Wednesday, April 27, 2011

So Long, Farewell!

It is the end of the semester and therefore this will be my last RPS blog entry. I've had a fun writing about my life here at Indiana University and I hope that everyone out there has enjoyed reading it.

As for me, I am on to other things! I will be graduating on May 7th. Later in May I will be moving to Orlando, Florida to participate in an internship at SeaWorld Orlando. Then, in August, I will be moving to Nashville Tennessee to study at Vanderbilt University to get my M.Ed in Higher Education Administration.

I know there is a lot of life ahead of me, but it is still sad to see these good times at IU come to a close. I know that I will miss the campus and the faculty, but I will miss my amazing friends the most.

Bye IU. <3

Thursday, April 14, 2011

How to Survive Little 5

As everyone on campus knows, the Little 500 is a bike race that annually takes place in the end of April. It is a large, end-of-the-year event that echoes across campus for a full week. Though the bike race takes place on Saturday, the partying for the event begins the Friday of the prior week. Some people enjoy the week of partying, others find it irritating. I won't say which side I take, but will instead provide tips to survive the week whether you choose to party or do your own thing.

For Those Who Party
1. Be Safe: One of the most unfortunate parts of Little 5 is the lack of concern for one's health and welfare. If you want to party, that's fine, but do so safely. Have a designated driver, stay with friends who will watch your back and keep you from going home with a stranger, and know your own drinking limits.

2. Go to Class: Another of the ills of Little 5 is that many students tend to skip class. According to a poll at IDSnews.com, 26% of respondents said that they would not be attending any classes, and 32% stated that they would only attend a few classes. This, of course, irks professors, and they tend to take measures to punish students who do not attend. Giving out extra credit, giving an easy pop quiz, and showing students the answers to upcoming final questions are a few of the methods I have seen professors take.

3. Go to Class Sober: Some people think it's funny to attend class drunk. It's not. If you want to drink vodka out of a water bottle, do it outside of the classroom please.

For Those Who Do Not Party
1. Have fun!: You may not be interested in recreational drinking, but that does not mean that you cannot have any fun during Little 5 week. Get together with a group of friends and do something fun! Attend an on-campus festival like Collins Fest or Huge Fest, play some sports in the sunshine at Woodlawn Field or go get ice cream at the Chocolate Moose. Relax and ENJOY yourself a little bit. It's springtime, time to celebrate!

2. Be Safe: People do stupid things when they've been drinking and are more inclined to do things they would not do while sober. I'm not saying you're going to be attacked by a drunken mob, but you should still be aware of your surroundings. Also be careful when crossing streets, and try not to walk alone late at night.

3. Be Understanding: Partying may not be your favorite way of cutting loose, but for many college students (and maybe some of your friends) it is. While it can be frustrating to hear people screaming at 3 a.m. or watch someone stumble down the street at 4 p.m. on a Tuesday, do not be frustrated by the situation. Take the week to focus on yourself and things that you like to do, do not waste your time being irritated about situations you cannot change.

Friday, April 1, 2011

How to Stay Informed in the College "News Bubble"

During my freshman year at IU, I became so wrapped in all of the new things surrounding me that I found myself drifting about in what I called that "news bubble." I could not tell you about one piece of news from the 2007-2008 school year. As the years have progressed I have found following the news to be more enjoyable and convenient, and I eventually broke out of that bubble. Of course, college students are always skilled at wasting time on the computer, so I put together a compilation of my favorite online news resources that you can use to keep up with what has been going on in the world!

1. The Indiana Daily Student
http://idsnews.com/
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I love the IDS online site because I can keep up on local Bloomington and IU news even if I forget to grab a copy of the free newspaper. The page also has links to the Weekend, Inside Magazine and Arbutus (all IU student publications).

2. CNN.com
http://www.cnn.com/
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A good source for a quick review of U.S. and international news. A great resource for someone who only has the time to skim the headlines!

3. The Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/
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This is just MY personal favorite, but online blogs and news outlets are a fantastic source of information. If you have a specific interest, look for a blog that discusses your interests and check it regularly! It is a great way to find unconventional news.

4. Al Jazeera
http://english.aljazeera.net/
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As a journalism major, I hear a lot of complaints that even major news outlets like CNN or NBC report stories with a strong U.S. bias behind them. If you want to get international news WITHOUT the "U.S. tie-in," Al Jazeera is a fantastic resource.

5. Twitter
http://twitter.com/
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Social media is a surprisingly easy way to keep up with news worldwide. Simply create a Twitter account and follow a few news outlets. Then, when you log in, you will get constant news updates about top headlines! I suggest Bloomberg and Reuters to get you started.