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Midterms and FUN! It is POSSIBLE! :-)

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It is mid-term time and you may be feeling a little stressed out, overwhelmed & need a break from studying for few hours?  Our brain deserves some rest every now and then.. THIS IS WHY THERE IS AWESOME ACTIVITIES ON CAMPUS ALL THE TIME at UMass Lowell πŸ™‚

  • Build a Blanket is being hosted by the Criminal Justice Society! Please join them at this campus wide event to construct blankets and collect blankets for children in need at homeless shelter, therapeutic riding program and hospitals and other children in need of them. This will be taking place October 22nd from 3pm-7pm in the Student Center on South campus!
  • Cardboard City is an event created by the Phi Kappa Sigma International Fraternity in partnership with Hunger/Homeless Commission. College groups are invited to participate in the event. There will be competition in: best cardboard house & most money raised for the event! This is taking place OCTOBER 25th at 7 pm on the Eames Lawn on North Campus!
  • The Women’s Leadership Conference is November 2nd at 9am-4pm at Cumnock on North Campus! During this year’s Woman’s Leadership Conference the theme is Know your Voice. The conference will include Workshops on working in a global world, embracing an entrepreneurial spirit and more! It is free for UMass Lowell students & $30 for Non UMass Lowell Students.
  • November 6th at 8pm in Fox Common there will be a childhood favorite movie being shown.. it is…… TOY STORY πŸ˜€ YES! Enjoy for free with snacks provided!
  • November 7th there is going to be a Veterans Invisible Identity Series at 4pm in Southwick 240. Even if you do not identify with the veteran population it is still awesome to show your support and gain new awareness from some veterans themselves!
  • And if none of this suites you Hunger Game movie tickets are on sale for $12 at the Student Information Center in the student center on South Campus. Transportation is provided to Chunkys and back! And we get to see the movie 2 days before it is released in theaters! How awesome right?
  • Also, Celtics tickets are going on sale November 1rst for $35! The actual game will be November 15th and the bus will be departing from Fox at 4:30pm!


Happy Involvement πŸ˜€ WOO HOO! And of course, GOOD LUCK on midterms!!!!! 

 – Kayla :-) 

HAWKEY.

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I know there are some of you out there reading this and probably thinking I don’t even like hockey!, but here’s the deal. You don’t even have to be a fan of sports whatsoever to enjoy the “pros” of going to a game. There’s so much more in it than just trying to understand the game play.
Men’s ice hockey was the only sport at UMass Lowell to be Division I before the rest of our athletic programs joined just this past year. We’re used to the Hockey East action, the rivalries, the competition, and we want future classes to join in on supporting something that puts our school on the map. Our school has already come so far in being recognized nationwide, so why not keep striding for a stronger community of students that support one another? There’s something in it for everyone. I promise! If you’re an avid sports fan, by all means, go to games knowing where the little black thing on the ice is supposed to go and have a blast. But for those of you that aren’t so interested, hear me out. Grab a few friends, hit up the dining hall for some grub, and head over to a hockey game on a Friday or Saturday night. I can’t believe I’m saying this (being a pretty big sports fan myself) but you don’t even have to pay attention to the game! (Ahh that hurt.) There are so many events that go on in between periods and timeouts that there’s plenty going on to keep you interested, and who knows, you might actually enjoy watching your classmates do some work against big schools like Boston College, Northeastern, UMass Amherst, etc.
YOU COULD BE LIKE THIS CAT. BUT ACTUALLY BE AT THE GAME. WHAT.
We recently had a showdown this past weekend of games against Sacred Heart University and UMass Amherst. The turnout was crazy! The student section was filled with energy and excitement as our Riverhawks took the ice. Not to mention, we have some pretty nice banner additions to the Tsongas. Much needed. And best of all, IT’S FREEEEEEEE…for students that is. Come see how our students pull together for one/two nights out of the week to cheer on a team that has done so much for us in terms of showing the rest of the country what we have to offer. 
And come say hi to me while you’re at it. I’ll be there and so should you! No excuses! πŸ˜›
-Rachel
 

 


Costumes! Costumes! Halloween! Costumes!

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It’s OCTOBER! Yes! 

& why am I so excited you may ask?

Because with October comes HALLOWEEN!!….. and candy.

My favorite part of Halloween is looking at costumes! I mean they’re interesting, funny, and can spark ideas for your own creative costume! Because we are getting close to Halloween your probably thinking wow, I should find a costume now (which is what I am thinking) AND with all the fun events that are going to be happening on campus you want to have the coolest costume EVER.
Sooooo.. for some entertainment, here are some ideas… 5 costumes plus one couples costume!

Number 1 is TED!
Everyone will want to be your thunder buddy on Halloween if the weather is scary outside!

Number 2 is the Avatar costume because it can never get old! 
And btw, I wish I was an Avatar in real life………..

Number 3.. For all y’all coffee lovers, this comes in adult sizes! BUT isn’t she so darn cute?!

Number 4.. because this woman from Hunger Games REALLY is SCARY looking!

Number 5 for FUN! And because this is just plain AWESOME!
CHEWBACCA!

AND LAST, THE COUPLE COSTUME!

I mean come on! They look like studs! 

Wooo Hooo! So there’s some ideas! I hope you liked them and if not I hope you it least got a good laugh out of some of them! Keep a look out for Halloween events happening on campus!

Until next time πŸ™‚
– Kayla

Le Fall Festival!

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Do you have anything planned the weekend of October 10th-13th? If not, KEEP IT THAT WAY. If so, CANCEL EVERYTHING. Seriously, there is by far too many things going on in this one weekend for you to miss out because you have to get your cat neutered or something. Ladies and gents.. it’s Fall Festival, a time when the entirety of UMass Lowell will come together to celebrate how far we’ve come as a university and as a community. We’ll do our best to give you a preview of what’s going on, but reading about it on a blog doesn’t nearly compare to being a part of the action.


THURSDAY, OCT. 10:
  • UML Women’s Volleyball vs Robert Morris University
    • Location – Costello Athletic Center
    • Time – 7 p.m.
    • Free admission! 
FRIDAY, OCT. 11:
  • UML Men’s Hockey Home Opener vs Sacred Heart
    • Watch your hockey team take on the Pioneers in their first home game of the season! It’s a showdown you won’t want to miss! 
    • Location – Tsongas Center
    • Time – 6 p.m. rally (Tsongas Center Lobby), 7:15 p.m. puck drop
    • Free admission for UMass Lowell students, ticket prices for general admission range from $11.00-$17.00 depending on seating
  • UML Women’s Volleyball vs University of Hartford
    • Location – Costello Athletic Center
    • Time – 7 p.m.
    • Free admission!
*SATURDAY, OCT. 12:
  • Open Skate
    • How can you pass up an opportunity to skate on the same ice as your Hockey East champion Riverhawks? YA CAN’T. Bring your own skates or rent ’em!
    • Location – Tsongas Center
    • Time – 1-3 p.m.
    • Free admission!
  • Family Day
    • Have a sibling who’s itching to visit you and see what the college life is like? Take this Saturday to invite not just them, but you’re whole family to something that is fun for all ages! UMass Lowell prides itself on getting the community (students and their families) involved whenever possible. This is a great chance to meet others, engage in fun activities, and enjoy great music and food. 
    • Location – Tsongas Center (back lawn)
    • Time: Noon – 4 p.m.
    • Free admission!
  • UML Men’s Hockey vs UMass Amherst
    • Rivalry between the UMasses? Bring. It. On.
    • Location – Tsongas Center
    • Time – 7 p.m.
    • Free admission for UMass Lowell students, ticket prices for general admission range from $11.00-$17.00 depending on seating
*There are MANY more events on October 12, so if these two peak your interest, be sure to check out the rest @ http://alumni.uml.edu/s/1355/lowell/nophoto.aspx?sid=1355&pgid=1295&gid=4&cid=3014&ecid=3014&post_id=0

SUNDAY, OCT. 13:
  • UML Women’s Volleyball vs Providence College 
    • Location – Costello Athletic Center
    • Time – 1 p.m.
    • Free admission!
  • UML Women’s Soccer vs University of Hartford
    • Location – Costello Athletic Center (outside)
    • Time – 1 p.m.
    • Free Admission!


I know I’ll be around. Question is, will you?
-Rachel

MEET THE NEWBIES!!

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Hey everyone! Hope your semester has started off well! Being brand new Orientation Ambassadors, we’d like to introduce ourselves!

Kayla Montanez

Major: Psychology, Nutrition minor
Anticipated Year of Graduation: 2015
Hometown: Lowell, MA
Extracurricular Activities: Orientation Leader, Honors Program, Recreation Center Outdoor Activities

Contact: Kayla_Montanez@student.uml.edu

Rachel Forgione  
 Major: Exercise Physiology, Psychology minor
Anticipated Year of Graduation: 2015
Hometown: Saugus, MA
Extracurricular Activities: Orientation Leader, University UChapter – To Write Love On Her Arms (Treasurer)
Contact: Rachel_Forgione@student.uml.edu
*If you ever have any questions or comments feel free to contact us via E-mail or Facebook. We are always open to questions or just to chat! Be sure to stay tuned for more exciting blog posts. Have an awesome rest of the week! πŸ™‚

Doodles!

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As finals are quickly approaching, y’all are studying hard, right?! Or zoning out and ending up with a page full of random squiggles?

what are you talking about these are my stats notes..oh wait


Well! Studies have shown that doodlers memories are 30% better than non-doodlers. Instead of completely zoning out and going braindead, if you’re doodling your mind isn’t wandering all over the place. Your concentration is focused enough to retain some information.
So if you’re listening to past lectures or reading over your notes, let your pen wander and it might actually be beneficial to you! Or at least you might get a fun drawing out of it.

hello friends

Happy finals everyone!! 


-Trudy

End of the semester: TIME TO CHECK OUT!

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Halls close at 6PM on May 13th for everyone except those approved (graduating seniors who are registered for senior week activities)
-You should plan to be out 24 hours after your last final

– 24 hour quiet hours begin 5/1 (tomorrow) at 9PM

Checkout process 
        -express: You don’t need hunt down an RA to check your room, just fill out an express checkout pass
        -regular: You need to bring the RA to your room to check your room before you go

– RAs will be available to checkout (10-5 and 7-11 weeknights, 10-3 and 7-11 weekends) in the office

– ALL TRASH should be taken to the dumpster – nothing should be put in the hallways

– Prepare room for checkout (clean and empty everything, remove decorations, posters, hooks, etc)  SWEEP AND MOP (cleaning supplies will be available to checkout in office)

– Review the checklist provided by the RA and sign and date (and add the time) when you leave. THIS IS NOT AN EXPRESS CHECKOUT – you still need to checkout with an RA or express form.  Improper checkout is a $25 fine.  Failure to return key is $75.  

-Anything left in a room will be removed and placed in the staff office for 72 hours. 
GOOD LUCK on finals! Enjoy the rest of the semester and this lovely weather! 😎
< 3 GISELLE

Favorite Dip/Spread

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Mainly consisting of chickpeas and tahini hummus/hummous/hommos/humos/hommus/hoummos (depending on how you want to spell it) is delicious. You can spread it on anything or dip anything into it. Best served cold and inconsistently spelled throughout the English language. You can’t go wrong with hummus because of it’s versatility. It can be used as an appetizer and scooped with Pita bread. Hummus can also be quite the companion to falafel. Hummus loves you and  you should love hummus back. In fact, hummus loves you so much that it bestows upon you iron, vitamin C, vitamin B6, and a significant amount of folate. The chickpea base is also a good source of protein and dietary fiber. The tahini consists mostly of sesame seeds which are an excellent source of methionine which compliments the protein of the chickpeas.

While delicious and having your best interests at heart hummus has not been free from the grasps of controversy. In October 2008 the Association of Lebanese Industrialists petitioned to request protection from the European Commission for hummus to be considered uniquely a Lebanese food. The ALI then stated that Israel has a long history of usurping several Lebanese products. Fadi Abboud, the president of ALI, was angered that Israel “stole” Lebanese dishes and had more success at selling them nationally than Lebanon did. These dishes are not limited to the amazingness that is hummus; falafel, tabbouleh, and baba ghanouj are also considered stolen by Abboud. As of late 2009 ALI was still preparing documents and proof to support its claims.

On the brighter side of hummus, Lebanon holds the Guinness World Record for the largest dish of hummus in the world. The dish was prepared by 300 cooks and weighed 23,000 pounds.

The one down side to making your own hummus is that you need to peel all of the skins off of the chickpeas or when you puree them you might experience left over skin in your hummus and no one wants that.

-Brady

OH NO! Finals!

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Finals are just around the corner and they are the one thing that separates your from your summer. This is no time to slack on studying though. Finals are super important and most likely you need to take it to pass the class. So if you want to do well you’re going to need a few things to get ready to not only take them but also do well.When I say that you will need a few things I mean that you will need them to create the ultimate study tool to ensure that you pass your finals.

Thing 1: Inspirational Music

When you think of inspirational songs you instantly think 80’s. If you don’t then you missed out on a generation of movies that had some of the best training montages in the existence of everything. Everyone knows that if you want to go from just a beginner to a pro, you need a montage. Even Rocky had a montage. A montage is also the most effective way to show a lot of things happening at once to remind everyone it would take too long. It is kind of like having Hermione’s Time-Turner but leagues better. Some of the most inspirational songs I know of are

1) Danger Zone by Kenny Loggins
2) Eye of the Tiger by Survivor
3) The Final Countdown by Europe
4) You’re the Best by Joe “Bean” Esposito
5) Gonna Fly Now by Bill Conti

All of those songs are amazing and get you pumped up just listening to them. Don’t believe me? Think about this. If it wasn’t for the song You’re the Best by Joe Esposito, Ralph Macchio would have not made it past the second round of the All Valley Karate Tournament and would have continued to get bullied by Billy Zabka. Thanks to Joe, Ralph was able to kick butt and take names in one of the best movie montages of all time. It took Rocky one training montage per movie in order to win his fight. Think of what a montage could do to help you pass your finals.

Thing 2: Knowing how to make a montage

If you lack the video editing or access to a camera that really hinders your ability to make the montage. You can read more about finding a camera or gaining access to video editing knowledge through utilization of the internet or a friend for the camera.

If you don’t have a montage for you studying there is only one way I can think of that can describe your situation

Seriously I don’t know how you study without a montage
-Bradyο»Ώ

Study Abroad!

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Ever wanted to travel abroad? 
Attending college can be a very special time for anybody. The four years (hopefully) is a time for you to learn a lot, make new friends, and most importantly try new things.
In my opinion the first year of college is the most fun. Not to say the rest of college isn’t fun, but most students fall into a pattern of comfort and do the same things over and over again, so why not switch it up your Sophomore or Junior year by studying abroad? 
The University of Massachusetts Lowell has a very large study abroad program and you can study anywhere in the world! You can study abroad any semester, including the summer. 
Studying abroad can definitely be confusing and I’m sure you have a lot of questions so here is some FAQ:
Will the courses I take abroad transfer back to UMass Lowell?
Yes, pending pre-authorization. There is a process to pre-approve the courses that you plan to take for transfer of credits back to UMass Lowell. You must file paperwork with the study abroad advisor to get your coursework approved prior to your departure.   Your grade must be a grade of C- or better in order to receive credit for the course.

Can I get financial aid for a study abroad program?
If you are eligible for financial aid while attending UMass Lowell, you may also be able to receive financial aid from UMass Lowell in order to study abroad. You are considered to still be a student of the university, while you are a full-time student abroad and are therefore eligible to apply for and receive financial aid.
Who can go on study abroad or exchange?
Any UMass Lowell student can study abroad with proper approvals. The GPA requirements vary widely for each study abroad program. Most study abroad programs have a minimum requirement of a 2.5 to a 3.0 cumulative GPA. In addition, most programs require you to be in good academic and disciplinary standing.
Is studying abroad more expensive than my normal college costs?
Not necessarily. It all depends on the program you choose. There are programs available in a large range of costs.

Do I have to speak a foreign language to study abroad?
Sometimes you do. In most cases, knowledge of a foreign language is not required. There are English-speaking countries and programs all over the world. You can do all of your coursework in English, or if you have competency in another language, you may take some or all of your classes in that language!

How many classes can I take while I am on study abroad?
During fall and spring semester programs, students must maintain full-time status at an accredited academic institution while on the study away program. Students typically take four to five classes per semester, just like they do at UMass Lowell. Students who participate in short-term programs in the winter or summer take one to two courses.

I hope that cleared up some possible questions you may have had. If you are interested in studying in a specific location or country. Feel free to check out all the possible study abroad programs offered, located here.
Or you can contact Umass Lowell’s Study Abroad office by phone at 978-934-4660 or by email at: StudyAbroad@uml.edu 
Or you can stop by the office located at: 
UMass Lowell, South Campus  
O’Leary Library, 271M   
Lowell, MA 01854