My plans include moving into my grandparents’ basement and learning to sew from my grandmother, because I, like half the other college graduates in the United States, have not yet attained full-time employment. Not for lack of applying, mind you—my computer crashed when I created a folder full of all my application materials. The Associate Press reported 1.5 million, or 1 of every 2, college graduates are without a job or are “under”-employed.

About two weeks ago, my grandfather sent me an email asking if I’ve ever thought of doing something “kind of radical at this time of (my) life, something adventurous,” because I’d never have more freedom in life than right now.

At first, I was upset—all four years here, people have pushed me towards a full-time career, and now, this late in the game, I can do something extreme? Once my initial frustration subsided, I read the note again.

My grandfather concluded with this: “You might start the search by asking (yourself), ‘What is my deep desire, my dream, for myself right now?’” This time, I understood what he meant.

The odds may not be “ever in our favor,” Class of 2012, but I leave you with the same question from my grandfather: what is your dream at this moment? Like me, you may not know what it is, but we now have the freedom to do some “soul-searching” to determine what would make us the most happy. Once we figure that out, we are more prepared to figure out the means of getting there.

So, CSB/SJU Class of 2012, from one graduate to another, I wish you the best of luck as you go forth into the world and determine your dream.

This year, students are questioning the check-out procedures at both SJU and CSB. While SJU’s policies have not changed, CSB has raised its improper check-out fee.

At CSB/SJU, students can check-out with an RA. CSB students have the option to fill out a waiver, which allows only one person to check-out of the room, and SJU students can choose an express check-out. However, in both of these options, the student waives his/her right to appeal damages. Last year, the improper check-out fee at CSB was $25. This year, CSB Residential Life doubled the price to $50.

“Every number of years, we need to look at the structure of fees,” Mary Beth Thompson, Director of Residential Life for Facilities and Operations, said. “It’s been $25 since at least 2001, when I started here.”

In addition to restructuring, Thompson said that students were not taking the procedure seriously at $25. The cost was doubled, in hopes that students will be more prepared.

An improper check-out includes not signing up for a check-out time slot and not being ready at the sign-up time. Although very unlikely, it is possible to be charged $50 multiple times if, for example, a student is continuously not ready.

“They would have to be very heinously late,” Thompson said. “For (multiple $50 fines), a student would almost need to try to get charged.”

CSB seniors graduate on Saturday, May 12, and are expected to use Sunday to pack up. SJU students, however, graduate on Sunday and are expected to use Saturday to pack up. SJU seniors are able to fill out a request form to stay later, but this request lasts only until 9 a.m. the following day.

“Men have a whole 24 hours to pack up and get ready to go before Commencement,” Assistant Director of Housing Tory Oelfke said.

Not all Johnnies agree this is realistic.

“I think it is absurd and ridiculous. With all these relatives and friends around to celebrate graduation, packing should be the last thing in mind,” Saint John’s senior Logan Schwinghammer said in an email. “It goes against our Benedictine value of hospitality.”

“It would be really hard to spend time with your family,” SJU senior Rob Floren, who is staying until 9 a.m. on Monday, said. “It’d be like, ‘Hey Mom, grab a box and help me.’”

Although the check-out procedures may seem a bit unreasonable, the Residential Life staff needs to think of all parties involved in the process.

“We want everyone to be ready, and we don’t want to charge anyone,” Thompson said. “Not being ready affects everyone down the line.”

“We are trying to improve the process, not just for us, but for the students also,” Oelfke said. “We want it to be as smooth as possible.”

Wittmeyer spent time doing fieldwork in Mozambique in order to learn more about a controversial issue called land grabbing. This work became the basis of her co-authored research project and honors thesis.

Though it does not often make U.S. headlines, land grabbing is an important global issue.

“Over the past ten years, there’s been a huge increase in foreign direct investment in farmland in Africa. So, foreign investors, whether they’re multinational corporations or governments themselves, are buying up or leasing massive tracts of land in Africa,” Wittmeyer said.

Because of a combination of changes, such as rising food prices and increasing population, fertile land has become very valuable. Investors, especially countries with high populations like China, India and Saudi Arabia, want this land so they can grow crops for their population and bypass the fluctuating prices of the global food market.

Wittmeyer’s research process started two years ago when former CSB/SJU professor Dr. Derick Becker asked her if she would like to coauthor a research project with him.

“I was really humbled that Derick asked me,” Wittmeyer said.

Wittmeyer had already planned on studying South Africa. She switched her return flight and traveled to Mozambique while Becker went to Ethiopia. During her fieldwork in Mozambique, Wittmeyer interviewed everyone from government officials to small farmers. In addition to doing this kind of work for the first time, she had to contend with the problems of conducting research in a developing country.

“It was really difficult … but students should be doing more of this fieldwork. It really tests you personally and emotionally to go alone into another country, but it’s also extraordinarily empowering to do so,” Wittmeyer said.

Wittmeyer and Becker presented their work at the International Studies Association (ISA) Conference in April.

At the conference, Wittmeyer, Becker and other panelists were able to present and debate current issues. Wittmeyer enjoyed the ISA experience because experts were able to both critique and praise her work.

“We just did so well, comparatively, to other panelists, and we walked out of there feeling so good,” Wittmeyer said.

Wittmeyer and Becker received an offer to present at the Millennium conference in London. However, Wittmeyer and Becker have yet to make a final decision of whether or not to enter the conference.

Wittmeyer and Becker will also submit their work to a few different journals, in hopes of having their research published by the fall.

Though both of her projects concerned land grabbing, Wittmeyer did not want her honors thesis to be a copy of her and Becker’s joint project.

“I took a really different angle on land grabbing because I didn’t want there to be too much overlap,” Wittmeyer said. “I thought that taking a different angle would help both of those projects be better.”

Gary Prevost, one of Wittmeyer’s advisors (her other advisors are Christi Siver and Ron Pagnucco) knew Wittmeyer would successfully accomplish the thesis.

“From the beginning, I urged her to do it,” Prevost said.

To Prevost, Wittmeyer’s work was striking enough to earn his nomination for the Honors Thesis Award.

“The fact that she was resourceful enough and bold enough to do fieldwork, that stood out,” Prevost said.

Prevost also admired the way Wittmeyer engaged in her research.

“She didn’t go looking for a conclusion and simply find research to back it up. She followed her research where it took her,” Prevost said.

Wittmeyer’s dedication has earned the respect of her friends as well as her advisors.

“Hannah has been working on this for close to two years now. She constantly has piles of paper surrounding her,” Katie Frazier said. “She has used her thesis as an avenue to explore all the things she’s learned throughout her time at school.”

Though Wittmeyer is finished with her thesis, she is not done researching.

“I want to keep going … It’s almost like I have this research bug,” Wittmeyer said. “I want the next topic. I’ve decided after I graduate I want to go to Burma or Thailand and work as an English teacher, but also go interview people and make something else. I want to do more research and engage a different type of scholarship because it’s just such a rewarding experience.”

According to a letter to be distributed by the Finance and Administration Office, as of July 1, CSB/SJU is joining forces with an additional provider, TouchNet/PayPath, for an adjustment in the processing of tuition payments through the use of a credit or debit card. Starting on this date, TouchNet will handle all payments, adding a subsequent fee of 2.75 percent and a minimum service charge of three dollars.

Payment of these charges can be made online with the use of MasterCard, Discover or American Express. VISA, on the other hand, has chosen to not adhere to the new guidelines. VISA will not agree to the implications set forth by TouchNet and CSB/SJU. Thus, they will no longer be accepted.

Additionally, credit and debit card payments will no longer be taken over the telephone or at the Student Accounts office. Rather, a computer will be available for use in the office.

Although many view credit and debit card payments as a means of convenience, the cost implications of this practice are high for CSB/SJU. For the 2011-2012 school year, this amount totaled $700,000. CSB/SJU are unable to combat this cost, and thus may implement a new form of action. The universities will not receive any amount of the new fees.

The current eBilling system allows students to view their transactions through their online Banner Web accounts; they are also allowed to make payments with either an electronic check or credit card without additional charges.

“The college accepted credit and debit cards and paid the additional fees to the card companies,” CSB Vice President for Finance and Administration Sue Palmer said.

Electronic check payments, cash and paper checks will still be allowed under the new payment practice and will not add the subsequent fee implemented by TouchNet.

“We expect the impact to students to be minimal because there are other no cost alternatives available,” SJU Vice President of Finance and Administration Dick Adamson said.

CSB/SJU is following the path of many private and public institutions in Minnesota; the inclusion of an additional party is a common practice for many universities, and consequently they have a similar or higher additional fee.

Student tuition is the only on-campus payment that will be affected by the new system’s change. Bearing this in mind, this process will have little effect on student life. The main hotspots will still accept the use of credit card payments without a fee, including both bookstores, CSB Culinary Services, Dining Services and Sexton Commons at SJU, The Hill Museum and Manuscript Library Gift Shop, the SJU Liturgical Press and athletic events at both campuses.

This new practice will be implemented on both campuses and will apply for all CSB and SJU students.

“CSB and SJU will be using the same system and have been working together on this change,” Palmer said.

Information and specific details on this new process can also be found in the eCommunity and parent newsletter released soon.

Anne Thompson, NBC News’ Chief Environmental Affairs Correspondent, will bring her experiences from reporting in the field to the HCC Field House for CSB’s commencement at 2 p.m. on May 12. John McCutcheon, a 1974 SJU graduate and critically acclaimed musician and songwriter, is set to address the SJU graduates and their families at 2 p.m. the next day at St. John’s Abbey.

CSB President MaryAnn Baenninger first approached Thompson in August to discuss speaking at commencement.

“We have a friend in common, a Johnnie, Rob Culligan,” Thompson said. “For years, I have heard about the CSB/SJU community from Rob.”

Impressed by St. Ben’s mission of educating female leaders and its dedication to sustainable efforts, Thompson agreed to speak without hesitation.

“It is such an honor, and I am so humbled by it,” Thompson said.

A self-proclaimed nomad, Thompson was born in Indianapolis, graduated from high school in Brussels, Belgium, received a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies from the University of Notre Dame, and currently resides in Manhattan.

Thompson joined NBC as a national correspondent in 1997 and has covered countless significant historic events, including September 11, Hurricane Katrina, the BP oil spill and refugee camps in Tunisia during the tumultuous revolution. She received the Gerald Loeb Award in 2004 and 2006 for distinguished business and financial journalism, as well as being nominated for four Emmys.

“I love being a reporter. Reporting has shown me the best of humanity and the worst,” Thompson said. “What stays with me are the people whose lives are changed by these events.”

In her address, Thompson will focus on qualities of sustainable living that go beyond environmental efforts.

“I will talk about other things that will sustain the class of 2012 beyond going tray-less and using reusable water bottles,” Thompson said.

A Wausau, Wisc., native, McCutcheon originally decided to attend St. John’s because no one else from his high school was going.

“I was really wanting to get a fresh start and focus more on music,” McCutcheon said.

Since his graduation, McCutcheon created an extremely successful music and writing career for himself, including six Grammy nominations and over 30 recordings. He has mastered several traditional instruments, including the banjo and hammered dulcimer and has performed in symphony concerts across the country and toured in Australia six times. However, he remembers the roots that gave him his start.

“As the years go on, I realized how lucky I was to attend St. John’s,” McCutcheon said. “St. John’s knew that knowledge and learning have no bounds.”

Although McCutcheon currently lives in Georgia and often travels because of his music, he has enjoyed returning to SJU over the years, especially when he participated in the former Swayed Pines Folk Festivals.

Originally, SJU president Father Bob Koopmann approached McCutcheon about speaking at last year’s commencement; however, he had a scheduling conflict and could not accept. When Koopman asked him again this year, McCutcheon confirmed right away.

“I was honored to be asked and immediately said, ‘yes,’” McCutcheon said.

For Fr. Robert Koopmann, OSB, the 12th president of St. John’s University, it is not the smooth austerity of the wooden desks in his spacious office.

Nor is it the neat, spartan order of the room, lit by the filtered afternoon sunlight from the inner courtyard of the Quadrangle.

It is an object tucked in the room’s far corner under a dark protective cloth.

A piano.

Koopmann, a 1968 graduate of St. John’s, will finish his three-year term on June 30 and looks forward to spending more time with the object that has defined so much of his life and his presidency.

“It feels very good to be almost finished with my presidency,” Koopmann said. “St. John’s has been the center of my life for my whole life, but I am eager to move onto the next thing.”

Koopmann began his presidency after replacing President Emeritus Br. Dietrich Reinhart, OSB, in 2009, but his life as a Johnnie spans decades before inheriting the Quad office. In addition to serving on the board of regents for many years, Koopmann has been a professor of music at CSB/SJU since 1975 — an occupation to which he is keen to return.

“I love teaching and am excited to pursue more time with students in the future,” Koopmann said.

Koopmann said that one thing he regrets about his time as president was that it prevented him from spending time with students, as he spent nearly half his tenure traveling to visit alumni.

Despite his extensive travels, Koopmann still found time during his three years to impact hundreds of Johnnies — most recognizably through his musical abilities.

Students still recognize the wide smile and steely shock of hair ever-present when Koopmann spends time on campus, especially when incoming students listen to him during their first moments as Johnnies. Administrators, however, prize Koopmann’s quiet leadership and confidence.

“I have found Robert to be a creative and energetic leader,” said SJU Dean of Students Mike Connolly. “He makes a point to hear feedback from everyone and is a steadfast, patient and understanding person.”

Despite being in office only three years, Koopmann supervised major projects such as the formation of St. John’s University as a corporate entity and the completion of the St. John’s Bible.

“My biggest accomplishment really is bringing the new corporate structure of St. John’s University,” Koopmann said. “It’s absolutely huge for St. John’s.”

Koopmann was also active in connecting with alumni worldwide to build relationships and funding for the school through trips to destinations like Hong Kong. But many feel his impact was much closer to home.

“He cemented St. John’s commitment to the long-term and sustainability with measures such as moving us off of coal,” Connolly said.

Perhaps Koopmann’s least-known accomplishment is manifested in other students around us — in just three years he was able to help assist St. John’s admissions in climbing from barely making male quotas to boasting record admission rates and standards.

“From the very beginning, I knew we needed a good male enrollment and that it was down,” Koopmann said. “Now, I think the future looks very bright, both for St. John’s and St. Ben’s”

Koopmann will pursue a year-long sabbatical at Berkeley’s Graduate Theology Union in addition to refreshing his passion for piano in New York, where he studied at The Julliard School of Music.

As an active concert pianist who has released multiple recordings, Koopmann finds that music has become his greatest tool both as a teacher and administrator, rather than under the stage lights.

“I did not have much time to practice during my presidency,” Koopmann said with a smile. “I like to play for people, because music brings people together.”

Music seems to emanate from within his body throughout his daily routine – as after only minutes of sitting — his fingers begin to dance on the table as if stroking invisible keys.

“Nelson Mandela once said ‘if you want to make friends with people, find out what sports they like so you have something to talk about,’” Koopmann said. He pauses for a moment, tapping the table to some invisible crescendo before looking up. “Well, I have music.”

Three years to the day after his appointment on July 1, Koopmann will make way for Dr. Michael Hemesath, SJU ’61, who will become the first lay president of St. John’s University.

“I’m excited for him; I think he’s a wonderful choice,” Koopmann said. “He will bring a new way of looking at things, and I think that’s great.”

He smiles for a moment, perhaps looking over at the object in the corner.

“I think it’s time.”

The event was sponsored by Student Activities and Leadership Development (SALD), and more than 320 people attended, including family, friends, faculty, staff and monastic members. There was a total of 119 nominations for the awards, as well as 67 Certificates of Leadership awarded to students who completed ILCP courses.

The awards were given to students who had been active on campus and have shown the Benedictine Values through their leadership.

“It was truly unbelievable to hear the caliber of students here on campus,” Maribeth Overland, Director of Student Activities and Leadership, said. “Some of them never left campus, but still made such a big difference.”

Seniors Evan Lowder and Matthew Semerad were awarded the Challenge the Process award, which focuses on their efforts to make improvements on campus.

SJU students Jason Kaiser and William Newkirk received the Model the Way award, given because of integrity and respect in their leadership.

“I didn’t think my experiences had been that out of the ordinary,” Newkirk said. “I’m just one of many.”

CSB students Merideth Erusha and Shannon McEvoy were both awarded the Inspire a Shared Vision award for making efforts towards an uplifting future and embracing possibilities.

The Encourage the Heart award was given to Kelly Donahue and Lauren Witt for their encouragement of others.

Rebecca Gross and Kyle Auringer were given the Enable Others to Act award, which recognizes leaders who emphasize the strengths in those they work with.

“The other students nominated are all outstanding people and have done amazing things,” Gross said. “I was honestly honored just to be in the same category as them even before winning.”

The only award that night not given to a senior was the Emerging Leader award, which recognizes sophomores or juniors who have been active in creating change on campus. This award was given to juniors Alivia Tison and Kunihiro Shimoji.

SJU senior Matthew Semerad was chosen from all the winners to receive the Excellence in Leadership award for displaying traits of all categories. “I was in complete shock,” Semerad said. “It was such an honor to be that person.”

Semerad was the leader of JEC’s change from Pinestock to 12 Pines, as well as being involved in Extending the Link and Campus Ministries.

Not all the awards were given to just students; the Club of the Year award was given to a club that had demonstrated teamwork, sportsmanship and creativity. Out of the top six nominations, the Johnball Club received the award.

“My jaw literally dropped when they announced us as the winners,” Vice President Katy Jenkins said.

“It just shows that you don’t have to do something mighty and grand; it’s about little acts of leadership in the Benedictine tradition,” Overland said.

Zaarly is a secure online marketplace designed specifically for college students looking to exchange goods and services among each other. It offers students full access to an online marketplace where individuals can post requests and see the requests made by others. Zaarly has recently been appearing on various campuses all around the nation. With this year coming to an end, Zaarly marks one year of existence on our campus.

Zaarly was brought to CSB/SJU by sophomore management major Andrew Mueller. Mueller is the Zaarly campus CEO and most of his work currently pertains to raising awareness of Zaarly.

“Since it is Zaarly’s first year at St. John’s we mainly focus on promoting Zaarly around campus and letting people know it exists.” Mueller said.

Mueller has been working all year to raise awareness of Zaarly. In fact, he has even formed a small team of peers to help him. The Zaarly team consists of juniors Megan Beacom and Sophie Kem, sophomores Andrew Mueller, Ben Broos, Nick DeWitt and Meghan Carda and first-years Jenna Weber and Billy Gregg.

Together they are in charge of everything Zaarly at CSB/SJU. Their responsibilities range from operating the Facebook and Twitter accounts to hosting promotional events. Earlier this year, Zaarly had a beach themed merchandise giveaway. Before Easter break, they scattered plastic eggs around campus filled with Zaarly merchandise coupons.

Zaarly also has a few promotional events planned for the future. Representatives will be in Brother Willies this evening during happy hour. They will also be giving away free study snacks and energy drinks throughout finals week.

Although Mueller and his team are content with the progress Zaarly has made, they have other hopes for the future. Sophomore management major Ben Broos hopes Zaarly will start to see more active users.

“We’ve gotten a lot of people to know about Zaarly but now we need to get people to log on and actually use Zaarly.” Broos said

In sophomore economics major Nick DeWitt’s mind, this goal is not unattainable. DeWitt believes that if people would use Zaarly and see how easy is, it would explode.

“I’ve used it and seen how simple and fun it is. If others use it they would understand how simple it is to make money or get what you want,” DeWitt said

You can find Zaarly on Facebook at “Zaarly CSB/SJU,” on Twitter as “ZaarlyCSBSJU” and online at www.Zaarly.com.

Vice President Meghan Simmet chaired the meeting because President Riley Johnson was absent. Simmet welcomed the new members to the meeting.

Jody Terhaar, CSB Dean of Students, reminded the Senate of their purpose of serving as Senators.

The Senate discussed a funding allocation to the Collegiate Leadership Program.

With little discussion, the Senate passed the allocation of $4,000 to the Collegiate Leadership Program to pay for the first six weeks of the fall semester.

The next senate meeting will held at the beginning of the fall semester.

Robert Dumonceaux, Regents professor of mathematics, recommends the book “Heaven is For Real” by Todd Burpo and Lynn Vincent.

“Heaven is For Real” is a true story of a four-year-old boy named Colton and his experience with heaven. While the little boy is in an emergency surgery, he slips from consciousness and enters heaven. He survives the surgery and begins describing his experience of looking down and viewing the doctor operate on his body while his father is praying in the waiting room. The book continues as Colton shares details about his own life that his parents had never mentioned to him, and he recounts stories about his grandfather who had passed years before Colton was born. The story is told through the father’s perspective but with many of Colton’s own words.

“I was struck by the simplicity of the boy’s description of heaven. Reading this book really gave me a different insight, it gave me a happy way to think about heaven,” Dumonceaux said.

Another fictional option is The Lords of Discipline, written by Pat Conroy. Betsy Johnson-Miller, a Communication professor, recommends this book because it is filled with humor and is applicable to students’ lives.

“The Lords of Discipline” is the story of an 18-year-old boy enrolled in a military institute in the 1960′s. The book follows the life of Will McLean, a wise-cracking kid faced with the system of breaking men down and understanding humility on the deepest level.

“I think students will enjoy this book, it is a page-turner,” Johnson-Miller said. “I use this book in my Reading Fiction and Poetry course to get students who do not like to read to like reading.”

Looking into the nonfiction side of things, Katie Furniss, an assistant Biology professor, recommends the biography entitled “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” written by Rebecca Skloot.

This biography covers the life of Henrietta Lacks, a black woman diagnosed with cancer in the 1950′s. Before her diagnosis with cancer, Lacks visited the hospital complaining of pain so the doctors took cells from Lacks without her knowledge and grew them in a scientific lab searching for answers to her complaints of pain. Her cells were grown and tested for years without her consent or knowledge. This biography is relevant to science because her exact cells were researched and reproduced in labs for over 40 years.

“This biography is important because this woman (Lacks) has touched everyone’s life in some way or another. Not only have her cells benefitted human kind but also the nature of science,” Furniss said.

If students are looking for more of a classic novel over the summer, Furniss also recommended “Dracula,” by Bram Stoker or “The Count of Monte Cristo,” by Alexandre Dumas.

“These are both classics, but great for summer because they are real page-turners and not extremely complex,” said Furniss.

Another outstanding recommendation from Johnson-Milller, Furniss and Jean Ochu, an Associate Professor of Accounting, was “The Hunger Games.”

This is only a start to the many possibilities of books to conquer over the summer, may the sunshine be always in your favor.