On Wednesday, Feb. 5, the Black Student Union (BSU), the Center for Student Life and the Associated Students of Skyline College (ASSC) teamed up, organized and hosted an information fair in building six in the Fireside Dining Hall. Information fairs are almost exactly like job fairs. Certain organizations and clubs are invited to set up booths so people can mingle at each different booth, talk to representatives and collect handouts and flyers about a particular organizations mission and culture. The only difference really is that you aren’t interviewing, filling out applications or handing out resumes. In a way, it’s a much more relaxed and informal atmosphere. One booth at the fair was the Veteran Resources Club. This organization is dedicated to helping returning veterans to adjust from military to civilian life. The Veterans Club offers assistance in applying for educational and medical benefits.

“Many of our returning vets are suffering from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder),” said Kristyne Thomas, a National Guard Member, Veteran, Veterans Club Liaison and Skyline student. “We help get them in line with health care and their g.i. benefits.”

Thomas says she’s new to the Veterans Club and really enjoys working with people she has something in common with. As a returning veteran herself, Thomas says she sometimes finds it hard to meet people and make friends.

“It can be hard to discuss your experiences in the military with civilians. We definitely have our own lingo that not everyone understands,”Thomas said. “Our weekly meetings are a great way to meet and talk with other veterans who you share a common ground with.”

Right next to the Veterans Club was the Skyline Transfer Center booth. The transfer centers main focus is to promote events and spread awareness about deadlines, qualifications workshops and all manner of subjects regarding transferring to a four year school.

“Today my job is basically to hang out at our booth and meet and talk to students about transferring,” said Victor Moran, a Skyline College Transfer Ambassador. “I’m here to spread the word about upcoming workshops, campus tours and to let students know when four year school representatives will be on campus.”

Moran stressed that if you’re interested in transferring to San Francisco State, he highly recommends joining the TAB (Transfer Articulation Bridge) Program. This is a program designed to help students ease into the transfer process by allowing you to take a couple of units from SF State before or while you’re transferring. For more information on the TAB program check out www.skylinecollege.edu/transfercenter.

In addition, some other organizations set up at the information fair included Ambit Energy and Enactus. Ambit Energy’s representative wasn’t available for comment. According to their website “Ambit provides electricity and natural gas services in deregulated areas across the United States, primarily marketed through a direct sales channel of more than 250,000 independent consultants.

Enactus is a world-wide, non-profit organization dedicated to creating projects for the homeless or displaced individuals that will hopefully lead to permanent employment for them.

“We’re a middle man. We connect those in need with organizations willing to donate facilities, money, or time or all three. One of our recent projects had homeless people breaking down mattresses to the raw materials and recycling them,” said Steve Wong, President of Enactus. “We’re always looking for people with a wide range of skills.”

More upcoming events in recognition of African American Heritage month include:

·February 11 – Day of Healing 10am-1pm

·February 29 – Spoken Word 10am-1pm