...Of Visiting my Favorite Places on Campus!

Hey Future Panthers,

Every so often after a long day of classes or a hard week, you sometimes just need to find a place on campus to relax. For me, I found two places on campus that I go to study or just relax and spend time.

T-Rex Skull located on the first floor of Latham!

First place I love going to is Latham Hall. Latham is home to Applied Human Sciences and Earth Sciences. There are so many interesting things to look at and read that change constantly. From UNI themed outfits that design students made to a T- Rex skull; they have something for everyone! 

UNI spirit outfits made by design students!

Personally, I spend the most time in the Earth Sciences area of Latham, because it has dinosaur bones and different displays about Earth and other planets that are really interesting to read. They also host movie nights and talks on different subjects that are a great way to not only take a break from school but also meet new people.

The one place I spend the most time at on campus is McCollum Science Hall. I come here almost every day to go to class, study, and just to hang out. McCollum is full of interesting areas to spend time in and explore. Whether it is the giant polar bear on the second floor, the huge indoor waterfall that is two floors tall, or Wally the alligator and turtles that live on the first floor. Not only are there interesting things to look at, but there are also interesting people to meet as well.

The waterfall is always a fun place to sit and do some reading!

Wally the Alligator is always good for a smile!

The turtles on the first floor are very social!

There are so many other places on campus that I love to go to, but these are the two places that I spend the most time in. So when you come up to UNI, I urge you to find your favorite place!

Have a great rest of your week F.P.’s,

STAR Eliza

...of Living Off-Campus at University Mills!

Hey Future Panthers,

STAR Grace here with a video about what living off-campus at University Mills has to offer! This is for all the Transfer students who might be planning to live off campus, or any freshman deciding to do that as well! :)

University Mills has been a great place to live, besides the great rooms the complex also has free printing (must supply your own paper), 24/7 workout facility, a pool/hot tub, special treat days, popcorn, coffee, and cookies daily, a game/tv room, and a free tanning bed!

Everyone always worries about getting to campus, for all you who plan to walk it only takes me 10-15 minutes to get from UV Mills to the Union! A bike is also a faster means of transportation, but if you really aren't in the mood to do either then UNI does have a free shuttle that runs from 7am-4pm! :)

UV Mills has been a great place to live, and you should check out their website and check out more if you are interested!

I hope this helps with your living decisions! Don't forget to fill out those housing applications if you do plan on living on campus!

-STAR Grace

...Of a Student Admissions Ambassador

Hello Panther fans!

Today I want to tell you all about an organization that I am a part of, the Student Admissions Ambassadors (SAA). We are a group of 50 UNI students, from all areas of campus, that are passionate and dedicated to this lovely university. We are the students you see running around in purps and khaks (purple polos and khaki pants) giving tours, staffing open house days, and hosting lunch bunch with families and we do it all voluntarily. But we are so much more than "tour guides"...we put on an event every year to honor a UNI faculty/staff member, we do service projects all over the Cedar valley, and we are widely involved in other organizations and clubs on campus.

 

One of my favorite events with SAA is going to the STATE FAIR :)

I even got to milk a cow!!

Selfie with TC and TK

Becoming a member of SAA is one of the best decisions I have made here at UNI. It has allowed me to try new things, leave a positive impact on campus, and make 49 new friends! SAA is a wonderful organization that I would encourage anyone with passion for UNI to join. We are currently accepting applications for Fall 2015 semester and you can find them by following this link: SAA Application

Peace.Love.UNI

-Star Olivia

...Of a Rider Hall Resident!

Since housing contracts are coming out shortly,

 just thought I would let you, future panthers, know how much 

I love living in Rider Hall! You should definitely check 

out this video to see what it is like!

~STAR Hannah

...Of Moving onto Campus!

Hey future panthers!

I’m sure many of you have started a countdown to that exciting day...move in day!

The day I left for UNI, I started my day early in the morning. It felt unreal when I packed everything in the car and left for Cedar Falls. I was anxious the whole way, but I was also super excited.

I was really nervous and had no idea what to expect. Once I got there and had everything moved in and got to know my roommate more, I was so relieved and loved it!

While the dorm room became crowded and hot with two families moving things around, it was awesome to see the room come together. I was really happy with how the room looked and how quickly we moved everything in!

There were many welcome activities for us, and I met a lot of girls on my floor through them! Making friends came naturally the first weekend, and I met a ton of people I am still close to!

Tips for move in:

-Remember to communicate with your roommate about who brings what (futon, TV, fridge, microwave, coffee maker, etc.)

-Do not over pack. There is limited space in the closets, so when you move in do not bring a bunch of bulky clothes like sweaters and jackets because it is hot here the first few weeks! Bring seasonal clothes back with you during break.

-Remember to bring a small fan for your loft. It gets hot the first few weeks, and a fan is a necessity for sleeping in a loft because hot air rises!

-While you want to pack everything, be practical. Remember that you have to share this space with another person, so bring a things for extra storage so your room is not cluttered!

Most of all…

Come with a great attitude and ready to meet a lot of people! Keep your door open and say hi to as many people as you can- you never know who will become your friend!

I hope you are excited for move in day, but remember to relax- it will be great! :)

-STAR Emily

...of the StrayerWood Spring Season!

Curious as to what UNI's Theatre Department has? Well, it's got it all - tech, singing, dancing, acting, managing, designing - you name it. If you are looking for some quality fine arts this semester, don't hesitate to mosey on over to the StrayerWood Theatre. It's not too late to buy tickets! There are three more productions happening this Spring 2015 semester: AVENUE Q, THE GREAT GOD PAN, and WONDERLAND. 

If you are interested in pursuing Fine Arts in college, don't hesitate to check us out! 

TheatreUNI - innovative, captivating, real theatre.

http://uni.edu/theatre/swt/

-STAR Lauren

...Of a Smart Shopper

Hey Future Panthers!

Star Grace here to talk about a sweet store in the Cedar Valley Area! :)
All you shopaholics out there, this one is for you!

Many are familiar with our CrossRoads Center Mall in Waterloo, but not everyone has heard of Plato's Closet! Plato's Closet is located right behind the mall at 2325 Crossroads Blvd. Waterloo, Iowa!

What makes this store so special is not only can you buy some slightly used clothes here, but you can also sell your old clothes that you no longer wear! Plato's Closet has the same concept as Goodwill, but the clothes have to be in near perfect condition when you sell them. Also, they only want/look for name brand items such as: Express, Buckle, Target brand items, Maurices, Coach, and many more stores! (For all the guys out there that enjoy some shopping too, they are always wanting more mens clothing!) Plato's closet also sells and will buy shoes, purses, and jewelry!

The other day I traveled out there to sell clothes, and I got a little more than $14 for a sweater, dress, and necklace! It definitely was a great deal considering these items had been hidden in my closet and were rarely worn!

After I got my $14 back, I couldn't resist looking around for some new clothes to fill those empty spots.

I do have 3 interviews coming up (and many of you will have countless interviews too; whether it be for jobs, organizations, or scholarships) so I decided to find something business casual! And I came out with some great finds!

The dress is from Express & the shoes are Cosmopolitan

After getting $14 for selling my clothes, I ended up with a great new outfit and only paid $8 for it total!

Plato's Closet is great, and before anyone knocks on the idea of buying used clothes, you should definitely go and give it a chance! Or at least try to sell those items in your closet that still have the tags or might have spiderwebs on them ;)

In my next posting I'll be sure to talk more about those jobs and organizations you can find on campus! Then you might have a reason to pick out a new outfit!

Until next time,

STAR Grace :)

...Of Surviving Winter on Campus!

Hey there Future Panthers!


This week our campus got a ton of snow! Now whether you are coming from an area that gets snow every year or you have never seen it in real life, you will never be fully prepared for what life on snow covered campus will be like. So I put together a list of snowy campus do's and don'ts!

• Do remember to wear layers! You may feel lumpy and awkward when you reach your destination, but on your way there, you'll be glad you remembered to wear that extra sweatshirt.

• Don't underestimate the walk! UNI is known for being a campus you can get across in 10 minutes, but with icy roads, thick snow and the fact that it's very windy, it will take longer to get to class. It's always a good idea to give yourself a few extra minutes to make it to class!

• Do designate a place to put your boots when you get back to your room! You may not think this a big deal, but after an hour of walking through the snow and salt that's on the ground, when you get back,  your boots will make a mess. Some people put their boots out in the hallway, but you and your roommate can designate a towel in your room to put your boots in when your get back.

• Don't worry about style! No matter what your fashion sense is, you should always dress sensibly for what ever winter decides to throw at you. You can use this time to show your team spirit with purple and gold scarves and hats.

• Do drink warm drinks! Teas and hot chocolate mixes are a great addition to any room. Also we have a variety of little stores across campus that sell coffee and hot chocolate that will warm you right up!

• Don't use your phone without gloves or mittens! With temperatures being what they are on campus, your fingers will get very cold very fast if you decide to text (or take pictures of a snow covered campus.)

                                   

• Do go and have fun in the snow! People tend to stay inside when it snows, but there is nothing like going out to Lawther Field and building a snowman with friends. Also inviting people on your floor to come with you is a great way to make new friends.

Well that was my list of snowy campus do's and don'ts. I hope you find them helpful in the years to come! And remember, take the time to bundle up and go walk around our campus. UNI is beautiful, but the snow increases that beauty ten fold!

Stay warm out there F.P.s!

       ~STAR Eliza

                                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                                           

... of UNI Choirs

I was always involved in music in high school, and I thought that after graduation my musical career had ended since I was not a music major.  However, at the University of Northern Iowa, I was able to keep singing in one of many choral ensembles.    

There are five choral ensembles at UNI- Concert Chorale, UNI Singers, Cantorei, Women’s Chorus, and Varsity Men’s Glee Club.  These ensembles perform for various campus events and regional and international communities.  Recently, the Concert Choral returned from an international tour in Estonia and other groups are planning their own tours for the upcoming years.      

The choirs at UNI School of Music are amazing ways to get involved, even if you are not a music major!  Several music majors are involved, but many non-music majors, like myself, also take part in making music.  I encourage you to audition for one of the choirs because there are wonderful performance opportunities, and you make life-long friendships.  Otherwise, I encourage you to come watch the performances.  The performances on campus are free to all current UNI students.  UNI choirs display high levels of artistic abilities and you will not regret taking the time to appreciate the music.

I love choir, and I am so glad I was able to continue singing after high school.  Each of the organizations are unique and led by wonderful conductors- Dr. Wiles and Dr. Kotsonis.  I am part of the Women’s Chorus led by Dr. Kotsonis, and each of the girls in the choir are amazing.  By joining Women’s Chorus, I have made so many new friends.  Choir was a great way to help me transition to college and become involved in a fun organization.  In this past semester, I have learned that UNI Choirs is more than just an organization on campus- it is a family.  

For information about UNI School of Music http://www.uni.edu/music/homepage

For information about UNI Choirs http://www.unichoirs.com/

Follow UNI Choirs on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/UNIChoirs

Follow UNI Choirs on Twitter @UNI_SOM

~STAR Courtney

...of a Happy and Healthy Student

Good Afternon Panther Lovers,

From 6AM to 8PM, you are bound to find an activity/ workout space that fits your needs here at UNI. The Wellness and Recreation Center (WRC) at UNI is a multi-faceted place for any healthy student to thrive. Our WRC has one of the largest rock walls in Iowa, plenty of courts to play a variety of sports, leisure and lap pools, and a plethora of fitness classes and programs.

As a healthy student I have made it a part of my daily schedule to improve my cardiovascular health and participate in strength training. Because I am not a fitness expert (beyond passing Health and Wellness class) I have registered for fitness classes with an instructor who knows the ins and outs of the body. There are classes ranging from Jazz dance to Scuba diving to Pilates to kick boxing..you can definitely find a class for you!

With that being said, I am a Ice Cream LOVER...to the max..and I am a strong believer in rewarding yourself. I just recently took a trip to the Piazza (a dining center on campus) where I requested an ice cream cone with “as many scoops as you can get on it”. The lady behind the desk graciously accepted my challenge and presented me with an 8 scoop ice cream cone!! :) Least to say I was in heaven :) 

Approximately Half way through my delicious treat :)

...So the point of this blog is to tell you that UNI has a lot to offer you in your quest for a healthier body, but it is A-OK to treat yourself and UNI has that too! :)

Wishing you all a happy and healthy life

-Star Olivia