I recently received an e-mail from Northeastern University Career Services inviting me to do some post-graduation job search practice. Usually I don’t check my university account because I hate getting automated e-mails about paying a tuition bill that my student loans are already paying, but I was feeling ambitious.

I’ve been doing my best to read any and all mail regarding graduation and senior goings-on, especially because I am perpetually oblivious. This particular e-mail, however, was quite disturbing. I thought the e-mail would consist of career fair dates, mock interview information and resume building strategies.

Much to my horror, a photo of a shirtless Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino filled my screen. Written across his chiseled pecks was: “COME FLEX YOUR AFTER GRADUATION ABS AT THE SENIOR SITUATION ON JANUARY 26TH.”

There are so many things wrong with what’s going on here.

Firstly, the fact that Career Services sent this out. Come on, Northeastern staff, you really had to resort to using Mike “The Situation” to get us to come to career services? The man who has become famous through spray tans and general douchebaggery. The man who coined the term “grenades” when referring to unattractive girls. The man who set an awesome example for us when the girl he brought home from a skeezy club refused to have sex with him and he kicked her out in the middle of the night. His abs are more famous than he is. Excuse me as I roll my eyes.

Speaking of abs, have you seen that they wrote “resume writing” and “interviewing” and other aspects of the event on his abs? Yes, Mike “The Situation’s” Abs, I would love to hear about the opportunity to explore my career options. I’ve been waiting for the e-mail in which you invite me to learn all about how I, too, can be successful by getting wasted and speaking in the third person.

Secondly, can we use a bit of punctuation here, people? Italics, quotation marks, en-dashes, anything that can actually distinguish where the bull ends and the proper nouns begin. Forty three thousand dollars a year should be enough to cover the salary of some copy editors over at Career Services.

Now, I understand the need for the university to connect with its audience. And “The Situation” is probably one of the most well-known names of our generation (sigh). But why must they pander? Can’t Career Services be clever and creative without insulting my intelligence? Don’t assume that just because I’m a college student, I automatically watch “Jersey Shore” and drink Four Lokos. Yes, I’ve seen it. No, I don’t give a crap. Isn’t Northeastern supposed to be one of the highest-ranking private universities in the United States?

That’s what they keep telling us. Incidentally, marketing for any event is about grabbing the attention of the viewer. When I was in middle school, students purposely hung posters upside down so people would read them. So yes, I get it. But from a respectable institution, I expect more. Anyone who has seen the show knows that the example is not one to follow. Sure, using “Jersey Shore’s” image to promote professional attitudes and preparedness is, on some level, catchy: “Yeah! I’m in college and that guy’s on MTV! I’m SO there.” But between you and me, Career Services, you’re about two years late on the cultural reference.

From where I’m sitting it just seems ironic. Don’t you think that a bunch of 23-year-old fifth-years that have a good amount of professional experience under their belts would be drawn to this event no matter what icon is being used to promote it? In fact, I probably would have gone to the event had it not been all, “OMG, let’s GTL.”

I would expect advertising like this from a student-run organization, but not from Career Services. It’s never OK to take something like our careers so lightly. When a potential job offer hangs in the balance and an employer asks how my resume got to be so strong, I don’t want to credit Mike “The Situation” or any other member of the cast of “Jersey Shore.”

So, while everyone else is getting their job search “SIX PACK READY,” my roommate and I can be found scouring the campus and harassing strangers for extra graduation tickets.

— Alison Smith is a senior journalism major.