Life

Pestering posters

The University Bookstore's annual poster sale has attracted students for almost 20 years with posters ranging from John Belushi wearing the "COLLEGE" T-shirt to others featuring a scantily clad Anna Kournikova. "I personally have been here for the past 10 years, and it is usually very popular with the students," said Jeff Apostolou, the road manager of the poster sale. The first four days of the poster sale always take place at the Aquatic & Fitness Center before it is moved to the bookstore. "The sales at the AFC [are] usually higher because of its proximity to the dorms and the excitement about the first day of the sale," Apostolou said.

Your professor is boring, read this instead

You know who's awesome? Prince. He's a music legend like Michael Jackson. Except without all that, let's call it, "tabloid appeal." I've had "Party like its 1999" on permanent loop since school started.

Hollywood on Grounds

"Lights, camera, action!" You might expect these words to be uttered on a Hollywood set with fake trees and even faker breast implants, but on Monday evening, you could hear them at the University.

Shining light on depression

A tall guy outfitted with a snowboarder hat, a laidback pose and a mellow attitude, Adam* seemed perfectly cool and in control. But Adam didn't have everything under control.

You take the Jag, I'll take Joyce

I had a "real job" this summer working at a hedge fund. That is to say, I sat in front of three computer monitors all day and talked on Instant Messenger. Occasionally, I made copies. My conclusion after exactly 52 workdays (11 five-day weeks minus Memorial Day, July 5 and a day off to stay home and watch my dog -- not that I was counting) is that the world of finance is the most boring place in the universe. A Saturday night in Lincoln, Nebraska, would be more exciting.

Fan 'sea' versus fancy

On Saturday students flooded Scott Stadium to watch the Cavalier football team beat the University of North Carolina, but there was a subtler contest taking place in the stands.

The beauty of Beirut

Some people in the world don't believe tossing small balls into plastic cups can be a true sport.

Car trouble

All the trouble you may have had convincing your parents to let you have the car at school may seem like a waste the next time you find yourself entrenched in a complicated parallel parking situation on Grounds. Second-year College student Gauri Raval voiced the popular opinion that parking on or near Grounds has become such an endeavor that it's often easier to go the old-fashioned way: on two feet. "I honestly feel like it's more of a hassle [to drive in Charlottesville] with the traffic and the parking," she said. Raval said she is happy that she doesn't have a car at the University, especially because her five apartment-mates in Lambeth each brought cars and suffered through a parking predicament because they were only guaranteed one space to share. "The others were put in a lottery for extra spaces and two got them," Raval explained. Maybe three out of five ain't bad, but Raval's case is a fairly lucky one.

Big flavor from a little country

With classes indisputably in full swing and nights consisting more and more of reading assignments and problem sets, many students turn to an old study tool: the telephone.

A 'Strong' statement

It is difficult to find a single piece of clothing that is consistently worn by a multitude of University students.

Office Space

The most frequently used phrase around Grounds these days is not "Go Wahoos" or "ISIS sucks." Instead, it is the four-worded sentence that has become a part of one's daily routine -- "how was your summer?" While most answers revolve around beaches, issues with parents and vacation destinations, some students have something else to criticize or praise: internships.

Top 10 trends at U.Va.

Conformity is not cool. If you're new to my column, now you know. If you've read it before, you've heard this five million times. It's not cool being just like everybody else, but sometimes it's helpful (or just nice) to know what people around you are wearing.

LET THE RAIN FALL

'One time, at band camp

The blocky, red numbers stare me in the face -- "6:29." One minute away from another August day of band camp. One minute and a few weeks away from our first show, our first test. One minute and generations away from where this band has been and where it will be. The numbers blink "6:30." It's go time. I slide out of bed, careful not to wake my roommates -- I have the early shower shift -- and execute my morning routine, knees aching, thighs numb and voice hoarse from the previous day's drill instruction.

What's up with the Pav?

"It's bullshit," third-year Engineering student Dave Maderas said. "They can run that place with three people." For years Pavilion XI, better known as "the Pav," has been serving students favorite offerings such as smoothies, Chick-fil-A and wraps all day and even after the dining halls are closed.

'I guess I have a lot of things to ponder.'

Thoughts of a third year, inspired by the patronsaint of college students: Derek Zoolander. 4"I give you, 'The Derek Zoolander Center for Kids Who Can't Read Good.'" I went to the bookstore to get the books for the classes I'm enrolled in the other day.

Sold

As a new generation of University undergrads arrived in Charlottesville two weeks ago, there was surely one new and clueless first year who -- aided by parents, siblings and extended family -- slaved up three flights of stairs to find a dinky 10 foot by 15 ft room that would be his or hootr home for the next year.

Totally Tube-ular

Although yesterday's rain and classes helped remind students that their lazy summer days are over, there is still one way to reconnect with summer.

Manic Hysteria

There is an underlying humor hiding beneath the mundane excitement of returning to school. The mental shock of trying to remember all the names you should know and a necessary effort to learn new ones, stemming not from social interest, but more directly from social requirement.

Hypnotized

Last Friday evening, third-year College student Stanley Lau was furious. Someone was threatening his friends. "My friends were in pain," Lau said. They had been bitten, squeezed and bruised despite Lau's best attempts to protect them.