Life

Podium preparations

As students begin preparing for their classes by purchasing books and making last minute adjustments to their schedules, professors are putting the finishing touches on weeks of preparation. Last minute trips to the bookstore and desperate attempts to log onto ISIS to change discussion sections hardly compare to the time and effort professors spend to provide their students with the best classes possible. Economics Prof.

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Gregory Smith peers out from beneath a shell of straight, golden hair and answers interview questions with the assurance and poise of a well-practiced public figure.

Is caution overrated?

I don't stretch before I run. It's one of those things I have always hated to do. I mean, really, if I get up enough energy to get off my butt and stop watching "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" in order to physically torture myself, I am not going to take the time to slow down and stretch.

Breaking the Silence

She's had her life threatened by the Iranian government countless times. She's suffered the grotesque conditions of a prison run by Islamic extremists.

Escaping the harsh New Year's cycle of resolution, attempt, failure

I hate New Year's.I know that's a bold statement, but I cannot help it. The holiday has never felt right to me, and up until last week, I could not figure out why.

Booking It

It's January again -- time for a new year, a new semester, new classes and some shiny new books to match.

Season's Feastings

As the semester winds to a close, the hearts and minds of many students stray from papers and projects to restful memories of the holiday season.

Delicious December Delicacies

Sweet Potato Casserole (Courtesy Penny Midboe) 2 large or 3 medium sweet potatoes 1 teaspoon salt 4 tablespoons butter 5 oz.

That's a Wrap

A Sweet Gift Giving Tradition When chilly weather rolls in, and light-up reindeer begin to graze on lawns throughout the neighborhood, second-year Nursing student Casey Freeman dons oven mitts and hits the kitchen to do some holiday baking.

Service with a Smile

Thoughts of cafeteria staff bring to mind memories of middle school, with so-called food put in front of you in scoops of who-knows-what; or the salad bar, where you find the three kids in front of you just coughed and sneezed all over the ranch dressing; and the lunch workers, who worked every day in the cafeteria having to deal with all the little pre-teen girls chattering about the boy who borrowed their pencils in class and the guys who, in this stage, were overwhelmingly awkward.

Two years ago, fourth-year College student Anand Jain enrolled in an Education class on mental health with Professor Robert S.

Paper-writing 101: A night in the life of a procrastinating English major

For the student, it is the equivalent of the classical descent into hell: Aanight of paper writing.

Terror at 30,000 feet

They just seem to be getting worse. Regardless of what airline you plan on flying, they are all terrible.

High Fives

What was your favorite part of Thanksgiving Break? 5. Sleeping and relaxing "Just going home and not thinking about school." -- Fourth-year College student Ellen Miles "Sleeping.

Parental Invasion

University football games. They are more than just a series of athletic events featuring big men running around with a 15-ounce ball.

Giving thanks for football

Many University students will leave behind family and Thanksgiving leftovers a couple days early for one simple reason -- football. They are coming back to cheer on the Cavaliers as they take on Virginia Tech at 1 p.m.

Thanks to Mom: Looking forward to a Thanksgiving of family hijinks

"If you don't come home for Thanksgiving when you're at college, I will murder you." She stared into the depths of my soul, finger planted firmly against my sternum.

A new tradition

It takes 157 miles. 70 men. 20 hours. Eight counties. Two fraternities. One cause. This coming Friday, the U.Va.

Second-Helpings

Come turkey time, many University students head home to family feasts of pumpkin pie, mashed potatoes and of course, a heaping helping of that infamous bird.

Worth the Weight?

Bigger isn't always better, according to second-year College student Steve Crenshaw. Although the Aquatics & Fitness Center is the largest gym on Grounds, Crenshaw -- along with many other fellow University students -- feels there are plenty of reasons to use the University's three other facilities. "The AFC does seem to have the most equipment, but it's usually too crowded for me, so I usually just end up going to the Memorial Gym," Crenshaw said. Second-year Engineering student Brian Cunningham agreed with Crenshaw that sometimes the crowds can be a deterrent for attending the AFC.