The Southwestern Company Difference Blog
I would like to make a few comments regarding an article dated April 7, 2009 and entitled “Southwestern Co. banned from recruiting on campus.” It was published online on Diamondback Online, the University of Maryland’s independent daily student newspaper.
In the interest of full disclosure, I am the Director of Communications for Southwestern and was interviewed by Jeff Nash. We spoke about the history and longevity of the Southwestern summer program, the interviewing process and steps of the summer program. Nash also spoke to Lester Crafton, Southwestern Sales Director, and several students who have prospered in the program.
As a point of clarification, the article title is a little misleading. It has actually been since 2005 that 
Southwestern has not been able to recruit on the campus without the approval of Career Services. This was not a recent occurrence. Part of the issue surrounds the term “internship” and how it is defined by Career Services and used on campus by outside recruiters. Despite the decree from Career Services, Southwestern has been able to help lots of Maryland students run their own business during their summer break to pay for school. The article even references the 30 students who made approximately $300,000 in the summer of 2008.
“O, be some other name! What’s in a name? that which we call a rose. By any other name would smell as sweet;” - William Shakespeare, Romeo & Juliet
There are many definitions for the word “internship”, and it is viewed differently from campus to campus. We consider the Southwestern program to be a “business internship.” On many campuses, our opportunity is viewed as a legitimate, credit-bearing internship. As do most employers, Southwestern relies on this internship program to identify and develop the future leaders of our company. The students voluntarily choose to run a business selling our educational products to families to gain resume experience, personal growth and life skills – all things an internship is supposed to support. Further, many campuses allow the program for college credit – particularly as a business course or elective, but in many other fields as well.
As was mentioned in the article, this program, like many others, is not for everyone. It was even mentioned by one student, “this was supposed to be a business internship, where you sold a product.” And in our eyes, it is. I still am not sure what the issue is. For over 140 years, college students have run their business and visited families through cold-calls and referrals – always in-person and at the door. Someone was seriously upset because they were invited to learn more about an opportunity (internship)? Isn’t that the point – to see if you are interested? The information session is the first step of the selection process. If you are not interested, it is also the last step of the selection process.
Southwestern is the nation’s oldest direct selling company. The company is a charter member of the Better Business Bureau of Middle Tennessee (1961, has an A+ rating), the Direct Selling Association in Washington, DC and a member of the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) and several of its regional associations amongst many others. I do not think Southwestern would be allowed on well over 300 other campuses worldwide if the company was not legitimate.
My parting thoughts:
In these economic times, are students really being discouraged from a program proven to help them meet their goals – in their career and financially? In a recent NACE research publication, the NACE 2009 Experiential Education Survey, internship hiring this year will be cut by nearly 21% over a year ago and co-op hiring by 11%. We are trying to be part of the solution for students, not only in these dire economical times, but always.
Southwestern’s door is always open (I know, bad door-to-door pun).
May 7, 2009 Update
Blog author note: Since this blog was originally published on April 11, the online article was changed on Diamondback Online from “Southwestern Co. banned from recruiting on campus” to “Southwestern Co. still banned from recruiting on campus” thanks to the efforts of reporter Jeff Nash.
As well, please note the article, as published, was very balanced and neutral in it’s coverage of what Mr. Nash found to be ”an interesting story about a unique summer job and a communication discrepancy between two parties.”
The purpose of this post was intended as a commentary on the situation at the University of Maryland and my insights in regard to the information it contained, particularly the quotes of the students who had complained.
- Trey Campbell, APR – Director of Communications
Southwestern Company
