By Angel Martinez

Greetings ladies and gents! I sincerely hope your first week of college is jumping off fantastically. For those of you living in the resident halls this year, I have a few tips that will help you get through this year.

Leave Your Door Open: In the resident halls people are always coming and going. If you’re in your room but want a little bit of socialization, simply leave your door open. It gives off a welcoming vibe to the people walking by. Even if they don’t stop to chat, they’ll most likely look in while passing (it happens more often than not), and at the very least they’ll start to recognize your face. Next thing you know you’re passing them on campus, or somewhere between the hall and the dinning center, and since they recognize you they’ll be more likely to start talking to you. I met one of my best friends my freshmen year in McNary just from doing this and being open to talking to everyone in my hall.

Utilize the Study Room: It’s noisy! You have a test tomorrow! It’s late enough that you don’t want to walk ALL the way to the library, but quiet hours have yet to activate…. AHHH! Well may I recommend the study room? Every resident hall has one and it…is…quiet. Even if the library doesn’t seem like an impossible option, the pro to the study room is you’re still near the dinning center in case you need some power food, or if you forget that important study guide in your room you don’t have to leave the building to retrieve it.

Don’t be Afraid to Communicate. Neither you nor your roommate wants to spend the next 9 months in a super tense room because one of you does something that bothers the other but they won’t say anything. Talk to your roommate. Find out their pet peeves. Maybe even keep a list around. If something is going wrong, talk it out, and work together. Living with someone and making it work takes communication, compromise, and understanding.

Ears Open and Involved: There is so much happening within your hall every week. One of the best ways to get involved is to join Hall Council. If you don’t feel like you have enough time to commit to being a member you can still attend the weekly hall meetings. The meetings go over plans and events for your hall. They even decide how to spend the money that residents paid, in order to live there (psst.. that’s your money too). If all else fails, pay attention to the posters that are hung up, and go to those events. Get out there, network, make some friends, and learn about the people you live with. Trust me, it can’t be all done on Facebook.

Beat the Rush: Whether you’re trying to take a quick shower, or want to grab some grub before going to class, nothing is much more annoying than encountering a long line. Solution; Figure out when time the rush happens. For me while doing laundry, the room was empty most nights, but good luck finding an empty washer on Saturdays. Once you figure out when rushes happen, you’ll be able to know when the best time is to avoid the lines all together.

Bed Time, What?: I know! You’re an adult, bed times are for children, and with that 24oz cup of Starbucks you can run on 2hours of sleep for a week. There are so many reasons why getting a proper amount of sleep is important for your health, and performance in the class room. But it can be tempting to stay up and watch Avatar with your buddies in the lounge at midnight with an 8am class the next morning. My best suggestion is to start the term off with a set schedule. If you know you have an 8am class, but need to wake up at 6:30 to get ready, plan to get to bed by 10. If you start this pattern earlier in the term it’ll benefit you in the long run.

Living in the resident halls has left a big imprint on my heart, and I will carry memories from that experience with me for a lifetime. I hope that you all will share this feeling at the end of your residence life experience.

By Morgan Willer

College is about choosing your own path, finding your passion, and opening your mind to new opportunities and ideas. Coming to college I’m sure you have expectations about the friends you will make, the classes you will take, and all the opportunities available to you. I would like to open your mind to one opportunity that you may or may not have considered, going Greek.

Just by choosing to go through the recruitment process you will meet ambitious ladies or gentlemen who are already established on campus. Joining a house means a lot more than a few letters on a sweatshirt. It means having a focus on academics and wanting to succeed at OSU and in the future. It means participating in community service and wanting to help your community be successful. It means that you are social, love to meet new people, and you respect the diversity of others. It means coming together as a community when times get tough and knowing that everyone will work together. But most importantly it means you have a support system, not just for four years in college, but for a lifetime.  There will always be someone there to help you, to motivate you, and to laugh with you.

Going Greek will help you become the best version of yourself, and as students, I think that’s what we strive for when we enter college. As a fellow OSU student, and a member of Greek Life, I encourage you to try out the recruitment process. I promise you that it will only enhance your college experience and enhance your life. For more information visit the Center for Fraternity and Sorority Life.

By Kerry Thomas, Academic Advisor

Hello and welcome to all of our new Beaver Believers! The CLA advising office is excited to see vans, moving trucks, parents, students and volunteers all over campus getting students settled in for the school year.  If you are new to campus, there are a few things we would like to tell you about Connect week and the first week of class to make your transition a little smoother.

First, print a new copy of your class schedule and walk to each of your classrooms.  Finding your building among all of the trees and brick buildings on campus is only half the battle. Some buildings on campus are a little challenging to navigate, so make sure to identify where each class will be located before the start of the term.

Second, GO TO CLASS! Start off your first term with good academic habits.  Attending classes is one of the strongest predictors for earning good grades.  If you find yourself struggling in your classes, or if you are nervous about starting your first college classes, go over to the Academic Success Center in 102 Waldo Hall and attend a success workshop, meet with an academic coach, get support from the writing center, or identify tutoring resources in order to improve your academic performance.

Third, this is CONNECT week, GO MAKE CONNECTIONS! Utilize the resources and workshops that New Student Programs has prepared for you. Most importantly, come over to the College of Liberal Arts Barbecue this Thursday afternoon on the front lawn of Gilkey Hall.  Free food starts at 12:30 and we will be giving away tons of prizes including shirts, coffee mugs, gift certificates, season tickets to the OSU theater and many other items.  This is also a great opportunity to meet your fellow Liberal Arts peers, your faculty and to say hi to the CLA advising staff!

Finally, have fun! CONNECT week is your first taste of OSU and all it has to offer to you.  Explore new clubs, greek life, attend a football game, buy something orange to wear and figure out what it means to you to be a BEAVER!

By Kerry Thomas, Academic Advisor

Hey all you graduating CLA seniors, are you ready for commencement?  As a former OSU CLA grad myself, I know that this is a time of busy-ness, excitement, packing, planning, and a little sadness.  As you are getting ready to say goodbye to OSU and your undergraduate years, make sure you do some very important things.

Take care of Administrative Details: talk with an advisor to make sure your graduation requirements are all met, make sure your forwarding address is correct in online services, check in with the alumni center if you want a membership, and make sure you know about your final bills, loan information, and all other financial details. You don’t want to leave OSU feeling stressed out about loose ends.

Finish your classes successfully: Wake up, go to class, turn in your final papers, and study for your tests… I know it may sound silly, but with the sun out and senioritis in full swing, it can be really tempting to check out early. Don’t give in to those urges, finish your academic career strong and avoid having to take summer classes because you failed a spring term course you needed to graduate.

Enjoy OSU: Eat at your favorite restaurant(s), take a walk around campus and enjoy all of the spring flowers, go to a sporting event or a concert, take a nap in the MU lounge, and play Frisbee in the quad. This may be the last time you will be in Corvallis for a while, soak up everything that makes you happy to live here as a student!

Say Thank You: Tell your parents, your professors, your advisors, your office staff, your friends and your extended family THANK YOU! There are many people who have supported you along your journey, take a minute and thank them for the influence that they have had on your educational journey.

CELEBRATE! You are graduating! WOOHOO! It’s time to kick up your heels and celebrate what an accomplishment this is! The College of Liberal Arts is throwing you a party the morning of commencement, so stop by, get some food, hug your faculty, walk around Gilkey Hall, record your words of advice for future first year students, and take your picture with the first lady! Details below:

• Sunday, June 17^th
• 11:30-1:30 (the reception will end when grads need to line up for commencement)
• Front Lawn of Gilkey Hall
• A brief program at noon from the Dean and the School Heads
• Lots of tasty food
• Video record advice that you would pass on to incoming freshmen in the Liberal Arts
• Get your picture taken with a cardboard cutout of OSU’s Commencement Speaker and First Lady, Michelle Obama

To close this blog, I have some thoughts from some of my graduating CLA Ambassadors.

Amber Gomes with a piece of advice

I’m pretty terrible at planning. I mean I can make a plan like “Hey let’s go to the midnight premiere of Avengers” or “meet at Coldstone for ice cream after work” but then when it comes to major life plans I swear I do the stupidest things. For example I’m graduating this year… last June I applied for Peace Corps, and then this last September, when I should have been applying for grad schools, I did nothing. So winter term when everyone was hearing about which grad schools they had gotten into I was kicking myself for having no Plan B; basically if I didn’t get into Peace Corps I didn’t know what I was going to do. Luckily it worked out for me and I’m leaving for Kenya; my Plan A went just the way I wanted it to. But while in that limbo, not sure if Plan A was going to happen with no Plan B as back-up, I had some panicky feelings. And since panicky feelings are not fun my advice to anyone nearing graduation is… have multiple plans!

Randi Williams

I distinctly remember moving into my dorm four years ago, watching the upperclassman and thinking that they were so much older, wiser, and more mature. Looking at where my fellow seniors and I are now I realize that those upperclassman didn’t have the meaning of life figured out like I had imagined. I don’t even feel like a real grown-up yet, much less do I have it ‘all figured out,’ but I know that I’m on the right path and four years at Oregon State has made all the difference.

Joce DeWitt

As I get ready to move on from OSU, I can’t help but get nostalgic and, yes, a little bit sad, as I walk the pathways of campus. These paths are now filled with beautiful shrubbery and flowers of every color. I’m going to miss everything about OSU: my class mates, learning about my major, being super involved, making a difference on campus, and the life-long friendships that I have  encountered every year. But at this point I’m most sad about leaving the first thing that brought me to OSU four years ago, the beautiful and exciting atmosphere that invited me in and taught me so much about myself and what I can accomplish with my life.

Monica Racicot

Oregon State University has provided me with the knowledge to succeed, the experience to set myself apart from others, and the attitude needed to change the world. While I’m a San Diegan, born and raised, a piece of my heart will always lie within Corvallis. I will forever remain a beaver believer, with black and orange running through my veins. And when I leave here in June, with my bright yellow rain boots packed away, I will feel confident and prepared for the next chapter of my life.

By Randi Williams

As you’ve likely gathered from a year of blogs and not to mention your own experiences college is a time that is fun, challenging, exciting, overwhelming, and the list could go on and on. As a senior with four years under my belt at Oregon State I have had my fair share of experiences that prove this. Amid all the excitement that is your college career it can be easy to forget the reason we are all here.  We all hope to become educated and experienced in an area we want to work in so that after four years (or maybe a little more) you can go out into the world and successfully make your mark. Now, as Liberal Arts majors the possibilities of fields to enter and areas where good can be done are limitless, but hopefully my story will give you a bit of guidance and a glimpse into the life of an (almost) college graduate.

I am one of the few college students who came into freshman year with a major and stayed that course all four years. I have known from the time I was three that I wanted to be an elementary school teacher, and my time and Oregon State only reinforced that decision. By taking classes and getting involved with local schools early on I discovered a passion for teaching children from a low socio-economic background, which then led me to Teach for America. For those of you who don’t know, Teach for America is a program that aims to provide ALL children with the education and skills they need to succeed, despite their economic background.

Knowing that Teach for America was my final goal I researched their organization and gathered information whenever I could over the next three years at OSU. In a math class I took sophomore year I learned our TA (Teaching Assistant) had been accepted to Teach for America. At this point the idea of going to office hours still terrified me, but I eventually plucked up the courage to talk to her and she became a valuable resource. Even this year, two years after my TA graduated, we’re still in contact. Because I learned so much about the program I was able to cater my extra curriculars in college to activities that I not only enjoyed, but that I thought Teach for America would appreciate as well. Ultimately, knowing so much about the organization gave me a huge boost when it came time to apply, so if at all possible I suggest using your college experience to create a resume you think your future boss may like to see.

Though I try to put a positive spin on everything Teach for America I have to admit, actually applying to the program was the most stressful thing I have ever done. There were applications, resumes, essays, multiple interviews, and more. I do have career services to thank for getting me through the interview process though. My mock interview with them was significantly more challenging than the actual interview, which left me feeling very confidant.  The whole process took about six weeks from start to finish, with another month to find out if I had been accepted. But after all of that, and a fair amount of tears, I got in! I can honestly say that the moment I opened my email and saw, “Welcome to the 2012 Corps!” in the subject line was the happiest moment of my life and made all the stress of the process seem so trivial. The six months since then have flown by. I’ve taken and passed the tests I needed to be certified to teach Elementary school in North Carolina, applied to graduate school for my Masters in Teaching (the cost of which is completely covered through the AmeriCorps grant Teach for America corps members are awarded), completed fifty hours of pre-readings, observed at schools, and begun to prepare for my action packed summer in Tulsa, Oklahoma where I will begin the training that will allow me to fulfill my lifelong goal of becoming a teacher!

By: Monica Racicot

Along with working, being an ambassador and finishing my degree, I have been serving on the American Heart Association (AHA) Committee to bring HeartChase to Corvallis. *On a cool side note, Corvallis was selected as the first and only city in Oregon to launch this new event.

HeartChase is a fundraiser for the AHA that is team and family oriented, is smart phone based, and is similar to games like the Amazing Race or Minute-to-Win-it. Games and activities are designed to promote and encourage healthy and active lifestyles. Prizes will be awarded to the teams that collect the most points. There will be many activities and vendors pre and post-race as well, including Soup Cycle, Great Harvest Bread, Yogurt Extreme, Francesca’s Gelato, Pepsi Co, Sierra Springs, and activities with Pajaggle games, ATA Karate, Corvallis Sports Park, and making hula hoops with Replay Children’s Wear. In turn, by engaging with the AHA, our community and everyone involved will have the opportunity to learn more about healthy eating, active living, and fighting our nation’s #1 killer– heart disease.

Corvallis’s first ever HeartChase event is on Saturday, May 19, 2012 from 10am to 12pm at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center. Our hope is to bring families, friends, and coworkers of all ages together in a community-wide competition to uncover clues, solve puzzles and complete challenges in a race to the finish line.

Cardiovascular disease and stroke are our nations #1 and #3 killers and much of these problems can be reduced or even eliminated with healthy living, exercise and healthy lifestyle habits. The American Heart Association wants to spread the mission to Corvallis and save more lives.

When we work together to create smoke-free environments, build heart-healthy communities, or partner with businesses for fit-friendly work environments, everyone benefits because together we’re building a healthier culture and better quality of life.

I am reaching out to OSU students to ask for your help in spreading the word about HeartChase by encouraging your friends, family members, coworkers and neighbors to join your team or form their own! For more information on joining a team or volunteering, please visit the HeartChase Corvallis website. Register by May 11 and save $5 off the registration fee. Simply enter the discount code: early 5.
Get Your Game On!

By Joce DeWitt

Ladies and Gentlemen, I introduce you to the Student Sustainability Initiative (SSI) where maintaining OSU as a model of environment-friendly activities and services. Their mission? Well, essentially, it is to continue OSU’s “green” mission of promoting sustainability.

The Daily Barometer has run article on new things going on regarding sustainability at OSU last term, and what can be discovered after reading those articles is that these program seemingly never sleep. Read here:

http://www.dailybarometer.com/a-look-at-osu-s-progress-toward-carbon-neutrality-1.2771749#.T59-vu1uFSU

http://www.dailybarometer.com/student-run-groups-take-initiative-with-energy-sustainability-1.2764365#.T59_Ou1uFSU

Here are a few things you need to know about the Student Sustainability Initiative

*It is run by students

*It is funded by student fees (their budget is overseen by the Student Incidental Fee Committee)

*It is meant to represent and advance student interest in sustainability (which was first expressed strongly in 2003 when students accepted an additional $1.85 to their tuition costs to promote recycling and waste reduction)

*They base their mission on three elements: participation, empowerment and change

*It has a campus location at the Student Sustainability Center, open every weekday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The SSI has been up to a lot of things, like putting on events for the student body as a whole, to raise awareness (often in a fun way) about what they can do to maintain OSU’s sustainability culture. These campus events include clothing swaps, Ban the Bag campaign, in which students are working toward banning single-use plastic bags, the Sustainable Film Festival and the Building Energy Challenge, which tenants of campus building compete in waste reduction and efficient energy use.

Recently, OSU joined several other universities in a campaign worth $1 billion called the “Green Challenge” through which they hope to earn funding to finance energy efficiency upgrades. Read the press release here: http://oregonstate.edu/sustainability/osu-joins-multi-university-launch-1-billion-“green-challenge”

By Alison Blazer

It’s that time of year once again for Oregon State’s annual Moms and Family Weekend. This means that from May 4-6, the Beaver Nation will be swarmed with mothers, fathers and siblings galore! For those of you who have yet to participate in OSU’s Moms Weekend, it is an event put on by the Memorial Union Program Council (MUMomsPC) each year. The MUPC fits over 45 activities into a family filled three days, both all around campus and throughout the greater Corvallis area. Activities include an OSU Fashion Show, a comedy show, arts and crafts fairs and brunches. A full schedule of events can be found at http://mu.oregonstate.edu/mupc/momsweekend. Check it out and make sure the send the link on to your parents!

Having been through Moms and Dads weekend in the past, I can say with confidence that the key to getting the most out of Moms Weekend is to try new things! It is not unusual for college  students to be weary of parents invading their “university bubble,” but look at it as an opportunity, not a burden. The MUPC organizes a plethora of activities so that you and your family can fill your time together with new and exciting experiences.

Last year, my Mom made the trek up from California for the event weekend. My Moms Weekend experience was particularly special because not only was it my birthday, but my first birthday away from home sans family and childhood friends. Having her here was wonderful! I spent three days showing my mom around the town I have grown so fond of.

I think most students would agree with me when I say that the best part of having your parents or any visitors in town is the chance for a delicious meal. Have you been wanting to try that fancy restaurant you can’t afford on a college budget? Pair your family time with some great eats for an added bonus!

For many of us out of state students or even those with busy schedules, seeing your parents mid-term is a rare opportunity. So fill your Moms Weekend with a stroll around the arts and crafts fair or a baseball game, but most of all appreciate those who have travelled to Corvallis just to see you!

By Joce DeWitt

If there’s one thing I know about being a student at OSU, it’s that spring term, with its beautiful weather and its sweet promise of summer vacation, is a killer when it comes to being academically productive. Studying for tests and completing homework assignments gets put on the backburner when the sun is shining. In fact, summer seems like it is so close that it is sometimes easy to forget we’re still in school—but don’t tell any of my four advisors that I said that.

When it gets down to it, the sun is not the only thing that’s a distraction to hard-working students spring term. The activities are endless, especially since the availability of the outdoors means no limitations in fun. Those activities include Spring Sports, and let me assert here, however, that just because spring sports at OSU are fun to watch and play, does not infer that students have to fail their classes to enjoy them.

Here is the list of Beaver sports that everyone can go watch:

Baseball

Softball

Gymnastics

Spring football

Men’s Golf

Women’s Golf

And here is the list of Intramural sports available spring term:

Softball League

Soccer League

Team Golf League

Team Tennis League

As well as a plethora of tournaments and day-long activities.

As a senior, there hasn’t been a single spring term in my four years that I haven’t gone to baseball games. As most know, Beaver baseball has a pretty impressive résumé as National Champions of the College World Series in 2006 and 2007 and for that reason alone they are worth watching. I could argue that going to enjoy an all-American past time with a bag of sunflower seeds and a soda in the student section is another reason to go. Such is the case with the other sports as well. While I do not recommend giving the games top priority over your school work spring term, they offer another fun activity to indulge in when you have a night of free time.

Happy Spring!

By: Monica Racicot

As some of you may know, my favorite hobby is photography. I look forward to spring term at OSU because my passion is photographing flowers. While we haven’t had too many sunny days so far this spring, we have had a few. When these rare occurrences happen, I drop everything to be outdoors.  As a southern California native, I need me some sun.

There are tons of exciting events and activities during spring term that students should take advantage of. One of my favorite activities to participate in, when the weather is nice, is the Saturday Market down by the riverfront. This farmer’s market is open from 9am to 1pm every Saturday from now until November. Every weekend includes a live band or two, various local growers and a whole lot of food.  If you are also a fan of flowers, they have tons of booths that sell bunches from local gardens. The walk from the OSU campus to the Saturday market takes about 20 minutes. I always stop for lunch at Great Harvest Bread Company because, in my opinion, they make the best sandwiches in Corvallis.

If the sun is shining, and the birds are chirping, another fun activity that costs nothing is hiking! As most of you probably know, or at least have heard, there are numerous hiking trails around the Corvallis area that are easily accessible. My favorite spot is Mary’s Peak. Bald Hill is a popular spot, as well as Dimple Hill. Trail information and directions can be found online or by asking around! An important side note, always go with a partner and bring water and sunscreen.

Looking for a weekend getaway? Or maybe just an afternoon? Take a short scenic drive out to the coast. Newport is only an hour away from OSU, which is funny coming from a girl who grew up 15 minutes from the beach, but hey. The sun sets are spectacular, the clam chowder is to die for, and the local art scene is awesome.

My next suggestion may come as a surprise to those of you who are from Oregon, but just remember…I am from California. The Enchanted Forest! Located just north of us in Salem, the Enchanted Forest is this fairy tale themed adventure park that has rides, shows and attractions. What’s not to like?! I haven’t been yet, but I’ve made it a goal of mine to check it out before I graduate this June. I know it’s no Disneyland, but it looks like it has some great backdrops for pictures. Zapping evil dragons? Yes please! Starting May the park is open Monday through Friday but for the remainder of April it’s only open on the weekends. General admission is $10.25 and it doesn’t include the rides. But you can buy a bracelet that gives you unlimited access to rides and attractions for one fee.

My last suggestion doesn’t have anything to do with being outdoors; in fact it is played in a pool. But I just discovered this strange activity recently and I couldn’t help but share it! Who has heard of Underwater Hockey?? There is an underwater hockey club here in Corvallis that plays/swims at the Osborn Aquatic Center here in town. According to their meetup site, they play Wednesday nights from 7-8:45 pm. All they ask you to bring is a swimsuit and any gear you may have-mask, snorkel and/or fins. Obviously it doesn’t need to be nice out for you to take part in this activity, but it sure sounds like a fun sport to try out during spring term!

There are plenty of other opportunities to take advantage of in the spring so it’s important to stay on top of it if you really want to make the most out of your spring term. Check event calendars around the area and keep up with Facebook pages of your favorite clubs and organizations. There is always something to do; you just need to be proactive! Don’t be afraid to try something new and step out of your comfort zone because most of the time it can lead you to some really great people and memorable experiences.