February 6, 2014 | Volume 1, Issue 1 | Lubbock, TX
www.theodysseyonline.com | @TheOdyssey | Facebook.com/TheOdysseyatTexasTech
GREEKS HIT THE SLOPES PAGE 8
13 THINGS THAT SHOULD BE LEFT IN THE YEAR 2013 page 4 SPRING BREAK SORROW AT TEXAS TECH page 6 BAKER NOFIELD? page 10
SORORITY GIRLS TAKING A SKI BREAK FOR SWEET TREATS Photo provided by: Malley Rasco
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editor’s note
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MaLLeY RASCO
Kappa Kappa Gamma Editor-in-Chief Malley is a junior studying Advertising. You may contact her at malley.rasco@ttu.edu.
THE ODYSSEY AT TEXAS CREATIVE EXECUTIVE TEAM editor-in-Chief Malley Rasco
Recruitment Chair Hunter graham
editor-elect annie Roach
pR Chair Dea pennington
Kappa Kappa Gamma
Chi Omega
Tri Delta
Pi Beta Phi
Contributing editors alex Bare Tri Delta
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greek life traditions
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BEING A LEGACY
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Growing up, I remember my mother had angels decorating our homes all throughout my life. Without Pi Beta Phi knowing their significance, I Leah is a senior studying public wrote them off as simply my relations. You may contact her at mother ’s “Italian-esque” leah.hoffman@ttu.edu. style. But later in life, I would not only find out the meaning behind all those angels, but would also begin to forever incorporate them into my life.
was to shy away and run from the unknown, as I have always been an introvert of extreme proportions. But soon my mother decided to let me in on a little secret she thought might change my mind.
Once my junior year of high school was halfway over, the topic of colleges and my future seemed to be the only topic worthy of discussing at breakfast, lunch, or dinner according to my parents. For the first time in my whole life, I believe I learned the true meaning of pressure. In addition, my mother began conversations with me about Greek life, introducing me to the idea of joining a sorority with starting college. I had never thought about it before and didn’t know a single thing about it, so my natural reaction
Months went by of discussing college and Greek life into the ground with my parents and advisers and my mind had mulled over the many difficult decisions. And although rushing and pledging was still a shot in the dark in my mind, since being a legacy doesn’t guarantee acceptance into a sorority, I ultimately decided that honoring my mother’s legacy in Pi Phi was very important and worth trying,Anchor regardless of if I were to get a bid. In my mind, I wanted to learn to branch out and explore life in my mother’s footsteps.
LeaH HOFFMAN
Come to find out, I was a legacy, which in simple terms means one has a mother, sister, daughter, and/or grandmother who was in the same sorority. My mom then went on to unload truckloads of information about her life in Pi Beta Phi throughout her college life and how joining that sorority was the best decision of her life. Hearing about all of her amazing experiences and the bond shared between her and her sorority sisters made for a very convincing argument against my initial opposition. As an introvert, I knew I would need help other than just attending class in getting me to branch out and meet people to make friends.
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feature story
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eMILY HAMILTON Delta Delta Delta
Emily is a sophomore studying Journalism. You may contact her at emily.hamilton@ttu.edu.
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philanthropy & service
HAPPY HEARTS WITH A BRIGHT FUTURE Many students take going to school for granted, whether that’s elementary school or college. However, in many third world countries, it is a major privilege to be able to attend a school. What would you do if one day a natural disaster wiped out your whole community and school? How would you recover from such pain and despair? Natural disasters wipe out thousands of schools across the world leaving many in extreme poverty and nowhere to turn. After the first response is made, it can take anywhere from two to ten years or even longer for the government to step in and help the communities affected. This gap is where the Happy Hearts Fund steps in and takes action. The Happy Hearts Fund helps rebuild schools and aids in improving the lives of many children, giving them hope and a future. Petra Nemcova founded Happy Hearts Fund in 2005 after the Indian Ocean Tsunami that occurred in 2004. Nemcova was vacationing in Thailand when the tsunami hit, and was severely injured and lost her boyfriend in the devastating tsunami. After recovering from her injuries, Nemcova returned to Thailand to see how she could make a difference. She was astonished at the disasters that occur after the natural disaster: children living on the streets, communities in ruins, and a sense of depression. This is when she knew she wanted to help rebuild schools for the children. Happy Hearts Fund officially became a nonprofit organization in 2006. Happy Hearts Fund started out with a very small team, consisting of Nemcova and a few of her friends. Nemcova knew she needed to expand her team if she wanted to make a bigger impact
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and help more people. She went back to school to study business, increased her team to a larger number, and even created partnerships Chi Omega with other companies such as Microsoft and Clinique. Kristen is a freshman studying Happy Hearts Fund accounting. You may contact her constructs disaster-proof at kristen.fouse@ttu.edu. schools giving the children a safe place to learn and grow as individuals. Each school is outfitted with technology. Computer labs are built with the appropriate software, hardware, and training needed, which benefits the children by expanding their knowledge, giving them more career options in life. Happy Hearts Fund ensures that there are sufficient funds to maintain the school and keep it running. Happy Hearts Fund will create a local business such as a bakery that will supply funds to the school if the government is unable to support the school. The schools that Happy Hearts Fund builds throughout disaster-stricken countries are not just for educational purposes. These schools symbolize hope for many children. They are a safe place for the children affected by the natural disasters to come, grieve, and cope with the oppression they are feeling. The schools are a stable environment for these children showing them that they can overcome huge events in their life and persevere. Many children become victims of human trafficking after natural disasters, because they have nobody to guide them and provide them with other options. The Happy Hearts Fund aids children in guiding them to a successful future, making a difference in many lives. Happy Hearts Fund has helped over 46,000 children in need, built 85 schools, worked in fourteen countries, and is active in six different countries right now. You can learn how to contribute to the cause at http://www.happyheartsfund.org/getinvolved.php.
KRISTeN FOUSE
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campus connections
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TAKING ON ANOTHER SEMESTER Here we are again, Red Raiders. It seems just like yesterday we were all studying for finals and counting down the hours until Christmas break. We did it! Christmas break came just as quickly as we wanted, but didn’t nearly last long enough. The spring semester is upon us, and as we prepare for the stresses that always come with a new semester, there is one question that every Red Raider should be asking themselves: “What can I do differently to have a more successful semester?”
involvement, see what activities and organizations that Texas Tech offers and try one out. There is something out there for Chi Omega every student, whether Sarah is a sophomore studying it’s a sorority or fraternity, journalism. You may contact her religious organization, or an at sarah.meacham@ttu.edu. organization that involves your major. Being involved can help you manage your time and open doors for later on, and will build memories that will last a lifetime.
First of all, it is important to find a balance between being a college student and being a college kid. Yes, hanging out with friends may be more ideal than studying, but the main reason you are here in the first place is to obtain a college education. It’s shocking to see that as May nears, each class has decreased in size, and less and less people show up to class. Some students find that class is pointless when they can just read from a textbook or get class notes from a fellow student, but attending class can easily help you to prepare for the tests. This semester, try something different. Attend class prepared with a notebook or laptop, ready to take notes, and focus as the teacher lectures about essential information that you might actually find interesting.
Third, try to build a healthier lifestyle. Finding time to go to the Rec center can be challenging as a college student. Eating healthy is even more challenging, especially if you live in the dorm and can grab a slice of pizza pretty much any hour of the day. It’s important to make time to include healthy habits. Working out has many benefits: it builds motivation and relieves stress, and as we all know, being a college student is nothing but stressful. The Rec center has so much to offer. If you prefer working out alone, there are machines such as treadmills, ellipticals, bicycles and even an indoor track. Classes are offered as well – free of charge – including abs, weights, yoga and more. You already pay to have the Rec center, so you might as well use it.
Second, get involved in something new. College is all about trying new things and becoming active and involved. If last semester you found yourself lacking campus
SaRaH MEACHAM
This semester strive to be the best Red Raider you can be. Attend sporting events, get involved, build on a healthier lifestyle, and encourage others around you to do the same. Apply yourself in and out of the classroom, and see the difference in this semester. It will be one to remember.
SPRING BREAK SORROW AT TEXAS TECH Spring Break is a part of the essential college experience. Every year thousands of students, Greeks and Non-Greeks, saddle up in caravans and head to tropical destinations with their friends. This year it’s going to be different for Texas Tech Students, due to spring break being on the third week of March instead of the usual second. What does that mean for Texas Tech students? Quite frankly, a less awesome spring break. If you have friends who go to school at Texas A&M, Baylor, or UT, make sure they send you a postcard, because unfortunately, they don’t have the same breaks as you. As of right now we are the only school in Texas that will be having spring break during the third week of March. I don’t know about you guys, but I am super bummed. I was planning on meeting other chapters of Lambda Chi Alpha from the schools in the Big 12 conference, maybe from all across the nation, but unfortunately Texas Tech Students will be left to celebrate themselves. When I first heard, I was really disappointed to say the least. I saw students getting on Facebook and protesting with statuses. I even saw an online petition, which I
hurriedly signed. I was eagerly awaiting someone from the administration saying “Hey, you spoke, we listened, you are having your spring break with everyone else!” but of course nothing like that happened. In fact, I haven’t even heard anything at all. It seems like this will be permanent.
NICK MENON Lambda Chi Alpha
Nick is a sophomore studying P e t ro l e u m E n g i n e e r i n g . You may contact him at nikhil.menon@ttu.edu.
Don’t get me wrong, I love my fellow red raiders. But spring break should be spent celebrating with random crazed college kids for the full experience. Everyone is out to have a good time with everyone else. It really is the only time in the calendar where you can expect to have a week-long fun break. A native Californian, I sent text messages to my best buds asking whether they will be sharing break with me. The answer was a no. No school in California is having break then. They are having finals. I mean, come on! No schools in California or Texas except us? We are the 2 largest states in our country, and you can expect to celebrate with neither. I was very upset. I looked online and tried to see if any major school would be having spring break then. When I say major school, I mean a college that is really good at football or is rather well-known. After doing a bit of research, I found some big schools that you can expect to see: Purdue, Columbia, Cornell, University of Wisconsin at Madison, and Georgia Tech. Yeah, hardly who you want to say you spent spring break with. Don’t expect to see people from big party schools in the Big 12 or the SEC. So don’t expect your spring break this year to be as crazy as what it might have been the previous years. Hardly any schools will be having break during the same time as us, and there is no guarantee that people will even be celebrating it due to not being with friends from other schools. Let’s hope Texas Tech has the decency to prevent a mistake like this next year.
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travel & adventure: Study Abroad
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APPLYING TO STUDY ABROAD TEXAS TECH AFILLIATED PROGRAM:
PROGRAM OR NO PROGRAM? missing article
TaYLOR BERTONE Alpha Delta Pi
Taylor is a senior studying English. You may contact her at taylor.bertone@ttu.edu.
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greek life traditions Every year, greeks go on ski trips, usually organized by the fraternities. It is such a fun experience to go away for a few days with friends right before the new semester starts. Ski trips definitely belong on a college bucket list!
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health & fitness
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SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
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Start with mapping out your big goals. Got those down? Then decide what you are going to change in your Chi Omega everyday life that is going to Leslie is a freshman studying help you accomplish the big psychology. You may contact idea. For instance, instead of her at leslie.moseley@ttu.edu. “Lose 20 pounds” you could say “Go to the REC three days a week”, “Drink a glass of water before every meal”, “No more fried foods”, “Train for a Color Run”, etc. It’s about setting practical, concrete mini-goals in order to win the big battle. When brainstorming your goals, think of how you can take care of yourself better, new skills you want to learn, how you can help others in need, adventures you want to have, and the like. (Hint* avoid monotony by trying new exercise classes, cooking a new, healthy recipe with a friend, downloading awesome pump-up music, etc. Keep a positive and energetic position.)
LeSLIe MOSELEY
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Tell someone
Accountability is key. I know, for me, I need someone to call me out if I slip up on my resolutions. Now that I’ve posted my resolutions list, I’m held accountable to anyone reading this article. Show someone (a best friend, family member, mentor…) the goals you’ve drawn up. Choose someone who feels comfortable to ask you about your progress (and who will actually ask.) Lets be honest, “New Year’s Resolutions” have become kind of a joke. But why? Well, most of us simply don’t keep the goals we set out to accomplish. We have all given up on resolutions at some point, but I propose we throw the missed attempts in the trash and make 2014 the year we actually check off what we want to achieve. Seriously. New Year’s Resolutions don’t have to be scary. They’re just an opportunity to do new, cool things with your life. I have found the success of self-improvement to be found in the small steps. The idea is not to get overwhelmed and give up, so baby steps are super important. From personal experience, I believe the following recipe will give you the endurance you need to finally crack the code on your New Year’s Resolutions. 1.
Be legit with yourself
You have to be honest with yourself. What you are really willing to change? If your heart is saying “no”, odds are that you aren’t going to stick with the goal you have in mind. That being said, if your head and heart are both on board, then you’re on the right track. So much of accomplishing your goals is just being practical and genuine with what you want to see change or happen in your life. Remember, there are only 365 days in 2014, so don’t put too much pressure on yourself by trying to save the whole world. Instead of a short list of major battles to win, make a longer list describing how you are going to reach your goals.
Being held accountable for your resolutions may sound intimidating, but it’s an awesome way to keep motivated. Just knowing that someone else wants you to succeed will give you the push you need when you’re tempted to quit. Progress is when you hit the gym even though you’re feeling ‘blah’ and just want to watch Netflix. Encouragement in your progress is a beautiful thing. Be thankful when you’re on the receiving end, and be an encouragement to others as well. 3.
Have some fun!
Your list of resolutions doesn’t need to be all “super-serious” life-changes. Add a few just for funsies. Try to make them relatively easy to check off, such as “Make a craft on your pinterest”, “Try a new drink at Starbucks”, or “Attempt to make a Cronut”… the possibilities are endless. The point is (duh) to have fun and to boost your confidence. Getting to check something off your list that you enjoy doing, and doesn’t take very long to complete, can give you magical endurancepowers to tackle the rest of your list. You can even make your more serious resolutions fun by setting healthy rewards when you finish them. Treat yourself to a manicure, massage, dinner with a good friend, or going to a new movie, anything that sounds relaxing to you. When you finish making your list, print or write out a few more copies. Stick them up in the places you frequent the most so they are always (quite literally) in your face. Constantly remind yourself of the awesome things you’re working to make happen, if you keep it up you will be rewarded. Congratulations in advance, my friend!
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BAKER NOFIELD?
With five quarterbacks guaranteed scholarships at Oklahoma, many would say Baker Mayfield’s decision to transfer from Texas Tech University is foolish and illogical. The true freshman walk-on himself begs to differ. In an ESPN interview, Mayfield explains why he believes his move is best for him.
uncomfortable, never knowing when and if he would ever be able to play again due to the lack of communication from the coaching staff.
KaYLa CHANDLER
Kappa Kappa Gamma
Kayla is a freshman studying The week after the Texas game Journalism. You may contact her at kayla.chandler@ttu.edu. on Thanksgiving, Kingsbury told the three quarterbacks they were going to compete for the starting position for the Holiday Bowl. Baker was not pleased by this determination and soon declared his transfer.
A “miscommunication” between the coaching staff and himself was the last straw for Baker. Beginning the year with a 5-0 record with Baker Mayfield as the starting quarterback made Texas Tech and the walk-on freshman the talk of the season. After recovering from his injury, Mayfield wondered why he was not immediately starting. He was convinced after losing a couple games in a row he would take back his starting position he rightfully fought for. Kliff Kingsbury thought the opposite.
Without having any contact with the OU head coach, Bob Stoops, Mayfield hoped to compete for the number one quarterback spot, even though Trevor Knight was named MVP in the 2013 Sugar Bowl.
As head coach, Kliff speculated how Davis Webb worked incredibly hard to play the game that he was offered a scholarship for. Webb continued to impress Kingsbury during practices, which led him to the starting positions in many of the games, regardless if the team won. Mayfield felt
Despite the denial of his appeal, Mayfield still plans to enroll at Oklahoma, but has at least a season without playing football. Has Baker Mayfield’s football career ended before it truly even started?
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It seemed as if Stoops did not want to get involved in any of the drama when he exclaimed, “I haven’t had any dialogue with anybody, nor has any of my coaches. As far as I know, I don’t know of anybody coming here. You can quote that.”
laugh out loud
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NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS 2.0 3. Money Management
KaTe WEBB
As an Apparel Design major, math and financial ALpha Delta Pi planning have never been Kate is a sophomore my strong suit, but even I can studying apparel design and manufacturing. recognize poverty when my You may contact her at bank account displays the kate.webb@ttu.edu. pitiful $0.00 balance. A bad habit of mine is to just blindly swipe my card and pray to the shopping gods it doesn’t get declined. I am trying to lessen the number of times I have to call my mother and tell her I was sleep walking when I bought all of that Lilly Pulitzer online. I resolve to not spend so much at Fuzzy’s that my credit card debt will require my future job to have a pole. Overall, I need to learn to recognize what is a need and what is a want (for reference, Alexander McQueen is always a need), and spend accordingly. 4. Move On From Bad Relationships
By now it’s about a month out from New Years and the original resolutions I made with good intentions have become apparently unrealistic. For example, I now realize I will not be eligible to be a Victoria’s Secret Angel, because carbs and I have a very promising future together. So allow me to present you with New Year’s Resolutions 2.0, a.k.a. “How Kate Is Going To Get Her Life Together in 2014.” 1. Lose Weight Like many other college students, I’m always in a hurry and just grab whatever food is quick and easy. Last semester consisted of a healthy diet of Starbucks and children’s chewable vitamins, which are apparently not a food group according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. My roommate kindly informed me that watching other people exercise on “Dance Moms” is not actually beneficial to my health goals either. Realistically, I am trying to go to the gym at least five times a week, and climb that Stairmaster as if a pair of Christian Louboutins (or the Hemsworth brothers) await me at the top. I’m the kind of person who works out for an hour, rewards myself with a cookie, and then demands to know why I haven’t become instantly skinny. I might have to enlist a couple of my sisters to forcibly drag me to the gym, but exercising regularly is going to happen. 2. Do Well In School We all make this resolution, start out so well by owning syllabus week, and then progressively lose the motivation to keep that 4.0. Will I actually go to every single one of my classes every week? No, probably not, but I will at least not go so infrequently that I have to check the room number to make sure I’m in the right class. I’m really bad about going to the library and sitting on Pinterest the entire time planning my wedding and crafting for my ADPi family. This year, I resolve to sign up to be a study hall proctor and cure cancer, or something like that, with all my extra free time. Through the semesters, I have learned the hard way that being able to quote every line of Mean Girls will not actually help you on your Political Science tests, and that C’s might still get degrees, but they’re really hard to justify to your parents.
My original resolution had been something along the lines of meeting new people, but I realize that to do that I need to stop putting effort into the relationships I have now that are not working. This ranges from the frenemy from high school that I simply try to oneup every time I talk to her, to the guy that’s just not that into me that I need to get over. Whether it’s a romantic or simply friendly relationship with someone that has gone sour, I am washing my hands of it this year, after I cry into my Ben & Jerry’s and watch Titanic for the 100th time. I know it will hurt, but it will allow me to clear out some emotional baggage and be happier. Plus, I should learn to stop creeping on everyone before an app is invented to tell them who and how often someone looks at their page/photos/tweets, because I would be so screwed. 5. Get My Life Together My 20th birthday was right before New Years, and the fact that I am now in my twenties has scared me into my fifth resolution. Now I know “getting your life together” is a general statement we all make after a crazy weekend or final grades being posted, but I am determined to change a few simple things in my life to keep from having daily mental breakdowns. As much as I don’t want to admit syllabus week is over, I will accept it and not procrastinate on my work until I am stress-crying in the corner or threatening to throw myself off of Chitwood. Last year, I kid you not, I was so unorganized I forgot to take one of my finals online. I’m promising myself that this will not ever happen again. As a representation of my sorority, I am also attempting to change the way I present myself. I can’t promise that I will show up to all my classes with a Gossip Girl-inspired outfit waving and smiling like Miss America, but I will at least be friendly and look socially acceptable. Maybe I will even do full hair and make-up for intermural games. Yeah that was a joke, ain’t nobody got time for that. 6. Be A Better Sister I pride myself on being able to say I know every single sister’s name, and I can probably tell you most of their majors and something interesting about them, but this year I want to contribute even more to ADPi. This could be through being a tutor, picking sisters up and not asking questions, loaning them clothes for parties and chapter, or even just saying hi whenever I see a sister regardless of how good of friends we are. I have learned that whatever you put into your sorority is what you get out of it, so being an example and an active leader are what I resolve to strive for this year because I owe it to myself and to my perfect sisters.
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A TEXAN’S GUIDE TO SHOVELING SNOW the only other able-bodied adult in the house (and my dad enjoys seeing me suffer), I was volunteered to go out in the frigid weather.
MaRY BeTH HOLM Alpha Delta Pi
MaryBeth is a freshman studying Natural Resources The second time around, Management. You may contact I conveniently layered my her at MaryBeth.holm@ttu.edu. Alpha Delta Pi fleece under my super thick Equestrian Team vest. My dad still looked like a neon hot mess. I looked down at the driveway in utter shock and horror. Two hours had passed since I had tirelessly worked to reveal concrete under the annoying white fluff, politely listening to my dad’s overly nostalgic tales from winters past. Now there were 6 more inches than when I started. The temperature had dropped to 8 degrees Fahrenheit. We fell into a rhythm of shoveling snow and hacking ice, with more stories of my dad walking through great depths of snow (uphill of course) to school and cross country skiing home.
It’s 2014, my second semester at Tech, and more importantly, my first semester with a car on campus. As I’m gearing up for some seriously insane Lubbock weather, my parents have been talking to me about winterizing my car. It’s pretty hard to believe that it can be so cold that the condensation in your gas tank freezes the fuel line and you can’t open your car door. What is easier to handle (and much more fun) is winterizing my wardrobe. Once a year, we go over the Red River and through the Missouri woods to my more than slightly hyperactive Italian grandmother’s house located in the lovely West Suburbs of Chicago. If we get lucky enough, my family and I get a lovely blanket of “lake effect snow” to go with our Christmas. This year, we got to experience the infamous “polar vortex”. As we were sitting around the kitchen table, watching the snowflakes pile up onto the back porch, my mom, who’s a native Texan, innocently asked my dad, “Did you ever have to shovel snow, sweetie?” My dad scowled and scoffed, took a sip of his coffee, and replied, “Are you kidding? That’s what children do up here.” I rolled my eyes, tired of my dad’s constant reminder of how “lazy” kids are today. My dad must have caught me at a moment of weakness, because what he said next knocked my toe socks off. Before I could protest, I was bundled up by grandma and was pushed outside, plastic orange shovel in hand, to a new personal level of torture. My dad is thoroughly convinced that ski gear is everyday attire. So while I was fashionably dressed in my Eddie Bauer fleece with my letters on it (Snaps to Alpha Delta Pi’s Novelty Chair) and my white and blue beanie, my dad looked ready for Sigma Nu’s 80’s themed Ski Resort party. As my father lectured me on the “fine art” of removing snow from the driveway, porches, and sidewalks, I could only think “How in the world could I be so cold while being so sweaty?” Gap skinny jeans do not insulate well against the below freezing winds. After an hour of cold, hard labor, I was elated when the warm, basil-scented air of my Gram’s house hit my frozen cheeks. As I was enjoying leftover Christmas Cookies and hot toddies, my dad (or as we call him, “The Colonel”) laid out his “tactical offense” against the ultimate battle against three feet of predicted snow. To my absolute horror, I learned that we would go out two more times before nightfall. Well darn. In years past, my mother would more than happily volunteer herself to the novelty experience of shoveling actual snow instead of ice. Much to her dismay, she was recovering from foot injury and my sixteen-year-old sister was too lazy to do anything. Since I was
As I removed my wet layers of snow and sweat inside Gram’s house, something magical happened. Gram had something green in her hand. It was lettuce. Not iceberg lettuce, but hard currency lettuce. Money! Yes! People actually get paid for this! Of course Dad, trying to be polite (and cheap), refused to let me have the money that I had unknowingly worked so hard for. She commanded her favorite and only son, “Don’t argue with me, Gregory. I’m old!” My next round of shoveling another foot was more enthusiastic, as I was actually getting paid. I carefully weighed this newfound knowledge, Lubbock is farther north than the metroplex and actually gets snow. I need to learn more about how to survive in a winter wasteland without freezing to death, or worse, crashing my precious car. After doing a little more research on winter weather survival, I found some really useful tips on how to survive wintry weather. For one thing, many people fail to layer. It’s best to wear a thin, long sleeved shirt or a thermal undershirt underneath your PR shirt (Old Navy has a ton of really cute layering items for super cheap) . I also learned that cotton jeans and leggings are terrible when it comes to protecting you from the cold. Try to avoid wearing just skinny jeans or just leggings, and wear both. Another really important tip is to not wear just your monogrammed ear warmers. Yes, they’re super cute, but your head loses the most heat, therefore making you a lot colder. Post holiday clearances are everywhere and have super cute hats for a decent price. Even a hood will work. As Grandma Rosie says, “Warm head, warm toes.” Do some research on cold weather tips for your car. You would not believe how many people don’t know that there is a window defroster built into their car. When the ice builds up on your back window, there’s a special button on your dash that sends heat from the battery to the little lines on your back windshield. If you absolutely have to go out, let your car warm up at least 10-15 minutes before you drive away. Go by Walmart and get a scraper so you can scrape the ice off your windshield (that’s what’s going to save you from ruining your Student ID and being super late to chapter), and make sure your windshield wipers aren’t frozen to the windshield. Trying to make them move when they are stuck wears out their motor. Another really important tip is to keep your gas tank full so the fuel line doesn’t freeze and check the air pressure on your tires (For more information go to www.cartalk.com/content/winter-driving-tips-7). In conclusion, my experience with the cold was most definitely an eye-opener. Now that I’m on my own, snow and ice don’t just mean canceled classes and hot chocolate. Winter weather adds the responsibility of personal health and car maintenance. Hopefully, it won’t get below 10 degrees these next couple of months, but if it does, I’ll be ready.
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NOT YOUR MOMMA’S COOKING I have never missed my mom’s home cooked meals so much in my entire life. Let’s be honest, so does every other college kid finally living on their own. For all you freshmen, SAM’s, the Commons, the Market, and the SUB are just about the only answers to the question of food on campus. SAM’s Place is something I miss dearly about freshman year, partly because it was so close to my dorm and partly because of the late-night chicken nuggets and mac and cheese. Yes, freshman year has many tasty food options, and I can guarantee that my “freshman fifteen” was in direct correlation to this. However, what are you supposed to do once you leave the dorms and are faced with the challenge of cooking food for yourself for EVERY meal? Unfortunately, Chipotle is an unsuitable substitute for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day and can get pretty pricey. You actually have to utilize the kitchen appliances. Or, if you’re like me and make easy mac for every meal, you can possibly talk your roommates into cooking for you. Yes, I came to college with little knowledge and experience about cooking. My friends actually bought a sign for me at Hobby Lobby that is now hanging in our kitchen that reads “I kiss better than I cook.” Well, let’s face it. I can do just about anything better than I can cook. However, now that I am fully dependent on my own cooking skills for meals, I have found some very easy, quick and yummy options. Eggs are a must-have for every college student. Scrambled, hardboiled, or over easy, eggs make the perfect meal at any time of the day. Cereal is also super easy and can be eaten at any time of the day. It is important to embrace the concept that breakfast can also make an excellent dinner. Eggs are also packed with protein, helping you feel fuller for longer. Spaghetti isn’t so hard to make either, as long as you can boil water without burning yourself, you should be golden.
Now, adding to the list the ever-so-tasty Easy Mac. Preferably the ones that come in shapes, because we all know the shapes, for some reason, Kappa Kappa Gamma taste way better than regular Caroline is a sophomore noodles. Hummus is also a studying public relations. must for all college students. You may contact her at I would recommend buying caroline.campbell@ttu.edu. hummus in bulk and pairing it with vegetables, pita chips, and pretzels. You can make a meal coupling hummus with just about anything. Another meal I have started including into my daily lunch routine is a wrap sandwich. Just slap some turkey, lettuce, cheese and hummus onto a whole wheat wrap, roll it up and voilà! It’s a quick and healthy meal that can be taken to-go for any busy college student.
CaROLINe CAMPBELL
All of these ideas are easy and college student budget friendly. What I would like to know is, where did the theory that all college kids survive off of Ramen noodles for every meal originate? I honestly have not eaten Ramen once since coming to college. In fact, barely anyone I know eats Ramen, so this concept is clearly a myth. So, next time you find yourself wondering where your next meal is coming from, think about utilizing your kitchen at home. I promise it’s not as scary as it may seem.
SIMPLE SWAPS FOR NETFLIX watching Netflix. 1.
It’s safe to say the majority of college students have a Netflix account or log onto a friend’s quite frequently. I know I’ve gone through Gossip Girl, Grey’s Anatomy, 90210, and basically every juicy drama series Netflix contains. With their small charge of $7.99 a month, Netflix is doing gigantic damage to our time management. I will sometimes find myself saying, “Okay 30 more minutes of studying, then I can get back to Orange is the New Black.” This is so bad, people. We need to get our lazy selves up off the couch, eyes off the screen, and start focusing on what’s important - not wondering who Gossip Girl could be. Here are a few things you can do instead of
GO TO THE GYM
KORTNI ROBINSON
I do not know how many times I hear people on Delta Delta Delta campus complaining about Kortni is a sophomore studying how much weight they need Journalism. You may contact her at kortni.robinson@ttu.edu. to lose, or how bad they need to work out. If you have no motivation, go to a free class at the rec or get a workout buddy! If you don’t enjoy sweating, you could go for a walk on campus with friends. You can even do small workout in your own home WHILE watching Netflix. Get up and get moving. Anything is better than sitting still, eating, and staring at a screen.
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entertainment news
an acceptable amount of time on Pinterest, can give you many interesting ideas to use in your own life.
READ A BOOK
This sounds like a crazy thought for college kids. Who reads anymore? Well, I am here to tell you that there are plenty of amazing books still out there. I love logging onto Amazon and ordering used books, sometimes for less than $1. Reading is so great, and I think we college students, with our many distractions, forget about the joys reading can bring. Do you love watching The Hunger Games on Netflix? Try reading the hard copy, it’s even better. 3.
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GET ON PINTEREST
I am a strong supporter of Pinterest. I think it’s an amazing website full of great information. Getting a Pinterest account is easy and free. If you have never logged on, I suggest you do so right away. The site contains workouts, home ideas, healthy food recipes, tips for creating the perfect resume, and so much more. It can be addicting, but spending
4. PARENTS
CALL YOUR
Sometimes we forget that there is an actual world outside of Texas Te c h . T h i s w o r l d contains the people who raised us. I don’t think it is possible to call your parents too much. They love us and are constantly wondering what we are doing. Not only is a call to mom and dad great, but also call your grandparents or siblings. 5.
VOLUNTEER
Volunteering is always great, but not only at a food shelter or something else ordinary. Volunteer for something you are passionate about. Say you’re a nursing major: volunteer at the local hospital. Broadcast journalism major, go donate your time to the Mass Communications TV station. Do something to better yourself, and help prepare you for a better future with your career.
BOOKS I READ IN 2013 I’d like to share a few of the books I read and enjoyed this past year. “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak. Such a marvelous book about a girl named Leisel Meminger. It is set in Nazi Germany and narrated by ‘death’. It is such a powerful and important insight into the way of life in Germany in the 1940s. “The Maze Runner” series by James Dashner. This is a series of four books that details the story of a man named Thomas and his discoveries in a whole new world. The world, as he knew it, has been plagued by a deadly disease and Thomas and his friends were all taken away as young children to, hopefully, save the world once they grow up. Bonus: It will soon be a movie so you can get a jump start on this action packed series! “I Am Number Four” series by Pittacus Lore. Much like the “Maze Runner” series, this is an action packed tale that will appear on the big screen in the fall. If you, like me, love knowing that there is a sequel to the book that you are reading, this is the perfect series for you! Throw in some action and some love and you’ve got yourself a good read.
“Safe Haven” by Nicholas Sparks. Yet another classic rom-com book by Nicholas Pi Beta Phi Sparks made into a movie. Its ranking is right up there with Bailey is a sophomore studying biology. You may contact her at the likes of “The Notebook,” bailey.bell@ttu.edu. “The Vow,” and “Dear John.” This book is a liberating tale of a woman who ran away from her abusive husband and found love in a small town near the shore. It all comes back around on her and her new beau when the ex finds her. Read to find out what happens… suspenseful, right?
BaILeY BELL
“Three Cups of Tea” by Greg Mortenson. This book sure is one to make your heart happy. Mortenson went to impoverished Pakistan and he promised the locals that he would come back and build them a school. Not only did he keep his promise, but he built 55 schools! Calling all humanitarians, you will surely find this book your new favorite and maybe find it as inspiring as I did. “The Time Keeper” by Mitch Albom. This story is written from the perspective of Father Time. He follows some broken souls who need more time, some that are perfectly content and some who wish time would stop altogether. It is a great lesson reminding us that we cannot control time and need to make the most of what we have. I loved this book, and hopefully you will too! This is a list of the better books that I read last year. I encourage you to read any of them, and you will surely not regret it!
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