Alumni Profile: Steve Haruch, independent journalist and filmmaker

Recently we interviewed Steve Haruch, a writer, journalist and independent filmmaker based in Nashville, TN. He graduated with a B.A. from UIUC in 1996 (English/Rhetoric double major), and went on to earn an M.F.A. in creative writing from the University of Washington in 2000. After a series of teaching, copywriting and other odd jobs, he landed at the Nashville Scene, where he worked as a staff editor for seven years. Since then, he has written for The New York Times, The Atlantic, NPR’s Code Switch and The Guardian, among other outlets. He edited People Only Die of Love in Movies: Film Writing by Jim Ridley (Vanderbilt University Press, 2018) and is currently producing a documentary film about the history of college radio. He is particularly interested in talking with students from minority backgrounds. In the interview, Haruch talked about freelancing, a career option that offers freedom of work.

What is your current job? What do you like about it?

I’m a freelancer, so my current job is really a series of jobs, mostly involving writing in some way. These are strung together in a manner that resembles regular work but is more open-ended and irregular.

Continue reading “Alumni Profile: Steve Haruch, independent journalist and filmmaker”

PSA: How to Cast Your Vote in 2018 (UPDATED)

Whatever your political leanings, 2018 is going to be an important election year. Pollsters, pundits, and politicians all make assumptions about what college students will do in the votiing booth (including not showing up at all). If you are eligible, the only way to make your vote say what you mean is to cast it.

Here’s a post on the question, should college students vote at home or at college?

Here’s a FAQ specifically on registering to vote in Illinois.

Here’s a link to register in Champaign County (if you choose to register here where you go to college).

The Democratic and Republican primaries for 2018 are on March 20 in Illinois, which is during spring break. If you choose to register in Champaign County but go home for break, you will need to vote by mail (click for instructions on how to do it) or early (click for details).

Early primary voting has already begun at various county locations. It WILL be available on campus during the week before Spring break: Illini Union – Room 213, 1401 West Green Street, Urbana – Map external link

  • Tuesday, March 13 through Friday, March 16: 10:00am – 6:00pm
  • Saturday, March 17: 10:00am – 1:00pm
  • Sunday, March 18: 1:00pm – 4:00pm
  • Monday, March 19: 10:00am – 6:00pm

Don’t feel like you know about the issues to vote? You have time to fix that. Lots of people want you make responsible and well-informed voting decisions!

How to Conquer the Business Career Fair as an English/CW Major

  1. Know that not only is the fair open to all majors, but many employers come hoping to meet majors from all over the university. If you’re inclined to go,  you should go. If you’re not sure whether you’re inclined or not (you’re unsure about whether “business” is for you), you should go–talking to employers is a great way to find out.
  2. Prepare.
  3. Prepare.
  4. Prepare.
  5. Prepare. Having a plan is the difference between a traumatizing Business Career Fair experience and a useful one. Going in unprepared pretty much guarantees that you’ll conclude that you’re unemployable. A little bit of preparation will show you that you are not only employable, but have choices about your employment. Continue reading “How to Conquer the Business Career Fair as an English/CW Major”