By Breanna Balleby

Are you looking for a fun and productive way to spend your summer? Then you should definitely consider taking classes on campus during summer term! There are over 600 classes offered this summer, so take advantage of all that summer at OSU has to offer.

I love summer classes here at Oregon State because you can continue to work towards your degree with classes that are condensed into a shorter time period, allowing you to really immerse yourself in the course material. One of the best things about summer classes, in my opinion, is that you have the opportunity to focus on one subject at a time. There are many different types of summer courses (bacc core courses, major courses, electives, etc.) and they vary by how long the course runs. For example, some courses are only 3-4 weeks long while others range between 8-10 weeks. You can choose to take multiple summer courses during the same session, but it’s also nice to take some of the shorter sessions, allowing you to really narrow in on that one subject. So whether you want to take a couple of classes to get ahead, need to retake a course, or are looking to complete a series of courses (such as language courses) in only one term…summer term is for you!

For those of you who are out-of-state, you’ll be pleased to hear that everyone pays in-state prices for tuition and fees during summer term! What a great perk! I encourage everyone to browse the OSU Summer Session website for more information about the many classes and programs offered during summer term. Additionally, I suggest that you meet with your CLA Advisor to chat about which summer classes might work best for you. Be sure to call and schedule an appointment soon though, because registration for Summer 2014 already opened on April 13!

 

 

By Breanna Balleby

Hello there, first-year College of Liberal Arts students! Guess what? It’s Week 3 of this very beautiful Spring term and it’s time to celebrate the beginning of the end of your first year at Oregon State University. How might you go about doing this? By attending the College of Liberal Arts Matriculation Ceremony this Wednesday, April 16 at 4:30 p.m. in Milam 026 (a.k.a. the very large lecture hall in Milam), of course.

The Matriculation Ceremony is a celebratory event focused on recognizing your first-year achievements in CLA, mingling with fellow Liberal Arts folk, and inspiring you to continue to excel in your studies here at OSU and beyond. We will be giving you treats and beverages as well as providing opportunities to win prizes! An important part of the evening will include meeting your major advisor. Through this entire first year, you’ve been meeting with your CLA Advisor in the Central Advising Office in Gilkey. Now that your CLA Advisor has helped you to feel settled in your major and at OSU, you now will gain the guidance of your major advisor who will be able to help you determine your major courses, find major-specific internship and study abroad opportunities, and so much more related to your own discipline. Myself and the other CLA Student Ambassadors will also be there to chat and help answer any questions you might have.

It is also important to meet your major advisor because you will need to get your fall registration pin from them so that you can register by mid-May!

So, if you haven’t already marked it on your calendar, go do it right now, you won’t want to miss this memorable event. I look forward to seeing you on Wednesday at 4:30 in the Milam auditorium!

By Logan Pedersen

Looking to get more involved on campus as well as boost your resume? Oregon State has over 300 clubs on campus and new ones are emerging every term! If you’re looking to get more involved with the OSU community, become a leader, apply your strengths, and build your resume at the same time, then you might think about joining a new club, becoming a member, taking the initiative to become an officer, or even founding your own club.

If you’re looking to find a new club, you might want to start by checking out one of these:

1) The Ballroom Dance Club: If you like to get your groove on then this club is definitely for you! Take your Friday and Saturday night dancing to the next level by coming and getting a free lesson from students who are proficient in dance performance and style. Whether you’re a first time beginner or have been dancing your whole life, this club will get you jumping and jiving till the sun goes down! (Wednesdays WB 116, Lesson 7-8pm, Open Dance 8-10pm).

2) Psychology Club: Are you interested in learning more about how humans interact with one another and how your own brain functions? Psych Club puts students though personality tests that tell you more about yourself and the people around you. In addition, the club brings in guest speakers from the OSU community to talk about cutting edge research! (Wednesdays Milam 123, Meeting 6-7pm). 1) The Ballroom Dance Club: If you like to get your groove on then this club is definitely for you! Take your Friday and Saturday night dancing to the next level by coming and getting a free lesson from students who are proficient in dance performance and style. Whether you’re a first time beginner or have been dancing your whole life, this club will get you jumping and jiving till the sun goes down! (Wednesdays WB 116, Lesson 7-8pm, Open Dance 8-10pm).

3) Young Life: If you’re looking to get more involved with a Christian community then this would be a great group to help you strengthen your faith and meet with other students who share similar values. Dinner is served, and a guest speaker shares advice on life. Afterwards, students socialize with one another! (Tuesdays off campus, Gathering 8-10pm, more info on the group’s Facebook page).

4) Intramural Sports: For those looking to add some exercise and action to their weekly routine, intramural sports is always a great way to get out and meet new people while having fun and getting a workout in. You can find all the spring term leagues at this web address: http://oregonstate.edu/recsports/spring-leagues.

There is a great number of clubs here at OSU. For a complete listing, including their meeting times, you can go to the OSU web site: http://oregonstate.edu/seac/sos/find_org. As the weather starts to get warmer it’s a great time to become more active, meet new people, and get more involved in your community. Let that BEAVER PRIDE show!

 

 

By Alison Blazer

Greetings fellow Beavers!

 

Spring term is here, which means Beaver Nation is about to get a case of Spring Fever! Many of us have experienced it before, and as a graduating senior, I feel it is my duty to caution my fellow classmates. Days full of sunshine, Frisbee on the quad and iced beverages are coming our way, Beaver Nation, and we need to prepare!

This blog entry is going to offer a few helpful tips on how to plan ahead for a productive term. So read up, and let this be your remedy for Spring Fever!

1. Buy a planner- it’s never too late!

Whether you’ve managed to misplace your heavily used agenda over Spring Break, or have never before owned one, make your planner your new best friend. Having a concrete, hard copy of your schedule is never a bad idea. It allows students to better visualize the next 10 weeks, which believe me, are going to fly by sooner than you expect! So what do you put in this magical new life organizer, you ask?

2.See those syllabi? Transfer all those deadlines over to your new planner!

Here’s your answer! Syllabus week is all fun and games until you realize those packets of paper actually contain serious deadlines to large, looming assignments. Utilize your planner to organize all of the upcoming deadlines for papers, projects, and tests. If you’re like me, and want to be really thorough, you could even include quizzes, assigned readings, and other small assignments.

3. Be realistic.

Don’t overestimate your academic motivation, but then again, don’t underestimate yourself! Spring term can be carried out with the same determination as all terms prior. You just need to be realistic with yourself. Understand that the sunshine and friends offering to grab a bite to eat at a restaurant with some nice outdoor seating can be very distracting. Know yourself, and know your priorities.

4. Reach out for help.

Spring Fever can get the best of any of us—don’t be afraid to ask for help! Your academic advisor, your friends and even your parents *gasp* are there for you and want to see you do well at OSU. In addition to the many individual sources of support students can turn to, there are numerous tools that can be found both on our campus and beyond on the world wide web.

OSU’s Academic Success Center offers academic support to the entire student body and aims to assist students in numerous academic capacities. The ASC houses several different programs, including Academic Coaching, the Writing Center, and Academic Learning Services courses. You can schedule an appointment at the Center (located in Waldo Hall 102) by calling (541) 737-2272. These appointments are absolutely free for both undergraduate and graduate students, and you can even schedule a series of appointments throughout the upcoming term!

The ASC also offers a very helpful one-page “Term at a Glance” calendar on their website for free download. Access it here: http://success.oregonstate.edu/learning-corner/term-long-planning

In additon to OSU’s campus resources, there are always tons of tools available on the web. For instance, did you know there are websites designed to help you lock yourself out of your own Facebook account for a specified amount of time? Several of these sites require a browser add-on, but are completely free and can hugely increase your productivity during those tough-to-beat days full of sunshine.

Check out some recommended sites here:

Facebook Limiter

Productivity Owl

Hack My Study

5.  Get involved.

Is there an organization or club you’ve been meaning to get involved with? Feel like it’s too late? Good news—it’s never too late! Although most campus groups heavily recruit new members during the beginning of the academic year in the fall, there is nothing wrong with dipping your toes into the water right now. Come fall term, members of the club of your dreams could already be familiar with you and what you can offer them and you could already be comfortable attending meetings, events, etc. What’s the harm in that? Similarly, if it’s your very last term at OSU and you still haven’t gotten everything you want out of your extracurricular self, get out there! Try your hand in student government, volunteer at the food pantry, or go create something exquisite at the craft center! The Corvallis campus is your oyster, so enjoy it!

6. Have a little fun in the sun (and maybe fit some snoozing in too)!

Last, but not least, remember to have fun! Productivity is nothing without the reward. So whatever it is that you do to relax and enjoy your time, whether it be alone or with a group of friends, make sure you find some space in that nifty planner to block out some you time. Among all of the papers, the involvement, and the fun, you also have to remember to sleep! Slammed for time? Combine your intake of Vitamin D with some shuteye in a patch of sun on the MU Quad.

With that, I wish you all the best of luck! Plan ahead and utilize the tools I’ve listed above and you’re sure to have a memorable and productive term! Go get ‘em Beavs!

 

 

 

By Katy Krieger

Spring Break is right around the corner and many people want to return next term revived and ready to rumble! In honor of this idea, I have put together a list of ways to restyle your life.

Fashion week showed that slicked back hairstyles are on trend for all genders so give this look a try by polishing up your locks. Also, try lightening your hair color for something new (the honey hues will add some warmth and golden tones will pop out after being drab during winter)

Invest in some brightly colored kicks to draw attention to your feet as you hike around campus- might I suggest a personal favorite of mine which are TOMS http://www.toms.com/

Add some drama to your living quarters with a graphic new rug or chair (psssttt IKEA trip anyone?)

Download new and free apps on your smartphone to organize your life because there are some great ones out there that go beyond the simple calendar or alarm

Take inspiration from Beyoncé and go vegan/vegetarian for a while to add some new foods into your life and cut down on your environmental footprint

Join a social media challenge that fits what part of your life you want to change- personally I join the fashion challenges on Instagram that give you a new direction each day to take your style in such as stripes one day and an old world glamour look the next

Stretch it out, no seriously I mean literally stretch it out because we can get tight and wound up all day so giving our bodies a chance to reset itself is a very easy way to balance everything

Commit to an item or two on your bucket list so that you can really feel like you are starting the term off by accomplishing some wonderful things (bonus points if you get others to check off their lists as well)

Donate some of your old clothes or textiles, give a few hours to a local group serving the community or help a neighbor with their spring cleaning so that your change reaches more than just you

I hope these tips can help you reboot things and as you do remember the following, “Keep it Simple”!

 

By Katy Krieger

As we finish up the term it is often a time to relax our shoulders a bit or want to shrug off final projects and exams. DON’T GIVE IN! Many of you started the term strong and that’s how you should all end it. Here are some tried and true tips to finishing up your courses before heading off to Spring Break.

Try reorganizing, rearranging or redecorating your room or living arrangements: Often times we get stuck looking at the same things over and over again and it can be not only a nice change but also a new way to gain perspective.

Make meals ahead of time and stockpile your freezer: Aim to make a bigger meal that will last you through dead week or finals weeks (try veggie lasagna or a crockpot meal) because we often spend time during the week planning and preparing meals that could be put towards studying or we let our healthy eating go and replace it with fast food which is not good for your brain to run on.

Dress it up: Looking good can relate to feeling better or more positive about your environment so instead of grabbing sweats all week try to put in a few more minutes with your wardrobe and add some pizzazz to your look (plus all those compliments will put a smile on that stressed out face).

Plan mini breaks: If we go strong all the time we will find ourselves run down and tired so make sure you schedule in some free time for your brain to reset itself.

Keep up the exercise: Always stay on track with working out or being active because it will greatly improve your mood and you’ll be motivated to rock your exams and your yoga class.

Make a playlist: Music can really set your mind up in a particular place so identify (1) what you are doing like studying biology versus writing a history paper and (2) a genre, artist or band that fits what you want.

Work on a variety of projects not  just one: Don’t just focus on one subject for hours on end but instead work piece by piece through your assignments prioritizing what is due first or what final comes early in the week.

Know your resources: Office hours are still available, form a study group or pair up with someone in class to work, visit the writing center or a tutor for an extra set of eyes on a paper and definitely access the free events/lectures/CAPS/puppies in the quad/pancake breakfasts on campus.

Good luck to everyone on your final weeks of winter term and whatever you do make sure you finish how you started STRONG!

By David Nauss

This past term, as part of the requirements to graduate from Oregon State with a degree in Political Science, I have been interning at the State Capitol for Senator Brian Boquist of Dallas. This internship has been an amazing experience and I am going to tell you all a little bit about how I got the internship, what I have been doing and lastly some advice for those reading who are looking for an internship.

I had been applying to many different law firms looking for an internship but nothing was very successful. I had received a few interviews but did not receive any offers so I decided to broaden my search. At about this time as well, I became very good friends and roommates with one of Senator Boquist’s sons. He helped me make the connection with Senator Boquist. Last term (fall) I emailed the Senator and we worked out a schedule. I started working at the Capitol at beginning of winter term.

At the Capitol I have been doing a little bit of everything. The first few weeks I was working mostly with the Republican Caucus office. This is because the short legislative session had not started so the Senator did not have a lot of work for me to do. The Caucus office had me helping to write a memo to be sent out to the Republican Caucus on some bills and I did some organizational work for the Caucus. Once the legislative session started Senator Boquist has been giving me various jobs. One of my main jobs is to respond to constituent emails. At first this seems to be a dull task but it is actually quite interesting. I get to see what people are thinking about bills and then must find a way to respond to them in a positive way without telling them how the Senator actually will vote on the bill, even if I know he will vote in the opposite way the person wants. I also perform a lot of research. There are over a hundred bills going through this short legislative session, therefore the Senators do not always know what exactly the details are on every bill. For this reason, I research bills to find their content, the impact they could have on the state and where the bill is in the legislative process, meaning is the bill on the House side or the Senate side, is it in committee or out of committee. Lastly I do any administrative business that needs to be taken care of such as printing or making packets of information on bills. Overall my internship is very diverse and exciting. There is always something to do or a problem to solve.

If you are looking for an internship here are some suggestions I have. First, Have a broad search. Be open to doing various things. Look at government agencies and organizations, non-profits and private sector internships. The skills you learn in one can be used in all areas. Secondly, Work the connections you have. Ask friends, family, professors and your advisor for any opportunities they may know of. They may be of great help in finding an internship, they were for me. Thirdly, Use other OSU resources as well to find internships look at list serves and Beaver Job Net.  Some excellent opportunities pop up on those types of emails or websites. Lastly when you do get that internship make sure to dive into the experience. Go in with an open mind and willing to learn because if you put effort into the internship you will learn many useful skills.

Good luck on your internship search and future internships.

 

 

By Morgan Willer

Hey everyone and welcome to Week 8. I can’t believe this term has flown by so fast! I’m here to talk to you all about one of my favorite parts of Oregon State, which is all the amazing lectures that are put on by our faculty and by visiting lecturers. To some of you it may seem a little strange to spend your night going to a lecture, mostly because you probably get enough of that in class. But hear me out! These lectures offered by the university are based on current research, are discussed by people who are passionate about their projects (which always makes it more interesting for the listener), and are a great way to keep up to date in your field. All schools within CLA contribute, and of course lectures happen outside of CLA as well. I encourage you to go to one or two that sound interesting (there are usually several a week), and at least give it a try. You will never again after graduation be surrounded by so much knowledge and opportunity so take advantage now! I will invite friends who share the same interests as me and we get coffee together before the event. Sometimes we even find ourselves taking notes. The point is we make it fun and often find ourselves talking about the event days after, because usually they are quite inspirational! For example my friend and I just saw the talk with John Hunter who shared information about his 4^th grade class and a game designed to teach his students about world peace. We left inspired and excited that we had the chance to hear him share his story. Events are always posted on the CLA calendar online but I’ve compiled a list of the latest events here for you! For descriptions of events check the CLA calendar, and remember they are always FREE.

 http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/edge/2014/02/24/cla-week-22414/ 

Events

February 24

Anarchism and the Occupy Movement. 4:00 p.m., MU Journey. Nathan Schneider – author of Thank You, Anarchy: Notes from the Occupy Apocalypse – will discuss the origins and development of Occupy Wall Street, a social movement that remains as significant as it is misunderstood. He will explore the movement’s strategy and spirit, including its little-recognized religious dimensions, both explicit and implicit.

 

Why the World Needs Religious Studies. 7:00 p.m., MU Journey. What can you do with a religion degree, anyway? Nathan Schneider , a former religious studies major who now works as a journalist in New York City, will talk about why the kinds of thinking practiced in religious studies are vitally important outside academia and how religion majors can use their skills to make a living—and change the world for the better.

February 25

Climate Club-Sandwich Lunch: Environmental philosopher Allen Thompson and wildlife biologist and author Cristina Eisenberg will present a “braided lecture” addressing ethics, land-use, and wildlife in the context of a changing climate. The lecture will take place in MU 206 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. The lecture series, a collaboration between EAHI and OCCRI, is designed to spur conversations about climate change among people of different academic backgrounds.

 

Please join us for a research presentation by Crystal Boson, a candidate for the position of Assistant Professor in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Professor Boson’s lecture, “Magical Black Women and Virtual Possession: Race, Gender, and Religious Performance in Popular Culture,” will be held in MU 213, 12:00 p.m.  Using her theoretical lens of the performative crash site, Crystal Boson examines the violent intersections between images of Hoodoo, Black women’s bodies, and popular culture consumption.

 

Blood Avocados, Drug Cartels, and the Crisis of Democracy in Mexico.  12:00 p.m., Milam Hall 319.  Professor Victor Vargas of the Universidad Latina de America in Michoacan, Mexico will discuss the political violence in Mexico between drug cartels and armed vigilante groups formed by farmers that threatens to destabilize the region.

 

World-renowned philosopher Graham Harman will be giving a free public lecture on the French theorist Bruno Latour at 4:00 p.m. in the Ag Sciences Hall at LaSells. Harman  is Distinguished University Professor at the American University in Cairo. He is the author of many books, most recently Bells and Whistles: More Speculative Realism (2013), Weird Realism: Lovecraft and Philosophy (2012), The Quadruple Object (2011), and Quentin Meillassoux: Philosophy in the Making (2011). He is the editor of the Speculative Realism book series at Edinburgh University Press, and (with Bruno Latour) co-editor of the New Metaphysics book series at Open Humanities Press.

 

A Passage to India. 6:00 p.m., Milam Hall, 301. The Religious Studies Club invites one and all to a screening one of the 5-time Academy Award winning film “A Passage to India” based on the E. M. Forster 1924 novel. Admission and refreshments are free!

February 26

Oregon State Chamber Winds, directed by Dr. Christopher Chapman, will be giving a free, public concert in Albany at 7:30 p.m. in the First Christian Church, 432 SW Ferry Street. Their program includes Frank Ticheli’s “Songs of Love and Life,” featuring OSU music student, Melissa Simpson, soprano; and Malcolm Arnold’s “Water Music.” Chamber Winds will perform in Corvallis on March 4 at 7:30 p.m. with the OSU Wind Symphony and Campus Band, as the LaSells Stewart Center.

 

American Conversations Lecture Series Presents: Prof. Nicole von Germeten, “How to Write on Spanish American Sexuality: Changing the Focus from the Honor Code to Emotional History,” introduced and moderated by Prof. Peter Betchemann, 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. in the Memorial Union Asian/Pacific Room (206). Sponsored by the Center for the Humanities, with support from the School of Writing, Literature, and Film, and the School of History, Philosophy, and Religion.

February 27

Green Village Schools and the Future of Afghanistan. 3:00 p.m., MU208 (LaRaza Room). Dr. Mohammad Khan Kharoti is an Afghan American who since 2001 has been living out his dream of providing quality education for children in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan where he grew up. Kharoti will talk about his work and that of Portland-based Green Village Schools, a nonprofit committed to increasing literacy in rural, underserved areas of Afghanistan.

 

John Frohnmayer, former chairman of the National Endowment of the Arts, will speak about his life experiences and First Amendment issues at 7:00 p.m in the Agriculture Production Room at the LaSells Stewart Center. The lecture, “Second Thoughts of a First Amendment Radical: Slathering Politics, Religion, Philosophy and Art on Burned American Toast,” is free and open to the public.

February 28

Music à la Carte: Pianist Sunghee Kim will perform in recital at 12:00 p.m. in the Memorial Union Lounge. Admission is free.

 

I Have Had Singing: The 2014 Orange & Black Vocal Scholarship Concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the First United Methodist Church, 1165 N Monroe St. This annual concert will feature performances by the Bella Voce, Chamber Choir, Glee, and the OSU Meistersingers, with pre-concert entertainment by the a cappella groups Outspoken, Divine, and Powerchord. Professor Emeritus Ron Jeffers will be honored for his contributions to music education in Oregon. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Advance tickets are available at www.tickettomato.com/event.php?event_id=2240. One-hundred percent of the proceeds from this concert benefit music scholarships for singers.

Upcoming Events

March 2: Corvallis-OSU Symphony Concert: The 3:00 p.m. program at LaSells Stewart Center includes Strauss’ “Sinfonia Domestica” and Vaughan Williams’ Tuba Concerto, featuring OSU tuba instructor JáTtik Clark. Tickets are $18-$30 in advance, $20-$32 at the door. For ticket locations or to purchase advance tickets online go to: http://www.cosusymphony.org/.

 

March 3: The Oregon State University Wind Ensemble, directed by Dr. Christopher Chapman, will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the LaSells Stewart Center. The concert, titled “Frozen Cathedrals,” will feature guest conductor, Frank Tracz, of Kansas State University. Admission is free to OSU staff, faculty, and students with ID. K-12 youth are also admitted for free. General admission tickets are $10 at the door. OSU Bands participates in Corvallis Arts for All, offering up to two, $5 tickets for those in the SNAP program with an Oregon Trail Card.

 

The School of Public Policy brownbag series continues Friday, Mar. 7, when Dr. Rorie Solberg (Political Science) will present “Media Coverage of the Supreme Court.” The brownbag will run from noon-1:00 in Fairbanks 304. The SPP brownbag is open to all members of the OSU community.

News

Oregon State Glee choir director James Davidson presented “Change the World: Sing” at TEDxSalem in November. Davidson’s talk was just recently posted on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SU_AB4uyHxc  In addition to the talk seen in the video, the Glee choir joined Davidson on stage, to perform two pieces, U2′s “Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” and John Mayer’s “Waiting on the World to Change” both arranged by Deke Sharon. In addition to conducting the OSU Glee choir, Davidson the choir director at First United Methodist Church in Corvallis and is the student activities chair for the Northwest division of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA.)

 

Ryan Biesack, percussion instructor and director of the OSU Jazz Ensemble, is a member of Douglas Detrick’s AnyWhen Ensemble. The group will be artists-in-residence at Adelphi University in Garden City, New York from March 6 – 8, giving workshops, private lessons and a concert, partly in support of their recently recorded album on Parma records, set for release in March. For more information:

 

http://parmarecordings.blogspot.com/2013/10/new-parma-artist-douglas-detricks.html
http://douglasdetrick.com/anywhen/

http://aupac.adelphi.edu/newsevent/new-music-at-adelphi-ix-anywhen-ensemble/

Awards and Honors

At the 2014 Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, Ken Albala’s latest book, Grow Food, Cook Food, Share Food: Perspectives on Eating from the Past and a Preliminary Agenda for the Future, recently published by OSU Press, won in the category of Culinary History. The book of course is based on the lectures Ken delivered as the Horning Visiting Scholar in the fall of 2011. See http://oregonstate.edu/cla/shpr/horning-visiting-scholar-program for details of Albala’s lectures @ OSU.

Current Research, Publications and Creative Activity

Jacob Darwin Hamblin will be presenting “A Glaring Defect in the System”: Nuclear Safeguards, the Developing World, and the Invisibility of Technology” on March 2nd at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich.   The conference, entitled The Making of a Nuclear Order: Negotiating the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty  is sponsored by the Center for Security Studies (CSS) at ETH Zurich, in association with the Nuclear Proliferation International History Project (NPIHP).

 

SPS Faculty member Dr. Frank Bernieri, Presented the following research at the annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Austin, TX. Several of his collaborators are undergraduate and graduate psychology students.

• Vicaria, I. M., Bernieri, F. J., & Isaacowitz, D. M. (February, 2014). Perceptions of Rapport across the Life Span: Gaze Patterns and Judgment Accuracy.
• Devens, S. S., SPS Undergraduate * Krieger, K. L., Brown, J. A., & Bernieri, F. J. (February, 2014). Facial Width-to-Height Ratio Predicts Testosterone Related Traits and Behaviors.
• Raymond, A., Bernieri, F. J., & Brown, J. A. (February, 2014). Changes in Emotional Intelligence: A Test-Retest of the MSCEIT. Raymond is a MAIS student majoring in psychology.
• Sim, S. Y., Brown, J. A., & Bernieri, F. J. (February, 2014). Intelligence Judgments are Misleading at First but Improve over Time.
• Krieger, K. L., Brown, J. A., & Bernieri, F. J. (February, 2014). You Can Trust a Pretty Face: Perceived Physical Attractiveness and the Use of Credibility Linguistic Markers.

 

 

By Katy Krieger

Greetings from Austin, Texas!

This past week I spent my time at a Social and Personality Psychology conference in Austin where I presented my research, went to a lot of interesting lectures and most of all made CONNECTIONS!

Conferences are an opportunity for established professors, graduate students and undergraduates to get together and really focus in on the work they’ve been doing over the past year. I myself was able to present my honor’s thesis project at a poster session during the conference and be a co-author on another poster. In this blog I will give you some insider info on how to maximize a conference trip and make attending conferences a staple for any undergraduate’s career.

• The first time you attend a conference see if you can go as more of a spectator than a presenter. This will ease the pressure and help you get into the material being presented and the overall lay of the land when it comes to a conference (believe me the whole experience is an action packed sequence of events so be prepared to move, move, move)
• If you are presenting, prepare your materials ahead of time and practice as much as possible because you are not in the little leagues but instead are speaking to some of the world’s foremost thinkers in the subject area(s)
• Dress professionally and act professionally at all times. This may seem obvious but you never know who is watching at a restaurant or in the elevator and it may just be a future mentor you applied to work for at a graduate program
• Bring business cards and be prepared to give out lots of contact information because one of the biggest benefits to attending a conference is connecting and setting up future collaborations
• Step out of your comfort zone and attend an event or lecture you may not be completely informed about. Most of the time you are just listening in the audience so the stakes are low but you never know where you will get a new idea or inspiration
• Enjoy the conference site! Seriously a lot of effort goes into the conference city selection and getting out to sight-see is another way to run into people from the conference as well as experience some great culture, music, food and historical sites

If you are considering graduate school in the slightest I definitely recommend finding a conference to attend because you will meet so many future connections that really help you get into programs to work toward your bright future! Ask advisors in your major, organize with a group of people in your research lab or club, work with your current mentor or professor to identify conferences that may work for you, and absolutely put in the investment because the return is incredible!

By Julissa Rachor

“What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.”

― John Steinbeck, Travels with Charley: In Search of America

Are you feeling cooped up? Stressed from classes? Or need a detox from the troubles of life? Well, what better way to relieve all that than centering all your energy on a physical activity that benefits you!

So as we roll into week 7 of the term (I know, yikes!), just remember to breathe. The term is almost over, but at the same time we have deadlines looming, midterms finishing up, finals in sight and papers galore! However, the best thing to do is DONT SWEAT it, or rather do, but do it in a way where you let off the steam of a bad grade or an overload on studying by engaging in an activity that will calm you or at least make you feel a lot better. Studies have shown that exercising does help to release endorphins which give you a natural high, helping to relieve the stress you’re feeling and allowing your body to relax and break the fight or flight cycle it’s been stuck in, if you’ve had an overly stressful day.

Take for instance, Dixon Recreational Center. You know, that one place across from the IM fields where people go inside to work out and come out feeling like a million bucks?! Well, Dixon is actually loaded with great activities for everyone, below is a small list of the different programs and departments offered at Dixon. The best part to remember is that almost all of these activities are already counted into your student fees, so that means you don’t have to pay for them!

-Body Pump

-Beaver Strides

-DamFit

-Personal Trainers

-Mind Spa

-Massage Therapist

-Fit Classes (Zumba, power lifting, etc)

-Swimming

-Cardio and Indoor track

-Weight room (2)

-Rock Wall climbling

-Adventure Leadership

-Nutritionists

Personally I’ve used pretty much used all of these programs at Dixon, either from attending Zumba with my friends, using the swimming pool, getting my rock climbing certification, to even having my own personal trainer (shout out to Kristen Anderson). Needless to say, I love Dixon.

Now I’m sure there are a few individuals out there however that are probably asking, but Julissa what if I want to take my adventure outside? Well, if you’re a runner (or just like to goof off and have a good time) I would definitely suggest grabbing a group of your closest friends 2,3, 5, or 9 and signing up for a 5k Color Run, Mud Run, Tough Mudder, or my personal favorite, the Rugged Maniac. I did the Rugged Maniac last Spring term with my best friend, needless to say it was a good muddy time, filled with laughs, scratches and awesome candid photos.

Though, for the adventure junkies out there, who need a little more of an adrenaline rush theres the Adventure Leadership Institute offered by Oregon State University. Students are given the chance to learn in the wildest and most remote classrooms in the Pacific Northwest — from the forest, to the high desert, to rugged cascade peaks and glaciers. You can find yourself rock climbing on Smith Rock to whitewater rafting to backpacking. Learning all the necessary ways on how to do it efficiently and effectively.

For my last tid-bit, because it will happen eventually to you, is how to eat a little more healthy when midterms and finals are approaching, or just a busy life in general.

Below is my list of the small things you can bring with you to class, the library or even to Dixon to sate your appetite, the healthy way.

-Carrots and celery paired with hummus

-Greek yogurt with chocolate/caramel rice cakes

-Quest bars or Cliff Bars (can purchase at the library eCafe)

-Light string cheese

-Turkey Jerky (low cal and low-fat)

-Dark Chocolate

So now that I’ve given you a little brief overview on how to relieve the stress that is week 7, I’ll leave you a couple links in the case that anything I’ve said has struck a chord and has caught your interest. Good Luck on midterms and Finals everyone and hopefully I’ll see you around Dixon or one of the many 5k runs!

 

http://www.ruggedmaniac.com/events-details/items/portland-or-2014.html

http://www.colormerad.com/race/eugene

http://oregonstate.edu/recsports/indoor-climbing-center

http://oregonstate.edu/recsports/fitness

http://oregonstate.edu/recsports/adventure-leadership-certificate