Spring break ended over a week ago, but considering all I've done since returning to the drudgery of school is cry myself to sleep every night, I think I deserve a pardon for reaching back a bit. Break was very relaxing, which was great, but the best part was I learned a couple of things: First of all, I learned what it feels like to be Greg Focker.
College kids are infamous members of society. We are stuck between our pending adulthood and recent adolescence, wanting our opinions to be heard on one hand, while shying away from the consequences on the other.
"Give about two hours every day to exercise; for health must not be sacrificed to learning. A strong body makes the mind strong." This quote from Thomas Jefferson greets all those that walk into the Aquatic & Fitness Center, causing some to cringe with guilt. At Mr. Jefferson's University rated "Hottest for Fitness" by the Kaplan Newsweek College Guide in 2005, the student body here does give a fair amount of time to exercise -- even if it's not quite the two hours that the University's founder recommended. Opportunities to exercise abound: short courses in dance, working out in the gym, jogging, intramurals, club sports, walking to class -- the list seems never-ending.
When most Americans hear the word "Islam," chances are good that they immediately think of several strong images and phrases.
Last week, I saw dozens of little kids, no more than 5 or 6 years old, walking around Grounds. Surely, the University is no place for small children, so why would so many of them be at the University?
Change is upon us. Last week, representatives from the Student System Project said they expect to replace the Integrated Student Information System (ISIS) within the next four years. For better or for worse, virtually all students at the University are acquainted with ISIS and many have developed strong opinions about it. While a common complaint may be the frequency of error messages regarding too many users, students have a number of other ideas on what the replacement team should address. Many students would like to see improvements to an interface that can be "pretty unwieldy at times," according to second-year Engineering student Robert Carlisle. Describing why the interface is uncomfortable, first-year College student Alex Friedman said, "Some of the stuff with grades or checking credits ... is a little confusing or hard to understand." Carlisle said he once lost a class because he got stuck navigating the registration interface for 10 minutes. However, this is not necessarily a universal experience. "Even though you can't all get on at the same time, I think the registration aspect is pretty clear and pretty easy to use," third-year College student Ariel Alberti said. One aspect of the interface that Jim Russell, second-year College student, said he has had trouble with is remembering to put in the right academic term at the top of the page. He said he also has difficulties with the financial features. "I had no idea what was going on, and I consider myself savvy with that sort of thing," Russell said. Alberti agreed that those functions are often unclear. Sometimes, she said, "I'm not sure which is a positive or negative balance." Despite these issues, students praised other parts of the system. Carlisle said the system is pretty fast once he is logged in.
The March 16 Life article "Diversity?" incorrectly reported that University Media Relations was a sponsor of the diversity forum held March 1, when it was in fact University Mediation Services.
Spring weather is not the only thing right around the corner. Just beyond Grounds, the Virginia countryside is filled with roads University students enjoy traveling on for pleasure. "Spring is the best time of year, and driving around is a great way to avoid work and have a good time," third-year Engineering student Mike Pilat said. Second-year College student Matt Watson said driving is a method for stress relief. "It's an easy way to make a quick getaway from the school environment," Watson said. He added -- while a blaring ambulance rolled by -- that it is an opportunity to avoid the noise of the downtown and University areas. "It's great for anyone interested in the outdoors and not being shut up inside," Watson said.
Today the color green reigns supreme. St. Patrick's Day grabs one's attention with an explosion of leprechaun hats, clover-shaped cookies and green pitchers around town, even if the reasons behind the green colored holiday remains a mystery. "Historically I don't know anything about [St.
In the afternoons, sunlight filters through the stained glass windows, painting swirls of color on the floor and walls.
Clarification The March 16 Life article "Diversity?" paraphrased Anthropology Prof. Richard Handler in the sentence, "What fuels racism, he said, is that people self-segregate -- not only at the University, but around the world." The paraphrasing should have reflected Handler's statement that the term "self-segregation," however, is "a term used to blame racism on the victims of racism."Clarification
ARIES: You will run into Lance Armstrong in the men's apparel department at Sears. After careful planning, you will meet him at the register, peer at his purchases and say, "I see you've made your 'Tour de Pants.'" He will punch you in the jawbone. TAURUS: You share your astrological name with a reasonably priced mid-size sedan.
I have been living here in the U.S. for over seven months now and sometimes it feels like home. At times I can even imagine living here permanently -- it happened when I was in Athens, Ga.
It's time that we stop sugar-coating racism, students and professors at the University said at a recent div-ersity forum. The Student Council Diversity Committee, the Washington Literary Society and Debating Union and University Media Relations sponsored a diversity forum March 1.
Last week's Spring Break was amazing. Like much of U.Va., I too went to a beach. Of course Rehobeth Beach may not be as "classy" or "clean" as other places, but has its own "special" qualities.
Not everyone left the University for Spring Break last week, and some students who chose to stay encountered difficulties adjusting to the closures of Newcomb Hall, Runk and O-Hill. "The food situation was very hard," first-year College student Amanda Chase said. Chase said she stayed on Grounds for practices with the crew team.
Last Thursday the United Arab Emirates-based company Dubai Ports World announced that it plans to transfer the rights to operate U.S.
There is little doubt that on the surface, the University boasts those stereotypical elements of Southern culture -- a large proportion of the student body combines the words "you" and "all" to manufacture the quintessential "y'all," seersucker pants are a positive fashion statement and the Confederacy's capital, Richmond, is merely 70 miles away.
Spring Break, Woo! ... is what one would proclaim if they had a vacation comprised of anything other than sitting at home watching FX. There is one thing I did learn over break, though: how entrancing as dumb a show as "Deal or No Deal" can be.
Amidst the usual amalgamation of flyers outside the Treehouse, one flyer caught third-year College student Josh Cincinnati's eye -- the University's cable channel, WHOO-TV, was requesting ideas for new television shows. Amidst the usual stacks of colorful playthings stacked on racks in the local Toys 'R' Us, one toy stood out above the rest -- a "Little Tykes" $9.99 toy microphone. And despite WHOO-TV having trouble setting up and the microphone's batteries being dead, the two seemingly unconnected events were two of the sparks that led to Hoos News as it exists today.
