Welcome to the Online Newsletter for CNU's Student Groups!

Did you know, OSA has a new secretary Pam Laven as well as a new grad assistant, Mike Rapay?.. Learn more about them here.

• IN THIS EDITION: | 1st Homecoming Golf Cart Parade |New Travel Policy || 20 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Speaker | Conflict Styles

MAXIMIZE YOUR PROMOTION :
• Want your event advertised on the Plasma screen? – fill out this application and turn it in to the Office of Student Activities.
  
• Don’t forget – the Student Organization Resource Center has extended hours. Monday and Wednesday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. (daytime hours remain the same, Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
• Want your event advertised in the table tents in all CNU dining areas and Einstein’s – E-mail Mike Rapay for details at Mike.Rapay@cnu.edu
  
• Go ahead – use the button maker and sticker maker.  See Pam at the front desk for materials (and if any costs are associated).
  
  HOW CAN MY CLUB GET MONEY?
• Attending a Conference soon? The Conference Fund provides funds to supplement students who are speakers/presenters or attendees at club/academic conferences. The deadline for 2nd Quarter is coming up soon: For conferences occurring between December 1st and February 28th/29th, the deadline
  for applying for funds is November 1st.
• Don't forget about the Small Grant Fund! The Small Grant Fund provides student
  organizations the opportunity to seek financial assistance for campus wide programs.
• Review the brochures here (PDF): -CONFERENCE FUND BROCHURE- | -SMALL GRANT FUND BROCHURE-
  

First Ever Golf Cart Parade at CNU!

Sign your club up to make a float out of a golf cart for the homecoming parade on November 8th.  Your club could win $250!  Registration forms are available in the OSA office, DSU 330.  Deadline to register is October 17th.  http://studentlife.cnu.edu/files/word/osa/CNUGolfCartHCParade.doc

New Travel Policy

Clubs traveling on official business (retreats, conferences, service projects, etc) must register their trip if it is 25 miles or more from CNU or if it requires an overnight stay. Trips must be registered no less than two weeks prior to the date of departure.  Please see the OSA web site for more information and appropriate forms.
http://studentlife.cnu.edu/files/pdf/osa/clubsandorganizations/StudentTravelPolicy.pdf

20 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Speaker

Understanding the Theory: Conflict Styles

read the original article here

In the 1970s Kenneth Thomas and Ralph Kilmann identified five main styles of dealing with conflict that vary in their degrees of cooperativeness and assertiveness. They argued that people typically have a preferred conflict resolution style. However they also noted that different styles were most useful in different situations. The Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI) helps you to identify which style you tend towards when conflict arises.

Thomas and Kilmann's styles are:
Competitive: People who tend towards a competitive style take a firm stand, and know what they want. They usually operate from a position of power, drawn from things like position, rank, expertise, or persuasive ability. This style can be useful when there is an emergency and a decision needs to be make fast; when the decision is unpopular; or when defending against someone who is trying to exploit the situation selfishly. However it can leave people feeling bruised, unsatisfied and resentful when used in less urgent situations.  
Collaborative: People tending towards a collaborative style try to meet the needs of all people involved. These people can be highly assertive but unlike the competitor, they cooperate effectively and acknowledge that everyone is important. This style is useful when a you need to bring together a variety of viewpoints to get the best solution; when there have been previous conflicts in the group; or when the situation is too important for a simple trade-off.
Compromising: People who prefer a compromising style try to find a solution that will at least partially satisfy everyone. Everyone is expected to give up something, and the compromiser him- or herself also expects to relinquish something. Compromise is useful when the cost of conflict is higher than the cost of losing ground, when equal strength opponents are at a standstill and when there is a deadline looming.

Accommodating: This style indicates a willingness to meet the needs of others at the expense of the person’s own needs. The accommodator often knows when to give in to others, but can be persuaded to surrender a position even when it is not warranted. This person is not assertive but is highly cooperative. Accommodation is appropriate when the issues matter more to the other party, when peace is more valuable than winning, or when you want to be in a position to collect on this “favor” you gave. However people may not return favors, and overall this approach is unlikely to give the best outcomes.

Avoiding: People tending towards this style seek to evade the conflict entirely. This style is typified by delegating controversial decisions, accepting default decisions, and not wanting to hurt anyone’s feelings. It can be appropriate when victory is impossible, when the controversy is trivial, or when someone else is in a better position to solve the problem. However in many situations this is a weak and ineffective approach to take.
Once you understand the different styles, you can use them to think about the most appropriate approach (or mixture of approaches) for the situation you're in. You can also think about your own instinctive approach, and learn how you need to change this if necessary.
Ideally you can adopt an approach that meets the situation, resolves the problem, respects people's legitimate interests, and mends damaged working relationships.