The Jade Times

By Rissa “Iris” San Miguel, Staff Writer

Winter season is almost over, but that doesn’t mean you’re ready to store that vat of intensive cream in anticipation of spring, and all the dewy goodness that warmer weather has to offer your skin. Until the temperature outside rises to match your thermostat, the heat’s still on, leading to dry skin. Follow these five simple tips to dodge the dreaded skin ailments often associated with the season:

1. Moisturize frequently. Reduced moisture in the air and biting winds can lead to dry skin, so reverse the effects by using a moisturizer, preferably a heavier one than what you use in spring and summer. Oil bases work well, but if you’re prone to oily skin, stick to cream bases.

2. Drink plenty of water. Scientists argue about water’s direct effects on dry skin, but it’s not hard to figure that the same liquid that hydrates and nourishes your body, also applies to your skin.

3. Use products with an SPF 20 or above. Simply because the sun is farther away during winter, doesn’t mean that UV rays are no less effective. Less sun damage = less skin problems, and you can’t argue with that logic.

4. Dress appropriately. Wearing the right clothing adds a barrier from the elemental effects, and reduces exposure to the moisture-zapping air. If the glove doesn’t fit… go buy new ones. Your hands will thank you.

5. Don’t forget your lips! Licking only exacerbates chapping. Carry around your favorite lip balm to stave off flaky lips, and swipe some on as often as you feel the urge.

By Amy “Ancaria” Li, Staff Writer

People use the term “integrity” often, but the term is rarely understood or clearly defined.

Integrity is defined as the consistency of actions, values, methods, principles and outcome. Based on this definition of integrity, I would say that integrity is not an easy virtue to adhere to. Because integrity focuses on the consistency of always maintaining good stance in everything that one does, it is one of the more important virtues for the sisters at Emory University.

When times get stressful and sisters have a never-ending amount of accumulated work, it is easy to slack off and not be consistent. Sisters cannot set a good example if they only commit to something half-heartedly, or only commit to something when it is convenient.

Integrity is a must-have for sisters in order to set a good example for others.

When things got tough, sisters at Emory University stepped back and reminded themselves that the road of integrity will always have more benefit in the long run.

By Kippie “Sumitra” Aguilan, Staff Writer

Q: “Dear Ask A Sister, How can I use social networking sites in my job search?”

A: “When using social networking sites such as Facebook, you can utilize their different features, such as the Marketplace, which allows users to post job listings for other users to browse. Another great site specific to the job hunt is LinkedIn, which is a professional social networking site without all the friendly banter (and drama) between members of the community. Craig’s List takes social networking to a basic level, similar to a local newspaper that lists classifieds and open job positions. All three create open communications between potential employees and those seeking a job.

Having the ability to speak professionally and freely without the middleman of a recruiter or interviews helps both parties get what they need. Networking also opens doors for those that can network with others in the field of interest. For example, my boyfriend, whom I met through Craig’s List, is friends with a girl whose fiancé got me my current position as a student advisor for an online university. The importance of social networking is getting to know people, and knowing people opens up new opportunities.”

Links:

www.linkedin.com
www.craigslist.org
www.facebook.com

On February 5th, a letter from Delta Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. National President, Hannah Seoh was featured on the Phired Up Recruiment blog in “I Heart Recruitment & Delta Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc.”

“Phired Up Productions often delivers custom social excellence, recruitment, and/or organizational growth programming to culturally based fraternal organizations. We recently received this note from Delta Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc., and thought it was a powerful testimonial – but more importantly – Ms. Seoh has a powerful message about what values-based recruitment looks like and how it can work.

“I first came across the book I Heart Recruitment in 2008.  Thinking that the book was written for Panhellenic Recruitment and also realizing that I (and most of my sisters) LOVE SPAM, it took a comfortable seat on the top shelf of my bookcase. After meeting Colleen, one of the authors, at the Western Region Greek Association Conference, I was touched by her bubbly nature and enthusiasm for the book’s premise of values-based recruitment and was hooked.  I felt compelled to read it.  After reading I Heart Recruitment, I realized that the ideas and principles that it discusses can be applied to any organization whether they are Panhellenic or culturally based.

I excitedly emailed my Executive Board some ideas taken from the book and several of them read it as well.  The idea of year long recruitment really struck a chord with us, and led us to reassess and revise our educational process and our recruitment policies. 
We decided to implement a recruitment workshop for all of our chapters in the summer of 2009.  In it we explained what a values-based recruitment process looks like – that the idea of “if you build it they will come,” does not always work to your advantage.  Recruitment means that you identify the campus leaders that you want in your organization and actively recruit them to join.  Key factors to look for in a potential member should be aligned with our seven virtues.

After implementation of the workshop we saw a 56% increase in our recruitment class from Spring 2009 to Fall 2009. 

Being a young organization that is run entirely on a volunteer basis we are constantly looking for ideas and ways to improve upon our policies without reinventing the wheel.  We are very grateful to Colleen and Jessica for having written this book and spreading their wealth of knowledge.  It has definitely been a valuable investment for us and we will continue to educate our chapters on the dynamic recruitment described in this book.”

By Rissa San Miguel, Staff Writer
 
It’s virtually a given that each one of us has experienced some form of racial stereotyping, whether at work or play, and yet many of us are unsure how to respond to them. More often than you care to admit, you simply let it slide.
 
Common racial epithets and stereotypes aside, the point of this article is to not just empower you to address society when people make these ignorant remarks, but to do so in a straightforward and civil way that, ideally, will also enlighten them to their hurtful, and often unintentional, insults. 
 
“She’s sexy, I’d like to kung-pao that chicken all night!”
“You got a D on your Chem exam!? Aren’t you supposed to be, like, a brainiac?”
“I heard [insert race] women make good wives because they’re beautiful, exotic, excellent cooks and don’t argue back!”
 
True stories, whether from personal experience or shared.
 
Long story short, as Asian-Americans, we’ve lived on U.S. soil almost as long as our tormentors have, and yet we are still largely invisible. What is portrayed of us in media is often demeaning – though we’ve made dramatic strides as a whole, there are gaps in places such as the South and the Midwest that do not yet have a large, visible Asian population, so these stereotypes seen on screen become persona personified.
 
The question is, how have you responded? Have you meekly walked by, pretending you didn’t hear it, or hurled insults right back? The former will bolster the commenter’s confidence, the latter could get you a drink in the face (also true story. Not mine, happily.) Either way, nothing gets accomplished.
 
Choosing to ignore them only prevents their realization of harm inflicted, or becomes an assumption that it’s a typical reaction from you or someone like you, and ignorant remarks continue to happen.  On the other hand, antagonizing them only serves to put them in a defensive position, refusing to listen and categorizing you and others like you as bitchy, or worse.
 
We are walking paradoxes, trying to assert our individualism, yet still (and perhaps forever) responsible for our ethnic image as a whole. Like our sorority, we have a central image to uphold. We have nicknames and numbers to distinguish us, but when we wear our letters, we caution our neos to do so with dignity. Why? Because it reflects back on us, our sorority, even our ethnic identity. Likewise, your reply will reflect back on who you are, and who you may also represent.
 
So consider that parallel the next time you come across a similar circumstance that makes you think: hit (metaphorically) or run? Be who you are when you respond: quiet, timid, ballsy, nerdy, sassy – tell them if it offended you, acknowledge their failed but well-intentioned compliment, and let them know that defining an entire race based on one ill-conceived notion is not only unfair, but ignorant. But be direct, be polite and be kind. They’ll listen. Because you give them no ground to fight back or feel stupid when you’re all sugar … with a grain of salt.

By May “Mosaic” Advincula, Editor-in-chief

[Pictured left: Stephanie "BCBG" Casajuana running in the Disney Marathon in Orlando, Fla. this past January.]
 
Stephanie “BCBG” Casajuana, a 25-year-old alumna from the University of Georgia Alpha Chapter, will go the distance at the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Marathon in June with the Georgia Chapter of Team in Training to help raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
 
Team in Training, an extension of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, strives to use endurance event training as a symbol of endurance and hope. The organization also aims to raise money for research and services, to honor patients and their families and to foster connections between volunteers and the patients and their families.
 
Casajuana first encountered Team in Training when her co-worker trained and fundraised for a marathon in Alaska. Later, Casajuana learned that her husband’s cousin ran a Team in Training marathon in Boston, of which he described to her as being “one of the best experiences.”
 
When Casajuana ran the Disney Marathon in Orlando, Fla. this past January, she encountered many of the Team in Training runners, coaches and supporters. After observing the support network between the group members, it was then that Casajuana decided she, too, would run with the organization.
 
“The most appealing aspect of running is getting to think. I get to think things through about life and work,.” Casajuana said. She admits that the most quirky thought she had while running was challenging herself to say the Greek alphabet as fast as she could. While timing herself during a run, Casajuana still managed to say say it in 10 seconds despite heavy breathing resulting from the activity from the run.
 
When asked about the most challenging aspect of her current marathon training, Casajuana said that the Atlanta hills are “both a blessing and a curse– a blessing because it helps build speed and strength; a curse because it is extrememly difficult!” To keep herself motivated Casajuana thinks about Team and Training and its mission. “Just knowing that by completing the training and fund-raising, I’m helping [to] fight against cancer,” she said.
 
Casajuana hopes that by running this marathon she will inspire others to make use of their passions for good causes. “I hope to encourage people to find something that they love doing and figure out a way to use that to help others,” she said.
 
To learn more about Team in Training visit: http://www.teamintraining.org/

To view Stephanie’s Team in Training participant page visit: http://pages.teamintraining.org/ga/rnr10/scasajuana

[From left to right: "Esmeralde" Nguyen, Bich "Indigo" Tran, Kelle "Thrive" Hao, Khanh "Mira" Ngo, Minh "Novae" Tran, W "Selene" Guo)]

By: Amy “Ancaria” Li, Staff Writer

Featured in this month’s Sisterhood of the Month photo is Georgia State University Gamma Chapter celebrating a successful recruitment event with Alpha Iota Omicron at Bistro Karaoke. We pride ourselves on our strong sisterhood bonds, and the recruitment process is the commencement of the construction of such relationships. To see many ladies interested in joining Delta Phi Lambda truly highlights our potential and successful future.