LETTER TO THE EDITOR | Internship advisers vital

Since my 2010 graduation from the College of Communication, I have been working full-time as an Integrated Shopper Marketing Planner at General Mills in Minneapolis.

As a senior and student leader in CCOM it became very apparent to myself and many other students that the decision-making faculty/staff did not have the wants and needs of the students in the forefront of their minds.

As a student I tried to raise my concerns to the college, SGA and the University administration – but made little to no headway.

I felt as though I didn’t have a voice, and I’m sure that is how current students feel now.

To write about all of the instances where I saw unjust behavior taking place by authority figures in CCOM would require a letter much longer than I’m sure you are prepared to read.

It is the dismissal of the internship coordinator position that has caused me to reach out and speak against CCOM actions yet again more than a year after my graduation.

My internship experience while at Butler is what not only taught me a majority of the skills I leverage on a daily basis, but also what allowed me to create a successful career path.

Mrs. Weitekamp and Professor Kanis were instrumental in my professional development and I attribute a majority of my success to their efforts.

It’s no secret that the job market is more cut throat than ever, and it’s simply unreasonable to think a company would hire an intern with little to no working experience.

Removing the individual put in place to help students through this process and jump-start their career is a huge disservice that makes my heart heavy. It is essentially setting them up for failure.

I love Butler. I look back at many memories very fondly and try to visit campus as much as possible. I would be lying however, if I said that I can look back with pride.

The College of Communication and those in leadership roles have put a large permanent stain on my memory. When I think that current and future students will not reap the same benefits of knowing professors such as Ed Kanis and Donna Gray, or will not be able to experience a National Student Advertising Competition or flourish with a variety of internships I am truly saddened. It is this thought that keeps me from actively recruiting Butler students for internships at General Mills or donating monetarily to the University. Perhaps one day CCOM will become everything I hoped it would be when I was a student, but right now – I just don’t see that happening.

—Jonathan Spear, Class of 2010

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