by Onize Ohikere

ohikereon@mnstate.edu

Flatware. Stemware. Napkins.

College students hardly pause to think of proper table settings or eating utensils as they grab a quick lunch before the clock impatiently chides them to their next class.

The Career Development Center at MSUM is attempting to break that flow. The center is hosting an etiquette dinner Thursday at 4 p.m. Students in attendance will learn how to use the right utensils to eat properly.

The dinner, taking place at the CMU Ballroom, will feature a five-course meal.

“It’s something you don’t see all the time,” said Troy Williams, interim assistant director of the Career Development Center. “Once you get out of college, you get invited to certain events by your boss, so you just want to make sure you are doing what’s proper.”

The event will be hosted by guest presenter Christine Chapweske. Chapweske is the founder of The Etiquette Professionals, an organization that provides etiquette training for individuals, groups, and businesses.

This is one of several etiquette dinners that the career development center has hosted.

“We’ve been doing it once a semester for close to two years now,” said Career Development Center Assistant Director Diane Wolter.

Though the event has been around for a while, it’s still attracting new guests.

“It’s my first time,” said junior Makayla Schroeder, who has already signed up to attend the dinner. “It’s going to be interesting,”

For Schroeder, the benefits of attending will be long-term.

“I think any opportunity to advance yourself in the professional world is helpful, and this would help me for years down the road,” she said. “It’s not just a one-time thing.”

With finals around the corner, not all students can make it to the event as they get cramped with tests and final projects.

Though computer science major Tosin Balogun attended Career X in October, she won’t be attending the dinner. The previous tri-college event featured an etiquette dinner and covered other topics related to job searching.

Based on her experience, the point of attending such events is clear.

“You can’t escape it,” she said. “You will always have an interview dinner with someone, and you don’t want to be blank when that happens.”

Wolter agrees.

“I hope students get introduced to the concept of a more formal experience, whether it’s a business setting or in some other form of social situation,” she said.

To participate, students must register at Dragon Jobs and pay a $10 registration fee to cover the cost of dinner.