Editor’s Note / Nota de la Editora

STAFF
An EPI Publication
Volume 2, Issue 2

A
Publisher / Editor-in-Chief/
s the late nights continue and the Art Director
spring semester moves forward, Abi Leyva / San Diego
thoughts of my future linger. While Columnists
working hard to get The Envoy at Ned J Beedie /
a level of excellence I have also been working Los Angeles
hard to validate my Marketing/Public Relations Chenyka Ramos /
San Diego
career. I have, in this my last semester, been
stimulated by the lifetime experiences laid out San Diego Writers
in front of me. Matthew R. Polkinghorne
Pedro Vicente Esteban Orellana
Xiaoying Cai
I have been recognized for my marketing research skills at my internship and have Steffi Weigand
demonstrated my skills as a Public Relations Representative while working for Lorenzo Bellini
Sample U, (Alliant’s first Tryvertising Marketing Research Center) through the Dave Pursell
Joshua Marcengill
MPR Capstone. Although these new experiences have been rewarding, the tension
is still there in the pit of my stomach! “What happens after I graduate in May?” LA Writer
In this issue the Envoy attempts to help guide Alliant’s student by providing them Stefanie B. Mazer
with their peer’s experiences and advice.
Contributing Writers

A
Dr. Kckenzie
Betty Sauser
unque las noches de desvelo continúan y el semestre sigue su curso, me Jeanne Bautier
invaden pensamientos de mi futuro. Mientras trabajo duro para llevar la Erica Nogueira
revista The Envoy a un nivel de excelencia, también he estado verificando Marshall Goldsmith
mi profesión como represente de ventas y relaciones publicas. En mi Alison Bowes
ultimo semestre yo e tenido experiencias estimulantes frente a mi. Contributing Editors
Becky Jacques
En la compañía en la cual he puesto horas de servicio han reconocido mi aptitud Thanayi Karenga
Li Li
para investigación de recursos de ventas y promoción también e demostrado mi Yi Chen
capacidad como Represéntante de Relaciones Publicas mientras trabajaba con el Rebecca Nieboer
centro de Sample U (El primer centro de investigación de ventas y promocionas Sabrina Rock
de Alliant) en colaboración con el curso del MPR Capstone. A pesar de que estas Deanna Khan
experiencias han sido gratificantes tengo unasiento nervios en el estomago, “?Que
Contributing
hare después de que me reciba en Mayo?” En esta edición de la revista The Envoy Photographers
intentamos guiar a los estudiantes de Alliant con artículos de sus compañeros que Ali Abu-Rahma, PhD
ofrecen sus experiencias y sus consejos. www.Photobucket.com
www.bigfoto.com

AbiLeyva Faculty Advisor

Miles Beauchamp, PhD
The Editor-in-Chief may be reached
for comment at:
P: 858.635.4540
e:envoy@alliant.edu
For advertising information, contact the
Editor at the above address.
The opinions and statements made herein
reflect those of the author and do not
necessarily reflect those of the Envoy
or Alliant International University. Any
other publication of the Envoy, either in
part or in whole, without express written
consent, is strictly prohibited.
The Envoy March 2009 envoy.alliant.edu
 Table of Contents
4
2 Campus news and Updates
see whats new on Alliant’s campuses
4 Multilingual Pages
9 POETRY CORNER
Features
10 Hungry for Work? Then “Spruce Up” Your Personality
With Behavioral Tools.
Four meaningful behavioral tools to help you reach personal and
professional success.
13 What Will You Do With All of That Money You’re Going
to Make?
Redefining the definition of wealth and experiencing a culture of
encouragement.
18 Professional Skill Building In Your ‘Backyard’
Using your local resources to get ahead.
19 An Age-Old Question: Do You Love What You Do?
Taking time to reflect on where you are professionally to make sure
you are where you should to be.

Insights

14 A Day at Justice Hall: Judge Mary Morgan’s Behavioral

11
Health Court

13
Observations from an alternative court program geared towards
helping and not just imprisoning.
15 Beware!!! Posting your “Spirited Self”, can get you
canned.
What you post on Facebook or MySpace can cost you a job.

16 Multicultural PART 1
Culture appropriateness is more relevent than ever.
20 A Lifetime Experience…(MPR Capstone)
Lessons learned from a student capstone project in marketing and
public relations--advice for working with clients.

series
12 Psychs and the City

17 Behind the Professor

20 Truthfully Speaking 10
On The Cover de la editora del Envoy Abi Leyva y el fotógrafo estelar de este
mes, Dr. Ali Abu-Rahma, Mensajero Especial del Presidente.
En La Portada Los jóvenes y talentoso modelos Ryan Beauchamp, edad 12
años y Daniella Klayna Escobar, edad ocho años, fueron la
I In light of all the beginnings in a student’s life, the cover
of this issue was an inspiration of Envoy’s editor Abi Leyva
and this month’s featured photographer, Special Envoy to the
inspiración para la portada y sus contribuciones en la sesión
fotográfica es apreciada
President, Dr. Ali Abu-Rahma. The young and talented models
Ryan Beauchamp, age 12, and Daniella Klayna Escobar, age
eight, were a great part of the inspiration for this cover and
their contribution at the Envoy’s photo shoot is appreciated.

A consecuencia de todos los comienzos en la vida de un

estudiante, la portada de esta edición fue una inspiración

The Envoy March 2009 envoy.alliant.edu

Campus News
FRESNO CAMPUS NEWS
Fresno SGA to Host Casino Night Fundraiser

A
lliant International University
(Fresno) Student Government
Association is hosting a Casino Night
Fundraiser to benefit the Assistance Service
Dog Educational Center in Woodlake. The
event will be held on Saturday, April 25,
2009, beginning at 7pm at the Tulare County
Fairgrounds, Commercial Building.
The Assistance Service Dog
Educational Center (ASDEC) is a non-profit,
multi-faceted program that, with cooperation
from Woodlake High School, teaches
students to train service dogs for individuals
with physical, mental, and developmental
disabilities throughout the Central Valley.
Sample U, Tryvertising Comes to the San Diego Campus
Students participating in this two year
program receive elective course credit while
teaching service animals a combination of
90+ commands. ASDEC-trained service dogs
can provide a variety of services, including
picking up objects, pulling wheelchairs,
opening and closing doors, turning switches
on and off, and predicting seizures.
ASDEC volunteers are currently
working to develop programs to serve
veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD). Children suffering from
autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have also
visited the Center and benefited. In the future,
the Center hopes to create additional training
SAN DIEGO CAMPUS NEWS
sites at other high schools.
The Casino Night Fundraiser will
feature dog demonstrations, a silent auction,
appetizers, and a no-host bar.
Tickets are $50 pre-sale and $60 that
evening.
For questions or to purchase tickets, please
contact 559-253-2275 or 559-253-2292.
Tickets can also be purchased online at
www.servicedogcenter.org.
For more information, contact
Lea Kovacsiss at
woodlakeasdec@yahoo.com

S
ample U, the first product research lab
of its kind in the nation, opened its
doors at Alliant International University
on Wednesday, February 25, 2009. With the
current trend of consumers wanting to try
before they buy and the need for different
product research techniques, Sample U will
house a variety of new products for trysumers
to offer their feedback on in exchange for the
products, some of which are not yet on the
market.
During the last weeks of February,
Sample U ran a sucessful trial phase and plans
to open permanently in June with all NEW
products. Sample U will work together with
Alliant’s Center for Undergraduate Eduation the only U.S. university sample center.
professors, students and graduate students For more information contact:
in the Communication Marketing Public Marla Adam President
Relations program to help product managers m.adams@sample-u.com
discover new ways to research products,
while giving students the chance to learn
hands on market research and professors the
ability to study new trends happening in the
marketplace.
Sample U is a new concept using
Tryvertising and new market research
methods to fine tune products with the benefit
of word of mouth advertising. Tryvertising
Labs have become popular in Japan and
Hong Kong and Alliant invites you to visit

San Diego Student Government News

T
he Graduate Student Government celebrate the graduating students of 2009.
Association (GSGA) in San Diego Last year the GSGA and the Undergraduate
has been working with other campus Student Government along with several
affiliations such as the campus Sustainability other campus groups worked in partnership
Committee, facilities department, and to host a dinner for graduating students and
local AmeriCorps volunteers on a campus their families. This dinner was a huge success
beautification project. The project group last year and the GSGA is looking forward to
has been planning and preparing for a collaborating on a similar event this year!
Beautification Day that was held on February
28th, where volunteers gathered to refurbish
and landscape a section of the San Diego
campus.
In addition, the GSGA is working
with the Conference Coordinators on
organizing, funding, and recruiting volunteers
for the 2009 Leadership Conference. The
event is open to all and will be held on March GSGA
18th on the San Diego campus.
The Office of Campus Community San Diego
Development recently approached the
Co-chairs of the GSGA and asked for their
assistance in organizing a reception to

2 The Envoy March 2009 envoy.alliant.edu

 Campus News

Alliant SSGA Awards its First Annual Scholarship

T
he Alliant Systemwide Student
Government Association (SSGA), an
organization dedicated to improving the
quality of Alliant International University’s
students’ educational experience, has chosen
the first recipient of its Annual CSPP Spanish
Language and Cultural Immersion Program
Scholarship. Armando Gonzalez, a first-year
student in the Marriage and Family Therapy
Program on the Sacramento campus has
been selected to receive the entire program
fee ($3500.00) for the Immersion Program,
which takes place from July 5th to August 7th
in Mexico City. Lissa Parker, Chairperson of
the SSGA and coordinator of the Scholarship
Selection Committee, asks that you please
join the SSGA in congratulating Armando
and that you keep an eye out for future SSGA
scholarship opportunities.

MEXICO CITY CAMPUS NEWS

T
he Spring 2009 semester started with
new things at the Alliant Mexico City
campus. At the end of last semester,
the staff and students packed up the campus
on Alvero Obregon and moved to the new
campus in Zona Rosa off of Hambergo. The
new facility provides the students with larger
and more technology-compatible classrooms.
There is a student lounge, space for a new
clinic for the psychology department, an
auditorium and new and improved offices for
the administration and professors.
On Wednesday February 18, 2009,
classes were cancelled for the inauguration
of the new building. This was a very
successful event where over 150 guests
gathered including members of the local
Alliant community, the English speaking
community in Mexico, Embassies, the
English-Speaking Schools, and the medical
sphere as well as others from fellow Alliant
campuses. From Alliant-San Diego, Mexico
City welcomed President Geoffrey Cox,
Board of Trustees member Linda Caballero
Sotelo, Provost Russ Newman, and Dean Jim
Goodrich, Founding Dean of the Marshall
Goldsmith School of Management at Alliant
International University.

The Alliant Systemwide Student Government

Wants You
The Alliant SSGA is seeking applications for five (5)
Executive Officer postions . Each position carries a
one-year term (unless otherwise noted) running July 1st For additional information on the SSGA and/
to June 30th. or to request application materials, please
contact:
Chair (two-year term)
Chief Administrative Officer
Treasurer
Intercampus Coordinator (Northern Region)
Lissa Parker, SSGA Chair, at
lparker@alliant.edu
Positions are expected to be filled by
Intercampus Coordinator (Southern Region)
SSGA Members.
Applicants must be registered students in good standing Elections no later than March 20th, 2009
at an Alliant International University California campus.

Applicants for Chair must have a minimum of one-year

of experience on a local SGA or as a SSGA member

The Envoy March 2009 envoy.alliant.edu 3

 Multilingual
U.S.A vs. KINGDOM OF SPAIN
T
he United States
of America has
quite a few
cultural differences;
nobody can deny
that, especially if we
compare it with other
European countries,
in this case, Spain.
Of course there are some differences
we cannot ignore. Americans have their own
way of living life, socializing, and in general
every single field that refers to habits. Let’s
start by talking about cultural habits.
In Spain on some occasions we
copy some aspects of American culture, but
during that process we alter the copy so it can
fit better in the Spanish society. For instance,
if we import the way of being Americans,
when we refer to clothing, we don’t copy it as
Americans know it; what we do is introduce
some modifications which at the end makes it
look different. It happens the same in most all
areas.
To begin with, Spaniards are a
homogenous cultural, whereas Americans
have a lot of different cultures in the country.
In Spain, we also have immigrants, but
sooner or later, they will end up adopting our
culture, as well as participating in the society.
However, in the United States, although
a set of characteristics can be defined for a
regular American, there are some differences
between races, such as Hispanics, Blacks,
Caucasians or Asians. Races are a subject that
must be contrasted between Spain and the
United States. For instance, in Spain we have
not reached the point where immigrant races
outnumbered Whites in Spain, whereas in
California that has already started to happen.
When we talk about races, it’s impossible to
keep religion aside. The Spanish State does
not have an official religion in its Constitution,
but the majority religion is Catholicism.
There are also some other religions, but none
surpass 4% of total population. However, in
the United States, the number of religions is
high. Besides you can also notice the diversity
of churches around the country, whereas in
Spain it is more than difficult to find a non-
Christian church.
It is also true that in Spain a unique
stereotype of culture to follow does not
exist, but there is not such a big difference
between one another like it is in the United
States. One other thing we can highlight
is the tobacco culture. In Spain, this not so
healthy habit, has been expanding like cancer
in the last 15 years whereas in The United
4 The Envoy March 2009 envoy.alliant.edu
EE. UU. DE AMÉRICA vs. REINO DE ESPAÑA
By: Pedro Vicente Esteban Orellana
EF Student
States this habit is tending to disappear.
The difference is obvious, you can see it in
almost every single store, bar or pub, where
all their policies allow people to smoke for
their convenience. This not only happens in
Spain, but in all Europe.
As far as poverty and unemployment,
I believe most of the people don’t realize
how these two things affect the United
States until they see it with their own eyes.
Many people think that for being a country
with a more than good economy as well as a
high GDP, the country doesn’t suffer in other
aspects. In Spain, on the other side, these
last years of unemployment do not concern
people as much as the international economic
crisis is doing right now. The number of
unemployed in Spain is really high, being
the country in the UE with the most elevated
rate. In United States the unemployment
rate has reached unacceptable limits, but of
course we are not going to compare a country
with more than 303 million inhabitants, with
another one that only has 40 million.
Returning to the cultural field,
something that is typically American is the
way of thinking something is better according
to the size. It can be said that Spaniards do
not think like that, or at least not all the time.
This is a very curious fact that can be seen in
how the highways are built and also the cars.
Another example of this way of thinking is
on some snacks, food, etc. In contrast with
the Spaniard or European mentality, it could
be said that we focus more on the efficiency
than on size and on what we really need. I
don’t mean that Americans don’t take this
aspect seriously enough, but certainly we do
it more.
Another characteristic of Americans
is the patriotism they have. They are proud of
their country and they do not have anything
to be ashamed of. Militarily they are almost
unbeatable; technologically they have
showed their supremacy in the last years.
The flags that wave in each educational
institution or home are the clearest sign of
American patriotism. This same situation
does not happen in Spain at all. If you are
the carrier of a Spanish flag, even if you are
Spaniard, people will often describe you as a
fascist when you probably are not like that.
It is sad, but this is due to historical reasons
like the dictatorship, when the flag was really
important. It seems to be that these things that
happened in the past are difficult to forget for
some people. It is also difficult to find a flag,
but the places where you will always see one
are on the councils and in military bases, not
on schools and houses like in America.
As far as the character of people, we
can say that the typical Spaniard is friendly
and is almost always ready to speak most
of the time. It is not that we are unfriendly
when we are walking on the street, or in
an elevator or bus, because we certainly
continue a conversation if someone starts it
it can make the moment less boring. It can
be that Americans in this last point are more
likely to establish a random conversation.
Alcohol is a subject that always
leads to a discussion. As almost everywhere
in the world, in Spain it is legal to drink all
kinds of alcoholic beverages at the age of 18
(it’s legal to drink light alcoholic drinks at the
age of 16). Logically, this has repercussions
on the culture and on how the people behave
psychologically. In the United States the fact
that you are not able to drink till you reach
the age of 21 makes quite a few people think
that Americans during the underage period
don’t think about anything but when they
are going to turn 21 so they can go to clubs,
bars or pubs. On the other hand, Americans
have the advantage of driving at the age of 16
with some limitations. That is something that
many Spanish teenagers dream about all the
time to happen in Spain, but it probably won’t
come true due to the controversy the subject
generates each time it’s on a politician’s plans
because some adults believe teenagers are not
mature enough at that age.
Finally, some other Spanish values
that contrast with the Americans are:
We are not afraid of getting sick, since we have
a free public health system in good shape. In
fact, it can be said that Spaniards go to the
doctor when we have really small symptoms.
The death penalty is also criticized by most
of the people in Spain. Guns are really easy
to purchase in America, whereas in Spain it is
almost impossible to get one unless you are
in the military or in the
Continued on Page 21

E
stados Unidos de América tiene sus
diferencias culturales, nadie lo puede
negar, especialmente si lo comparamos
con otros países del continente europeo, en
este caso, España.
Desde luego, hay numerosas
diferencias, las cuales no podemos ignorar.
Los americanos tienen una forma particular
de vivir, de ser y en general todo varía en
cuanto a hábitos se refiere. Empecemos
hablando de hábitos culturales.
En España se puede decir que en
determinadas ocasiones, copiamos la manera
de ser de los americanos, pero durante
este proceso, alteramos esa copia para que
encaje mejor en el entorno sociocultural
español. Esto quiere decir que, por ejemplo,
si importamos una costumbre tal y como
puede ser la forma de vestir americana, no
la copiamos exactamente igual, sino que
introducimos pequeñas modificaciones que
al final logran hacerse distinguir. Lo mismo
sucede básicamente en todas las áreas.
Para empezar, los españoles
formamos un grupo homogéneo cultural, al
contrario que los americanos debido a el
multiculturalismo que se da en todo el país.
En España, si bien tenemos inmigrantes,
tarde o temprano terminan adoptando las
costumbres socioculturales españolas. En
cambio, en Estados Unidos, si bien se puede
definir un conjunto de características que
definan a un americano de calle, no se pueden
salvar las diferencias culturales entre negros,
blancos, asiáticos e hispanos. El tema de las
razas es algo a contrastar ya que en España
todavía no se ha alcanzado el punto en que en
algunos puntos del país otras razas superen
a la original del país, en el caso de Estados
Unidos, la caucásica o blanca. Cuando se
habla de razas, esto va a menudo relacionado
con la religión que procesan. El Estado
español no tiene una religión declarada,
pero la mayoría de las personas procesan
el cristianismo. Hay algunas minorías que
procesan otras religiones, pero en el peor de
los casos no superan el 4% de la población
total. En cambio, en Estados Unidos la
cantidad de religiones es abismal, se puede
apreciar también en la diversidad de iglesias
que existen, cuando en España es más que
difícil encontrar una iglesia protestante.
Es verdad que en España no existe un único
estereotipo de cultura a seguir, pero no hay
gran diferencia de uno a otro como lo hay en
Estados Unidos. Otras cosas que se pueden
destacar, es la cultura del tabaco. En España
este hábito no tan saludable se ha extendido
como un cáncer en los últimos 15 años,
cuando en Estados Unidos esta tendiendo a
desaparecer. Se puede apreciar básicamente
en todos los locales, tiendas o bares a los
que se puede acudir, una diferencia más
que palpable en comparación con este tipo
de locales en España y probablemente en el
resto de Europa.
En cuanto a pobreza y desempleo se
refiere, en mi opinión, yo creo que la mayoría
de gente no se da cuenta de cómo estas dos
cosas afectan a Estados Unidos hasta que
viajan y lo comprueban con sus propios ojos.
Muchos, piensan que por ser un país con
una economía más que próspera y con un
GDP más que alto, el país no sufre en otros
aspectos. En España, por otro lado se puede
decir que la tasa de desempleo no es que haya
sido baja que se diga, lamentablemente, en
el presente, con la crisis internacional, estas
cifras se han disparado hasta ser el país de
la UE con la tasa de desempleo más elevada.
En Estados Unidos esto también ha llegado a
ser algo desesperante, pero por supuesto, no
vamos a comparar un país con más de 303
millones de habitantes; con otro que apenas
llega a 40.
Volviendo al tema cultural en parte,
algo típicamente americano es pensar cuanto
más grande mejor es algo. Los españoles se
puede decir que en parte no pensamos así,
o al menos no todo el rato. Esto es más
que demostrable en cuanto a autopistas o
vehículos se refiere; los americanos siempre
han ganado y probablemente ganarán
en este terreno. Otro ejemplo de esto, lo
podemos encontrar en snacks, comida
etc. En cambio, la mentalidad española, o
europea si generalizamos un poco más, está
más centrada en la eficiencia o calidad, no
en el tamaño. Con este punto, no quiero decir
que los americanos no tomen este aspecto
en cuenta, pero certeramente, nosotros lo
tenemos más en cuenta.
Otro aspecto típicamente americano,
es el patriotismo que sienten por su país. Se
sienten orgullosos de su país, y no es para
menos, militarmente son casi inalcanzables,
tecnológicamente han demostrado su eficacia
a lo lago de los años y así con el resto de
aspectos. Las banderas que ondean en cada
The Envoy March 2009
Multilingual
institución educativa u hogar es la más clara
señal de este patriotismo. Esto por ejemplo
en España es algo que no tiene nada que ver.
Si eres portador de una bandera española,
aún seas español, serás calificado como
ultranacionalista aún así esto no sea cierto.
Es triste, pero esto se debe más que nada a
causas históricas como la dictadura, aspectos
que al parecer cierta gente no termina de
olvidar. En cuanto a dónde puedes
encontrar una bandera española
en territorio español, estos sitios se
limitarían a ayuntamientos y bases
militares; nada de colegios, institutos
o casas particulares.
En cuanto al carácter de la gente,
podemos decir que el típico español
es amigable y está dispuesto a
hablar la mayoría de las veces.
No es que seamos tan amigables
cuando vamos andando por la calle,
o cuando estemos en el autobús o
el ascensor, pero seguramente si
inicias una conversación en alguna
de estas situaciones tampoco es que no
sigamos el ritmo, pero tampoco te vamos
a dar conversación para el resto del día.
Puede ser que los americanos en este último
aspecto sean mas prósperos a entablar una
conversación aleatoria.
Alcohol es un tema que siempre lleva
a una discusión. Como casi en todas partes
del mundo, en España es legal beber todo
tipo de bebidas alcohólicas a los 18 años de
edad (a los 16 se pueden beber ciertos tipos).
Esto afecta lógicamente a la cultura y forma
de ser de la gente en general. En Estados
Unidos, el hecho de que beber alcohol sea
un impedimento hasta que se cumplan los
21 años de edad lleva a pensar a mucha
gente que durante este período de tiempo los
americanos no estén pensando en más que en
alcanzar esa edad para poder ir a discotecas,
bares y pubs. Por el otro lado, ellos tienen la
ventaja de poder conducir a los 16 años, aún
sea con limitaciones. Esto es algo con lo que
muchos jóvenes españoles no dejan de soñar,
pero que dudosamente llegue a cumplirse
alguna vez por la controversia que crea el
tema debido a la inmadurez en general de los
jóvenes a esta temprana edad.
Finalmente, algunos otros valores
españoles que contrastan con los americanos
son por ejemplo, no tener miedo a enfermarse,
ya que tenemos un sistema de salud pública
en decente estado, la pena de muerte tan
odiada por gente liberal, las armas tan fáciles
de conseguir en América, el poder del que
dispone la policía americana, el consumismo
tan presente
Continued on Page 21
envoy.alliant.edu 5
 Multilingual
INDOOR SOCCCER: HERE COMES THE EF!
By: Lorenzo Bellini A new European challenge in the Indoor Soccer A-League
EF Student
S
ometimes dreams happen only in
movies, sometimes they become reality
and continue even better than you’ve
planned. A sport field is one of the main
places where you can find a dream become
reality. one day even the outdoor soccer fans will
That is happening in La Mesa,
where an international team composed by
students from all over the world is laying
down the law in the A-League Indoor Soccer.
A dream that was created last November
by Joe Viskoe, teacher at the EF language
school. After only a few months of life, the
results obtained have become so surprising
that the EF International, that’s the team’s
name, is already in the main championship
after only one season in the lower side of the
competition.
The American rules for indoor
soccer are remarkably different form the
European rules. No throw-ins, rare corners,
fast running and it’s absolutely prohibited to
fall, even if the adversary has pushed you.
The difference is hard to get use to just in a
few weeks. But Joe’s boys did it, winning
the championship at their first attempt and
leading the standings of the new season with
two wins in the first two matches. A fabulous
adventure, completed by guys coming from
Germany, France, Denmark, Italy, Holland,
Switzerland and, obviously, United States.
So many countries, so many languages, and
so many soccer histories. Joe Viskoe used to
play indoor soccer and when he saw EF boys
enjoying themselves on the school’s soccer
field, a bell rang and the adventure began.
A
volte i sogni si realizzano solo nei
film. Altre volte divengono realtà e
continuano a rimanere anche più
belli di come li si era immaginati. E un campo
sportivo è uno dei principali luoghi dove si
possa trovare un sogno tramutato in realtà.
Questo sta avvenendo a La Mesa, dove una
squadra internazionale composta da studenti
di tutto il mondo sta dettando legge nella
A-League di Indoor Soccer. Un sogno creato
da Joe Viskoe, insegnante della scuola di
lingue EF, e nato lo scorso novembre. Solo
pochi mesi di vita, ma i risultati ottenuti
sono diventati così sorprendenti che l’EF
International, come è stata chiamata la
squadra, si ritrova già nella massima serie
dopo solo una stagione nella parte bassa del
campionato.
Il risultato è ancora più sorprendente se
si pensa che l’indoor soccer americano è
6 The Envoy March 2009 envoy.alliant.edu
It was easy to choose the indoor
version of soccer over its more popular
outdoor version because the La Mesa Indoor
Center is open during the whole year and
during any part of the day and night. Maybe
see an EF team, but that’s another part of
the dream. For now Joe is focused on the
present and on the season that’s begun. To
train a team composed of so many people
from different places has never been easy, as
the manager admits, but the results are under
everybody’s eyes. “Sometimes it is hard for
the players to understand the new rules, but
thankfully there’s always somebody that can
translate for his companion. And even tactics
are not so easy to learn. We usually train on
Friday and not always is possible. The secret
resides all in the player’s feet.”
Two wins in a row in the new
tournament recalls the amazing victory that
had baptized the team, an incredible win
by 12-4 against the St. Pauli’s Girl. This
was only the first step of a great ride till
differente dal calcetto europeo. Regole diverse
e tattiche diverse. Niente rimesse laterali, rari
calci d’angolo, corsa veloce e proibizione
assoluta di cadere a terra, anche se è stato un
avversario a spingere. Difficile abituarsi in
poche settimane. Ma i ragazzi di Joe l’hanno
fatto, vincendo il campionato al loro primo
tentativo e conducendo la classifica della
nuova stagione con due vittorie nei primi
due incontri. Un’avventura entusiasmante,
portata a compimento da ragazzi provenienti
da Germania, Francia, Danimarca, Italia,
Olanda, Svizzera e, ovviamente, Stati Uniti.
Tanti paesi, tanti linguaggi e tante storie
calcistiche. Joe Viskoe era solito giocare e
quando ha visto i ragazzi dell’EF divertirsi
sul campo da calcio della scuola gli si è
accesa una lampadina. E l’avventura ha
avuto inizio.
È stato facile scegliere la versione indoor
the final game. Opponents of the Play-off’s
final were the Chicos Balls, a real battle that
lasted till the final minutes, with eleven goals
for the opponents, and twelve for the EF
International, like in their debut. The movie
was concluded with a classic happy ending
and it was only the first episode.
This was an epic exploit, possibly
thanks to the efforts of all the players. Joe
Viskoe, Hugo Gonzalez and Leo De La
Cruz are the only American representatives
of a world team composed by the Germans
Alex Grimm, Timo Löher and Christian
Maltese, the French Nicolas Fink and Loic
Schnebelen, the Italians Giacomo Casonato
and Luca Gardella, the Danish Klaus Olsen,
the Dutch Woody Hamelink and the Swiss
Fabian Gerber. Schnebelen is the top scorer
of the team, with more than 20 goals on
his schedule. For defense stands out Olsen
and Fink, who as the mythological brothers
Castor and Pollux are the protectors of their
goalie Gonzalez.
The future is unknown. The new
season has just begun and nobody can foresee
which targets the EF International is able to
reach. Some players are going to leave next
March, so it’ll be necessary to find new
members and a new equilibrium. Only one
thing is sure: the team will always continue
to play with their best weapon, the passion
for soccer.
del calcio, invece della sua incarnazione più
popolare, poiché il La Mesa Indoor Center
consente di giocare durante l’intero corso
dell’anno e in qualsiasi parte della giornata.
Forse un giorno anche gli appassionati di
calcio a undici potranno vedere una squadra
dell’EF, ma questa è un’altra parte del
sogno. Per ora Joe è concentrato sul presente
e sulla stagione che è cominciata. Allenare
una squadra composta da così tante persone
provenienti da luoghi così differenti non è
mai stato facile, come ammette il manager,
ma i risultati sono sotto gli occhi di tutti.
«Alcune volte è difficile per i giocatori capire
le nuove regole, ma fortunatamente c’è
sempre qualcuno che può tradurre per il suo
compagno. Anche le tattiche non sono sempre
facili da imparare. Ci alleniamo il venerdì di
solito e non sempre è possibile». Il segreto,
dunque, risiede tutto nei piedi dei calciatori.

Due vittorie consecutive nel nuovo
campionato, che richiamano la sorprendente
vittoria che ha battezzato la squadra.
Un’incredibile vittoria per 12-4 contro il St.
Pauli’s Girl. Solo il primo passo di un grande
cammino verso la finale. Avversari nell’ultimo
incontro dei Play-off erano i Chicos Balls.
Una vera battaglia, che è continuata fino
agli ultimi minuti. Undici marcature per gli
avversari, dodici per l’EF International,
come nel debutto. E il film si è concluso con il
più classico dei lieti fine. Ed era solo il primo
episodio.
Un trionfo epico, possibile grazie
agli sforzi di tutti i giocatori. Joe Viskoe,
Hugo Gonzalez e Leo De La Cruz sono gli
unici rappresentanti americani di un team
mondiale composto dai tedeschi Alex Grimm,
Timo Löher e Christian Maltese, i francesi
Nicolas Fink e Loic Schnebelen, gli italiani
Giacomo Casonato e Luca Gardella, il danese
Klaus Olsen, l’olandese Woody Hamelink e
lo svizzero Fabian Gerber. Schnebelen è il
miglior marcatore della squadra, con più di
Multilingual
20 gol al suo attivo. In difesa spiccano Olsen
e Fink, che come i mitologici fratelli Castore
e Polluce sono i protettori della porta difesa
da Gonzalez.
Il futuro è sconosciuto. La nuova stagione
è appena iniziata e nessuno può prevedere
quali obiettivi sarà capace di raggiungere
l’EF International. Alcuni giocatori stanno
per lasciare la squadra il prossimo marzo,
quindi sarà necessario trovare nuovi elementi
e un nuovo equilibrio. Solo una cosa è certa:
la squadra continuerà sempre a giocare con
la loro migliore arma, la passione per il
calcio.

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May 2009
SPECIAL DICOUNTED RATE
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Memo: the Envoy
Poetry Corner
Untitled by Stefanie Mazer Which is it? What is it? Listen and be with to tolerate the intolerable.
M.A. G-4 Psy.D. Los Angeles Campus me The world an orchestra, The Symphony has
I then can listen and be with you. a beat

A
s the New Year has brought
change and hope to the lives of
many, the harsh realities of today’s
sociopolitical economic climate
require us to be able to adapt and become
innovators. It takes a strong leader to lead
our country and it takes the strength and
efforts of each and every one of us to support
the resilience of our country, our people, and
ourselves. It is by working collaboratively
that “we” can meet the challenges that we
are faced with today to ensure a peaceful and
collective tomorrow.
Walk with me. Can you? Tolerate? Not
tolerate?
Two different marching styles I can hear it. Ah, the harmony of unity.
two different drummers, two different beats.
Two beating hearts.
the millions of beating hearts.
Not I. Not You. Not Them. Not Us.
We.
We all have hearts and souls
when we can tolerate being with.
Can we? When we can tolerate being with the
pain.
Can we? When we can tolerate being with the
love.
Can we? When we can tolerate each other .
We can.
We can then walk together,
marching together to our own beats
The world an orchestra.
No longer orchestrating strategies

The Envoy March 2009 envoy.alliant.edu 7

 Multilingual An International Student’s Journal
By: Steffi Weigand
In a Big City EF Student
142 days ago, my plane
landed in San Diego- my new
home for the next nine months.
I didn't know what to expect.
I've never been to the US before.
Everything I knew about the
US in general and California
especially, I learned from TV
shows and in school. But how
would it really be?
I chose to live with a host
family instead of on campus
because I wanted to be part of
the real American life and I am
glad. As soon as I arrived at my
families' house I was greeted
by my “mom” and “sister” and
felt like home immediately. I
always seem to have luck with
stuff like that. Over the next few
days I was about to learn that
not only my “family” but also
my city was more than I could
have ever dreamed of. Many
people complained about the
beach, downtown, and everything
being too far away. For me a 20
Vor 142 Tagen landete ich
in San Diego - meinem neuen
Zuhause für die nächsten 9
Monate. Ich wusste nicht was
mich erwartet. Ich war noch nie
zuvor in den USA gewesen. Alles was ich
über Amerika und Kalifornien wusste hatte
ich in der Schule und aus Fernsehserien
gelernt. Aber wie sieht die Realität aus?
Ich hatte beschlossen in
einer Gastfamilie zu wohnen, statt
auf dem Campus, weil ich am wahren
amerikanischen Leben teilnehmen
wollte und ich bin froh, dass ich mich so
entschieden habe.
Als ich beim Haus meiner Familie
ankam wurde ich sofort von meiner
“Schwester” und meiner “Mutter” begrüßt
und ich fühlte mich gleich zu hause. Ich
scheine bei so was immer Glück zu haben.
Während der nächsten Tage lernte ich, dass
nicht nur meine “Familie” sondern auch
meine Stadt mehr war als ich je zu träumen
gewagt hätte. Viele Leute beschwerten sich
darüber, dass der Strand und die Innenstadt
und alles so weit entfernt sei. Für mich
ist eine Fahrt von 20 Minuten gar nichts.
Immerhin gibt es hier einen Strand, eine
Innenstadt und Orte an denen man was
unternehmen kann. Nach San Diego zu
kommen hieß für mich nicht nur in den USA,
8 The Envoy March 2009 envoy.alliant.edu
minute drive means nothing. At least there
WAS the beach, a downtown and places to
do something. For me, going to San Diego
didn't only mean to live in the United States
but also to live in a city, a BIG city, for the
first time. I grew up in a 900-population
village in the middle of Germany with
nothing to do other than go to school and get
drunk on the weekends. No city anywhere
near to be found. I have seen about five
movies in one month. At home that would
be impossible.
In my by now five months of living
in San Diego, in SoCal, I really learned
how it feels to live here, to be a part of it.
My mom is laughing at my German, my
friends make fun of me for saying “like”
all the time, I eat burgers almost every day
and for the first time I have my own car.
When people ask me what I miss about my
home country, I have to think and then I
probably say Bratwurst, Milka and Haribo
Gummy bears. What else is there to miss?
To be honest, I've never been that German.
I hate soccer, I don't listen to German music
and I don't watch German TV shows. So of
course I enjoy watching football and going
to concerts yet there is something that I'm
sondern auch das erste Mal in einer Stadt,
in einer großen Stadt, zu leben.
Ich bin in einem Dorf mit etwa 900 Leuten
in der Mitte Deutschlands aufgewachsen,
wo man nicht viel mehr machen konnte
als in die Schule zu gehen und sich am
Wochenende betrinken. Keine Stadt in der
Nähe.
In meinen bisherigen 5 Monaten
die ich in San Diego, in SoCal, lebe habe ich
wirklich gelernt was es heißt hier zu leben,
ein Teil davon zu sein. Meine Mutter lacht
über mein Deutsch, meine Freunde machen
sich darüber lustig, dass ich ständig “like”
sage, ich esse fast jeden Tag Burger und
habe das erste Mal ein eigenes Auto.
Wenn mich Leute fragen, was ich hier
vermisse, muss ich immer erst eine ganze
Weile nachdenken und dann sage ich meist
so was wie Bratwurst, Milka und Haribo
Gummibärchen. Was sollte man sonst groß
vermissen? Um ehrlich zu sein, ich war nie
wirklich typisch deutsch. Ich hasse Fußball,
ich höre keine deutsche Musik und ich sehe
keine deutschen Serien. Und ich genieße
es Football zu gucken und auf Konzerte
zu gehen. Aber es ist etwas anderes, dass
ich am meisten vermissen werde wenn ich
im Juni nach Europa zurück muss - die
Menschen. Nicht nur meine Freunde sonder
auch die ganzen freundlichen Menschen die
man in ganz San Diego findet.
going to miss more than anything else when
I have to go back to Europe in June – the
people. Not only my friends but also the
friendliness that you can find all over San
Diego. When I first came here, I thought
Americans were like Germans, cold and
distanced to each other, or even worse, but
soon I was to be proven wrong. The bus
driver says “Bye. Have a nice day” to every
passenger; if you don't buy anything in a
shop the workers seem to be sorry that you
couldn't find what you were looking for and
still wish you a nice day. People on the street
just talk to each other and nothing is wrong
with that. It seems as if not everybody just
thinks about themselves. It is so easy to
make new friends yet some people complain
about Americans only making small talk
and not really caring, but I can’t complain;
I haven't meet these people yet. Especially
during the last two months, I made many
new friends that are just fun to be around
and that I can talk about every topic with.
Of course not everything in the
U.S. is perfect but for me it seems to work
out and the longer my stay, the more I fall
in love with San Diego and especially it's
people :D
Als ich ankam dachte ich die
Amerikaner sind wie die Deutschen, kalt
und distanziert oder sogar schlimmer.
Aber bald wurde mir das Gegenteil
bewiesen. Der Busfahrer verabschiedet
jeden Fahrgast mit “Auf Wiedersehen”. Ich
wünsche ihnen einen schönen Tag. Wenn
man in einem Laden nichts kauft wirken
die Verkäufer enttäuscht darüber, dass
man nicht gefunden hat was man suchte
und wünschen dir ebenfalls einen schönen
Tag. Leute reden einfach auf der Straße
miteinander und das ist vollkommen normal.
Es scheint als würden die Leute nicht nur
soviel an sich selbst denken. Es ist einfach
neue Freunde zu finden und natürlich
beschweren die Mensch sich darüber, dass
die Amerikaner nur schön daher reden sich
aber nicht wirklich für die Probleme anderer
interessieren, aber ich kann mich nicht
beklagen. Solche Leute habe ich noch nicht
getroffen.
Besonders während der letzten
2 Monate habe ich viele neue Freunde
gefunden mit denen ich gerne meine Zeit
verbringe und mit denen ich über alles reden
kann.
Natürlich ist nicht jeder Aspekt
am Leben in den USA perfekt aber für mich
scheint es zu funktionieren. Umso länger ich
hier bin umso mehr verliebe ich mich in San
Diego und die Menschen die hier leben.
 Multilingual
Chinese New Year Celebration
By: Xiaoying Cai
Undergraduate, Business Administration.

A
s a Chinese student, I will not be first time we held an activity to celebrate the people could choose. The first ten people
homesick during the Chinese New Chinese New Year. to show up in the cafeteria received a “Red
Year because a Chinese New Year We bought traditional Chinese Envelope,” a special gift people give out
celebration took place this year on our San decorations to decorate the cafeteria. The during Chinese New Year.
Diego Campus. majority of the decorations were red. That is There was also a game area where
The celebration was held on because the color red symbolizes happiness people could play Chinese checkers and fish
Thursday, February 5th, 2009 during lunch and joy in China. The New Year celebration catching, traditional Chinese games, after
in the cafeteria. Although the actual Chinese also included traditional Chinese foods and their meals. Little gifts were also available
New Year is on Monday, January 26th, it snacks. The food served by our cafeteria for winners.
didn’t matter to us, because we were still in staff included wonton soup, fried rice, stir- All in all, I think this was a great
the holiday spirit. fried Chinese vegetables, fried dumplings, event! I think we should have more of these
This celebration was sponsored and other delicious dishes. Snacks included activities on campus. I am eager to learn
by the Office of Campus Community sun-flower seeds, peanuts (with shells), and more about other’s culture and traditions.
Development and the Undergraduate Student traditional Chinese candies. Of course, there According to the Chinese calendar,
Government Association. Personally, I think was one more thing we could not forget this year is the year of the Ox/Bull. I wish
it was a successful event. I have been at about China and her tradition-- Chinese everybody a successful year!
Alliant for over two years, and this is the tea. We provided five types of tea so that

The World Leader in International Education

More than 40 years of experience - 400 schools and offices around the
world - 15 million students.

EF is the Official Language Training Services Supplier of the 2008 Bei-

jing Olympic Games.

The Envoy March 2009 envoy.alliant.edu 9

 Feature
Hungry for Work?
Then “Spruce Up” Your Personality With Behavioral Tools.
By: Matthew R. Polkinghorne
CSPP, San Diego
A
common theme of thought seems to
be trickling through the minds of most
people these days; it is darn tough out
there - the economy is like a closed shell,
impervious and impermeable to the effortful
movements of proactive, hard-working, and
hopeful individuals. Such people are looking
to hash out the new beginnings of a career
or re-enter the workforce after a major career
setback or job layoff.
Of course, individual work
circumstances are too wide and varied to
consistently and accurately measure. Jobs
and careers are lost, attained, and temporarily
put on hold to such a varying degree that it
must give even the brightest of statisticians
and mathematicians an enormously enigmatic
headache.
For highly educated but work-
inexperienced individuals, the pressure to find
a reliable niche in the marketplace is huge.
Corporations, non-profits organizations, and
institutions continue to be mindful of their
budgets in the wake of this volatile economy,
making it ever the more difficult to secure an
employment position that is dependable and
provides some prospects of a brighter future.
As a result, some individuals are stuck. They
pull the pockets of their trousers inside out
with a mild frown as if implicitly saying
“Look at where I am right now. Look at what
is happening to me.”
In response to this type of personal
and professional calamity, an analyst might
say, “You got yourself into this mess, get
yourself out and for goodness sake. Do not
become a victim.” A spiritualist may then
add, “You have to look inside of yourself and
listen to what your existential being is telling
you. It will guide you along the right path.”
Better still, the astrologist may come along
and proclaim, “Well, last night the stars were
10 The Envoy March 2009 envoy.alliant.edu
aligned just right and I think I saw Venus
radiating brilliant beams of blue. I know the
heavens will usher me to a peaceful state of
mind and meaning.”
Regardless of what is what, who
says and thinks what, and what circumstances
we are all in, there are ways, especially if you
are a person ready to take a stand and go for
it, to impress and captivate the attention of a
potential employer, mentor, or boss.
Times are tough, yes. and the hopes
of many are dwindling. It seems, however,
that the opportunities for business remain
constant and graspable, especially if you
have developed behavioral tools to enhance
your chances of success.
Here are four behavioral tools or
ways of being and acting that will increase
your odds of interactive, professional,
and personal success, whether it is in the
nook of business or the vicinity of personal
relationships:
1. Curiosity: this is just as simple as
asking well thought out questions that
have a specific purpose and useful
direction. If you are seeking to get
connected with or work for someone
else that may have similar interests, then
take the time to brainstorm meaningful
inquiries that will tantalize and exercise
the brain of the person you are seeking
to know and understand better.
2. Genuineness: just be real. People
can tell when you are faking it or when you
are putting on a well orchestrated façade,
which by the way, probably took many hours
of well disciplined rehearsal in front of the
mirror. To be effectively curious, you have
to be genuine. Fake curiosity is draining
to perform and even more exhausting to
endure. If you are not interested and do not
care, forget it and move on. Besides, other
opportunities, challenges, and relationships
are bound to surface.
3. Attentiveness: when you feel real and
are being real and have a lot of meaningful
questions to ask, it becomes much simpler
to pay close attention to the responses,
thoughts, and ideas of the other person (i.e. –
your potential employer, business partner, or
mentor). When you are authentically attentive,
two things happen. One, you learn more
with greater expedience, thereby enhancing
the breadth of your knowledge. Two, you
simultaneously instill feelings of worth and
value in the person you are listening to. To
be genuinely attentive, you have to listen
carefully and feel the need to clarify points
that may have become distorted and muddled
during the interaction.
4. Receptiveness: the short version of this is
just to be a good listener, remaining focused
on the “what” and “how” of ideas and
thoughts and their expressions. A receptive
person combines all of the other behavioral
tools mentioned and is highly successful at
internalizing the importance of the sender’s
message(s).
Being a good listener sounds easy,
right? Well, you may be surprised to discover
how much energy it actually takes to absorb
the being and experience of another person,
no matter who they are or what they do.
individuals are vastly complex creatures with
uniquely different backgrounds and lives.
Nevertheless, effective receptivity is a tall
order and it requires a high degree of skill,
understanding, and patience.
So, we have investigated and
discussed four behavioral tools that will,
without a doubt, improve the quality of your
interactions both personally and business
wise. If you are stuck in a funk or trying to
complete the seemingly incomplete equation,
relax and refocus energies on meaningful
and effective behavioral skills. In time, most
life kinks and uncertainties work their way
to the clear. Remaining dedicated to the
development of crisp interactive skills will
always serve you well in the long run.
If you are up to the challenge,
willfully incorporate these outlined behaviors
into your social repertoire. You will likely be
pleased with the results and eventual returns.
You do not have to be an expert at all four
proposed behaviors. Just one or two, if
practiced enough, will give you the gusto and
skills you need to impress those who were
once deemed to be, unimpressable. In the
meantime, keep your head in the game, believe
in yourself and keep on making a positive
difference in
the life of your
self and the
lives of those
around you.
It is up to you.
The ball is in
your court.
 The Envoy March 2009 envoy.alliant.edu
 Series

Psychs and the City

By: Ned James Beedie
CSPP, Los Angels
true. I remember when we gave our
What an awesome responsibility. verdict I thought that the backs of juror’s
R e m e m b e r What a great and interesting break.
back in
seats should come with a barf bag like on
Then day three arrived and all that airplanes. I was so nervous that I was shaking
adolescence, fall changed. The Coroner took the stand and for and literally thought I might throw up. There
would arrive after over an hour explained how the deceased had was no doubt in any part of my being of my
what seemed like died. A projector filled with pictures helped decision, of our decision, as all 12 of us had
an idyllic summer? him show us, in excruciating detail, the to vote unanimously. I was just upset over
Everyone returned violent death. what would be set in motion in the lives of the
to school with It’s true when you hear that our defendant, and the families of both defendant
their new Trapper society is so saturated with violence we’ve and victim. I was now a part of this murder, a
John folders, sharpened Number 2 pencils become numb to its effects. For awhile the part of its ugly history. Every essence of my
and some excitement, despite the daily images didn’t really affect me. I’d seen much being was revolted by that.
freedom now being curtailed. Usually in worse in the movies or on T.V. However, I I had a huge drink when I got home.
English class, the assignment of “What I did started to question my own compassion when I knew I was supposed to make some phone
over my summer break” was the first essay I was able to stare at these pictures and take calls and finally reveal what I’d experienced.
out of the gate. My winter break was spent notes from the ME’s testimony without any What I wanted to recount at the beginning
sitting on the jury of a murder trial and likely emotional response. I knew I needed to be was now something that I had no interest
sent someone to prison for life for taking objective and fair in the trial but that didn’t in doing. How does one talk about it? Is it
another life. mean I had to be cut off from my own empathy dinner conversation? “Oh my God, did you
Winter break has always conjured by what happened to this poor individual. hear that Angelina is going to wear either
up for me a connection with that sense of There, in Marc Jacobs or Valentino couture at
youthful innocence. With the relief of first front of me projected the Oscars? By the way, that murder
semester being over, the exhilaration from on a huge screen, was “I was now a part of trial I was on…” How distasteful that
the holidays, a new year always brings about a body on a stainless this murder a part of something so sacred could be reduced
the possibility of a “better you” (even if the steel gurney. A sheet its ugly history.” to gossip.
resolutions seem to be forgotten quickly). covered only the Now school is back in session.
It’s happy and serene and represents a genitals; the rest was In a few weeks the craziness of
beginning. fully exposed for us all to see. There is no classes and assignments will overwhelm my
So it was with this juxtaposition way wanting to be remembered in this state life. Periodically I’ll probably think of the
of wrapping paper and too much food and by a photograph. It is beyond undignified to defendant and what’s going on locked in some
sleeping late mixed with forensic evidence say the least: lifeless, the corpse’s odd color small cell. Does that person have remorse for
and sadness and death that made my break so was captured in an ugly and grim way. The what happened? Does the victim’s family
jolting. Behind the tree, decorations, holiday grip of death was palpable. feel any compassion towards the person in
parties, real life still exists. For some there is And from here on out, the trial prison for killing their loved one? I’ll always
no break or holiday from the dark realities of couldn’t be over fast enough for me. This remember the pictures of the deceased almost
humanity. There’s no entry for compassion in wasn’t an episode of “Law & Order” or totally naked on a metal slab. I’ll think that
their dictionary. “Prime Suspect.” I wasn’t on one of those they don’t get a chance to wonder about
I must rewind though. When I first boat tours that take you out for a few hours anything ever again.
was selected for the jury of a murder trial I with actors and someone “dies” while the I know this was a profound
was oddly intrigued. Wow, how cool. No one passengers get to play a real time version of experience in my life. It wasn’t what I
ever gets chosen for interesting things during “Clue.” This was real. There was one person envisioned. The remnants and how they
jury duty. This sentiment was echoed by those who had been murdered; there was another assimilate into my personality aren’t clear.
few friends and family members I told. None who stood trial for that crime; and there were I do hope that I hold onto that compassion
of them had been on a murder trial nor had people from both families coming and going that slapped me in the face that one afternoon
anyone they knew done it either. I was told from the courtroom, tears in all their eyes. after eating lunch. The lesson of how easy it
to keep a detailed journal; when it was over One event with hundreds of ripples. is to get caught up in day-to-day living and
I must be able to relay all the minutia of the As the days passed many forget how we treat others. It seems pat, a
case. I was going to be the bridge for people preconceived notions I had shifted. First, the cliché, but ask yourself when’s the last time
I knew to peer into this alternate world. obvious difference was that real life wasn’t this trait was truly a part of your afternoon or
In my jury seat, I had my pencil always entertainment. Second, I was forced to every day living.
and pad. I took notes. I was going to be the confront my own prejudices and stereotypes. I’ll conclude with one final thought:
best juror ever. I felt like Detective Chief The way I see our judicial system in this when you get that dreaded jury service letter,
Inspector Jane Tennison, nothing was going country also changed. Finally, I connected and you will, remember that if you do get
to go by me. I’d piece the evidence together with a sense of compassion that had gotten selected for the voir dire process, hope you
like an elaborate puzzle, connecting it in the lost because of my laser-like focus on “just get a case involving something to do with
only way it could possibly make sense and be the facts.” insurance.
12 The Envoy March 2009 envoy.alliant.edu

What Will You Do With All of That
Money You’re Going to Make?
By Joshua Marcengill
Alumnus 2006
G
o ahead and say it… “I’m gonna be
rich!”… one more time, and this time
really embrace it… “I’m gonna be
RICH!” How many of you know that being
rich is a state of mind? You don’t have to
finish school to be rich. You can be rich in
the bottom echelons of society, in the lowest
economic class in civilization. But you can
also be poor at the top of your game… it’s all
in your head. That is where the war is fought
and lost or won… in your head.
I can’t speak for you, but for me, I
went to school to—like Benjamin Franklin
once said—“become healthy, wealthy, and
wise.” His advise was to go to bed on time.
Mine is to redefine your definition of wealth.
One day you will be wealthy but only if your
thoughts don’t stop you… and in this world
we are taught that the most desirable wealth
is the wealth that you do nothing to attain.
This is untrue for the healthy rich man and
women. The healthy rich consider the journey
itself to be the wealth.
Your degree will open doors, your
degree will shine a light on the path that may
be right for you. The spirit of excellence is
right here all around you. MGSM and Alliant
have teamed up to provide a thriving culture
of encouragement, but ask yourself… ‘is that
the way you see it?’ It is a choice. It is easy
to let the funk get to you so that you feel like
it’s all a chore, but if you can embrace the
journey as the wealth you wish to attain then
you will see it. You will experience a culture
of encouragement. You will achieve your
dreams as well because you have tapped into
the ability to color your world and recognize
the fact that it’s up to you.
So, how do you battle in your mind?
Feature
How do you color your world? Well, I’m not you’re twice as likely to receive in the places
talking about the universe or some new-age that you’re lacking. Giving helps you by
religion here although for some that is the helping you win the battle in your mind to
help they need and for others a worthy outlet. recognize the culture of encouragement all
What I want to suggest is that you simply around you and stop giving in to those that
learn how to give. Giving is a way to keep would steal your mental happiness from
yourself clean and it keeps the cobwebs from you. Giving will help all of us by way of us
darkening your thoughts and coloring your receiving your signature gift. A gift that by
world black when you have every opportunity default we do not have the ability to give.
to see light all around. The world has turned
and today people want to live wealthy, and
not just achieve it. The thing that many
are missing however, is that the real way to
achieve wealth is to give wealth.
Give to get?!! Come’on now, you
know I’m right if you check your heart… and
for the mind there are the obvious benefits like
feeling part of a community, stepping outside
of yourself and becoming less selfish… the
purging of the conscience. Yep. There are also
some familiar downfalls like vulnerability,
limited means, and becoming completely
selfless. Therefore, it is important to learn
giving. Becoming an effective philanthropist
requires a sincere look into what it is that
you have to give. Giving from your strengths
instead of your weaknesses is how you
invest in giving and that is why I wrote this
article. Your strengths are where you have
abundance… not in your weaknesses.
Find out what your strengths are and
give those. If it’s money, give money,
if your administrative give your
organizational advice and assistance,
if you are brave then be brave for Only you can give it. Plus a world of givers is
others (find out what your strengths what a community is set up to be. You can’t
are by taking the free test at www. do it alone so go out, discover your strengths,
authentichappiness.org). discover your community and give, give,
Too often, weaknesses are where give so that you can be rich, rich, RICH!!
we give. We give money to the local Joshua Marcengill is an alumnus
bum, we give time to our TV’s, we of the Marshall Goldsmith School of
give in to the thought that wealth is Management. He has an MIBA in Sustainable
only made up of money and this is Management and graduated 2006. He has
not healthy thinking that will win the since started two organizations based on
battle in your mind. Wealth is all the philanthropy. To read more about becoming
things that make your life feel whole. Some an effective philanthropist by focusing on
break it down into three categories: people, your strengths visit Josh’s blog at :
prosperity, and planet. You may recognize http://externalitology.blogspot.org
this from Professor Bainbridge’s classes that also, find out what your strengths are, where
talk about Sustainability. If not, look up the your abundance lives… go to
word, and learn something about a system www.authentichappiness.org to complete a
of wealth that, I believe will help you to give free strengths assessment.
more effectively.
The point I wish to finish with here is
that when you give from a place of abundance,
The Envoy March 2009 envoy.alliant.edu 13
 Insights
A Day at Justice Hall: Judge Mary Morgan’s
Behavioral Health Court
Dave Pursell, Psychology Trainee
Case Conference
San Francisco, CA
T
he Law Library on the second floor
of San Francisco’s Hall of Justice at
850 Bryant Street was flooded with
natural light coming in through the three
large windows that face east. From my chair,
there was a clear view of the mammoth
Yahoo! billboard alongside highway 80, the
one visible just before getting on the Bay
Bridge, eastbound. The steady swoosh of
traffic managed to seep in through the double
panes.
The room was divided: on one side
was an audience of eight psychology trainees,
a psychiatrist, and a program director from
OMI Family Center, where I am presently
fulfilling my Practicum II placement; on
the other side were six professional women
seated at a conference table. They were
discussing the fate of a long list of individuals
who have histories of mental health issues
and substance abuse and have been arrested
for various crimes.
Judge Mary Morgan, who heads the
Adult Behavioral Health Court (ABHC) sat
at the head of the table. She is an attractive
woman, about 50 years old with short
curly hair, rosy cheeks, and a warm smile.
Also present were three representatives
from the District Attorney’s office and two
case managers—one from Jail Psychiatric
Services and one from the Citywide Case
Management Forensic Program. A rotating
cast of legal counsel for the defendants,
mostly public defenders, shuffled in and
out of the room over the next two hours.
The actual defendants were not present, but
would be in court later, when it convened in
Department 15.
Line by line, down the roster,
cases were presented and discussed in a
collaborative, interdisciplinary fashion:
clinicians and legal counsel working together
to determine the best route to rehabilitation
for each individual. Case managers sat at
their open laptops, accessing a specialized
database and relaying each defendant’s most
recent clinical report. One defendant was off
heroin and had titrated from 145 mg to 45 mg
of methadone; another had only missed one
session of group therapy in the past week; and
another had been attending anger management
classes and hadn’t broken the terms of his
restraint order. Everyone expressed concern
or praise for each participant’s status. It was
clear that Judge Morgan’s court is different
14 The Envoy March 2009 envoy.alliant.edu
from most. The ABHC team members have
ongoing relationships with the adjudicated.
Team members expressed compassion, and
their concern appears genuine. Their goal
is to keep the participants out of jail. Jail
Psychiatric Services and Citywide case
managers work in close contact with the
defendants’ community clinic case managers
to keep the defendants in the appropriate
treatment facilities. When participants
“graduate” from the program, their charges
are usually reduced or expunged. ABHC
members stated that they want to mitigate as
much as possible the damage that can result
from a criminal record.
Adult Behavioral Health Court Gets
Results
The ABHC in San Francisco began toward
the end of 2002. It now handles about 200
cases per year. Each participant receives an
individualized treatment plan with a case
manager who assists the participant in finding
housing, getting the appropriate medication,
and getting sober. The theory is that if a
person can be managed in the community
rather than being incarcerated, it is better for
the individual and society in general. Data
are beginning to offer empirical validation
to the theory. According to a SF Chronicle
article published in November 2007, a study
by UCSF published in the American Journal
of Psychiatry revealed that 18 months after
completion of the program, the risk of
defendants being charged with a new violent
crime was 54% lower for ABHC graduates
than for mentally ill people in the regular
court system.
During the case conference, the
ABHC team identified defendants who had
been complying with treatment and making
progress toward their goals. About ten such
defendants were placed on the “Honor Roll.”
Many of these individuals would be offered
movie or museum tickets later that day when
court convened.
At one point during the case
conference, a philosophical debate erupted.
The case involved a woman who had been
eliciting some irrational behavior, but
seemed to be getting by. There was talk of
remanding her, that is, removing her from
the community and placing her in custody
again. Judge Morgan paused to check the
team’s motivation: “What is it we’re trying
to do here?” she asked. She explained that
she wanted to make sure the team wasn’t
simply trying to mold the defendant’s
behavior into something that mimicked their
own. She wanted to be sure that they weren’t
using a definition of rationality and socially
acceptable behavior that was too narrow.
After about five minutes of discussion, it
was decided to give the defendant one more
chance.
Another defendant had moved to
Sacramento. The team decided to transfer
mental health treatment to a facility close to
his new home, but not to transfer his legal
proceedings.
The reason: the courts in Sacramento
might end up throwing him into jail without
giving him the option of community mental
health treatment.
According to Judge Morgan, San
Francisco’s ABHC is one of the 150 - 200
behavioral health courts across the nation.
It is more individualized than most. Except
for homicide cases and sex offenders, San
Francisco ABHC doesn’t issue blanket
statements about what sort of offenders
can qualify for its programs. If a judge,
attorney, or Jail Psychiatric Services staff
member refers a defendant to the ABHC,
a representative from the DA’s office then
contacts the victim of the crime and explains
that the perpetrator is mentally ill and has
been offered rehabilitation treatment.
Continued on Page 21
 Insights

BEWARE!!!
Posting your “Spirited Self”, can get you canned.
By: Alison Bowes

“There were keg stands, Jell-O shots, people jumping in the pool, and even a guy
passed out with messages written with a Sharpie all over his body. I can’t wait to post
the pictures on Facebook!”

A
ll too often, students on college/
university campuses can’t wait
to post pictures and comments
about their fun weekends or spring breaks
on popular social networking sites like
Facebook, MySpace, etc. These sites are a
great way to stay in touch with people and
share pictures and news about your life.
But what if your boss or a potential
employer went to your Facebook page?
This a question that you should be asking
yourself. In this day and age, and especially
in this economy, employers are becoming
more selective with whom they choose to
hire for jobs and internships. There are
numerous qualified students out there job
searching with fewer jobs to go around. One
of the resources that employers are using to
learn more about their applicants are social
networking sites such as Facebook and
MySpace.
Social networking sites can be an excellent
tool for your job search, if used in an
appropriate way. If you already have an
existing page, used for personal and social
purposes, and you are beginning a job
search, be sure to set your privacy settings.
On Facebook, Myspace and many others,
you can set your privacy settings so that
only your “friends” or people that you give
permission can view your page. For job
search purposes, create a new account and
post your resume. On your new account,
keep your page visible to all, and make sure
to add only “friends” who are colleagues,
professors, previous employers, or those
who might be of professional value to you.
Make sure to post that you are job searching
and mention the type of job in which you are
interested. As your friends network expands,
so will your opportunities.
Social networking sites serve many
purposes. It is important to be savvy about
when and how you are using them. If you
have any questions about how to maximize
your job search online, please contact
Career Services for an appointment at (858)
635-4568.

The Envoy March 2009 envoy.alliant.edu

 Insights
Multi
Cultral P
By: Dr. Kckenzie
T
he primary issues that are needed
for a therapist to provide effective
treatment for a person of a different
culture are perhaps earlier than the
twentieth century. Emil Kraepelin (1904)
the father of modern Western psychiatry,
suggested a new specialty within psychiatry
called Comparative Psychiatry to study
cultural differences in psychopathology. these truths are rooted in western cultural
Kraepelin like many 19th-century
psychiatrists committed to a biological view
of mental illness as one of the key factors
when assessing cultural differences. Since,
that time progress has been made to include:
ethnopsychiatry, cross-cultural, transcultural
psychiatry (Marsella, 1993). This has led
to new conceptual and methodological
works that position cultural factors as a
major determinant of the onset, and outcome
of mental disorders. Indeed, for as much
as century mental health professions and
sciences failed to recognize or acknowledge
the importance of cultural factors in
psychopathology (Mezzich, Kleinman,
Fabrega, & Parrone, 1996). There are
important facts one should be aware of that
reflect a resistance to the study of cultural
differences. Many western professionals
and scientists who were pioneers of the
field of transcultural psychiatry ( Murphy,
Wittkower, 1976)were marginalized as well
as minority group members of scientists
because their lack of positions of power
and influence. Non-Westerners who studied
in western medical schools were all part
of the western ideology embedded and
enmeshed in a professional worldview and
ethic whose assumptions argued in favor of
16 The Envoy March 2009 envoy.alliant.edu
art 1
universals and against cultural difference in minority in the United States has influenced
mental disorders (Pow Meng Yap, Adeyo the psychosocial development of minority
Lambo, 1963). This dominated view still groups (Jackson, 1987). Many models
exists and remains current today. A perfect of multicultural psychology share the
example of goodwill, an unintentional abuse assumption that minority groups develop
of power in which western medical science modal personality patterns in response to
considers itself objective in its quest for white racism (Helms, 1987, p. 241)
truth. However, the failures to understand
Clinicians are expected to be knowledgeable
and tradition, which are difficult to in regards to the sociopolitical forces that
overcome (Jenkins, Kirmayer, 1998; have affected the minority client and to
Kleinaman, Fabrega, & Parrone, be comfortable with differences that exist
1996; Lin, Tseng & Yeh, 1995). between themselves and therapist (Sue
The views of modern technological & Sue, 1990 p. 160-167). Although , the
societies who dominated the world majority of therapists and graduate students
are aware of their economic and in clinical and counseling program are white,
political power. there is usually a respectable percentage of
Although, in recent years as minorities who will eventually work with
ethnic and racial minorities and client’s that they will have to provide services
non-westerners cultural members that ethnicities differ from their own (Russo,
have become more prominent in Olmedo, Stapp, & Fulcher, 1981). Ethnic
numbers and influence among prejudice exists throughout the world and
mental health professions and throughout history (Ponterotto & Pedersen,
sciences, these bias inherent in our 1993). Some multicultural authors ( Corvin
past, has become widely known and & Wiggins, 1989; Sue, 1993)demand openly
criticized (Chakraborty,1991; Lin, 1995; for white therapists to acknowledge and
Misra,1996). In time much of the services resolve their ethnic prejudices in order to
towards different cultural differences has better serve non-white clients, yet minority
been change to adapt to ones particular
culture that they are providing therapeutic
service too. The American Psychological
Association (1992) adopted guidelines
for psychologists working with patients
from different ethnocultural groups. The
guidelines are clear in their explanation
that a psychologist should refrain from
working with people from different
ethnocultural traditions if the psychologist
has no knowledge, experience, or training
with the group. The guidelines were
enacted when evidence was found out that
there was bias in their Code of Ethics and
that many minority patients were being
inaccurately diagnosed and inappropriately
treated (Pedersen & Marsella, 1982).
According to McGoldrick and Giordan,
(1996) they feel that the therapist’s job
is first to identify the client’s presenting
problems as the client themselves define
them, and to help their client increase their
flexibility to adapt to America’s multicultural therapists are left unchallenged to confront
society. In multicultural literature, it has their prejudices that can equally jeopardize
been implied that clinicians and counselors the quality of services they provide to white
be cognizant of how being a racial or ethnic Continued on Page 21
 Behind The
Sky Magdalin, PhD
By: Betty Sauser
Miramar Community College
W hen given this assignment to interview
a person for a position in a job that I
would be interested in, my thought went from
left to right. I thought about doing it on a multi
level marketing company, but when thinking
about what I would like to do with my life
the thought of helping other people like me
accomplish their dreams was what appealed
to me. Dr. Magdalin is an adjunct professor
at Alliant International University. She
works a full time career as a pharmaceutical
representative and uses her extra time helping
students just like me realize their dreams and
strive towards them.
My objective for this report is to
obtain the knowledge of what I need to do
to teach undergraduate students in business
management concentrations. While working
at a full time career doing what I love the
most, business management and encouraging
“Be sure to evaluate the value of this quest and goal. If you were to be told you would possibly die in six
months, is this how you would want to spend your last months of your life?”
students to reach their dreams.
I choose Dr. Magdalin because of
her resilience, the love and passion that she
has for teaching and improving lives, and
because she is a survivor of many trials in
life. No matter what those trials were she
was strong and pushed forward. Finding the
right person for my interview was difficult; I
could have had my choice of any core faculty
member on campus. I wanted the right
person, the one that was holding the dreams
that I some day hope to hold. Scheduling
the time with Dr. Magdalin was difficult
due to her career and teaching schedule. I
tried email, telephone, an in person meeting
before her scheduled courses. On a Friday
night in a baseball field at a Carlsbad park,
we sat eating fine cheeses, having sparkling
wine, and sharing the challenges and rewards
to teaching.
The challenge of having the right
questions to ask was an event on it’s own.
I had a list of some basic questions which I
thought were pretty good at the time, but when
she answered them in less than 60 seconds I
knew I was in trouble. Not knowing what else
to say or ask, and with the feeling that I did
not have enough information to complete my
assignment I acted on desperation. I asked
her for her help and advice of what other
information she felt I needed to complete
my assignment. With a surprised look in her
Professor
eyes she praised me for being brave enough
to ask the hardest question of all, Help?
Dr. Magdalin brings 40 years of
life’s experiences to the classroom every
night she teaches her students. I have talked
with them individually and heard of how she
makes them at ease and wanting to know
more. When I questioned her on why she
wanted to become a professor her simple
statement, which spoke volumes to me was
that she just wanted to “Pay it forward.”
When I was puzzled she simply said that
she wanted to be a part of making other
women around her successful and give them
the opportunity she worked so hard to have.
She went to school and graduated with a
Bachelors Degree; wanting to be an attorney
she researched what she could do to help
battered women and children. Her inquires
lead her to a battered women sheltered, there
she asked, “What can I do to help? I want
to be an attorney. How can I accomplish
that and help.” She was told that what
they needed were judges. She was shortly
invited to a Master’s in Business Degree
program. After she accomplished her MBA
she decided that the best way she could help
her fellow women was to move forward and
complete her Doctorate degree in Marketing.
This is how she came to Alliant International
University. Her sole drive behind completing
her DBA was to be a role model because if
she could accomplish her degree and dreams
so could other women. Degrees and dreams
have no age limits; barriers and obstacles can
be over come, and if you want it, then go get
it because the rewards are wonderful. She
did not graduate from high school, this lead
her to over compensate for that, she holds a
DBA, only one percent of the population hold
this, the highest degree possible. She is quite
accomplished in what she does, her students
are her little eaglet and she is mother eagle,
guiding them to success. This is what I want
to be, a supporter, a role model, someone
whois accomplished.
Dr. Magdalin believes that your
qualifications for becoming a professor are
minimal. Depending on the level of school
you want to teach in, University, College, or
Community College. Political connections
help you at all levels. You have to have a
Doctorate, Master, or Bachelors. It will all
depend on where you want to teach. At a
Series
community college level usually a Bachelors
will do, a masters is better, college level a
masters will be good. Yet at the University
level, a Doctorate is recommended for the
finer schools across the US. At Alliant you
can not teach upper level graduate courses
with out a Doctorate degree. You can teach
lower level graduate course with a Master’s
degree, but only if your concentration or
major is in that particular field.
When asked if there was any advice
Dr. Magdalin had for me that would help
me in my quest to complete my degree and
become a part time professor her comments
were, “Be sure to evaluate the value of this
quest and goal. If you were to be told you
would possibly die in six months, is this how
you would want to spend your last months
of your life? If the answer is “no”, you may
want to evaluate this goal.” When I asked
her the basis behind her comment, she told
me of a really dear friend of hers that lost her
husband to cancer. She didn’t know what to
do with her life, so in her 40’s she returned to
school to become a nurse. She was accepted
into the country’s top nursing school. She
had an injury that put her back and then a
heart attack, but no matter what she never
gave up. She was just about to graduate
when something wasn’t right and she went to
the doctors. She got the news that she had
colon cancer, the silent killer as it is known.
She had to have surgery three weeks before
school ended, a straight A student slated to
be valedictorian of her class. She spoke to
her professors; two professors understood
and graduated her with A’s. The two other
professors didn’t and they were going to fail
her but after protest from other students they
did give her a C and D for the courses. She
graduated with her nursing degree and with
chemotherapy she lived nine months then
passed on. Dr. Magdalin’s friend was her
inspiration.
My inspiration is that I have a
network of supporters from family and
colleagues encouraging me to press forward.
I have worked on this degree for twenty
years now and have no intentions of stopping
until I get there. I have chosen my career
path because I enjoy working with people,
students, and young adults as an Executive
Administrator. I am now choosing my next
part time adventure to become a professor
and make a difference in their lives.
The Envoy March 2009 envoy.alliant.edu 17
 Feature
Professional Skill Building
In Your ‘Backyard’
By: Becky Jacques
W
CSPP/MGSM, San Diego
hen I graduated with my
Bachelor’s degree in
psychology, I was determined
to change the world. I sought
out employment at various social service
agencies and nonprofits, as well as research
positions in corporate America. While I was
invited in for many interviews, I struggled to
find a job. What was the problem? I had a
degree from a highly reputable college with
a strong academic program. Why wouldn’t
anyone hire me? The answer was simple: no
experience.
As an undergrad I worked part-time
jobs and participated in sports, but wasn’t
forward thinking enough to start building
professional skills related to my career goals.
Eventually, in my post-graduate job search
I found a position with a fantastic nonprofit
organization. However, it was my experience
as a competitive swimmer and summer swim
instructor that led to my employment working
in childcare and aquatics. My college degree
and performance on the job helped my rapid
promotion at this organization, but it was my
previous work experience that got me the job
in the first place.
Now, as a graduate student at
Alliant, I’m doing things a little differently.
I’m considering what opportunities I
need to seek out in order to gain the skills
needed to meet my new career goals. Alliant
offers numerous skill-gaining experiences
as required components of the academic
programs, but it also offers many optional
experiences where student can gain valuable,
marketable, professional skills--opportunities
right here on Alliant campuses.
1) Student Government (local and system-
18 The Envoy March 2009 envoy.alliant.edu
wide). Every Alliant campus has a local
Student Government Association (SGA)
that offers opportunities for service to the
students on the individual campuses. In
addition, Alliant also has a System-wide
Student Government (SSGA) with an elected
Executive Committee. The Chairs of the local
SGAs also serve as members of the SSGA
and have the opportunity to work together
on system-wide issues and events. Being
involved in student government allows the
students to gain inside knowledge of Alliant’s
administration and operations.
Marketable skills:
leadership development,
work motivation, fiscal
management, event
coordination, student
advocacy, problem solving,
recruitment and marketing,
interdepartmental
communication, change
management, policy and
systems development.
2) Work Study Jobs. There
are various opportunities on many of the
campuses to work in administration or
departmental offices including admissions,
financial aid, student life, the library, career
services, professional training and field
placement offices, and academic program
offices. Besides specific skills, students
acquire knowledge on the details of operations
within the area they are working in (ex.
financial aid process; admissions procedures).
There are also campus jobs as research and
teaching assistants within specific academic
programs.
Marketable skills: administrative and
bookkeeping proficiencies, customer service,
creative problem solving, delegation, time
management, computer and technology
skills, instructing/tutoring, research and
analytical skills.
3) On Campus Internships. Some campuses
offer internships to students to help with
professional projects or events. In San Diego
the Office of Student Life offers an internship
to two students every year for coordination
of the annual Leadership Conference. These
interns develop and coordinate the conference
from start to finish. Also, in San Diego and
Los Angeles, the Organizational Consulting
Center offers internships to Consulting and
I/O graduate students. Also, the Center often
seeks help from other students (non-interns)
on various consulting projects. Similar
opportunities to gain hands-on professional
experience may exist on other campuses. If
your campus does not offer internships and
you see a need, then advocate for one. You may
be able to develop valuable organizational
development skills by creating a proposal for
an internship position.
Marketable skills: advocacy, organizational
development, project management and
coordination, leadership, communication,
among other skills depending on the
internship position.
4) The Envoy Magazine. This student led
publication is gaining momentum and
always looking for student involvement.
While the publication is based in San Diego,
it is distributed to all Alliant campuses.
Writers and editors from all campuses are
encouraged as it provides a well rounded
student perspective. This is a great way for
students to gain publication credits and to
develop editing skills that can be applied to
your credentials when seeking positions as
peer reviewers for professional journals.
Marketable skills: journalism and research
competencies, editing, magazine layout
and graphic design, photography, writing
proficiency, creative writing, marketing,
fundraising and sales.
5) Task Force or Change Management
Committee. Alliant often seeks student
participation on task forces and projects
created to identify specific University
needs or to help produce change. Ongoing
initiatives include: campus sustainability,
diversity, international relations, student
satisfaction, university scholarship programs,
and APA site visits. Previous initiatives have
also included the San Diego Cornerstone/
Scripps Ranch merger and the Mexico City
campus relocation.
Continued on Page 21

An Age-Old Question:
Do You Love What You Do?
By: Dr. Marshall Goldsmith
L
ong one of
my heroes,
Dr. Warren
Bennis is a
distinguished professor
and founding chairman
of the Leadership
Institute at the
University of Southern
California and a visiting
professor at Harvard
Business School and
Harvard Kennedy
School. His leadership
books have sold more
than a million copies.
Along with being one
of the greatest teachers
and writers in our field,
he is also a good guy.
At various stages in my
career, he has taken the time to give me words
of recognition, support, and encouragement.
His consideration has meant a lot to me.
Besides being successful and brilliant, he’s
thoughtful. These words don’t always go
together.
The other day, Warren and I were
speaking to a group of educators from many
of the top MBA programs. As Dr. Bennis was
discussing his latest views on leadership,
he decided to "take a detour." He began to
ponder his own journey through life and the
lessons he'd learned. He openly reflected upon
his personal struggles -- not as a teacher of
leadership but as a practitioner of leadership
-- when he was the president of the University
of Cincinnati. His voice noticeably quavered
as he recalled one of the most important
moments in his career. As he was speaking to
a university audience in his presidential role,
one of his friends in the room unexpectedly
asked: "Do you love what you do?"
A long, awkward silence filled
the room as he pondered the question. As a
president, he searched for the right answer,
but as a human, he wanted the real answer.
Finally, in a quiet voice, he replied, "I don't
know."
That revelation plunged Warren into
deep reflection. It dramatically altered his
path through life. He had always thought that
he wanted to be the president of a university.
It had not dawned on him that after he got
there he might not actually enjoy the life of a
university president.
Do you love what you do? This
may be the seminal question of our age.
In yesterday's world, where professionals
worked 40 hours a week and took four weeks
of vacation, this question was important,
but not nearly as important as it is today. I
remember visiting, in the early 1980s, the
corporate headquarters of one of the world's
most successful companies at 5 p.m. There
was almost no one there. You could fire a
cannonball down the hall and not hit anyone.
Those days are gone. It was much easier to
find meaning and satisfaction in activities
outside of work when we were under a lot
less pressure and worked far fewer hours.
Not only did people have more time, they
weren't as tired.
Almost all of the professionals I
work with are busier today than they ever
have been in their lives, working 60 to 80
hours a week. They feel under more pressure
than ever. Cell phones, PDAs, and emails
forever tether us to our work, whether we like
it or not. Put it all together and -- if you don't
love what you do -- it can be a kind of new-
age professional hell. We can be wasting our
lives waiting for a break that never comes.
Life is too short. It's not worth
it. In the new world, we don't have to love
everything that we do, but we need to find
happiness and meaning in most of our
professional work. One of my coaching
clients, Vicky, has a mind that races at
about 1,000 miles an hour. She's extremely
Feature
creative and entrepreneurial. Vicky
was working as a division president
in a large, somewhat conservative
company. The people who hired her
believed that they wanted someone
who would "rock the boat" and
"make waves." Once they began
to experience "waves" and "boat
rocking" though, they decided that
this might not be such a great idea
after all!
Although I was hired to help her fit
in with the existing culture, it was
just a bad match. She was becoming
frustrated with her life and was
frustrating many of the executives
who were running the firm. Summing
it up in one sentence, she groaned,
"I feel like a racy sports car that's
being asked to act like a Ford pickup
truck!"
As her coach, my advice
was simple: "Leave." She had beaten me
to the punch, replying, "I just did!" There's
nothing wrong with Vicky. There's nothing
wrong with her company. She just didn't
belong there. When she asked herself, "Do I
love what I do?" her answer was a clear no.
Vicky's time off for reflection after
leaving her job didn't last long. She's playing
a key role in an entrepreneurial startup, she's
on two boards of nonprofits doing a lot of
good things for her community, and most
important, she's having a lot of fun. As for
Warren Bennis, he's of course having fun too.
It's scary to think what we all would have lost
without his moment of reflection.
Dr. Marshall Goldsmith's 24 books
include "What Got You Here Won't Get You
There" - a New York Times best-seller, Wall
Street Journal #1 business book and Harold
Longman Award winner for Business Book
of the Year. His latest book "Succession: Are
You Ready?" - is the newest edition to the
Harvard Business 'Memo to the CEO' series.
His personal website,
www.MarshallGoldsmithLibrary.com,
contains hundreds of his articles and videos.
The Envoy March 2009 envoy.alliant.edu 19
 Insights
By: Jeanne Bautier
O
and Erica Nogueira
ur capstone project was a priceless
experience but wow, where do we
begin to describe it? Let’s start
with a little overview for those
of you who don’t know what a capstone is.
A capstone project is senior level class in
which groups of students work for real-life
clients and are completely responsible for the
planning and development of a Marketing
Public Relations campaign. Students must
plan all meetings with and all presentations
to the client, and determine their needs. From
there the group must do the necessary market
research to resolve the client’s problem, and
then develop a comprehensive campaign.
Our group had four students, all
female, with ages ranging from the early
twenties to sixties, all from completely
Truthfully Speaking
We have a Dream,
W
that dream is Obama.
elcome
b a c k
Alliant!
First and foremost let
me congratulate all of
you for getting through
a tiresome fall semester. With the spring
semester now having begun, it is my hope
that we will all be able to overcome this
country’s dwindling economy and embrace
the new changes in the White House.
There was no better time than Black
History month (February) to celebrate the
inauguration of Barack Obama. President
Obama, no words can express how wonderful
it is to finally be able to call Barack Obama
the president of The United States. It is likely
that many of you will automatically assume
that these feelings stem from the undeniable
fact that we have a our first African American
President; however, my sense of pride stems
from multiple factors. While ethnicity had
an impact on the joy Americans and citizens
across the globe felt during the inaugural
celebration, there was much more to take
pride in besides having a black president.
The U.S. has an intelligent man
running the country. Obama’s eloquent
style and manner only add to his influential
capabilities. President Obama’s most
powerful aspect in his campaign was the fact
20 The Envoy March 2009 envoy.alliant.edu
A Lifetime Experience
different backgrounds and countries, and oh,
not to forget all of the different personality
types. This set us up for a true real-world
experience because when it comes to your
job, you cannot choose who your co-workers
are. With all that diversity in one group you
can only imagine the pros and the cons, the
frustration and the fun.
On the pro side, having such a
diversified group we were never at a loss
for good, original ideas and good, although
sometimes intense, debates over those ideas.
Each group member eventually found their
specific talent and we complemented each
other well, which made us a productive
group. If only we had started there…it took
us awhile, but like every life experience, it
takes time to adapt. Once we learned to deal
with the cultural and personality differences,
the entire project became easier and turned
out better than we could have ever hoped.
By: Chenyka Ramos
that he rarely spoke about race. Despite what
many had anticipated, President Obama did
not use race to gain a lead on his opponent
McCain, instead he let Americans decide
who they would vote for based on equality.
Using the race card (in my opinion), while
easy and accessible would not have granted
such intensity and respect towards our new
president. Therefore, not only do we have an
intelligent commander in chief, but also an
African-American who beat the odds to enter
the White House.
Many have said, “So what, we have
a black president, what’s the big deal?” While
it’s hard to believe it, I have actually heard
Americans utter these words. To them I reply
these words: Obama represents something
African-Americans and minorities had long
hoped for and what many of us thought we
would never witness in our lifetime … equal
opportunity. The 2008 election marked a place
in history when Americans acknowledged
their readiness for change. Yes, color has a
lot to do with it; Americans are ready to see
someone in office who looks like them. The
reality is that America has become more
blended with each day. With more multi-
racial families populating the nation, we need
to have a leader who not only looks more like
us but can relate to our needs and concerns.
Obama’s rise to the presidency
symobilizes a generational shift in thinking
and a deeper transformation for voters. This
election by far brought more young voters to
The cons of the project were there, but as we
look back on them they were actually really
positive learning experiences that were and
still are incredibly valuable lessons.
If anything, we can leave you with some
advice:
Always listen to your client’s needs.
Be patient…..very, very patient.
Make sure you know who your group
members are and the personalities you are
dealing with. It will help you to adapt faster.
Quality research is invaluable.
Keep an open mind and be willing to
compromise. (Does it remind you of your
special someone?)
And, yes we know it’s cliché but, Don’t Give
Up! Yes We Can!
the polls because these voters have seen the
hardships of their grandparents and parents
and are and ready to take a stand for their
futures. For black voters it was a chance to
support a man who had not only been brave
by competing against all white contenders,
but also by remaining true to himself and the
issues of his minority supporters. The country
had begun a transformation from ‘land of
the free’ to ‘land of the equal’; (there have
been many generations of freedom; although,
many have remained unequal). A black man
in the oval office means a new beginning on
the journey of true equality.
While Black History month
celebrated the great accomplishments of
President Obama, it cannot be forgotten how
others paved the way for his triumph. Other
African-Americans who have had great
influence on black history include Frederick
Douglas, Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, and Martin
Luther King Jr., (to name a few). Although
they did not live in a world where someone
like Obama could become president, they
changed the course of American society
and did not struggle in vain. The dream of
racial equality continues to inspire future
generations of Americans who believe in the
power of change which only they can bring.
Marketable skills: team building,
collaboration, change management, project
management and implementation, policy
development, volunteer recruitment, student
advocacy, and quality control.
These are five examples of ways
students can gain valuable, marketable,
professional skills on Alliant campuses as
they prepare to enter the job market. It is
important, especially in this increasingly
competitive job market, for students to
gain and to strengthen their professional
skills to their maximum potential if they
want to succeed. What better place to start
developing these skills than right now in our
own academic backyard? The greater the
time we invest in developing skills relevant
to our career goals, the more marketable we
will be to a prospective employer.
To become involved in any of these
activities discussed above, contact your local
SGA, Student Life or Student Activities
office, or your Program Director for more
information on the specific opportunities on
your campus. If you are not sure where to
start seeking, then ask me and maybe I can
point you in the right direction:
rjacques@alliant.edu.
U.S.A vs. Kingdom of Spain
Continued/Continuation pg 4
police forces. Consumption is also strong in
America as credit card culture, whereas we
don’t use credit cards that much. Americans
also became independent really soon; usually
Spaniards become independent by the age
of 26 or later. The last thing is the “love”
Americans have for their careers; Spaniards
don’t work that much but we admire
Americans for that quality.
así como el gasto que los americanos hacen
inconscientemente con las tarjetas de crédito.
Y como no, se puede decir que los españoles
tardamos un poco más en independizarnos
de nuestros padres; el “amor” que los
americanos veneran por su trabajo es algo
también a contrastar.
Continuations
There was a maternal quality to the way
she praised their accomplishments with a
kind and nurturing affect. Many participants
openly shared recent events in their lives and
thanked the judge for her help. One woman,
when called to the podium, handed the DA
a package wrapped in foil. The DA relayed
the package to Judge Morgan. The defendant
explained it was homemade honey-buttered
A Day at Justice Hall: Judge Mary Morgan’s corn bread she made specifically for the
Behavioral Health Court judge. Judge Morgan’s eyes lit up as she
Continued/Continuation pg 11
thanked the woman.
According to Judge Morgan, most victims
are supportive of the program. They
usually respond that they are happy that the
court is working toward the perpetrator’s
rehabilitation to ensure that others aren’t
victimized the way they were.
Court Convenes
At 2pm, court at Department 15
convened. Before Judge Morgan entered
the courtroom there was murmuring chatter.
It was clear that many of the defendants
knew one another. The two women sitting
in the front row smiled at each other
when the judge entered the room. Judge Multi Culture PART 1
Morgan started with the Honor Roll. Each Continued/Continuation pg 14
Honor Roll member was called in turn and clients and to dissimilar minority clients.
congratulated on their accomplishments. Besides therapist knowledge of other cultural
Congratulations were followed by applause values, it is imperative that an effective
throughout the courtroom. These are therapist have the following qualities: conduct
choreographed moments, designed to a sound clinical interview, be an empathic
build each participant’s self-esteem. As listener, have on nonjudgmental attitude,
Judge Morgan explained, “Many of the sensitive intervention, non-directiveness that
participants have never experienced any is equally applicable to cross cultural setting.
positive attention from people.” But it’s not The particular culture that is different than
all candy and kisses. Judge Morgan can also mine is the Latino culture, and by studying
be stern. and researching their cultural identity has
During case conference the team
help me to incorporate an awareness and
discussed how it is necessary to use very
sensitivity in providing effective treatment .
simple, concrete language with many of
According to U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1990
the participants. The judge even advised
it is projected by 2010 Latinos will account
the participants’ public defenders how to
for 42% of our country’s new population
speak to their clients. In the courtroom,
growth. Therefore, culture appropriateness
she exemplified the speaking style. When
appears to be a relevant topic.
speaking with participants who were at
risk of noncompliance, she spoke very
Look for part 2 of this article in the May
deliberately without compromise. Several
Issue.
times, I heard the following statement, “If
you do not comply with your treatment plan,
you cannot be in behavioral court, which
means you go back into the criminal system.
That means you go back into custody. Do
you understand?”
The pace was rapid. Most cases
were heard in a matter of minutes and
many of the defendants were told to come
back in a week for another check-in. Judge
Morgan offered encouragement and positive
reinforcement to the ABHC participants.
The Envoy March 2009 envoy.alliant.edu 21
 Alliant International University
2009 Study Tour
July 22 – August 4, 2009

Intrigue and Romance:

Morocco – Spain – France
Come join us on this exciting excursion! Trip cost includes
airfare, hotel, ground and sea transportation, breakfast each
morning, hotel transfers and taxes*. Cost is $3736.00 per
person (based on double occupancy). To reserve your
space on this trip and/or for a complete trip itinerary, contact
Dr. Herbert Baker (hbaker@alliant.edu; 858-635-4412).
Trip cost does not include tuition if taken for course credit.
*Tax amount may increase slightly based on airline.