March 3, 2014 | Volume 3, Issue 4 | Lubbock, TX
www.theodysseyonline.com | @TheOdyssey | Facebook.com/TheOdysseyatTexasTech
HIDDEN GEMS IN THE 806 PG. 4
THE LIFE OF A TWIN page 3 THE TRUE MEANING page 11 FRATERNITY PARTY ETIQUIETTE page 14
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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 TECH CREATIVE EXECUTIVE TEAM Editor-in-Chief Malley Rasco
Kappa Kappa Gamma
Photographer Zach Scott
Sales Executive Garret Cooper Kappa Sigma
Ryan Medellin Kappa Sigma
Phi Delta Theta
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THE LIFE OF A TWIN
Personally, I have always pondered what life would be like if I had a clone of myself on planet Earth. To be honest, I have envied twins and constantly wished I had one since I was a child. Not only would it be mind-blowing to have someone who looked identical to you by your side, but also that life-long bond has got to be great as well. I grew up in awe of twins, and constantly marveling at what their lives must be like. Until my sophomore year at Texas Tech I had not experienced life around twins or even had any twin friends due to being from the small hometown school I grew up in. This year during recruitment I was fascinated with Layne and Lynsey Mims and I was so ecstatic when they pledged Delta Delta Delta and I became another one of their sisters for life. In an interview, I discussed with the twins what life is like having an identical sister. What are some positive aspects of having a twin sister?
Do people constantly mistake you for the other twin? “It was bad when we were little, but not so much now, and especially not after you get to know us!” – Lynsey
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KORTNI ROBINSON Delta Delta Delta
Kortni is a sophomore studying Journalism. You may contact her at kortni.robinson@ttu.edu.
Have you ever found yourself wanting to be different from the other one in any way? Or have you both always enjoyed the same styles, sports, opinions etc? “We are extremely competitive with each other, but in a healthy way! We enjoy doing similar things but different, too! Lynsey did cheer and I did dance, but we were always together because of football games and pep rallies!” – Layne Did your sister influence your decision during rush?
“You are constantly with your best friend!” – Layne “We share literally everything we buy, it’s awesome.” – Lynsey Are there any negative aspects? “We are each other’s worst critics. If Lynsey wants my opinion, I am always brutally honest, which can sometimes end badly.” – Layne “We have ALWAYS shared a room, literally since conception.” – Lynsey Is there really such thing as twin telepathy? “We can’t literally read each others minds but we have the same emotional triggers. If something happens we usually have the exact same reaction and opinion about it.” – Layne
“We tried not to let it affect us so when it came down to making a decision we thought we had chosen different sororities on pref night, and we were actually really upset about it! We did not tell each other what we were thinking through the week, but on bid day we realized we both pledged Delta Delta Delta, yay!” – Layne “All in all being a twin is the biggest blessing in my life. I am constantly with my best friend and I am never alone! I love it so much and wouldn’t trade it for anything!” Lynsey The love these two sisters share is contagious! Just from one interview with them you can really tell they know each other inside and out. Their inseparable bond is inspiring!
THE GREAT SWITCHEROO OF 2014 As many of my friends know, I am happy as a clam to have my car on campus this semester. Like Alpha Delta Pi the worried mother I am, I’m super paranoid about MaryBeth is a freshman studying Natural Resources getting into a wreck. Since I Management. You may contact take a class off campus and her at MaryBeth.holm@ttu.edu. drive constantly, my car is a necessity. Thankfully, traffic on 19th Street and Quaker Avenue has improved since my first semester in Lubbock. Even though I wasn’t driving last semester, I still remember leaving at 5:15 to get to chapter on time. The traffic was horrific and there was a fender bender every week from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. Panhellenic Council made the decision to stagger the start of chapter for its eleven sororities to reduce accidents in the area. Four sororities, including Alpha Delta Pi, stay at their regular time of 6 o’clock p.m. Another four, including Chi Omega and Phi Beta Phi, now start at 6:30 p.m. Kappa Kappa Gamma, Alpha Chi Omega, and Delta Delta Delta start at 7 p.m.
MARY BETH HOLM
The responses to the news were mixed. I, for one, feel like the decision to change chapter times is a fantastic idea! Even though my chapter doesn’t start until six, I feel so much safer getting over to the ADPi lodge in 5 o’clock traffic this semester. However, one girl said in an interview with the Daily Toreador, “I’d rather be in a wreck than have chapter be at 7,” whines the girl, who shall remain anonymous. “It sucks! It pushes everything back and I don’t have time do anything anymore!” After reading this extremely one-sided quote, I decided to call up some of my rush buddies for their (reasonable) opinions. Brooke James, a super sweet Chi Omega majoring in Early Childhood, was able to give me a glimpse through her perspective. “It used to be a nightmare getting in and out of Greek Circle”, said the freshman from Katy, TX, “Now that our chapter time has been moved up to six-thirty, my sisters and I don’t have to leave forty-five minutes early just
to get a parking spot!” And what a nightmare it was! Quaker Avenue and 19th Street had so many accidents, that the police would have to come and direct traffic from 5 o’clock until six-thirty. That is now outdated since Panhellenic staggered the chapter times! Even though Brooke got it easy by having her chapter moved up, I was still curious to the reactions of the 7 o’clock chapters. I knew Kappa was starting at seven, I immediately texted Blaine Hill, a freshman journalism major from Borger, TX, knowing that I would get a reasonable and well thought out response. She agreed with the anonymous Greek about how inconvenient starting at seven, but enough to complain. “The traffic was really bad when we went at six,” said Hill. “I think Panhellenic is just trying to do the best to keep us all safe.” She says that Kappa’s chapter is normally shorter than the other ten, so it is not too bad. “Yes, I’d rather be out at seven, but getting out at eight isn’t a tragedy.” To add some icing on the cake, I asked Malley Rasco, member of Kappa Kappa Gamma and our lovely Editor-In-Chief to The Odyssey. According to the advertising major from Fort Worth, TX, she doesn’t really mind the later start during the wintery months and the attendance has been much higher. “However, when Spring comes around, schedules get busier and people tend to get more stressed towards the end of the semester”, she predicted. “I feel like 7pm would be great if you’re laying out by the pool and want that extra hour, but it isn’t great if you’re needing to study for a test or meet with a group.” On the issue of traffic, she claims that it affected her personally. “I do agree that having eleven sororities and however many fraternities come to one location with three outlets at the same time was not only frustrating, but wasting an extra hour leave earlier to be on time!” With three very thoughtful perspectives to look through, I feel like I have a more in-depth view to what the other sororities are doing. I’m over the moon that don’t have to leave an hour early (even though my Big Diamond Sister prefers it) just to be on time to chapter and that I won’t get into a horrible, car-disfiguring wreck because of it. With all negative views aside, Panhellenic Council has made the safest and most time efficient decision.
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HIDDEN GEMS IN THE 806 Telling someone that you attend school in Lubbock, Texas often poses the famous question, “What on EARTH is there to do out there in the Delta Delta Delta middle of nowhere?” Sure, Emily is a sophomore studying we may not attend school just Journalism. You may contact her miles from the state capitol, at emily.hamilton@ttu.edu. and no, there’s not a beach, or even a pond nearby, but living in Lubbock does have its perks. These perks come in the form of carbohydrates and shameful overdose of calories, thanks to a handful of some locally owned restaurants unique to the Hub City. A wise woman once said, “The way to my heart is through my stomach”, and she could not have been more right.
EMILY HAMILTON
Caprock Café “The specialty of the house is their hamburgers, although these are not your run of the mill fast-food burgers. Each burger is one half pound of 100% beef, carefully grilled and seasoned, served on a buttered sesame seed bun with lettuce, tomatoes, onions and pickles on the side. Caprock Cafe hamburgers are served with a choice of fries, beans, or tortilla chips.” Crowd favorite: HICKORY BURGER – served with BBQ sauce, pickles and onions 5217 82nd St. Lubbock, TX (806) 771-2233 3405 34th St. Lubbock, TX (806) 784-0300 Gardski’s Loft “Gardski’s Restaurant, the oldest restaurant structure in Lubbock was built in the 1920s by the Humphries family. Damaged by a tornado in 1970, the building was remodeled by designer Charles Daboub, who also designed the Hard Rock Café and Planet Hollywood. On Gardski’s grand opening night, a Dallas group chartered a Southwest Airlines jet and flew over one hundred patrons from the Metroplex to attend the event. Also voted Lubbock’s authentic dining experience since 1976.” Crowd favorite: FRIED CHEESE – hand-breaded mozzarella served with marinara sauce and ranch dressing 2009 Broadway St. Lubbock, TX (806) 744-2391 Orlando’s “Orlando’s has been serving Lubbock our Family Recipes since 1965, earning us the title of Lubbock’s oldest full-service restaurant. Come see why generation after generation enjoys Orlando’s Italian Food! Pizza, Pasta, Salads, Sandwiches, Desserts—Only at Orlando’s! Voted: Best Italian Restaurant in Lubbock!” Crowd favorite: MAFIA QUESO – spicy cheese dip loaded with beef, green chilies and alfredo sauce served with tortilla chips and garlic bread 6951 Indiana Ave.
Lubbock, TX (806) 797-8646 2402 Avenue Q Lubbock, TX (806) 747-5998 The Arrogant Texan “We serve good ole’ Texas BBQ on one side and Amy’s Ice Cream, coffee, tea, hot chocolate and vintage candy on the other! If you think there’s any way you’re not leaving happy, you’re sadly mistaken.” Crowd favorite: SAUSAGE SANDWICH – with ten-gallon pineapple BBQ sauce 1113 University Ave. Lubbock, TX (806) 771-9362 The Choc’Late Mousse Pie Bar “This isn’t your grandmother’s slice of pie. You have 7 choices of crust, almost 30 pie fillings, and 6 different ways to put them together to suit your preference. Want to sit around and study or talk with friends? Sit on our couches and make yourself comfortable as you sip on our Swedish imported coffee. The Choc’late Mousse is like no place you’ve seen before. Come and enjoy an experience that is fun for all 5 senses, not just your taste buds.” Crowd favorite: SNICKERDOODLE – with graham cracker crust 4210 82nd St. Lubbock, TX (806) 780-6147 Stella’s Restaurant and Deli “We have something for everyone from our fresh made pizza to fresh fish and outstanding steaks. If you are looking for a quick lunch in a New York Minute or a romantic dinner, Stella’s is a great choice. I invite you to come in to Stella’s for great food, great service and an authentic New York Italian experience right here in Lubbock.” Crowd favorite: PENNE PASTA WITH SPICY SAUSAGE SAUCE – Italian sausage, pancetta, red peppers and spicy marinara topped with fresh mozzarella 4646 50th St. Lubbock, TX (806) 785-9299 Double Nickel Steak House “Year after year, Double Nickel Steak House is voted one of the Top Ten Best Steak Houses in Texas!” Crowd favorite: STUFFED CHICKEN MEDALLIONS – stuffed with blue cheese, spinach, bacon and mushrooms, lightly breaded and baked 5405 Slide Rd. Lubbock, TX
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(806) 792-0055 The Funky Door Wine and Bistro “Lubbock’s newest fine dining and fondue restaurant and wine bar serving some of the most unique varieties of wines and the most eclectic pairings of food in the Texas panhandle.” Crowd favorite: FIESTA FONDUE – blend of pepper jack cheese, Pacifico and tequila 6015 82nd St. #2 Lubbock, TX (806) 687-0505 Thai Pepper “Five stars for service and food… yum!” Crowd favorite: PAD THAI – pan fried thin rice noodles with egg, chicken, shrimp, bean sprout, cabbage and ground peanuts 3702 20th St. #A
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“Born of a collaboration between Bacchus and Kokopelli, Café J has long maintained a singular place in West Texas cuisine and the arts. Blending French techniques with Southwestern influences, an extensive wine selection, and original paintings, haute cuisine meets impeccable hospitality and service. For the absolute finest handcrafted offerings, Café J is unrivaled. Savor the unexpected, experience the romance.” Crowd favorite: CHILE RUBBED QUAIL – grits stuffed poblano pepper, broccolini, smoked chipotle butter 2605 19th St. Lubbock, TX (806) 743-5400 Lubbock Breakfast House “Our doors are open for any meal, any time. Texas Tech students, visitors, and Lubbock residents are all welcome to select from our satiating sweets or savories. We offer delicious food and superior customer service. Visit us to see why there is so much hype!” Crowd favorite: STRAWBERRY BELGIAN WAFFLE – golden brown waffle topped with sliced sweetened strawberries
Lubbock, TX
7006 University Ave.
(806) 795-7444
Lubbock, TX
Café J
(806) 687-8912
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Scene on campus
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LIFE AS A BIOLOGY MAJOR Life as a Biological Sciences major is an extreme whirlwind of emotions. You go from one Pi Beta Phi extreme of telling everyone you are going to become a Bailey is a sophomore studying biology. You may contact her at doctor and save the world, bailey.bell@ttu.edu. to saying – you know what, I think I just want to work at Sea World. You have so many options that your brain simply cannot handle it. All bio majors are nerds to the core, and it is pretty easy to confirm when you get emails from the class blog asking about the Expected Learning Outcomes on a Friday night…
BAILEY BELL
The good thing is that you stick with all the pre- professional health career guys for all four years. So you are bound to find that doctor husband that you’ve been waiting for, and you can finally switch your major to fashion. Score! Kidding… Kind of… All jokes aside, it certainly does play to your favor to have these men around. The bad thing is that you have to take classes such as Ecology and Microbiology and Cell Biology to graduate. No one actually likes plants. I have still yet to find anyone with a passion for such stationary beings. So why do I have to study them for 12 weeks? I have had a professor so far that was a contributing editor to the textbook that we use, and he also wrote some questions for the MCAT. Yes, this professor may have done me some good when it comes to recommendation letters etc., but these kinds of people are
just not too friendly to Greeks. You don’t dare step into office hours with your chapter’s PR shirt, or your conversation will surely go awry. When this professor feels the need to specifically state in his syllabus that being in a Greek organization is a “pet peeve” to him, you know things are not going to go so well. Being a Biology major opens up the most amazing opportunities to you. I plan on taking Tropical Marine Biology in Jamaica for a summer course. We spend 11 days scuba diving off the coast of St. Ann’s Bay exploring the coral reefs, turtle grass beds, and an underwater bat cave. I also have the opportunity to spend two months in Australia working as an intern at a zoo located just outside of Sydney. I just have dreams of playing with lion cubs and marveling at the beauty of Australia’s countryside. This is the kind of stuff that us bio majors get excited about! Lastly, as I mentioned earlier, I have so many options with my major. I can become any kind of doctor that I want; I can become a dentist or really any kind of professional health career. I can work at Sea World, or receive grants to perform research any place on the world. I can become a biologist. Or teach at any education level. The options are so vast! It really does hurt my head and make me stress when I get that question “so what do you want to do with your major?”. I literally dread that question. It is so hard to answer because there is so much that I can do. And so much that I would love to do. All in all, being a biology major is so rewarding. You get to learn about things that could potentially cure cancer, or heal thousands. You might not find every course that you take to be interesting, but you will certainly find a course or two where you don’t want to stop learning, and you hate when the professor stops talking because you want to hear more. Yes, this does actually happen… I am so happy to have found the major that I love and am so passionate about!
THE JOYS OF DORM LIFE behind you sneak in and steal it away. I’ve come to realize that your laundry days back at home, are everyone’s laundry days here. For instance, don’t think you are going to be able to put all six of your loads in at 2 pm on a Sunday afternoon.
We all love freshman year in the ten by ten foot dorm rooms with the twin size beds that take a couple weeks to get used to – aka, falling off. And the stylish towel wrap/shower shoes/caddy in hand look you rock when walking to and from the bathroom with the crappy water heater. But you haven’t truly experienced humiliation if you have never locked yourself out of your dorm while in your towel and sopping wet hair. Oh, the lockout key. Everyone has to take that shameful tread down to the basement to sign for your fifteen-minute replacement key. If you’re one of the lucky ones who just happen to always be studying while us forgetful, idiotic, and irritated college students are causing a scene, feel lucky you get to witness it happening. I’ve watched a few mishaps come down in a robe, blanket, or sometimes even barefoot to the front desk, for one little piece of metal that costs you $50 to replace – trust me, the dorm staff will never let you forget it. We haven’t forgotten about the most important of them all! The laundry rooms. It’s always so fun waiting in line for the next washer to finally open up and watch the girl
KAYLA CHANDLER
Kappa Kappa Gamma Kayla is a freshman studying Journalism. You may contact her at kayla.chandler@ttu.edu.
Although there are cons to every dorm you’re in – yes, even the nice fancy ones with your own room and bathroom – there’s gonna be a little light at the end of the tunnel. Let’s hope you’ve made friends thus far and have people’s rooms to go to late at night to hang out in or even get a little bit of help on your homework you thought you might fail. Especially if you want a little time away from that weird and freaky roommate of yours you just can’t seem to escape from. Take advantage of befriending people in your classes that live in your dorm, maybe you can save a few extra bucks on a textbook or two! If you live in the lovely Stangel/Murdough complex on the Texas Tech University campus, you have the privilege of the market. All food is half off with your student ID; sometimes not the most scrumptious, but definitely the cheapest. Now, if you’re one to munch on a midnight snack, you should be living closer to Sam’s Place West. They close at 2 am on the daily. That’s right, two o’ clock in the morning. They may not have the healthiest of choices there, but it is, hands down, the yummiest. Besides, the rec isn’t too extremely far from it. All in all, you will never get the full college experience if you haven’t been through a rough time in the dorms with your annoying CA or loud next-door neighbor. College is the “best time of your life” and after all, aren’t we supposed to be making memories? Sweet dreams and don’t forget to catch yourself from falling off the bed tonight while also catching some z’s.
Scene on campus LIFE AS A BIOLOGY MAJOR www.theodysseyonline.com
Have you ever wanted to partake in something that benefits you mentally and physically that provides you with many benefits? Yoga may just be the thing for you. Whether you are practicing yoga to simply relax or for workout purposes it is benefiting you in some way.
KRISTEN FOUSE Chi Omega
Kristen is a freshman studying accounting. You may contact her at kristen.fouse@ttu.edu.
Yoga is one of the top trending things to do in the United States. All of the hottest Hollywood A-listers are doing yoga, so why would you not give it a shot? Yoga studios are popping up all over the United States. Today’s generation of people are focused on living a healthy life. So many people are dedicated to eating healthy and working out which leads many to partake in yoga. Yoga is a great workout and provides many physical benefits. Toning your body, which many women hope to achieve, can be a result from practicing yoga. After all of those long downward dogs, how could you not have stellar arms?! Flexibility can also be gained through one’s practice of yoga. Breathing is crucial in yoga which can improve your own daily respiration and provide you with better energy throughout your day. Physical benefits are not the only thing that you will gain from yoga. Mental benefits are also a plus side of yoga. The meditation aspect of yoga can do wonders. The exercise brings
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you into a different state of mind where you don’t think of anything and can escape the busy fast pace life of this world we live in. A sense of calmness and wellness comes over you during your practice and brings you into a placid place. You forget about the past and the future. Instead you focus on the present moment of life. It’s hard to explain what exactly you feel like when your yoga practice has been completed. You just feel simply at ease and relaxed and happy. Yoga definitely can aid you in perceiving the world in a positive out look. The Texas Tech Rec Center offers yoga classes to students throughout the week. The yoga classes are at 3:00 p.m. on Sundays, 12:10 p.m. and 4:15 p.m. on Tuesdays, 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, 6:30 a.m., 12:10 p.m. and 4:15 p.m. on Thursdays, 12:10 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Fridays and 11:00 a.m. on Saturdays. Yoga is also offered as an elective class you can register for if you want to further your practice or simply just learn more about the principles of yoga. There are many yoga studios in Lubbock. The Yoga Stand on 82nd Street specializes in hot yoga. You can sign up for a class for $15 on their website. The Yoga Bean is a yoga studio and coffee shop off of 34thStreet. Yoga is for everyone whether you are very experienced or stepping onto the mat for the first time. If you are a beginner just remember that everyone was once a beginner and was standing where you are now. Yoga is not about being the best and pushing yourself to become better. Yoga is about finding your inner peace and dwelling on that to fulfill your practice. You should focus on yourself and nobody else during your practice. Everyone should try yoga at least once in his or her lifetime. Namaste.
10 5 WAYS TO BETTER MANAGE YOUR TIME Scene on campus
Ok, confession time… Try not to judge me, but I have demonstrated pretty Chi Omega poor time management in writing this article this week. Leslie is a sophomore studying psychology. You may contact Saying that, I want to start her at leslie.moseley@ttu.edu. out by telling you to not beat yourself up too much when life gets hectic, because we all have weeks like that—Sometimes there are too many important things going on all at once; just get it all done, whatever it takes. Breathe, its all going to get done! J
LESLIE MOSELEY
Having cleared my conscience, I can give you the advice that I normally adhere to myself. Below are the three rules to making time something that you can actually control. Think of it as the short-list on defying the rules of time. Soon, you’ll be done with studying early enough to hit up something awesome on your bucket list! (Or at least take a nap.) 1. Be picky Don’t try to juggle everything that people want you to do. Ask yourself: “What are the most important things to me?” When you have that answer, act on it! It’s perfectly ok for you to say “no” to a club, organization, or group you aren’t passionate about. Let me say it again: It’s 100% ok to say “no”, whether its an old commitment you can’t manage anymore, or a new one you feel pressured to add into your life. After you cut down your responsibilities to what you absolutely have to do (work, study time, exercise, etc.), and the activities you have a desire to be involved in (sorority/ fraternity, club, church, etc.), prioritize. Categorize from most-to-least important, which usually means what takes the biggest chunk of time out of your week, to the smallest. Write out your priorities, and be chill about switching them around based on workload and the week-by-week changes that go along with being a college student. Make a to-do list every.single.day and pay attention to it. This list should be most important to least important, as well. (Hint: * Stay motivated by rewarding yourself when you check off task, or finish your daily to-do’s! J) 2. Procrastination gotsta stop Plan ahead on papers/presentations by doing a little bit everyday for however many days are needed to get the grade you want. Don’t let all that reading pile up. I work well under pressure, and you may too, but that doesn’t give either of us a good enough reason to not do our homework earlier. Avoid last minute freak-outs by reading a few pages, or doing a few math problems, multiple days before it’s due. The pressure-relief is so real. 3. Capitalize on awkward time When you’re out and about, take your work with you incase you have awkward time in between classes, on the bus, etc. You aren’t a freak if you whip out your lecture notes
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on your ride to Holden; you’re smart. Reviewing your notes makes actual studying SO much better, because you remember a lot of information already. Get ready for those A’s. 4. Find your zone When and where are you “in the zone?” Figure out the place and time of day when you can get your stuff done. Block out this time everyday and stick with it. Obviously, things come up on occasion that disrupt this, but make a pact to be committed otherwise. Consistency is (sometimes) a really, really good thing, and a “get-serious place” is one of these things. Ask yourself: “Am I more of a morning or night person?” “Do I focus better in my dorm room or off campus?” “Does music/noise help me focus or does it really just distract me?” Map out your most desirable physical and mental environment, and find the closest fit you can. “The Zone” doesn’t make stops at Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest… Sorry. Seriously, though, log-off of all of your social media accounts the minute you sit down. If you’re tempted to mindlessly scroll, the extra effort of signing in might dissuade you. 5. Make time for yourself, so you have the energy to actually do the things above You must make time to take care of yourself on a consistent basis. Again, it’s ok if you stray from the structure every now and then—Take a day off from the Rec, eat the ice cream, go to Wild West on a Thursday, just remember to keep them in the “special occasion” category in your brain. A simple ‘how-to’ keep yourself feeling great and able to function well enough to even care about managing your time well: Exercise, Eat right, sleep, and relax. As for exercise, shoot for 45 mins cardio, at least three times a week. Try a few new classes at the Rec with a friend, or if you’re a runner, try the indoor track upstairs when Lubbock is too dang cold. Eating right doesn’t have to be a war with yourself. Read my article from last week to get the down low on healthy food on-campus! A huge help is simply to eat consistently timed meals and say no weird midnight snacking and/or grazing all day long. Sleep enough. It keeps you sane, and even helps maintain a healthy weight! Test-weeks happen and it’s college (so please have some [responsible] fun every once in a while), so it’s not always possible to catch enough winks, but shoot for 8+ hours as often as possible. You will have less cravings, more energy, and a higher focus ability. Don’t forget social interaction just for fun-zies! I don’t mean an organizational meeting or chapter on Monday night, either. Text a friend and go see that cheesy rom-com, or a get a group of friends together for game night and snacks. Also, remember to schedule “relax” time. Yes, you need to schedule time to relax. It gives you something to look forward to in the busyness of your week, and if you’re anything like me, forces you to be still for a while. Love and blessings!
Self health & fitness
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THE TRUE MEANING Growing up, I never knew exactly what a sorority was, but I knew it had to deal with a bunch of girls and a lot of singing. The way the media portrayed sorority and fraternity life is exactly how I saw it. Why would anyone want that reputation? And up until my freshman year of college my thoughts had not changed much. As I saw all the girls getting ready for rush week I only thought to myself that they are wasting their time. It wasn’t until one of my best friends rushed Zeta Tau Alpha and her personal experiences really opened my heart to the whole sorority thing. She was always so excited for the fundraisers and spending time with her sisters. I ended up transferring to Texas Tech after my first year of college and that’s when everything changed.
Make-A-Wish Foundation, Relay-for-life, Breast Cancer Awareness and so many more organizations that are all so important. These organizations are called Philanthropies.
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SARAH MEACHAM Chi Omega
Sarah is a sophomore studying journalism. You may contact her I ended up pledging at sarah.meacham@ttu.edu. Chi Omega. Chi Omega’s Philanthropy Make- A-Wish really caught my attention through rush week. What is Make-A-Wish Foundation? Make-A-Wish Foundation plugs you into a family’s life that has a child going through a horrible, terminal illness. It allows the child who is ill to make a wish about something they have always wanted to do. It can be as big as going to Disneyworld, to being on a cooking show, to having a birthday party at the Chi Omega lodge that is Elmo themed. It’s simply a wish that is granted.
There I was, getting on a bus just like hundreds of other girls who all seemed to know exactly what they were doing: hair curled, make-up flawless and wearing only designer clothing. The first day we had to wear casual attire and to be quite honest, I was the only girl wearing vans. As the week progressed and the days seemed to get longer, my heart just kept getting warmer. Everything was so different from the movies. That’s when my whole entire view for Greek life changed. It’s not about Tory Burch, Kendra Scott, or Michael Kors, its about
This foundation is held very close to Chi Omega’s heart. In this Fall semester we have a fundraiser for Make-A-Wish and it is called Swishes-for-Wishes. It is a giant basketball tournament and each Chi Omega has to get a basketball team of three to five people together to raise money for the foundation. I’ve only heard how fun and exciting it is and I cannot wait to be apart of it myself this semester. What better way to raise money for a good cause than to have a little competition and some laughs in the mix? Greek life is so much more than what you probably think it is. The way movies portray Greek life is not at all what defines us. It is about Philanthropy and Service, Sisterhood and Brotherhood, and striving to become the best possible young adult that we can be. Sorority and fraternity life isn’t just for four years, it is for life.
IS SICK WORTH IT? Everybody around you seems to be getting sick and you can’t help but thinking, “Am I next?” Tests are coming at you fast and you really don’t have the time to get sick; it’ll put you too far behind. There are plenty of options to help keep up your immune system. First option to help you stay healthy is to take some Emergen-C. Every morning make it part of your breakfast routine. If you feel yourself starting to get under the weather, or everyone around you is not feeling great, start drinking this daily. It’s a good basic strength for your body to fight off disease and it comes in many different flavors, so there’s bound to be one you can handle. Second tip to help you not get sick is to get plenty of sleep. Your body can recharge and work on healing itself and fight off infections while it rests. Understandably, there are times where getting little to no sleep is unavoidable, but when you can get good sleep, don’t take it for granted. If you’re exhausted
but you want to stay up later to watch your favorite movie, don’t fight it. You’re body needs rest daily to keep itself at its best.
KYLIE SMITH
Chi Omega
Kylie is a sophomore studying Another kick-start would be International Business and to take vitamins daily. These Marketing. You may contact her will just help to make sure that at kylie.e.smith@ttu.edu. when you face an illness, your body is ready to fight it off so it doesn’t get worse than it needs to. When tests are coming up and you have a busy schedule that you cannot afford to get behind in, it is better to avoid sickness or cut them as short as possible.
You may think to yourself, a few sick days don’t sound so bad. A break from school, an excuse to study a few more days for that hard test you have, it all sounds tempting. Though many think this at first, it doesn’t always turn out to be worth it. There are some bad effects to being sick and messing up your schedule. For example, missing a test only means you have to take it later. This does give you more time to study for that particular test, but less time to study for others that are still on schedule. It also can affect your homework grade. If you have online homework or quizzes/tests due that you are too sick to finish or sleep through the turn in dates, your professors may not be so kind about making them up. Sometimes they will be lenient, but others will say there is nothing they can do since it was online. Lastly, if you have mandatory meetings that you have missed, you have to take time out of a later date to meet up and get what you missed. Being sick and having a few days off can turn into you having a busy and stressed next few days. It also makes you waste your break in bed feeling like crap. It’s usually not worth it to get sick so keep up with your vitamins and stay aware of how you feel and how others are feeling around you. If there’s a chance of you getting sick, take a stand and make sure you stay ahead of the game.
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Self health & fitness
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CURRENTLY COVETING the brow bone and tear duct to brighten the eye to perfection! To be quite frank, my other Naked palette has been completely neglected since Naked Basics has come around and I don’t feel bad about it.
GABRIELLE GARCIA Alpha Chi Omega
Gabrielle is a junior studying public relations. You may contact her at gabby.garcia@ttu.edu.
Anastasia Clear Brow Gel-
e.l.f. Eye PrimerI will start by saying that I fully endorse all e.l.f. products. They work miraculously and range from $1-$5. As college students, we should pinch our pennies every change we get and e.l.f. cosmetics are just the ticket! When it comes to this eye primer, it is affordable and highly effective. Previously, I used an expensive primer from a highend brand until I stumbled upon this gem. With the e.l.f. primer, my eye shadow ceases to crease or fade. I can honestly say I’m never returning to my old ways! Nars Blush in OrgasmFor all you beauty junkies, this is THE blush. With the right amount of sheen, there is certainly no need for highlighter after flushing the apples of your cheeks with this blush. The peachy-pink hue is right for absolutely any occasion; it showcases your cheekbones without being overbearing. I even swipe it across my eyelid to blend my crease color with my brow bone shadow. This blush truly does wonders! Mac Lipstick in RebelAfter catching my eye on Pinterest, I zipped right over to our local Dillard’s for this product and I could not be happier I did. I purchased the lipstick with the intention of wearing it through the fall and winter months, but I don’t think I’ll be able to tuck it away until September comes back around. Mark my words- this lipstick will be in my clutch year-round. Mac Haute & Naughty LashThis mascara will certainly have your friends wondering if you wear falsies. It’s a two-in-one product because of its dual-wiper system. Use the top wand for naturallooking lashes and unscrew both for full-on drama. Either way, your lashes will be well-defined and fabulous! Urban Decay Naked BasicsI know most of you ladies are obsessed with Naked 1, 2 and 3, but I beg you to give Naked Basics a try. These matte colors can be customized for a multitude of looks. The darkest color makes for a killer smokey eye. The lightest shade highlights
I don’t know about y’all, but all I want out of life is a set of Cara Delevingne-worthy eyebrows. This product can achieve that look in a cinch! Even the wimpiest of brows can become full and defined with this gel. To attain darker eyebrows, you should apply tinted powder to them first. Either way, this gel keeps them perfectly precise and in place. With this product, you can raise your well-defined brow to that special someone who enters the room. Urban Decay All-Nighter Makeup Setting SprayWhen I am done primping and painting my face, I reach for my setting spray. This spray keeps your makeup intact and in full-force for 16 hours. Do you know what this means? You could spritz your face before your 8 a.m., neglect touchups until midnight, and still look like a million bucks. I am not a fan of caked-on reapplication and with this setting spray I never have to perform that sinful act. Stila Eyeliner PenIf a girl is late, it’s probably because she had to spend an extra 30 minutes getting her winged eyeliner even on both eyes. I can’t think of anything I love more than that sought-after Lauren Conrad cat eye. With this eyeliner pen, you can carefully apply your liner with more control and less stress. Finally, there is an easy way to acquire that beloved cat eye look. Tory Burch FragranceWhile I have fallen in love with all the products in Tory Burch’s brand-new beauty collection, the fragrance tops my list. The scent is fresh and clean and manages to make you feel special while wearing it. If I’m being honest, I must admit I use the samples that those department store perfume ladies hand out. Like all the rest of Tory Burch’s goods, the fragrance is a tad expensive. I guess I’ll have break down eventually, but for now I am enjoying the sample sizes! Mac Eye Shadow in WoodwinkedThis last product is near and dear to my heart. Woodwinked earned its spot in my cosmetic bag within the first week I started wearing makeup. This golden-brown hue is sure to make anyone’s eyes pop. Wookwinked has a great sheen to it without possessing pesky chunks of glitter. Once you give it try, Woodwinked is sure to become your signature color.
500 words on pop culture
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LUBBOCK’S NEWEST HOT-SPOTS Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few weeks, then you’ve heard about all of the new Kappa Kappa Gamma restaurants opening up in Caroline is a sophomore Lubbock. Of course, these studying public relations. restaurants are now becoming You may contact her at caroline.campbell@ttu.edu. the hot-spots because they are new and Lubbock locals flock to anything that isn’t Rosa’s or Chili’s. It seems as though whatever is new to Lubbock seems to get the most attention and business. The newest additions to the 806 include Potbelly’s Sandwich Shop, Torchy’s Tacos and La Madeleine. While these restaurants all are chains, they are so popular in Lubbock due to the fact that our eating options are pretty sub-par. In fact, restaurants opening in Lubbock have a 3 times greater turnout than openings anywhere else. Why? Because the people of Lubbock are tired of the everyday, mundane restaurants that have been around for years. People are drawn to the new and the now in dining. However, people still like all the comforts of home. This could be the reason hundreds of people stood in line on the opening day of Torchy’s Tacos.
CAROLINE CAMPBELL
Many college students have a Torchy’s in their hometowns of Austin, Dallas, Houston and El Paso. They know from experience how dang good these tacos are, and when they found out there would be one opening up in Lubbock, they couldn’t resist the wait.
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Torchy’s first began in a food truck in Austin, and since then it has continued to thrive all over Texas. In fact, Torchy’s won “Best Taco 2013” in Austin. This comes as no surprise to me, as I have already eaten at Torchy’s 4 times this past week. If you’re willing to wait in the long lines with other hungry college students, then I would definitely recommend trying it out. Potbelly’s and La Madeleine are two other restaurants that have recently opened up in Lubbock. Although not as popular and raved about as Torchy’s Tacos, these places are also super delicious and different. Potbelly’s is very popular in Dallas, creating yummy, deli-fresh sandwiches. Many people were very excited when it opened up in Lubbock. La Madeleine is also something different and new to Lubbock. The food is “country French” inspired and is just as savory and delicious as you may have heard. For after your meal, La Madeleine also offers many rich and decadent desserts that are very French and fancy. For all you Gossip Girl lovers out there, head to La Madeleine and pick out some macaroons to bring out your inner GG. You know you want to. If you haven’t been to any of these new to Lubbock restaurants, I highly suggest you give them a try. Although it may seem like a good idea to wait a few weeks and let the crowds die down, we all know that isn’t going to happen. While all the hype may simmer down after a week of opening, these restaurants will always be packed with the locals of Lubbock. I mean, think about Chuy’s and BJ’s. Those restaurants have been open for a year and are still extremely popular. Until Lubbock expands its restaurant scene by a ton, the new and the now restaurants will always be the crowded hot spots to go to in the 806.
14 FRATERNITY PARTY ETIQUETTE 500 words on entertainment
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Don’t wear your letters. Trust me, I know how much you want to wear your cute, new fanny pack or tank with your letters and throw what you know, but don’t. Many girls can show up to parties in their letters and be perfectly ladylike and polite, but there are always those few girls in every house that ruin it for everyone. It is no longer the belligerently drunk girl everyone is making fun of at a party, it is the belligerently drunk (insert sorority name here) in her letters everyone is making fun of. The last thing your president or standards chair wants is to wake up to a bunch of calls and texts about one of their girls embarrassing herself in her letters.
Over the last couple of years, I have been on the KATE WEBB Greek social scene and Alpha Delta Pi witnessed my share of Kate is a sophomore appalling antics by girls studying apparel design and manufacturing. at fraternity parties. You may contact her at Heck, I have even been kate.webb@ttu.edu. guilty of a few party fouls myself. However, there have been many times I have been shocked at the audacity of other girls at fraternity parties, many of whom were wearing their letters. I can’t think of anything that prompts bad PR more than that. I am not attempting to shame anyone, but rather elaborate on some of my pet peeves as well as some general “do not’s” for behavior at any Greek party. Know your limits. A fraternity party is meant to be a good time after a week of classes, but you are a guest and representing not just yourself but your sorority too. I have never met a fraternity guy who genuinely wants to take care of a girl or her friends because they are beyond drunk. Worst of all, the fraternity should never have to take the blame for your poor choices such as having the party shut down or ending up on social probation. Fraternity guys are not your personal babysitters, and girls should respect that and not show up so drunk that can’t remember their own names. Act like a guest. I can recall multiple bar nights or lodge parties when I have witnessed girls go up to a guy, whom they may or may not know, and demand drinks from him. Demand, not ask. The sense of entitlement is astonishing. Girls need to remember that they have been invited to partake in an event that was not funded just for them. A lot of time, money, and energy go into big parties and it was not done for you. You are a gracious guest at an event that is meant to entertain the gentlemen of the fraternity.
Do not perform a ‘hit and run’. Do not show up to a party where you don’t know anyone, drink their alcohol, make no contribution to the conversation, and then leave soon after. That is taking advantage of the fraternity’s generosity and is a bad move in general. If you don’t know anyone at the party, then don’t act like you have a right to be there. Worst of all, do not bring guy friends of yours that are in one fraternity to another fraternity’s party. That is just asking to start a fight and get you kicked out or blackballed. Moral of the story, if you don’t know the fraternity very well, then be outgoing and introduce yourself and don’t use them for their libations. Don’t start a fight. Parties in general are not the place to confront a sister or enemy about an issue. Yes, you might be drunk and full of liquid courage, but a fraternity party is not the place. You are being selfish and ruining everyone’s good time at the party over a petty problem. There are way too many people at a party for you to be subtle about a disagreement. Just subtweet about it like everyone else. What’s theirs is not yours. Pledges probably take the most abuse and stress at a fraternity party, other than maybe the Risk Management Chair, mainly due to the fact that girls think that pledge is synonymous with personal slave. Girls forget that these pledges are not there to be a taxicab to other fraternity parties, hold their heels or purses, and most of all to attend to their every demand. I’ve literally overheard girls trying to get pledges in trouble with actives over something stupid like the pledge wouldn’t come pick them up at 3 a.m. to go to Whataburger. So girls, be nice to pledges because they already deal with enough. Class it up, ladies. You are in public and everything that you do is fair game for scrutiny. If you think you’ll be embarrassed about your behavior later on then maybe you should reevaluate your actions. I’m not saying you should be a saint all the time, but you better be willing to own up to anything you do. Overall, many sorority girls are well-behaved at parties and are a good representation of their houses. There are always going to be those token girls who do not have the maturity or class to behave themselves, but hopefully with the above suggestions they will learn that if they want a gentleman, they will have to act like a lady.
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500 words on entertainment
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A TASTE OF THE HOFFMANS LEAH HOFFMAN Pi Beta Phi
Leah is a senior studying public relations. You may contact her at leah.hoffman@ttu.edu.
it is not something invented by my family, we make it all the time and think it reflects us just the same as anything we make ourselves. The dish includes five small pieces of sushi-grade tuna, soaked in a lemon infused soy sauce with extremely thinly sliced jalapeno on top. Not only is this dish easy to make, but it’s also very low calorie and extremely delicious. Some people find it difficult to believe that I did not experience the infamous fast food chain, Whataburger until college. But it was next to impossible as the nearest one was more than twenty minutes away and especially because my parents cooked homemade meals everyday for my entire life. Growing up with such a shelter, it was bound to have an effect on me: hence my lack of fast food. However, I consider myself extremely fortunate to have both a mom and dad that cook so fabulously. Before I was born, my dad dipped into the restaurant business and over the years, my sisters and I have taken a liking to cooking as well. As a result, my family has exercised ideas about opening a restaurant of our own and sharing our personal recipes and traditions with the world. Here is a list of our top 5 family favorites: 1. “Sissy Enchilada” is a recipe originating from my maternal great aunt who passed along this dish throughout my family for years. I remember eating this at least once a week for as long as I can recall. The ingredients include a corn tortilla that was heated up and softened in a skillet with a “smidgen” of olive oil, for only about 10 seconds on each side. Next you fry an egg and put it on top. Following that is tomato sauce and a grated cheese of your choice and as the French say, “voilà,” the dish is ready. 2. Yellowtail Sashimi is a family favorite dish that we discovered at a famous restaurant called Nobu while vacationing in the Bahamas. So while
3. “Egg-a-la-king,” of all dishes in my family is the one with the most tradition. My maternal grandmother came up with this recipe and my mom has been making it for us since we were able to chew our own food. A little more complex, this plate is a piece of toast topped with chopped up hard boiled eggs, setting aside the yolk. Then the homemade gravy is drizzled on top with the yolk to be crumbled on last, adding to the dish some color. Anytime I come home from school, this is the first thing I ask for: a little taste of home. 4. Italian sausage with broccoli rabe is a personal favorite although it is still cooked and loved throughout the whole family. Typically used is a shell shaped pasta with crumbled spicy Italian sausage and broccoli rabe to add a vegetable and garnish the plate a little more. No matter how many times I’ve eaten this pasta, I could continue eating it every night and not get sick of it. 5. “Daddy’s Phillies,” is a recipe all my dad’s. This plate was made completely from scratch and my dad’s taste buds. The many ingredients include 6-inch toasted hoagie buns, chopped prime beef, a homemade sour cream and dill sauce, provolone cheese, and finally a beef au jus sauce. Now although this dish isn’t my #1 favorite solely because of sentimental reasons, the flavors are off the charts.