Author: Sara Blair Matthews

Justin Marinelli
Contributing Writer

As corny as it sounds, some students here love the University so much that they’d stay here all the time. Every year, a fair number of students stick around over the summer. While this does present an amazing number of opportunities, one should take care to find plenty to do.

It’s not uncommon for students to stay over the summer doing research, working on campus or taking class (and sometimes a combination of those options). While this may just sound like the normal school year, there are a few key differences.

The first is you end up having a lot more free time. During the normal semester, it’s easy to get caught up in the flow of classes, activities, catching up with friends you missed over the summer and the barrage of everything else that seems to befall us once the school year kicks in. Over the summer, you don’t get that amount of stimulation unless you actively make sure you have a lot to do (like packing a bunch of books or something).

Additionally, it can get lonely over the summer. While the campus can be a pretty cozy place–and you’re essentially guaranteed to see someone you know on the way to class–it isn’t quite like that over the summer. The place is almost a ghost town in the summer months, and it can certainly feel empty to someone who’s used to seeing the quad covered in people.

Figuring out the issue of food can also be tricky. Meal plans don’t apply over the summer, so one is either forced to rely on dining dollars or frequent the (admittedly many) places in town where food is available.

Now, none of this is to say that you shouldn’t spend summer on campus. Like I said earlier, summer presents some amazing opportunities in terms of research, class and work. It’s also pretty cool to be able to go to the library and not have to search for an open computer, or to go to the gym and not have to wait for machines, weights, the good water fountain, etc. While it may be a bit harder to find social events or things to do at times, by no means is it impossible. You just have to work at it a bit more.

At the end of the day, if you want to stick around over the summer, go for it. Just bring some books you’ve been meaning to read, some snacks and make an effort get to know some of the people on campus.

Jessica Isgro
Writer

What does my major say about me? Absolutely nothing. Now, don’t get me wrong. Majors are a large part of who we are or who we want to become, yet it does not define every aspect of our lives. The reality of the situation is that we would not be at this University if we were not intellectually driven; the focus of our studies should not place a label on our intellectual abilities.

A major highlights our goals, showing the vaguest outline of how we wish to run our lives. It offers suggestions to eventual career paths, opportunities to meet similar people and exposure to professionals in interesting fields.

What a major does not do is restrict you. When I stepped on campus my first year, already declared as a music education major, I was absolutely terrified. For a split second, I thought my friends were decided, my activities selected and my schedule outlined, without my complete consent to each of these details. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

By that same token, I do not perceive majors as stereotyping an individual’s personality or intellect. There are difficult facets to all fields of study: while some may find difficulty in painting a life-like portrait, others may become perplexed when solving quadratic equations. It is all a matter of perception.

People need to stop thinking of majors as restricting their options and rather as expanding their options. By this I mean that being a music education major allows me to meet teachers I can relate to, get to know people with similar interests and study subjects I find fascinating. It does not inhibit me from meeting other people, restrict me from studying different subjects or separate me from professors in other fields. While it does keep me busy, I still have the opportunity to put myself out there and meet peers and teachers in other disciplines.

Though I have never walked a day in the shoes of an engineer or a management major, I suspect this principle runs the gamut of all majors available on campus. While a course load of major requirements may seem like an overload of specified education and unchanging classmates, the reality of the situation is that there are always opportunities to reach out and meet new people.

When we start to choose majors and classes based upon what seems intellectual or what has the best stereotype is when majors stop increasing our options and start labeling us. My major says that I love music and that I want to help others love music. Most importantly, my major does not tell others who I am. I tell others who I am.

Elaine Lac
Contributing Writer

America’s definition of beauty leans towards an artificial image and tanning is used to realize this image. In recent years, tanning has become increasingly popular and people will often go to unhealthy extremes to achieve the perfect bronzed look. Extreme tanning promotes an unnatural and unsafe practice which can lead to skin cancer. People are obsessed with changing their looks to copy celebrities, and it’s not worth the repercussions. Instead, natural beauty should be celebrated.

Celebrities perpetuate a standard that skin should glow with a healthy bronze. Numerous stars, like Lindsay Lohan, have been caught with telltale orange fingers from artificial bronzers. Probably one of the most infamous tanners is “Jersey Shore” reality star Snooki. She has been known to visit tanning salons regularly and turned to self-tanner after, as she put it, Obama raised taxes on tanning.

Not even economic downturns can deter people obsessed with their appearances. Society views these stars as beautiful, so many people try to copy them to attain their sense of popularity and attractiveness. If people see the dedication to appearances stars like Snooki have, it only teaches us to obsess more over our own appearances.

In recent news, a tanning obsessed mom was charged with endangering her five-year-old daughter who had gotten a sunburn from “tanning”. While the mother claims that the burn was natural, there has been reasonable doubt in this claim. Tanning at such a young age only further increases the risk for melanoma.

I am guilty of tanning too, because I swim every year, but I am very careful to always use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. Natural tans can be beautiful and safely done with care. In fact, absorbing sunlight increases our amount of Vitamin D which can promote resistance to diseases, but going to an extreme like the tanning mom is out of the question.

In general, the pursuit of the ideal image has discouraged the acceptance of natural beauty. People never seem to be happy with what they have. People with light skin want tanned skin. People with dark hair want blonde hair. People want bigger eyes, larger eyelashes, skinnier bodies and smoother skin. We should appreciate ourselves and feel comfortable in our skin. If not, the high expectations of beauty easily influence younger people, making them insecure and leading to extremes to pursue beauty.

Jess Isgro
Writer

Not everything in life has to have a deep connotation, and popular music is no exception. Crafted for the sake of entertainment rather than for profound reflection, many of the songs we delight in hearing on the radio are anything but philosophical. And while some may wish they could hop in the car, turn on the radio and be overwhelmed with the reflective qualities of the latest hit, I personally find nothing wrong with the superficial nature of popular music.

The trend of “superficial” sentiments in music is not a new phenomenon. In reflecting upon the popular music from my childhood, I found nothing particularly insightful about the lyrics of AQUA’s “Barbie Girl,” Britney Spears’s “Hit Me Baby One More Time,” or even The Spice Girl’s “Spice Up Your Life.” These songs were written to make listeners happy. The repetitive nature, simple lyrics, and appealing melodies allowed listeners to move, dance and sing along. This has not changed much in today’s music. While it may be harder to keep up with Nicki Minaj’s fast-paced raps than it was to sing along to Britney’s hits, the basic concept is still the same: to create memorable songs that are as easy to remember as they are to adore.

Now, this is not to say that there aren’t chart-topping hits that are both popular and insightful. Take Adele, for starters. After listening to just a few measures of any of her hit songs, you can nearly touch the emotion she exudes. Her songs are filled with passion and depth. On the opposite end of the spectrum, one can find more recent singles, like Carly Rae Jepson’s “Call Me Maybe.” While you may throw jabs at the 26-year-old singer’s trivial sentiments, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who never saw the appeal of such a single. I personally find nothing wrong with these guilty-pleasure songs.

But I must admit that I sometimes wonder what I will tell my future grandchildren when they ask about my era’s “oldies but goodies.” There was once a time when popular music was more than just catchy melodies, when artists like Frank Sinatra topped the charts.  Our grandparents have the most elegant explanation of the music from their youth. The standardized music of our era– the songs that everyone knows, the songs that play daily are played daily on major radio stations – are much less elegant.

Yet we all have our own preferences outside of what the radio deems as popular hits. The solo artists, groups, and bands that we listen to on our laptops, see in concert, and discover online, are often more profound in their lyrics. Thus The way I see it, music today does not lack depth. Rather, we’ve subdivided music into the fun hits that we dance to with friends and the genuine pieces we value for their aural and emotional appeal. Sometimes these categories overlap, sometimes they don’t. Regardless, it is undeniable that there is a certain art to creating music that appeals to such a wide variety of people, is played at many vastly different events, and dominates the popular music scene.

Justin Marinelli
Contributing Writer

The best advice I’ve ever been given is simple: live like a predator, not like prey. Take risks and be loyal to your friends, but go your own way when you have to, and always strive to be the best version of yourself you can possibly be. To clarify, I’d like to talk about how this directly relates to the animal kingdom that life at the University so often mirrors.

First off, natural predators, like lions or wolves, tend to take risks as it is often necessary when their prey is much larger than they are. These risks can pay off in a big way, perhaps in the form of food or potential mating opportunities. Thus, living like a predator entails taking risks that can pay off handsomely for you. Also, while some predators hunt in packs, some prefer to work alone. Therefore, living like a predator means being able to rely on a small, loyal group of friends, but also having the capability to go off and do your own thing.  Finally, the intense demands of a predatory lifestyle mean that predators always have to become better with every hunt. Replicating the life of a predator means you will always have to push yourself to become faster, stronger and smarter.

This is a direct contrast with the lifestyle of prey animals like zebras or deer. They tend to stick with the herd, never venturing far from the safety of the group. They conform because the price of not doing so is too great to ignore. Despite this, they do not feel a deep sense of connection with their fellow herd animals. Loyalty to the rest of the herd is weak, and often times it is every animal for himself. At the slightest sign of danger, the herd takes off and if any animal falls behind, no one goes back for it. Thus, being a prey animal means avoiding as many risky situations as you can, even at the cost of your friends.

To put this in perspective, next time you’re faced with a tough homework assignment, tackle it head on instead of putting it off. Write a paper with bold statements that you don’t think your professor will agree with. Go talk to that person in your class who you think is cute. Pick up a new skill or hobby. If you feel like you are stepping outside of your comfort zone, you’re probably doing it right.

For much of my life, I lived like prey. I avoided anything dangerous and never felt any drive to make myself a better person. I didn’t really start living until I started acting like a predator. I took up parkour, started working out and stopped living a life that was “good enough.” I began taking risks and discovered that I have the power to shape my life as I please. Once you really begin living and thinking like a predator, you become unstoppable mentally, physically and emotionally.

Eleanor McCabe
Contributing Writer

The word “college” is often associated with a whirlwind of emotions. Throughout high school, college was an intangible concept looming in the distant future, associated with stress, anxiety and excitement. No matter how many friends or family members you asked about college, there was never a concrete answer of what to expect. However, now that the time has come it is clear why the answer could never have been black and white.

College is much more than the overwhelming amounts of homework, parties and new faces. It is the first chance for many students to experience the freedom to make their own decisions and structure their day just how they want it, whether it is skipping meals, adding in time to go to the gym or even taking a nap. Most importantly, it is the first chance for students to fully step out of the comfort of home and decide how they will contribute to society. With no parents to enforce curfews, set rules or monitor studying, first-years learn to take care of themselves and become self-sufficient.

At times, this freedom can be just as terrifying as it is liberating. I’m sure at some point every first-year has questioned his or her ability to succeed in this foreign environment. With all the choices left up to you and so many exciting opportunities around every corner, managing your time is definitely a struggle. This freedom also gives you the chance to define your morals and decide what you are or are not comfortable with. If you do not feel comfortable with the party scene, trust that there are other students out there who feel just like you do. Before college, I assumed you had to party to fit in, but at a school with over 3,500 students, you will find your niche no matter what your interests are.

Aside from the social aspect of college, many academic expectations have been challenged as well. College is basically the polar opposite of high school because the work you put in equals the benefit you get out. Often in high school classes, students are forced to come to class and hand in homework to pass. In college, everything is up to you in order to prepare you for the real world. Keeping up with the homework, readings and class discussions will not only benefit your GPA, but also your actual understanding of the material. Now that students have the opportunity to choose classes that they actually enjoy and suit their professions, the concepts covered will have an impact on the rest of their lives.

Now imagine how much more there is to learn in the next four years. All these realizations have occurred within the first two weeks of school, and there is much more to come. Like most students, I came to this University to receive a great education, live away from home and experience new things. Though it is early, I can already tell these goals will become a reality and our college experience will take us as far as we let it.

Ally Kebba
Contributing Writer

By the time Spring Break rolls around, students all over campus are buzzing over how they will spend their summer break. He with the fancy law firm internship and she with the prestigious research opportunity lined up will likely be the most audible. But for those of you who spend your summers working for a paycheck instead of an impressive line on your resume, fear not! A summer of hard work as a waiter or camp counselor can be just as, if not more, formative and useful as one spent as an intern with a big name company. It’s all what you glean from the experience, how you can apply what you learn to your overall goals and how you can spin it to future employers. At even the most basic, mind-numbingly tedious jobs there is more than minimum wage to be gained.

Of course, an impressive internship has its perks. Besides bragging rights, a summer intern can gain career-specific experience and knowledge. Depending on the internship, a student could have the opportunity for hands-on work and skill improvement or observation of a successful company or organization at work.  At the end of what is likely to be a very productive summer, said intern comes away with a freshly added, notable line on his or her resume, as well as a handful of contacts that are sure to be useful when seeking out future employment or advice.

Personally, I have experienced many different kinds of summers.  I entered the working world as a preteen camp counselor and had my first real taste of the-world-doesn’t-revolve-around-you. My personal comfort came second to my campers’, and I was paid to satisfy both their needs and the needs of their parents. I learned to be responsible for people other than myself. A few summers later I worked at a popular but frenzied and disorganized retail store. Never before had my patience been so regularly tested. Not only were customers rude and demanding, but the managers were tired, overworked, confused and angry. I saw firsthand how an organization is made or broken by its leaders and how those leaders treat their employees. I learned more about the importance of good management than I ever could have from a textbook.

Will my summers as a camp counselor and salesperson alone land me my dream job when I leave campus? No. But without these experiences I doubt I would have been equipped to handle an internship maturely and contribute as an employee. By the time I finally had my first internship, I was prepared for the work environment. I was not disillusioned if I needed to pick up a coffee for my boss, and I was prepared and motivated when offered an important task. Others may be more immediately prepared to work, or may simply seek more compensation for their time and effort than a line on a resume. Regardless, there is something to be gained from every experience. I know that were I to spend another summer as a salesperson, my communication and interpersonal skills would only improve. Should I go back to my last internship, I could advance a more specific skillset related to my career goals. Either way, I grow and develop, and I become a more attractive candidate in the job market.

Spencer Ivey
Writer

It goes without saying that coming back to school is exciting. Friends abound and nothing but new experiences ahead, I understand that it can be easy to lose sight of our ultimate goal here: to achieve academic success. Of course, we all want to do well academically, but keeping that mentality in the forefront of our minds is hard. I’m here to tell you that while excessive studying and understanding the material might be a popular way to receive a good grade, I’ve discovered an easier, much less strenuous way to get ahead of the game.

I’ve always lived by the quote, “You never get a second chance to make a good first impression.” If you want to get a leg up in your classes this year, you should too.

Whether you are a senior or a first-year, making a positive first impression by wearing appropriate attire, participating in class and meeting your professor will boost your grade before you even turn in an assignment.

Clothing and appearance come first. I’m not suggesting that you wear your Sunday best, but I am suggesting that you wear something a little bit classier than everyday wear. Act as if you are meeting a date for a casual lunch. Your appearance should demonstrate that you take a genuine interest in conducting yourself in a positive manner. To those students who wake up 10 minutes before class and throw on whatever clothing seems to be within arm’s reach: professors notice your sloppy look and do not look favorably upon it. While they understand that this is college, your pajamas give off a vibe of unpreparedness and lack of interest for the class.

Secondly, participate! Even a small contribution to the class discussion will not go unnoticed. Professors understand that the first few days or maybe weeks of class are more relaxed, but they still expect you to show interest. A little bit of effort here will go a long way towards getting on your professor’s “nice list”. Of course, answering every question might be excessive—shoot to find an appropriate balance.

And, finally, introduce yourself. Especially if you are in a large class with more than 50 people, your face can easily get lost in the crowd. Introduce yourself and you will no longer be just another name on the professor’s long class roster. You become that nice man or lady who decided to make the extra effort to make a connection. You’d be surprised how much professors love to interact with students; you may even like it too.

Now that’s not too bad, right? While this formula for getting ahead won’t bring your grade up froman F to an A, it will certainly give you some precious percentage points. Furthermore, and perhaps more importantly, if you make a good first impression with your professor, the semester will not only be more enjoyable for you, but also for your professor. Trust me, keeping your professors happy is a good thing.

Caroline Schaeffer
Contributing Writer

Orientation is packed with all kinds of activities designed to familiarize you with the campus, while also providing you with events and happenings to attend day and night. For some, the constant stream of events can become a little bit overwhelming, but luckily you can look forward to school as a change of pace. Having just been put into this situation less than two weeks ago, I think it’s safe to say that while I really did enjoy orientation, it felt very chaotic for me and I was ready to start classes and get into a regular routine.

Being off on my own for the first time in my life, I was eager to find my routine and stick with it, a goal that was hard to achieve with midnight ice cream parties one night and Wal-mart madness another. That’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy attending all these scheduled events; no one loves ice cream or shopping more than me. It’s just that being offered so many different activities in such a small time frame made me eager to find a daily schedule that I could rely on, and to find it as soon as orientation ended.

When Tuesday finally came around and orientation was over, I was a little bit relieved.  I felt like I had just attended a summer camp for young adults and even though I was a little tired after the five-day orientation, I was really excited to start classes and really begin to feel like I attended school at the University.  If there had been an extra day between orientation and classes, I don’t think I would have liked it.  Although I’m never one to turn down a day off, leaving a day between orientation and classes free would have made it more difficult for me to fully adjust to how college life actually is.  In the end, as much as I did enjoy orientation and each and every one of the activities and seminars I attended, I left orientation slightly exhausted and overwhelmed by everything. By the end, I was more than ready to slow my pace down and really begin to assert myself as part of the campus community, not just another lost first-year at orientation.

Josh Haywood
Writer

Political opponents of Chick-fil-A’s stance on gay marriage seem to be having trouble with upholding the limits of government that they are supposed to represent. The fast food company stirred up controversy recently when on July 2, gay rights advocacy group Equality Matters published a report detailing some $2 million in donations Chick-fil-A gave to anti-gay marriage groups. The same day the report was published, Chick-fil-A’s President Dan Cathy stated that his company is “guilty as charged” when asked if the organization supported the biblical definition of marriage. This nonchalant statement has evoked criticism from several political officials who are not too happy with the company speaking its mind. Mayor Thomas M. Menino of Boston said he does not want the company in his city, stating that “unless they open up their policies,” it might be hard for Chick-fil-A to get the necessary licenses needed to operate in the Boston area. Menino is joined by mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel and Chicago Alderman Proco Joe Moreno, who have both voiced opposition to Chick-fil-A operating within the city unless it changes its stance. Within this dialog exists an intrinsic problem of defining what powers government officials have.

These elected officials seem paradoxical in the sense that they are discriminating against a private corporation for its private views. It seems like an abuse of government power for these public officials to punish a private corporation by threatening to keep it from engaging in business. Chick-fil-A’s president, and to a larger extent the company as whole, has the right to express its views on gay marriage just like any other citizen in this country. These pubic officials threatening to block Chick-fil-A’s presence in the free market is a case of irresponsible government. Just because the officials do not like Chick-fil-A’s stance does not make it justifiable for them use their powers to keep the business from operating in their municipalities. This is an issue of procedure rather than one based on morality. The government is not designed to work against the First Amendment in the way it is playing out in this case. The idea of res ipsa loquitur, or “let the thing speak for itself,” comes up in this controversy. Government officials should let Chick-fil-A’s statement speak for itself in the forum of public opinion where the consumer, not the government, decides what is acceptable. Government is the representation of public will and should not be mistaken with the spirit of law represented in the Constitution. A murky precedent is being set when public officials threaten an organization because of what it believes in. Chick-fil-A should be able to operate where they please, regardless of its private political views which are protected by the Constitution.

As for the issue of gay marriage in general, there is a return to the idea of res ipsa loquitur in the public forum. We as a nation have conflicting views as to what defines marriage and are nowhere close to figuring out what is the right answer. Same-sex couples should have access to the legal benefits of marriage, but not the same title of being married. I have no qualms about same-sex couples but do not agree with granting the title of marriage to couples because of tradition and other personal beliefs. Upholding the right to express private beliefs should not be punished like public officials in Boston and Chicago are threatening to do. It is your right as an American citizen to believe in what you want without fear of punishment, plain and simple.