...of Hispanic Celebration

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month!

Hispanic Heritage Month lasts from September 15th to October 15th and many of the celebrations on campus are hosted by the Hispanic Latino Student Union.  This past Friday, I had the joy of celebrating with the UNI community at the UNI Latino Fest hosted by HLSU and Art for El Salvador (another student organization on campus). There were a ton of student orgs there, along with different opportunities for Hispanic Education there as well.  Get a glimpse of my fun afternoon...

~STAR Joslyn

...of Secret Study Spaces!

As the school year starts to gain speed and professors start to pile on the homework, it seems more and more time is being spent with our nose in a book, holed up in our dorm rooms. Need of change of scenery? Check out these places on campus. I know that when I have a comfortable place to study, sometimes it can even be (dare I say it?) enjoyable!

First up is Maucker Union. This is a popular place on campus, but you may be unaware of all the secret hideaways the Union has to offer. My personal favorite is the Union’s roof. Accessible from the inside or outside, it is a beautiful place to study when the weather is nice. Another place is the Hemisphere Lounge located behind Chats. It’s a great place to go to get away from the usual chatter of the Union, sit in super comfy seats, and is conveniently located behind the coffee shop for those caffeine cravings.

 

Maucker Union's rooftop and Hemisphere Lounge

Next is perhaps an obvious place: the library. But hear me out for a second, the library has four floors intended for different studying purposes. Need a silent place to study for a big exam? Head up to the silent fourth floor. Working on a group project or need to access the youth collection? The third floor is the place to be. Also located in the youth collection is a neat room with bean bags and a cool tree to settle next to. The second floor is also great for group projects and the first floor is well known for its comfy booth seating. 

 Rod Library's Third Floor Youth Collection Reading Room and First Floor Study Booths

Want someplace really cool? Check out the ITTC or UNI’s Botanical Center. Converted from UNI’s old swimming pool, the ITTC has a studying area on the second floor. In the Botanical Center you will be surrounded by rainforest plants and a few cool animals. The center has a few birds and an iguana. Not a lot of people know about these places, but they are great study environments!

 ITTC Second Floor and the Botanical Center

So next time you get in a study rut, explore one of these places. You might just find your new favorite study spot! Happy studying!

STAR Stephanie

... And We all Scream for 4 Queens!

Hey there, Panthers!

Although I know that fall is finally here, it still remains unseasonably warm. Even so, I like to enjoy an ice cream treat no matter the weather! If you haven't already, take a little trip off campus to 4 Queens Dairy Cream just off of 1st Street! Check it out!

 

Have a SWEET week!

STAR Molly

... of Hispanic Latino Student Union's WRC Night!

The Hispanic Latino Student Union was created in order to spread the Hispanic Culture across the campus of the University of Northern Iowa. In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Hispanic Latino Student Union provided a night of fun sports games and friendly interactions at the Wellness Recreational Center. Here is a video that shows different photos of the awesome event. Enjoy!

-Javier, STAR

....Of Playing Sand Volleyball!

Hey Everyone!

The school year is well into full swing. If you haven't already had your first test in each class, they are probably right around the corner. All the studying and homework for all your classes can become super stressful, at least for me they do. So to take my mind off of school for a bit, a couple of friends and I decided to invest in a beach volleyball!

There are many sand volleyball pits around campus, there's one at Roth, Panther Village, and the WRC. We decided to venture to Roth to show off our volleyball skills and have some friendly and competitive fun.

playing sand volleyball

It was a great time not thinking about classes or to do lists and just having fun with friends. Not to mention it's a great work out! So if you're looking to have some fun, gather some friends and utilize one of the many sand volleyball pits around campus. You won't regret it, unless you're on the losing team maybe ;)

PS don't throw sand at each other!

~Jill, STAR

...of Visiting the Bookstore!

Hey, future Panthers! Check out this tour of University Book & Supply!

- Emily, STAR

...of Separated Best Friends!

We grow up fighting and arguing with our mothers. We find it hard to understand why they are telling us no. We swear they are living to make our lives miserables. Then one day, without ever realizing it is happening, your mother is your best friend.

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The first week of my freshman year was when I realized this. I guess I never knew how close I had become with my mom until she wasn't with me all of the time. I found myself calling or texting her multiple times a day because, since we are best friends, I thought she needed to know everything that was happening in my life (and I know she loved hearing all about it, too!)

Being away from home, my family, my puppy, and my mom is extremely hard sometimes. But no worries, we manage to stay up to date with each other's lives via phone calls, FaceTimes, texts, tweets, and snap chats. She can always seem to brighten my mood with little texts of encouragement or funny faced snap chats. 

My mom has become one of my biggest inspirations. Not only am I lucky to be able to call her my mom, but also my best friend.



-Megan, STAR