 1,000 students working on campus. Students can also have multiple jobs, so there is no limitation. On average, students work 10 to 15 hours per week.

“Students have to plan ahead. One nice benefit of working on campus is it’s right here, and there is more flexibility and more understanding,” said Debra Wiley, assistant director at human resources. “A common misconception is that work-study does not mean studying at work. This is a job. It’s a great opportunity and a great learning experience.”

The work-study students get to work in different areas all over campus, from Office of Admissions representatives to the Olmsted Coffee Shop as baristas to the recreation services as lifeguards, like Kerr. The Office of Student Financial Planning makes the decision of who is eligible for work-study. Eligibility is determined by need and income from the FAFSA. Students are notified on their eligibility for work-study when they receive their financial aid award letter before each semester.

The majority of the positions pay minimum wage, which is $7.25 per hour, and jobs that are available are posted online at drake.edu/hr in the “Students” link. Students can also apply for jobs during orientation.

Meatball, a 1-and-a-half –year-old, 65 pound bulldog won the contest dressed in a Drake blue jersey. Owners, Ryan and Katie Anderson of Des Moines, sported “Team Meatball” t-shirts as the winner’s crown was placed on their champ.

“We’re both shocked,” Ryan Anderson said. “This is his first year competing and when they called us as the winner it was like, “Oh my gosh!”

The Andersons describe the brown and white spotted beast as a “happy-go-lucky” dog that likes visiting the neighbors and kissing everybody.

Meatball took the “Beautiful Bulldog” title from the 2009 winner, Porterhouse. The previous title-holder sat on a throne, made by Drake professor, Charlie Phillips, watched the contestants parade around in stylish outfits before he took is final walk off the stage.

“He’ll miss having the crown on,” Kevin Bell, Porterhouse’s owner and a Drake Law student, said.

Drake fans don’t need to worry about the beloved bulldog going anywhere. The friendly 4-year-old signed on as a Drake mascot for at least another year.

Dolph Pulliam, community outreach and development director, served as the emcee for the contest. He recited fun facts for the audience such as the bulldog originate in England and the most common bulldog names are Molly and Max.

The judges deliberated over the tough competition. Drake Relays host Anil Alimohd and hostess Molly Lundberg had the honor of rating the four-footed competitors.

“I got a lot of slobber on my pants, but that’s part of the fun,” Lundberg said.

“I let her do the dirty work,” Alimohd said. “ I just held the clipboard.”

Other awards were given to notable dogs, including the runner-up pup, Maxxis. The oldest award was presented to 17-year-old Buddy and “Farthest from the Doghouse” to Moose, from Cover, South Carolina.

Drake gear was a popular trend for this year’s contest. Huck and Alice, brother and sister bulldogs, complemented each other in royal blue football and cheerleading uniforms. Owner, Stephanie Martin of Norwalk, trained the 1-year-old pups to shake hands and give high-fives.

Gertie a 4-year-old girly-girl paraded around as Jackie Onassis in a pink pillbox hat. Colleen Kelly, of Iowa City, said she’s excited for her dog to finally be competing after trying for two years. Gertie was one of eight dogs in the finals and won the award for “best costume.”

The cliché that people look like their dogs held true at the competition. A man, wearing a Red Sox shirt was escorted by a Red Sox tail-wagging fan. Mollie Boylan, of Des Moines, dressed as a clown to match her three-year-old bulldog, Chow Ling.

“Her father won the “Mr. Congeniality” award the first year he was entered,” Boylan said. “So, she’s got the genetics for showmanship.”

People from around the city sprawled out to watch the annual event. Kevin Kuhle, a 2009 Drake graduate, stopped by on his lunch break to check out the contest.

“Working so close to downtown, I thought it pretty urgent that I attend,” Kuhle said. “It’s a great event to connect Drake to the Des Moines community.”

Photos by Sarah Andrews, Photo/Design Editor