Read This For a Chuckle or Two

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Okay, we know, you’re burnt out and probably very sick of hearing anything more about school. So we decided to make this blog post a little different. Here’s a list of some entertaining things to get you through the final stretch!

Need a laugh? Check these out:
1. https://www.buzzfeed.com/kaylayandoli/corny-jokes-best-jokes?utm_term=.xoGYYg3g2r#.jcXZZ565Gl

2. http://onelinefun.com/puns/

3. https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2014/11/bad-kids-jokes.html

Need to stretch your brain? Can you figure these out?
1. http://www.funology.com/riddles/

2. http://www.doriddles.com/Riddles/Hard

Hanging out with friends? Grab a deck of cards:
1. https://www.pagat.com/

 Hungry after all that studying? Make these:
1. http://www.delish.com/cooking/g1051/how-to-make-nachos/

2. https://www.tablespoon.com/posts/20-non-alcoholic-party-drinks-everyone-will-love

3. http://cutediyprojects.com/food-and-drinks/24-best-easy-colorful-dessert-recipes-time/
 
 We hope these give you a little break from the academia. Maybe if the views for this blog get past 25, the next one will have memes in it 😉

The End Fast Apporaches!

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(No, this week’s blog isn’t about a potential Doomsday, we will leave that in 2012)

Hello River Hawks! Have you realized that we only have a couple of weeks left in the semester before finals? If you haven’t now is the time to truly focus on the end! You all started out strong, and you definitely want to end strong! Let’s go over some of the things you should keep in mind…

Make sure to set goals and priorities!
While the nice weather seems to have arrived, it is important for you to remember that classes are still going. While it is important to relax and de-stress, it is also important to keep track of all of the assignments you have left. Set goals that you can achieve to keep you motivated to move on. These goals can range from “study X amount of hours each day” or perhaps “Finish X assignment by this date” so on and so forth.

Take advantage of your resources!
As always, we must remind you that CLASS has many resources for you! If you do not know how to study or allot your remaining time, pay them a visit! Calculate your grade in each class, and you can get a better idea of what grades you should aim for in the assignments that remain and the Centers for Learning can help get you there!

Link to website: https://www.uml.edu/class/




Most importantly, never stop believing in yourself!
YOU, have made it this far. YOU  have worked hard to succeed in this semester. So YOU are in control of your future. If you starting to lose hope, take some time to reflect and understand that hard work and determination can surprise you. Once the semester is over, you can then look forward to the Summer ahead. Never forget that you are here for a reason and you will make it!

Time for Advising

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Hello again! It’s advising time!
We’re here to remind you that the advising period runs from April 3rd to April 18th and to refresh you on why you need advising and how to make the most of it.
Why You Need Advising:
  • Your advisors are trained professionals to point you on the most direct path to your goal: your degree.
  • Since they are specific to your major, they can recommend all the best classes
  • They can talk to you about career goals
  • They can help you figure out the work load perfect for your specific needs
  • They can make sure you are not wasting time or money on the wrong classes   
How to Make the Most of Advising:
  • Make an appointment and go to it!
  • Print out your advisement report (found on SiS) and bring it to your appointment 
  • Browse the course catalog (found at uml.edu/now) and come up with an idea of what you’d like to take to run it by your advisor
  • Make a list of any questions you may have so you don’t forget them    
Course selection is one of the exciting things about college, you get to choose your schedule and take classes interesting to you. Make the most of this professional guidance and happy class shopping! 

Stress Management

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Four weeks left Riverhawks!
It’s getting to that time in the semester again. Finals are around the corner, and if you’re like me, you’re staring down a list of deadlines that are coming at you fast.
Don’t fret! The last thing you want to do is stress yourself out to the point where you can’t get anything done. Here are some tips to manage these last few weeks:

  •  Prioritize! Make a list of everything you need to do and take care of things that are due sooner. Map out time to get work done. Knowing you have enough time to do everything will help you breathe easier.
  •  Breathe! And take breaks. Make sure to take 10-15 minute breaks between long stretches of working to avoid burning out your brain. 
  • Make time for fun! Make sure you are rewarding yourself with things you enjoy doing. You’ve heard the saying, “all work and no play…” So make time for play too!
  • Exercise! Physical activity can be refreshing and releases endorphins in your brain. Yoga and stretching are also good for your back and shoulders if you’re spending a lot of time behind a desk.
  • Sleep! And sleep well. Make sure you’re getting plenty of quality z’s to keep you feeling well as you face down your pile of assignments.  
 Hang in there!
You have done so much hard work, just push yourself a little further and you can do it! We believe in you!
 

Back At It Again

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Welcome back Riverhawks! We hope you had a good break!
In case you aren’t feeling fully refreshed or are feeling antsy back on campus, here are some ideas you can use to get back in the swing of things!

  • Clean and rearrange your room. Sometimes the best thing to do is change your scenery, so collab with your roommate and do something new! 
  • Go somewhere new! The commuter train to Boston runs pretty frequently and is very easy to use. And it’s only $10! 
  • Treat Yourself! Explore downtown and treat yourself to something yummy! We recommend Brew’d Awakening or Wings Over Lowell!

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    We apologize for this blog not coming out last week like it was supposed to!

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 
 

Winter Weather Wisdom

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Heeeeelllooooooooo River Hawks! This week we will be touching upon an important subject, winter weather! I am sure that there are a good amount of you guys that got very excited yesterday over the delayed opening that we had and started wondering “when will we have a true snow day?” Well… I don’t have the answer to that, but I do have wisdom to part

Dreadful Conditions
So in the event that “the weather outside is frightful” and classes aren’t canceled, there are a few of very important things to keep in mind. You may already know these things but it doesn’t hurt to emphasize them:
  1. You should still go to class! While you may be disappointed that classes weren’t canceled, that is not an excuse to skip class. At the end of the day, you are still here for an education, and going to class, maximizes your likelihood of success!
  2. Bundle up! This is self-explanatory but you must always ensure that you are dressed properly for the weather because the last thing you want to do is let your health take a hit! (But do not forget that Health Services is always there if you need them!)
  3. Plan ahead! This applies to commuter students. You should always be checking the weather the night before, and making deductions as to whether or not to leave early. Remember, when the weather conditions are bad, so is the traffic, so this helps you avoid being late.

Snow Day Fun
Whenever there actually is a snow, I know that many people get excited. “Yay, no class!” “Yay, I can sleep!” Well, while some of the things that you may say are true, there are also a couple of things to keep in mind in this scenario:
  1. Be safe! If classes are ever canceled, that means that the university is taking action in the interest of STUDENT SAFETY. So what this means is that during this weather, you should try to stay indoors if you are able to and only go out if you need to. Safety first!
  2. Be productive! While you do not have to worry about attending a class that day, that is never an excuse to avoid any assignments that you have actively due. Having a snow day gives you extra time that you didn’t previously have, so why not work on some assignments?