...of Iowa meets Chicago

Hello Future Panthers!

As you might be expecting, college is supposed to be full of adventures...and I am here to tell you that it is!  I have already mentioned some of the wonderful people I have met here at UNI; here are some of the crazy things we do together :)

As a stress reliever from finals, my "floormates" and I decided to take a trip to Chicago! Seeing as my roommate, one of my floormates, and I are all from Chicago, the trip was easier on the wallet than having to stay in a hotel.  We had a weekend full of huge sleepovers, meanwhile sightseeing and sharing childhood experiences with our Iowa friends.  We took them to Woodfield mall (basically a mini Mall of America), took them downtown, and Christmas light viewing in the Naperville area.

We had a little fun in the random stores of Woodfield ;) 

They even experienced their first train ride and more firsts in downtown!

It is always a blast being able to show the friends you meet at college your hometowns.  Now when you tell stories from high school or just from back at home, they will be able to have a visual of those stories!

~STAR Joslyn

... of getting inspired!

Hey guys! So if you didn't know, I am a graphic design major at UNI. Over this winter break, I really wanted to make sure that I would be doing things that would be productive to me as and artist and graphic designer. (Not including watching Ink Masters marathons... because I could probably do that all break!)

What I've decided to do is find out some info on famous graphic designers, check out the work of others, and also do some designing and drawing of my own!

Doodles in my sketchbook. Like my slippers?

Milton Glaser is one of the most influential American graphic designers.  Do you <3 NY too?

So far, I've seen some pretty amazing works of art online (a trip to a gallery is definitely happening during this break!) and I've learned about some pretty amazing people. Having time to doodle in my sketchbook is another great plus of having some extra time on my hands, plus I get to mess around on photoshop and do stuff like this:

You could say I really "get into" this show.

Get it? :P

Stay inspired, baby panthers!

:)

-Melanie, STAR

...of a student staying busy!

Hey peeps! So today is my first day of winter break and guess what? My family is at work/school, and my friends are still in college! I feel like being at home with nothing to do can be a common theme among college students, so I thought I would share some different ways to keep yourself busy over break!

My first suggestion: LAUNDRY!!! 

If you're like me, you hold off doing laundry as long as possible, on the hopes that your clean clothes will last you until your next trip home. So, laundry is a good way to stay busy!

If you've finished your laundry, my next suggestion is WRAPPING PRESENTS!

I haven't wrapped any presents yet, so my day is going to be filled with tape, scissors, boxes, ribbon, and wrapping paper!

If you are still at a loss for ways to keep yourself entertained, one of my favorite things to do when I'm home is CRAFTS!

I'm currently working on some homemade presents for friends and family!

I hope my suggestions were helpful if you are feeling the initial shock of winter break and have nothing to do! Needless to say, I will be pretty entertained for the next few days!!

~Diann, STAR

...of holidays on campus

Christmas is coming! Christmas is coming!

Going away to college, you might think you will miss out on the holiday cheer in your hometown: cookies constantly in the oven, putting up the tree with your family, and driving around the neighborhood to look at the decorated houses. BUT! At UNI, you get to have all the fun away from home before break, which makes going home for break even better :)

Taking a stroll on campus, there is not a shortage of holiday spirit! You can get a glimpse of Northern Iowa's North Pole experience with just a click of the button below!

We also celebrate many other holidays too! As you might have noticed, Kwanza and the Chinese New Year were previewed in the video!

~STARs Joslyn and Melanie

...Of a Literacy Education Minor!

As some of you may know from my previous posts, I am an elementary education major with a literacy education minor.  One of the classes that you have to take to complete the literacy minor is a course called "Advanced Children's Literature."  I am currently taking the course, and I just completed my last class of the semester before our final next week.  My professor, Mingshui Cai, decided that today's class should be a "fun day."  Mingshui Cai is from China, and the entire focus this semester in the course has been on Multicultural literature.  Professor Cai decided that he was going to teach us to say "hello," "good-bye (or see you later)," and "thank-you" in Chinese.  He also taught us to write "hello" and the numbers one through eight in Chinese!

This is my written work from when I was learning Chinese!

After we learned a little Chinese, we did a chopstick competition!  Here is what it looked like:

Two of my table members practicing using the chopsticks before the competition started!

Each table was given a plate with beans on it, a cup, and a pair of chopsticks.  We each had a few minutes to practice holding the chopsticks and putting the beans into the cup.  After a few minutes of practicing, every student had one minute to put as many beans as they could into the cup.  The person that did the most at each table won a prize.  I was HORRIBLE at this task!  One of my table members put 28 beans into the cup and the other table member put 22 beans into the cup.  Guess how many I was able to put into the cup?!  FIVE!  See, I told you I didn't do very well!  The final activity was learning Tai Chi.  Yes, I am not lying.  I learned Tai Chi in class.  First, my professor showed the class a shortened version of a Tai Chi routine.

Mingshui Cai, my professor, performing a Tai Chi routine.  He was good!

After my professor performed a Tai Chi routine, he asked for a volunteer to come forth.  Guess who volunteered as "tribute" for this event?!  ME!  My professor taught me a few Tai Chi moves, which I'm sure was rather entertaining to watch, and then I had to teach the moves I learned to another student volunteer in the class.  I made a few mistakes but I was told by the person that I taught that I was the best Tai Chi instructor she has ever had.  I'd like to mention that I am the only Tai Chi instructor that she has ever had! ;)  After all of my hard work at learning and teaching Tai Chi, I received this from my professor:

A very intricate paper cut-out!

This is a very intricate paper cut-out of two pandas that I received for my participation in class!  I have had quite a few classes that were as entertaining as this class was today, and that is why I love my classes at UNI!  I cannot possibly say that ALL classes at UNI are like this, but I promise you that you won't be disappointed!  The professors are so passionate about teaching and it shows!  Hopefully this helps all of you future Panthers to see that college classes aren't as intimidating as you may think!  Happy College "Hunting!"

~Vanessa, STAR

....Of Students Celebrating the Seasons

Every year UNI's Campus Activities Board (CAB for short) puts on an event called, "Celebrating the Seasons."  This year, the STARs decided to take a field trip to Maucker Union to partake in this event! There was karaoke, ornament decorating, stuffed animal stuffing (basically building your own stuffed animals), a holiday photobooth, and horse drawn sleigh rides around campus!  Not to mention, it was all FREE!  This event was such a fun way to celebrate all holiday seasons and relieve some stress with finals coming up next week.  

 

As part of the event, there were free sleigh rides around campus!

Vanessa, Joslyn, Diann, and Emily enjoying the events!

Two members of the UNI Women's Rugby Team showing off the stuffed animals that they stuffed!

If you cannot tell from the pictures and the video, this event was an ABSOLUTE hit!  I sure hope any of you future Panthers check out the holiday celebration next year!

~Joslyn, Emily, Diann, and Vanessa-STARS

...of staying fit with fitness classes

In college it can be really easy to put off working out and exercising. (For me especially!) So I've decided to combat winter laziness and get myself off of the futon and working out this upcoming spring semester. In high school, our coaches just told us what our workouts were. Now when I'm all alone trying to work out, I have NO IDEA what I'm doing. (No, seriously. I'm clueless). Thankfully, the Wellness and Recreation Center has the solution to my dilemma: FITNESS CLASSES!

I had all of these classes to pick from for my spring workout mission!

Each class has multiple sections a few nights a week so finding one that works with your schedule is really pretty easy. (As a girl with a busy schedule, it was even easy for me!) Plus, if you're in the mood for something other than a fitness class, the WRC also offers dance classes, strength and toning classes, and a ton of others. You can take a peek at the classes they offer for this spring semester here: 

http://www.uni.edu/wellrec/fitness/classes.html

After checking out my options, I chose....

BOOT CAMP!

With a description like that, there is no way I won't be in shape after this class! And the best part about it is, a few of my friends and Gamma Phi Beta sisters have even agreed to take the class with me! (I'm still trying to convince my roommate!) 

So after signing up for section 18 of Boot Camp, my spring fitness mission is on it's way! 

Wish me luck! 

Stay fit and healthy, baby panthers!

:)

-Melanie, STAR

...of Holiday Hoopla!

So every holiday season, Cedar Falls Main Street puts on Holiday Hoopla! The "hoopla" begins the day after Thanksgiving and continues throughout the holiday season. A variety of special events and contests happen during Holiday Hoopla!

(Side note: My friends and I have developed a tradition of going out to dinner to celebrate the end of the semester. This time, we decided to go out to Tony's, a pizzeria on Main Street, which means we also got to see downtown during the "hoopla"!)

A new addition to Holiday Hoopla was the light show!  It was totally awesome! We were all dancing around in the cold to the different songs, while people in their cars just stared at us! 

Here are a few pictures from my visit to downtown!:

 

My friends and I in front of Santa's Workshop!!

 

Us doing the interlude dance :)

 Basically, Holiday Hoopla is awesome and if you get the chance, go check it out! It's awesome! :)

Au revoir mon amis!

~Diann, STAR :)

 

....Of "My American Dream"

As an Elementary Education major, you are going to be required to attend events on campus that can help to develop you further as a professional.  One of the events that I most recently attended was last night and it was called, "Critical Conversations: Voices of the Cedar Valley."  At this event, I was able to view what the American Dream looked like to a group of sixth grade students from Carver Academy Middle School in Waterloo, Iowa and also what the American Dream looked like to a class of students from Wartburg College.  One of my favorites was of a boy that dreamed to invent a flying car or learn how to build robots so he could work for NASA!  After about twenty minutes of reading the students' work that was on display, everyone gathered together to have a panel discussion about ways to improve our teaching to students learning English as a second language.

The one on the right was my favorite about the boy that wanted to work for NASA one day!

There was such a great turn out at the event!  Pictured is my co-worker, Kari!

The panel had the president of the Hispanic Latino Student Union (HLSU) at UNI, the sixth grade teacher of the class from Carver Academy Middle School, and the Assistant Principal from Carver Academy Middle School.  The panel members all shared such inspiring stories and information that was very helpful!  The panel members told us all to encourage ESL students to achieve their dreams and to let the student speak in their native language.  I was assigned to attend this event, but I am sure glad that I was!  I always love reading students' work and the panel discussion that was held helped me to gain insight on teaching diversity and the importance of it!  What a great event and it is no surprise that this event was apart of UNI's Reaching for Higher Ground events.
I am currently working on my American Dream by going to UNI and graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Literacy Education.  My question to you is: what is your American Dream?

~Vanessa, STAR  
  

... of Christmas on a college budget

The times of hot chocolate, mittens, and watching Elf on repeat have come. The holiday season has always been one of the times of the year that I look forward to most, and this year is no exception. With Christmas fast approaching, I was struggling with one tiny issue: what do I get my family? ...and on a college budget no less. I needed a cost effective option, but I still wanted them to love their gifts. So, what to do?
I found my solution in the craft aisle. What is it you may ask?

Lots and lots and LOTS of....

YARN! (and a pair of knitting needles)

Now, I know what you're thinking.. Knitting? How old is this girl?

To answer your questions, YES knitting. And almost 20 :) but back to the important stuff...

Scarves are warm, they're soft and cozy. Who wouldn't want to give something warm, soft, AND cozy to the ones they love? So, you guessed it, EVERYONE GETS A SCARF!

They get to be comfortable in the cold winter, and I get to have fun acting like an old lady knitting for them. Besides, not only is knitting fun- it makes for super cheap gifts! The scarves I make are only about $7 in materials which means I can make gifts for my whole family in a really inexpensive way. 

Plus, it's handmade by yours truly so they have no choice but to love it!

I've obviously been busy (I can't help but knit while watching Elf). And I only have oh, ......5 scarves left to make before Christmas. I had better get to work!

Stay crafty, baby panthers

:)

-Melanie, STAR

...of BFFLS

Yes, I just used BFFLS!

As I was wondering what to share with you guys today, I felt like all the topics I chose were already told to you or just flat out lame.  So, just like any other college student would do, I asked my BFFLS for advice.  They tried and tried, but none of their ideas really stuck with me (that is why they don't work with me), but what I did appreciate was their effort!

Right now, you all think that your circle of friends are the ones that will be there when you get married and you will share more awesome memories with each other, but these friendships aren't quite the same as the friendships you will make in college.  You may still be right about your friends now because I still have those same friendships as a Sophomore, but they aren't exactly the same.  We have all moved to different places, met our college friends, and it is just different.  I don't really know how to describe it...

However, I do feel closer with my friends here at UNI because we are all going through the same changes together.  We all experienced living out of our homes for the first time, dealt with stupid freshmen mistakes, and have all seen each other at our absolute WORST!  For a lot of you, you will find these friends right next door to you in the dorms - just like me!  Also, you can meet a ton of people in the organizations you join, your classes, study spots, or even at campus events!  Here go a few pictures of where I met my BFFLS:

I live with these girls and I can't ask for anything other than the world of crazy we live in :)

I met them in HLSU and I always have a great time whenever we get together!

My coworkers are simply awesome! I couldn't ask for a better team!

If you remember just one thing from this post, remember that you can meet your future maid of honor/best man anywhere! Keep your head up and don't be afraid of meeting new people!

~STAR Joslyn

...of Decorating for the Holidays!

It's that time of the year again- the holiday season! And in those few weeks between Thanksgiving break and finals, it can be easy to get a little homesick and miss your fireplace, your Christmas tree, and so on.

Not to worry! With just a little bit of money and a lot of festivity, your college dorm can be transformed into a winter wonderland! From making paper snowflakes to putting up cute gingerbread man window clings, it's easy to feel comfy-cozy in your home away from home. 

Happy Holidays!

-STARs Diann & Emily

... of staying organized

A huge difference between high school and college is that you have to be pretty self-motivated to get class work done. For me at least, the majority of my professors aren't reminding me on a daily basis what is due when. Instead, at the beginning of the course, they hand out a handy-dandy syllabus. Obviously on your first day of classes the last thing you want to get is a packet 8 pages thick, but there is some useful information in these things... sometimes.

Usually, professors will provide you with a course schedule so that you can see what you'll be doing in each class, and also what you'll need to get done outside of class. At the end of the mini-novel that is a course syllabus, you will find this...

...the dreaded final exam times. Finals are the time of year when instead of going on actual dates, students have dates with ROD library. Lots and lots of dates with ROD library. The majority of successful students (unless they are really really lucky) don't save all their work for finals time. And so the syllabus comes in handy again. Because profs give you the schedule for the semester, you know most of your assignments ahead of time. You can then plan ahead so you're not scrambling last minute and pulling all-nighters to get your homework done. (Because, let's face it, by the time 1 AM rolls around, you'll be falling asleep on  your laptop). Something that has helped me stay organized and on top of my homework is my planner. (You get one of these on move-in day).

Sticky notes and hi-lighters are my best friends at helping me stay organized. I write literally everything down (whether I have short-term memory loss or am just OCD is yet to be determined.) Either way, using my planner works for me!

If you're not the "write everything down" type of person, that's totally cool. Just find a system that works for you and you're set.

Stay awesome (and organized) baby panthers,

:)

-Melanie, STAR

...of a CAT!

Hello again!

-FYI I am sniffle free!-

A lot of you guys are leaving clubs and organizations that you have been a part of all of high school and maybe even middle school - that's scary! If you are anything like me, I lived and breathed for my high school's speech team! I loved everything about (what I considered to be) that sport!  So, going into college and wanting to be dedicated so strongly to something similar to that was very important to me....so important that I got kind of crazy ;)

As all of the organization fairs came about, I think I collected so many business cards and brochures to keep me warm through the Zombie Apocolypse! In all seriousness, out of all the organizations I became a part of, two have exceeded the level of HHS Speech: HLSU and CATS! HLSU stands for the Hispanic Latino Student Union and it shaped me into the leader I am today and I met a lot of my close friends from there.  CATS stands for Connecting Alumni to Students and this organization is a little more relevant to all of you reading this (not that HLSU isn't, but I am going to save that for later).  The reason why I have CATS on the brain is because we just received our new "kittens" and they remind me of you guys! They are like the freshmen of CATS :)

CATS serves as a medium between current students and faculty to alumni here at UNI.  We volunteer at a lot of the Alumni Associations events, various organizations in the Cedar Valley, and we help promote Panther spirit within the community and on campus itself.  If you would like to learn more of the logistics, I am sure you can find a CAT or two on the Facebook app or just walk around campus and ask anyone wearing our gear.

I love being a CAT because of the family that I am in - it is like a fraternity/sorority without the Greek aspect.  I was welcomed into the organization as a kitten and at my first CATS event I received a Cat (similar to the Bigs and Littles in Greek).  Morgan showed me the ropes of CATS and we did a lot of fun things together my first semester - she is definitely a person I know I can go to if I ever need anything.

My Cat and I at Pride Cry

CATS is always doing fun things together, even if we are at a professional event.  I encourage all of you to check it out next fall if you want to be a member of a family that will not only help you professionally, but socially as well!

This is us being AWESOME at Pride Cry :)

~STAR Joslyn

...of the College Cold

Hello Future Panthers!

-FYI I am writing this blog on my "sick bed"-

Yes...I have the common cold that every average college student gets around this time of year.  Living in the dorms, a lot of germs are confined in your living space, so it is common to feel under the weather every once in a while.  In order to conquer the cold and be able to withstand finals, there are some essential remedies to use.

First, you need to take a break! Isolating yourself in your dorm is the best way to prevent spreading your cold to all of your new friends, and it helps your body to recuperate so you aren't sick for a longer period of time.  I am always on the go, so taking a day off was hard! Luckily, my boss and all of my professors were very understanding.  Trust me - they don't want to catch what you have! Also, you get to catch up on sleep (and maybe some homework)!

Next, you need the basics for curing the cold:

Stay hydrated!:

When you move in, DOR gives you a handy-dandy water bottle for this purpose!

Stay medicated!:

Just like your mother would, make sure you have the right cough medicine to help fight your cold.

Cough drops are always great to have too because they taste really good, and it is a constant relief.

Stay healthy!:

Even though you are sick and might not want to eat anything, you should still keep something in your stomach.  In my opinion, saltine crackers are easy to keep down and pretty filling.

Usually these two things will get rid of the cold in about a day.  If not, you can make an appointment at the Student Health Center the next day just to make sure it isn't anything abnormal from the common cold.  If you don't know what it looks like, here goes your first view:

Call (319)273-2009 to make an appointment.

~STAR Joslyn

...of a College Student Enduring an Iowa Winter

Hey, everybody!

For many of you, this may be your favorite time of the year. After all, who doesn't like hot chocolate, sledding, and the holidays?!? There are a few things to keep in mind as winter weather quickly approaches, however.

First of all, you have to dress the part! A warm coat, gloves, hats, earmuffs, scarves, and boots are all part of a winter-worthy wardrobe. Another thing to consider is vehicle maintenance and safety. You may even want to keep a mini "survival kit" in your car, just in case you get stranded on the road. Finally, make sure to stock up on tissues, cough drops, and nasal spray because those evil colds are after us all. And they WILL find you. 

If you follow these few easy steps, I can guarantee that you will have a safe and fun-filled winter!

Happy snow days!

~ Jordan, STAR

P.S. ONLY 29 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!!! :)

...of Staying Motivated (Avoid End-of-Semester Crash & Burn!)

We all know it's getting closer to the end of the semester, which means it's time to decorate your room for the holidays, start that project you've put off for a few weeks, and begin studying for finals.

But it's also time that many students find themselves "hitting a wall" and losing their will to study, go to class, etc. Fear not! I am here to provide you with some sure-fire ways to come out on top this semester, and avoid that dreaded crash and burn feeling.

While Studying...
-Give yourself a change of scenery. If you're used to being holed up in the ROD Library for hours, try heading to the Towers Center, the Union, or even Starbucks.

-Reward yourself with mini incentives. For instance, eat a fun-size candy bar for every chapter you read, or take a minute long dance break for every 20 minutes you study.

-Color code assignments and projects; it stimulates your brain! (this works well for fellow STAR Diann!)

Take Care of Yourself...
-Make sure you remember to eat during these last few weeks. I know it can be easy to skip lunch or dinner, but it is important to nourish your mind and body during this busy time. I recommend a trip to Panchero's at least twice a week to combat this. ;)

-Get lots of Zzz's! Seriously, if you aren't getting at least 7 hours of sleep, you will find yourself struggling. Fellow STAR Vanessa says that sleep is her best motivator!

Zen Out For A While...
-If you're feeling completely overwhelmed, try some deep breathing exercises. As cheesy as this sounds, it really works! I recommend "Squared Breathing." Inhale for 10 seconds, hold for 10, exhale for 10, breathe normally for 10, repeat. You will feel instantly better, trust me!

-Treat yourself to a manicure, an episode of How I Met Your Mother, an hour of Halo 4, or whatever helps you relax!

-Remember, the holidays are just around the corner, and you have lots of family time and home-cooked meals to look forward to!

Stay positive and align your chakras!
STAR Emily

...of Closets in the Dorms

Hey Future Panthers!

Yes, this is another dorm post.  Us, STARs, just want to make sure you get the full scoop before you move, so there aren't any big surprises when it comes time to move into one out of the eight fabulous dorms we have on campus!  Also, this will hopefully get you excited about moving in!

Before you press play on that video below, just know that I am a huge shopaholic! I love anything and everything to do with clothes, accessories, jewelry, shoes, etc! This video includes a few tips on how to make sure everything fits in your closet and fits efficiently! You don't want to stuff everything in and then when it is time to get ready for classes, it takes you over an hour to find that one shirt you wanted to wear on the first day. Well, click play, sit back, and enjoy! :)

P.S. I live in Campbell, so your closet might resemble mine next year!

~STAR Joslyn

...Of a UNI Student Employee

College can be kind of spendy and there is no denying that.  One way to help support yourself but still be able to spend enough time studying is by getting a job on campus!  I have had a job since the age of 14 so when I came to college, I knew that I wanted and needed to continue working.  I worked my freshmen year of school at an off campus job, which paid well and I enjoyed what I did.  After a year of off campus employment, I decided that for convenience sake, it would be best if I relocated my employment to someplace on campus.  If you are living on campus and working on campus, you can save quite a bit in gas money!  Plus on campus employers know that your schooling comes first.

My sophomore year at UNI, I applied for a position as a STAR (a Student Telecounseling Admissions Representative).  Thank goodness I was hired because now I get the pleasure of working with these goons four times a week. See picture below.

My lovely co-workers!

Can you tell why I love working with them?!  Like I said, on campus employment is great!  Your employers are understanding and typically willing to work with you and the people you work with can be a real riot too!  Not to mention there are thousands of positions on campus waiting for people like YOU!
~Vanessa, STAR

...of a first time voter!

As many of you probably know, this year was the year for the Presidential election! 

It was my first time voting, which was really exciting! My grandma used to take me to the polls when I was little, so I've been looking forward to this for a really long time! 

I voted in the form of an absentee ballot, since I'm not residing in the town where I was registered to vote. (although, I could've updated my address which is what a lot of college students do!) Filling in those little bubbles was so exciting! 

~Diann, STAR

P.S. I am very happy the political ads are over so I can watch TV in peace, at least for a little while!

...of my current obsession: ROCK CLIMBING

Okay, so here's the deal: Recently I have become hooked on rock climbing. No joke. And UNI's Wellness and Recreation Center is ALL to blame. Before my sophomore year of college (this year) I had never been climbing, so you can imagine how nervous/scared/excited I was when my friends (all frequent guests to the rock wall) took me to go climb with them one evening about a month ago. Now? I can't get enough!

I'm not really a person who works out a lot (or enjoys working out for that matter...) And that's probably why I love climbing, you get all the benefits of actually working out BUT, more importantly, it's fun!

This recent obsession with the activity led me to sign up for a belay class offered, convieniently, in the good ol' WRC. I had the class last night and it was great! For about 2 hours I learned basic belay skills like tying knots for the climbing ropes, how to do saftey checks, and techniques and equipment that you use while belaying (along with meeting a few new climbing buddies). Now, I can take my friends along and get them as stoked on climbing as I am!

*This workout is Melanie approved.*

 

 

Happy climbing pals,

 

 

-Melanie, STAR

...Of a Student With #ParkingProbs

In many ways, having a car with me at college has come in very handy. It allows me to drive to Waterloo for an internship, to drive myself home for visits, and to make the more-than-occasional Scratch cupcake run. The only problem with having a vehicle is that you have to park it somewhere. Luckily, UNI provides a number of options for your various parking needs!

As a freshman, students living on campus have two choices for parking passes: an R pass or a C pass. Students who choose to return to the dorms for a second year become eligible for a C preferred parking pass, though not all of these students will receive one. Off-campus students are eligible for B passes. Parking permits are paid for at the start of the school year and are in effect until the following school year begins.

Now, you may be thinking, "What do those random letters mean?" Simply put, the letters on each pass correspond to the signs designating parking lots around UNI's campus. For example, a student with an R pass may only park in lots with signs bearing the letter "R." The picture below shows the CP (C Preferred) sign marking the parking lot next to Bender and Dancer halls.

 

In conclusion, if you're the type of person who prefers the ease of vehicular transportation to physical exertion (Who really exercises anyway?), then I suggest that you purchase your parking pass as soon as possible! Not only will it guarantee a spot for your "baby," but it will also keep you safe from those ever-so-annoying parking tickets! Believe me, people. They WILL find you. Happy parking!

 

~ Jordan, STAR



 





 

...of Fall Fashion at UNI

Hey, guys! It's getting colder and windier out there, but UNI students are still managing to look fashionable around campus. I decided to ask some Panthers where they got their favorite cold weather clothes, as well as their must-have fall fashion staples!

Hope you're all staying warm and fabulous!

-Emily (STAR)

...of Celebrating Halloween!

It is that time of year again, where everyone gets to ditch their normal lives and pretend to be something/someone for a night! However, the older we get, the "trickier" Halloween tends to get.  We are too old to go knock on our neighbors doors for candy, and frankly most of our neighbors are college students so they don't have the money to buy the good stuff!  And then we are at that point in our lives where at times homework has to take priority over our social lives, so who has the time to celebrate?  Especially when Halloween falls on a WEDNESDAY! <---Who decided this? Really??

As college students, we don't like anything getting in our way of partying! As an Honors student, my conscience gets the best of me when I decide to go out for a little fun.  Luckily, UNI has many activities that are enjoyable and don't take too much time away from my studies! Yes, I realize I might sound a little nerdy, but I actually had a great time at the Honor's Halloween Party this past Monday.

As I was deciding whether to go or not, a couple of things ran through my mind:

• I don't have the money to go out and buy a costume. So, what can I throw together from random stuff in my closet?
• I still want to look cute, but it is FREEZING out and I don't think fishnets will cut it. So, I came up with this:

• Who is going to show up on a Monday night?
• Will this be fun? It is the Honors Program.

Opposite of my thoughts, I had a blast! It was short and sweet, and a great impromptu plan to my normal Monday night routine.  Just because it was Honors, didn't mean I had to automatically think it was lame.  A lot of my friends put a lot of time into planning the event and they made sure that they were going to have fun there too.  Here are some pics of the night:

Fashion Show for Best Costumes :)

A group picture of the girls on my floor!

It turned out that everyone was looking for the same thing I was - a fun night out with the friends and nothing too extravagant!  I understand that when Halloween falls on a weekday, the partying starts the weekend before - so just a side note: party safe and remember that professors don't buy the "the zombie apocolypse came early and kept me from writing my paper" excuse. ~STAR Joslyn

...of a Level III Field Experience Participant!

Hi Folks,
My name is Vanessa and I want to tell all of you about my level III field experience in a 2nd grade classroom at West Bend-Mallard Elementary School!  If you are studying to become a teacher at UNI, you will go through 4 levels of field experience.  There is level I, II, III and IV (student teaching)!  I am a senior so I am nearing the end of my program!

The classroom I was in all week! :)

Anyways, I'll proceed with my blog!  I traveled to Mallard, Iowa to be with the 2nd grade class there.  The welcome sign going into Mallard says, "We're a bunch of friendly ducks," and let me tell you, it's true!  The family I stayed with and the entire school faculty were so kind and welcoming!  Everyday I was in the morning announcements highlighting that I and another UNI student were there for the week! The 2nd grade class was tons of fun and I enjoyed getting to know them.  There were 19 students and 18 of them were boys!  My knowledge of superheroes and Star Wars proved to be very helpful!  My cooperating teacher taught me so much and she sent me back with a TON of resources and ideas!  What I enjoyed the most about my experience was that I gained the confidence that I needed to student teach.  I am thankful that UNI has given me the opportunities to be in many classrooms and working with an ample amount of students, however, I still had never experienced what a full day and week look like in a classroom.  I have been able to apply almost everything that I have learned in my classes and relate it back to my experience.

As well as having a wonderful experience in the classroom, I was fortunate enough to stay with a lovely family for the week!  My host family took me to pick pumpkins out to take back with me.  We also went to the Grotto in West Bend, Iowa, to the playoff volleyball game (which West Bend-Mallard won) and to see their puppet ministry practice at their church!  The ceilings were rather low in the gym so when the volleyball hit the ceiling, it was still in play! I have never seen that happen before but the four matches were rather exciting!  It was the best experience I have ever had!  Now I can look forward to my student teaching semester that still seems so far away from now!
~Vanessa, STAR

I just LOVED this calendar activity!  One of the many things I took away from the week I was there! :D

...of a Panther Marching Band Member!

So last week was UNI's Homecoming! Woo! Homecoming means many exciting things like pep rallys and football games, which means an awesome halftime show from the Panther Marching Band!

I play the piccolo and this is my second year in PMB. I joined the marching band last year because it is a great way to meet new people, and I wanted to keep playing my instrument. I'm glad I did! It has been a great outlet for me to meet people and show my Panther Pride!

We have new uniforms this year, which is super exciting!!

PMB has 250 members, which is the largest band in UNI history! We practice 3 days a week and perform at every home game! We have had some great halftime shows so far, including 2012, Funk, and Superheroes! I'm very excited to debut our last show in a few weeks because it's going to be awesome!

Go Panthers!

~Diann, STAR

... of branching out

Kickball tournaments are one of the many things I like to do with my campus family :)

Coming to college can sometimes be a little bit scary, and leaving your friends and family back home is a pretty big deal. The most helpful college advice I have ever received was to make a home for yourself on your campus, and I still think that's why I am as happy in college as I am. A huge part of this is  building a "family" on campus. For me, my campus "family" is largely made up of my sisters in the Gamma Phi Beta sorority. It's really nice to have a place to go to, and a bunch of girls to talk to when you're having a bad day. ( These girls are the best!) :D

Something to remember, though, is to not limit yourself to one group of people to hang out with. When you come to college, you get the opportunity to meet HUNDREDS of new people. So why limit yourself to just the people in your residence hall, in your classes, or people you work with (even if they are fantastic)? There are so many clubs, groups, and organizations for you to get involved in and meet to people as a result of!

So branch out a little bit because each time you do, your "family" gets a little bit bigger. :)

Now go get 'em, Tiger!

-Melanie, STAR

...of a Student Hoping to Study Abroad!

Hello, all!

Although this country of ours is quite a fair land, there are often times when I dream of broadening my horizons beyond the United States. I am so excited to say that I am currently in the process of making this dream come true! With the help of UNI's Study Abroad Center, I will hopefully be spending my spring break in South Africa!

The Study Abroad Center at UNI sponsors over 1,000 programs to universities in more than 60 countries and regions. There are also a number of different formats and lengths of programs to choose from. Luckily for me, my choice was made easy by the fact that I have been obsessed with South Africa for a number of years now. Even though the trip itself will be fly by and be absolutely fabulous, the process necessary to get to that point will not be so simple.

There are a number of requirements a student must fulfill if he or she wishes to study abroad:

1. Apply online at uni.edu/studyabroad.
2. Pay the $65 application fee.
3. Attend an "Abroad 101" info session.
4. Apply for a passport (I still need to tackle this step...oops).
5. Complete the program-specific paperwork.
6. Submit all scholarship applications.
7. Complete a pre-departure orientation.
8. Purchase airfare.
9. Have the time of your life!

If I finally force myself to stop procrastinating and complete all of these steps, everyone can be on the lookout for an AMAZING post about South Africa coming March of 2013! Wish me luck, and consider taking advantage of UNI's Study Abroad opportunities yourself!

~ Jordan, STAR