Despite entering one of the worst job markets in years, those of the Pitt-Greensburg Class of 2009 who’ve maintained relationships with the university report a 96 percent placement rate in jobs or grad school, according to the university. Still, most students have not yet landed their dream jobs. Or even jobs that put their degree to use.

“What happened last year and what may still continue to happen this year is they’re finding positions, but it’s not ultimately what they want to be doing — kind of something in the meantime,” says Beth Tiedemann, director of Career Services.

Homeless for a day: Hillary Gillespie, left, Alicia Kania and Austin Davis sit in front of Habitat for Humanity’s “cardboard” city, built to raise awareness of the homeless in America.Habitat for Humanity members built and lived in a “cardboard city” this month to spread awareness on campus of the difficulties homeless people in America face every day.

The cardboard structure was constructed April 14 in a few hours.

“It’s amazing how many people in America don’t have homes for their families,” Alicia Kania, a member of the campus Habitat for Humanity group, said.

Every year, a new group of fresh-faced high school graduates enter the college life. Whether they are far from home or commuting from home, there are some things that every freshman should know.

The iPad: Marketing gimmick or useful college technology?As part of its “Griffin Technology Advantage” program, neighboring Seton Hill University will provide each of its first-year undergraduate students with a 13” MacBook laptop and an iPad. The program, which starts this fall, was formally announced less than a week before the iPad hit the market.

So, are students at Pitt-Greensburg jealous of their neighbors on top of the hill?

Hillary Gillespie, left, Alicia Kania and Austin Davis sit in front of Habitat for Humanity’s “cardboard” city, built to raise awareness of the homeless in America.

Campus police responded to the following incidents for the spring 2010 semester.

Campus President Dr. Sharon Smith met with faculty earlier this semester in a town hall meeting to discuss results of a survey that faculty members had been asked to fill out last semester. About 50 faculty and staff showed up at the meeting in Campana Chapel, including Vice President of Academic Affairs Wes Jamison, Vice President of Administrative Affairs Carl Rossman and director of media relations Susan Isola.

Even though Pitt-Greensburg doesn’t offer a studio arts program, the campus is still full of creativity from both students and faculty. The Visual Arts Society is displaying that creativity with the exhibition “Art in Perspective: A Survey of Creativity” in the Smith Hall lounge.

VAS members decided to hold the show when they learned the communications department had decided to discontinue its annual art show in Village Hall.

“We really wanted to show the art on campus,” president Jeremy Holdorf said. “It’s important to show the diversity of the campus.”

This year’s Pitt-Greensburg Writers Festival will feature readings and lectures from renowned authors as well as works from campus students, alumni and faculty.

The festival begins today, Monday, and runs through Friday.

Festival director Lori Jakiela has organized the festival since its inception in 2001. Jakiela said she hopes the festival will continue to foster a sense of community among Pitt-Greensburg writers past and present.

“This is the first year we’ve brought back our alumni,” Jakiela said. “Pitt-Greensburg breeds this community of students who I taught seven or eight years ago who are still in touch with each other.”

The Pitt-Greensburg Writers Festival begins today, Monday, at 7 p.m. All of the events will be in the Village Hall coffeehouse. Here’s the schedule of events.

• Monday will feature faculty and alumni authors. Faculty authors Judith Vollmer, Stephen Murabito, Richard Blevins and Lori Jakiela will be joined by alumni writers Tim Gebadlo, Shane Duschack, Meghan Tutolo, Joseph Reed and Adam Matcho.
• Kim Chinquee will hold a craft lecture at noon and a reading/book signing at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
• Sherrie Flick will read on Wednesday.
• Poets Gerald Stern and Anne Marie Macari will be the featured writers on Thursday.
• Joseph Bathanti will give a craft talk at noon and a reading at 7 p.m. to close out the festival on Friday.