Service gives 'U' students direction

Amidst the onrush of papers, exams and post-undergraduate decisions, the Student Counseling Services office has become a haven for many stressed students.

But in recent years, with frequent room changes, the "haven" of Angell Hall has become overlooked.

"We just don't get as many students as we would like; we're lacking in publicity," said LSA junior Maria Jancevski, a SCS coordinator.

Located in the depths of Angell Hall, the for-students, run-by-students organization is coordinated by Jancevski, LSA juniors Erika Major and Amit Vaidya, and LSA sophomore Jene Yu.

Within the office, shelves of graduate school brochures including those for medical and business schools, as well as new LSA course listings, line the walls.

EMILY NATHAN/Daily LSA junior Erica Major works at the Student Counseling Center in Angell Hall, where she helps LSA sophomore Joanna Ko look for a new English class.

Often students are hesitant to come through SCS's doors because of its ambiguous name.

"Many people get confused when they here the word 'counseling' in Student Counseling Services, and think that they will be getting therapy when they come in here," Vaidya said. "We are trying to find a better name that will change the psychological, administrative-like sounding name to something more catchy."

In actuality, the service is "a true resource," Major said. In contrast to the vagueness of online evaluations, the office offers a black Rolodex containing numbers of personalized and detailed course and teacher evaluations.

But the most attractive feature of the office is the endless variety of old exams, covering all LSA departments and some Business and Engineering courses. The bulk of the exams come from introductory classes, so the service is most beneficial for first-and-second-year students.

"The problem is, by the time these students become aware of SCS, they are juniors and seniors and are not benefitting from our services," Major said.

Moreover, the number of incoming tests is declining and the coordinators have resorted to bargaining in an attempt to replenish their supply.

"Seeing that people are hesitant to donate their tests if they are not getting something in return, we've created a voucher-like system where for every old exam a student drops off, he or she can get one free of a copying charge," Jancevski said.

Yet what makes SCS such a comfortable student hangout is its informality, inherent in the hassle-free walk-in policy it offers, Major said.

Vaidya describes the office as a coffee shop, complete with a coffee maker and a black leather couch where "students can sit back and relax, and even do their homework."

In addition, the coordinators' wide range of majors, from biochemistry to English, coupled with their extensive experience in academic and peer counseling, makes the SCS a great place for students to direct any questions, Jancevski said.

LSA junior Christina Branson said SCS helps connect students with the University.

"The coordinators can answer questions about different aspects of majors and courses having picked up on information from the academic advisers," Branson said. "Though I'm a junior and a lot of these questions have already been answered for me, I've seen the coordinators work with freshmen, and I realize that the counseling is a true resource for advice as to what classes to take, what teachers to look for, and so on."

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