Closing Time!

It’s closing time!

Happy Monday, everybody! Without a doubt, this Monday kicks off the busiest two weeks of the school year: Not-so-Dead Week, Finals, and checking out. You may have checklists for what stands between you and summer – projects, papers, and tests, and I’m about to add one more to your “to-do” before summertime fun and relaxation.

Move Out Check List

¨  Sign up for a check out time with your RA

¨  Empty room of all personal belongings, including: carpet, wood, and cement blocks

¨  Remove all tape, nails, scuff marks, and graffiti from all room furniture, walls, and other surfaces

¨  Sweep/Mop/Vacuum floors

¨  Clean bathrooms (private)

¨  Clean kitchens (private)

¨  Close windows

¨  Leave AC/Heat on low, auto, or 72 degrees

¨  Deglman: Leave Beds Lofted

¨  Kenefick: Leave either lofted or unlofted, move out of alcove

¨  Everyone Else: One lofted, one unlofted, on each side of the room. Store extra bed ends (rails & ladders) neatly in the closet

Overwhelmed? Don’t be! Start packing early – as a study break, starting packing up your clothes, extra bedding, some shoes, or anything you won’t really need in these next two weeks. Split up tasks – create a chore list with your roommate(s)/suitemate(s), who is doing what, and when? Donate – Is there something you don’t need anymore? Like lamps, carpets, clothes, unopened non-perishable foods? Donate it! In the lobby of your building will be blue cage/bins for donations. Be sure to read the rules about what can, and cannot be donated, as well as how donations need to be prepared (like, all carpets must be rolled, etc).

Keep an eye out for posters about Late Night Breakfast and Exam Jam – great ways to take a break from studying to eat yummy breakfast food and win cool prizes!

Now for some motivational words of wisdom!

Best of luck in your last two weeks, and thumbs up for rock and roll!

Tips for Finals!

It’s almost the end of the year!!  But, with that brings dead week and finals.  Though they can be tough and stressful, remember the end is near!  Here are some tips to help keep your sanity and ace those tests and projects!

1.)  Alternate Study Spaces.  Studies have shown that changing up where you study is a more effective way to study.  “Memory is colored by location, and changing your study locales increases the likelihood of remembering what you’ve learned.”

2.)  Study in groups.  Studying in groups is a great way to divide up work on projects or to double check that you understand the material, so form that Bio study group and conquer that final!

3.)  Use Flashcards.  Making flashcards allows you to write and go over the definitions repetitively.  It also allows you to help create another way to learn and remember material which is using mnemonic devices.

4.)  Take Tests.  Though it is not fun, taking tests more frequently allows for your learning to be enhanced as crazy as that may seem!  Testing yourself frequently causes for you to have to recall and relearn information which in turn helps you to remember it better and recall the info better on the final exam.  Why not try making your own tests and quizzes on Quizlet!  It’s a great program where you can type in your own information and notes and it will generate several questions and tests for you to take over and over.  You can even make your own flashcards via Quizlet as well.  Check it out!

5.)  Sleep.  This is pretty self-explanatory!  Make sure you are getting enough sleep (no, 4 hours a night is not enough!) as it will help you stay healthy and allow for the information you just spent hours studying to be processed so you can remember and recall it better.

6.)  Don’t categorize yourself.  Use multiple methods of studying–auditory, hands-on, etc.  Don’t limit yourself to studying in only one way!

7.)  Go to class.  Duh!  Though it is the last week and you may think you NEED that extra 50 minutes to study or sleep, going to class will help you review for the test and be able to ask questions on things you are still unclear about.

8.)  Don’t immerse yourself in subject matter.  “In keeping with the age-old proverb that values quality over quantity, scientists have found that immersion is not an effective method of study, the New York Times reports. Rather than sticking to one subject and spending hours attempting to master it, you should switch between a few (related) topics. It’s less boring — and you’ll learn more.”  Also, one of the most effective ways to study is to spend 50 minutes on material and then take a 10 minute break.  During that 10 minute break, do something active, don’t just sit there and relax!  Get up and walk around, grab a snack, go see a friend, etc.

9.)  Manage your time.  Don’t procrastinate!  It will only make your life that much more hectic.  Believe me, I’m speaking from experience!  Be sure to manage your time well and start papers/studying for tests well before the due date!

10.)  Last but not least–Relax!!  Stay calm, exercise, and remember that summer (and hopefully warm weather) is soon awaiting you!!

Good luck on all of your exams and enjoy your summer!  See you next year!

 

Sally

To Stay, or Not To Stay…

If you’ve been around campus the last few weeks you’ve probably heard at least one person bring up in a conversation, “Do you think he’ll stay or go?” Now maybe this didn’t mean much to you and went right over your head, but to many people in the Creighton community this has been the hot topic of discussion during the month of April.

If you weren’t aware ,this question is in regards to the standout Bluejay basketball player Doug McDermott. After becoming the first ever two-time consensus All-American at Creighton, Doug has the difficult choice of remaining at home with his family and leading the Jays head on into the Big East or taking his talents to the NBA. I’m not here to discuss the merits of either decision or to give my thoughts on what is the best choice for him, but to share with you some of the ridiculous rumors heard about how they “know” what he’s going to do.

For example, one of my friend’s brought up the following “I was talking to Jahenns the other day and he says he might need to find another roommate so that means he must be going” or “He’s gone. Avery Dingman said he just felt like Doug was going to leave”.  However, my personal favorite is “I hear he’s coming back. My mom‘s friend is a good friend of Theresa McDermott (Doug’s mom) and she said that she thinks Doug is coming back.”

There’s one problem with all of these statements: they aren’t from Doug. The truth is no one knows what he’s going to do and to be honest Doug probably doesn’t even know what he’s going to do. As the deadline for the draft approaches (Sunday, April 28^th) the justifications for his final choice get more and more ludicrous. Let’s just try to sit back and enjoy the ride because a decision like this doesn’t come around all that often , and when it’s all over everyone at this university will have had the opportunity to watch one of the most celebrated basketball players in Creighton’s history.

St. Baldrick’s

Across the board, Creighton students have a reputation for being more involved than the average college student. Whether it be through a fall break service trip or attendance at the annual pink out basketball game, it’s safe to say that you’ve probably donated a good chunk of your time at Creighton to fighting for a cause. One cause in particularly that really seems to motivate students is cancer. Because cancer has become such a prevalent issue in our society, and has affected so many families, students here are that much more motivated to find a cure.

Probably the most well-known effort on campus is Relay for Life. During this twelve hour event, teams of students participate in fun games and activities all the while raising donations for cancer survivors. Throughout the night, there are talks from survivors and researches, as well as ceremonies dedicated to remembering those who lost their battle with cancer. This year, the event took place on March 22^nd and had an amazing turnout. Creighton students raised just over $70,000 and there were over 900 people in attendance.

Another fundraising event dedicated to a similar cause is St. Baldrick’s. St. Baldrick’s is a childhood cancer research foundation that owes its success to iconic events that raise money via donations and the shaving of participants’ heads. Last year was the first time that St. Baldrick’s came to Creighton and the event was a huge success; over 50 participants shaved their heads and $8,000 was raised to fund childhood cancer research. This year, St. Balddrick’s will be returning to campus on April 28^th. For those who have and haven’t had the time to support such a cause in the past, there is still time to sign up or simply donate (http://www.stbaldricks.org/events/creighton).Whether it is be through St. Baldrick’s or any other foundation, Creighton students have and will continue to make a difference through their small efforts.

 

Developing Ambidexterity

A sneaking fear has always loomed in the back of my mind ever since my friend Frank’s biking accident in third grade.  He had fallen and broken his right arm leaving it immobile and in a cast for two months, and the one task of which he was rendered incapable that sent my thoughts in circles was writing.  What if I had a similar injury?  I could try to write with my left hand, but by the time the scrawl became legible and speedy enough to keep up with the class, I would be out of the cast and back to right-handedness.  It wasn’t until college (particularly when I was introduced to the exhilarating but dangerous sport of longboarding) that I began aptly preparing for this potentiality.  I chose one class per semester—normally a humanities class because I wanted to be sure that I could record numbers correctly in the sciences—in which I would take lecture notes with my non-dominant hand.  At this point in my life, this practice was not so much precautionary as it was fun to develop ambidexterity.

 

Well, I recently read an article that suggests completing simple tasks with one’s non-dominant hand is more than a mere challenge that helped me keep focus in class.  The article linked below relates many benefits such as fostering creativity and sharpening memory and agility.  Although these conclusions do not appear to be derived from empirical studies, I have enjoyed learning a new skill and feel confident that my educational life will continue if a disgruntled walrus eats my right arm.  I encourage you to give your non-dominant hand a chance!

 

http://www.goodfinancialcents.com/benefits-of-using-your-opposite-hand-grow-brain-cells-while-brushing-your-teeth/

 

Puppy Chow Recipe

 

Whether you call it reindeer poop, muddy buddies, or puppy chow, this snack is a great one. It’s perfect at any time of the day, whether you need to sweeten up your breakfast, or chow down late at night while cramming for that philosophy exam you forgot existed. Make some puppy chow, and share with friends J

 

Ingredients:

1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
9 cups Crispix cereal (any flavor)
3 cups powdered sugar

Instructions:

1. Combine peanut butter, butter and chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl.

2. Microwave for one minute then stir to blend all ingredients thoroughly. Add 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Stir well.

3. Place the 9 cups of Crispix cereal in a very large bowl.

4. Pour the peanut butter-chocolate mixture over the cereal and toss evenly, making sure all the cereal gets a good covering.

5. Place the powdered sugar in a large zip-lock type plastic bag.

6. Add the peanut butter-chocolate cereal mixture to the bag, leaving enough room for the puppy chow to be shaken (you may have to divide the mixture into smaller batches, coating one batch at a time).

7. Shake the bag vigorously to evenly coat each piece of the puppy chow with powdered sugar.

8. Once the mixture is fully coated, place in a large serving bowl.

9. Coat any additional pieces by shaking the mixture in the powdered sugar filled bag.  Add powdered sugar to the bag as needed until all the mixture is coated.

Earth Day at Creighton

It’s Earth Day at Creighton!  A lot of people have a misconception about how much Creighton is doing for the environment and Creighton’s sustainability.  Apart for the solar panels in the Burt street parking lot and the windmills by the Lied Center, there isn’t a lot of visible evidence that Creighton is trying to be more sustainable.

But there are multiple organizations on campus that are working hard behind the scenes, and today is their day to shine.  There is a whole list of students and staff putting on events and working to improve Creighton’s daily sustainability and affect on the environment.   The GreenJays is another organization that does a lot for this campus.  From little events to the possibility of a Bike Shop on campus, GreenJays continues to work behind the scenes to make Creighton look good.

 

Join the Energy Awareness Committee for Earth Day, April 17, 2013!

11 am – 1 pm by the Skutt Fireplace

Giveaways! Shopping bags, eco-friendly pens, and more!
Tell us where we need more bike racks!
Vote for the Campus Tree of the Year and learn about Creighton’s quest to become an arboretum
Where’s the Water GO? Stormwater awareness info
Drop off your old and unused pens for recycling
Information on recycling at Creighton including a display of recyclable items
The world-famous popcorn machine
Clothing drive (oneShirt)
Information on Recyclemania results!

Humans of New York

With the end of the semester quickly approaching, the last thing we need is another distracting online source of entertainment. But, the blog www.humansofnewyork.com is too great not to share!

 

Brandon is a photographer who walks the streets of New York and photographs people he finds intriguing. Sometimes with their photo is their answer to a question he asked them or some other fact about them. I think it is a wonderful reminder of how beautiful humanity is!

 

Here are some of my favorites to give you a little taste of this awesome project:

 

 

 

#ifoundbilly

Today is the first day of the #ifoundbilly program.

Each day, a small Billy Bluejay will be placed in obscure locations.

It is YOUR job to…

1)    Find Billy

2)  Take a picture with him

3)  Tweet the picture…

@CreightonResLi #ifoundbilly

 

Yes there is no ‘e’ on the end of CreightonResLif

5 days. 5 locations. 5 opportunities to get your twitter handle entered in a raffle to win sweet Creighton summer swag.

T-shirts, Frisbees, sunglasses, the works.

Number of tweets = number of entries into the raffle

Raffle winners will be tweeted at on Friday.

The 15th Annual Creighton Student Art Exhibit

Oftentimes, when we think of the human skull we think of death and evil. I think this connotation of the skull is diminishing. After all, you see the skull in clothing, purses, and bracelets. It didn’t surprise me to see it as an art at The 15^th Annual Creighton Student Art Exhibit last night. The anatomical skull was depicted beautiful by a Studio Art Major, aspiring dentist Ashley Hauger. My friend and I were amazed by how accurate the skull looked. We are currently taking anatomy and after having learned every bone, tubercle, and sutures of the skull (and nearly the entire body), we were MIGHTY impressed by the meticulous details put in the skull.

We looked around and were drawn to another piece of art. It is probably one of the most beautiful oil pictures that I have ever seen. It seemed to depict humanity through the different hues the artist used, the youth and the old, and the laughter and smiles. My friend and I were enthralled by this art and as we started sharing our thought out loud, the artist, Allison Dethlefs whom I thought was observing the art said thank you! We took advantage of her presence and bombarded her with questions.  She shared with us about the people in her painting. She began to explain how she selected the people.  The elder woman is someone she found online, the children in the corner were her friend’s picture from the Dominican Republic, and the girl in right corner is her sister. She shared with us her technique of layering multiple colors and how she came up with the idea to paint every face a different color. As always, the Student Art Exhibit displayed the beautiful arts from Creighton students. I found this one in particular to be outstanding! I’d encourage everyone to look for it. It is titled “A color of Our Own.”