Monthly Archives: February 2017

Living on Campus Next Year?

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Whether you live on campus or a commuter that wants to live on campus, you may already be wondering about the housing process for next year.Well fret no more! Hopefully we can tackle some of the questions you may have with the information that follows:

Housing Contracts
If you have already filled out a contract, wonderful! But for those of you that haven’t and want to live on campus next year, make sure that you fill that out soon! The deadline to get the contract in is March 31st. You also have to send in a $200 deposit with your contract for it to count as being completed. If you have sent in your contract but have not sent the deposit, then your contract does not count as completed yet!
Housing Selection
Once your contract has been submitted, you will receive a “lottery number” in early April that will determine when you will participate in the housing selection process. Seniors are prioritized with the numbers, followed by Juniors, etc. When the day comes for the housing selection, you simply have to log on to the housing gateway at your assigned time and choose “room selection.”  and you’ll be good to choose from what is available!
Other Notes:
  • If you want a specific roommate(s) to live with you next year, you can “pull them in” to whatever room you select. It is important that the person with the highest lottery number (closest to 1) pulls in the roommates, so be prepared with the roommates’ names and student ID numbers.
  • You can only participate in the housing selection process if you are a current resident and submitted your contract on time, so current commuters will be able to choose housing after the process is complete.
  • Attend the Beat the System event on March 7th for a chance to win one of the top ten lottery numbers! This allows you to be one of the first to pick your room and potentially pull in roommates. There are also fun and games to help brighten your day!
Unsure about Living on Campus?
You may be unsure about whether or not you want to live on campus next year, and that is totally okay! The biggest thing you can do is weigh the pros and cons about living on campus for you. Any concerns you have can always be directed to the office of Residence life. 
Also, an important thing to note, is that if you decide that you no longer want to live on campus but you already submitted the contract or participated in the selection process, as long as you cancel your contract by July 15th, you do not get charged for any room and board, and if you cancel by the first day of Fall classes, you get charged 50% of Fall fees but no Spring charges. So you always have time to figure it out!

Meddlesome Midterms

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Guess what time it is??
Midterm time!
Most of you probably have big exams coming soon to a lecture hall  near you. Don’t fret! Most of you made it through just fine last semester, and for those of you just joining us, we have all the faith in you! Let’s go over some of your tools to crush these tests.
Resources:
  • Your professors!! Remember, they want you to succeed! Make sure to make the most of their office hours (times when they are just sitting there waiting for students to help!) 
  • The Centers for Learning (CLASS)! They are also there for your benefit. Remember, their tutors have all passed the SAME COURSE with flying colors.
  • Your classmates! You might have a really good grasp of Chapter 3 and the person who sits next to you might really know 5. Use that to your advantage! Set up study groups with your peers and share the knowledge.

10 Best Study Spots 
 Speaking of studying, here are our ten favorite spots to study at! (Not in any order) Check them out and find the ones that work best for you!
  • 4th Floor of O’Leary Library (South) -this one is perfect for no distraction quiet study 
  • M Floor of O’Leary Library (South) -many tables for group or private
  • 1st Floor of Lydon Library (North)
  • 2nd and 3rd Floor of McGauvran (South) -good for study surrounded by people, good for group study
  • Weed Hall (South) -good for semi-quiet study, good for group study
  • Club Hub of University Crossing -good for use of electronics, good for group study (Remember you can “dibs” private rooms online!)
  • Computer Labs in Olsen or Perry (North) -depending on your major, good for projects
  • Common Rooms of the Res Halls – your own building probably has plenty of nooks and crannies for you to use!
  •  Southwick Dining (North) -good for munching while you study (Treat Yo’self)
  • Centers For Learning Southwick (North) -good for quiet study
 Good luck and happy studying! 
  

Going Greek

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Hello Riverhawks! This week we will be tackling the topic of what is Greek life?

You may have heard a little, a lot, or maybe nothing about Greek life. Heck, you might not even know what it means to “be Greek.” Well to put it simply, Greek Life consists of many organizations across the nation that work towards building a strong bond and connections amongst its members. Many organizations also have philanthropies that they work with and dedicate a number of volunteer hours towards. While a lot of the modern day media likes to portray Greek organizations as existing to just drink and party, this could not be further from the truth. These organizations truly works towards making a difference in the life of students and beyond.

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 There are fraternities for males and sororities for females. UMass Lowell currently has the following on campus:

Image may contain: 7 people, people smilingSororities:

  1. Alpha Omega
  2. Alpha Sigma Tau
  3. Kappa Delta Phi NAS Kappa Upsilon Chapter
  4. Phi Sigma Rho

Fraternities:

  1. Delta Kappa Phi
  2. Omicron Pi
  3. Phi Kappa Sigma
  4. Sigma Beta Rho
  5. Sigma Phi Omicron
  6. Sigma Tau Gamma

Why should I consider joining Greek life?

If you have been curious and possibly considered joining Greek life, definitely check out the organizations in detail online at Collegiate Link (www.uml.edu/clubs) and get in contact with them as you please. As you get to know a more specific organization, you can learn about the process of how to join. But overall, the benefits to joining are endless
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  1. Make lifelong bonds with your fellow brothers/sisters
  2. Can grow your leadership skills by allowing you to become more involved as many organizations are quite involved in on-campus events
  3. Gain a whole new perspective by surrounding yourself with a diverse group of individuals, and grow through what they have to show you

One final reminder, feel free to always reach out to any organization if you are at all curious. As many people may say, going out of your comfort zone to try something new, can truly reap many benefits.

Let’s Talk Love

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Hello Riverhawks! As you may know, Valentine’s Day is coming up (this coming Tuesday to be exact)! College is where you really start to experience different kinds of relationships: friendships, professional relationships, dating relationships, and peer relationships!
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 BAD RELATIONSHIPS
Of course, because you’re being exposed to so many people in college, you’re going to have your fair share of relationships that aren’t quite healthy. Here’s how to recognize some of these red flags: (I’m going to say “your partner” but that could mean your significant other, your friend, your boss, etc.)
  •  Your partner doesn’t respect your answer when you say “no”
  • Your partner doesn’t seem interested in your success or degrades your success
  • Your partner is dismissive in your interests and projects
  • Your partner constantly pushes your limits and boundaries
  • You catch your partner lying repeatedly
  • When you argue, it escalates into ultimatums
  • You or your partner cheats
  • Your partner makes you feel lonely
  • You feel the relationship is “one-sided”
  • You are happier away from them than with them
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HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS
On the flip side, you’re going to experience some very rewarding relationships. Here are the signs of a healthy relationship:
  • You enjoy and look forward to spending time with them
  •  They encourage you in your endeavors
  • They are emotionally supportive
  • You and your partner have good, open communication
  • You and your partner overcome obstacles by discussing instead of fighting
  •  They confide in you and you feel you can confide in them
  • You feel secure in your relationship 

 

Remember, you get to decide which relationships you have in your life! Be safe and enjoy Valentine’s Day