Not up, but out

Pietro Alfano

Most schools pride themselves on how big they are, or on new additions to there school. Like many other issues AU differs from other institutions.

Aurora University, although very conveniently laid out. Pales in compression to other Universities its size. As you may know Aurora U does not have any building taller then four stories. "Aurora can't have any buildings taller then four stories, but that doesn't mean there not growing" explained A.U.S.A president Cody Fuerst. He explained that the university is actually expanding in the direction of Prairie. Adding a welcome center and building more building for groups to meet.

Another issues for AU is the field. Although almost every sports teams at AU use the football field, the absence of lights makes it hard for teams to put in that extra effort. No lights? You ask, on a college field? It's true, the community doesn't want the lights for whatever reasoning. Maybe there scared that opposing schools fans will act like Cubs fans after the games, using the community as an outdoor restroom.

Whatever the issue may be the university is doing its best to try and expand. Even if up is out of the question, they can always go out. So lets keep our fingers crossed and pray that there first addition, is as parking lot.

Final on finals

In what is likely to be the last installment of the Spartan Sorrows, I would like to focus on something that is not only unique to Aurora University, but to all college students nationwide.

It is that time of the year again, were students morph into rapid, angry carnivores that will kill someone just to have 5 minutes of free time.  That's right, it's time to take finals.

It's time for us to spend hours in our dorm room or library slaving away to come up with a 17 word sentence that will help us reach the requirement for our final paper.  Or maybe you're one of the shameless kids that is taking cheating to a whole other level by scanning test answers onto your Aquafina water bottle wrapper.  Risky, but clever.  Or maybe you're in the library pacing back and forth, calling and texting your partner because they aren't there yet to finish your PowerPoint together.  We have all been there.  Stress can change a person and make that point in there life not worth living.  There is hope people, and it's called: "Christmas Break."  You have to keep your eyes on the prize.

Just in case you are one of those people that can't handle stress, I have included some tips to try to remember during these tough times:

1. Avoid stressful people.
Stress actually is contagious. During exam week, resist the urge to have a study session with your super-tense friend, especially if they're complaining about all the work she has to do and breaking pencils all over the place. Their stress will only add to your stress.

2. Eat healthy and exercise.
This seems like a no-brainer, but it’s a wonder how many people forget it. Skip the sugar, which will make you crash, and go for snacks like granola bars, healthy cereal or fruits and veggies to keep your blood sugar stable. If you’re studying for a long period of time, eat some protein too. Also, try to get some form of exercise. Even a 10 minute walk will leave you calmer and more focused.

3. Just say NO.
I don’t mean to drugs, although I’m not recommending them or anything. What you need to say no to are the people who want to take up your time. There will probably be a friend who needs to talk to you for hours about her life, or a keg party the night before your final, and if you say yes, you’ll probably be tempted to blow off studying. Resist the urge. Say no to the distractions and be selfish for a day. You want a good GPA, right?
 
4. Force yourself to take breaks.
For every hour or so that you work, take a 10 or 15 minute break. Let yourself do whatever you want (check Facebook, check out the hottie sitting near by in the library, stare off into space, call a friend, etc.) for those 10-15 mins, then start working again. This gives your brain a little rest and will help keep you more focused when you are actually doing work.

5. Get plenty of sleep.
This is obvious.  We all know that being rested helps our minds to function better.  Even though you make think studying til 3 am will benefit you the next morning, it probably won't.  The difference between 6 of hours of sleep and 8 hours of sleep is unreal.  Try to get between 8 and 10 hours of sleep, not just the night before the test, but all week as well.

Fellow classmates, I believe in you.  Follow these steps and use some common sense and you will be fine.  After it's all over reward yourself.  Get yourself that pair of shoes you've been wanting or a new video game.

It's been fun exposing the dirty laundry of AU this semester to my fellow classmates.  Good luck on finals everyone, and try to not drink yourselves to death after you find out if you passed or failed.

-Jordan Spurling

Going Greek

Pietro Alfano
Column

Revenge of the Nerds, Animal House, and Old School are three great movies. What do all these movies have in common, aside from describing what the AU campus is like; all three movies focus around Greek life on campus.

As mentioned before these movies actually have no similarities to Aurora University. If you walk around our quant little campus you will notice there are no fraternity/sorority houses on campus. Don’t become discouraged so quickly, there are fraternities and sororities you could join. I would guess that the initiation process doesn’t consist of the binge drinking, the hazing from older members, and the other random acts that are required for you to prove yourself worthy. But hey, the good thing is after whatever exhausting tasks you are asked to perform you can relax at the frat/sororities meeting place. Which depending on what rooms are being used on campus could possibly be the McDonalds down the road, no doubt you be loving it.

It is all AU’s fault however, like most private school a lot of the money they need to help improve the campus comes a lot from donations. When your top donator decides he is going to give the school an insane amount of money, if they do not allow any Greek life housing on campus; how could the school say no? Let’s face it, it’s not like they also requested that all the buildings on campus have red roofs…..

A valuable lesson can be learned from all this, to take your degree form AU and become as successful as possible, then donate it to the school and make your mark on campus. Who knows? Everyone says skies the limit, maybe one day student will attend Alfano University.

Come Get You Fix

Jordan Spurling - Column

It’s 11:24 a.m. and you need your fix.  You grab your iPhone and send a quick text to your friends asking if they want some too.  You leave your dorm room and meet up with your posse outside, then out on your way to get the goods.  You sprint up the stairs, noticing the void in your body is stronger than ever.  You open the door and find out that you’re not alone.  Thirty other feens stand around, huddling together wanting the same thing you want. You reassure yourself that there will be plenty to go around, but let’s face it; you want the fresh stuff, not something that other people have had the chance to dig through. There’s an awkward silence in the room.  Everyone just stands around saying nothing, not moving their heads, only their eyes.  Then suddenly, to break the silence and anxiety, a quite but yet ear piercingly loud “click” is heard.  Everyone begins to file towards the door, grabbing at their wallets to pay to get their fix of satisfaction.  You see the dealers standing inside, looking at you, knowing their time to serve has come.  Get ready for the rush people; it’s lunch time.

Why not pay more, for less?

A 4 pack of Amp Energy cost $6.99. A single can in the spot $4.83

Live, Laugh, Lib

Pietro Alfano

For some people, studying in there room is next to impossible. Your room is full of people, you are overwhelmed by all the distractions, or on rare occasions your internet is not working.

Now for most people going to the library is the solution to their problem. It is a calm and relaxing environment where someone can be at ease and just focus on their studies. Now on a more realistic note the library could be those things, but for a lot of students that’s not the case.  It is almost guarantees that every time you step foot in the Phillips you are going to find a group of people that you know, You tell yourself I’ll just go say hi and talk for a minute. 45 minutes later you realize that the clock is ticking and your homework is still untouched.

So you have reminded yourself and everyone you have talked to that you’re swamped with work and just ready for this semester to be over. Now, you start to look for the right spot to sit and start the production of your academic genius, you walk around downstairs but all the tables are taken. You take a walk upstairs and see that there are no open seats either, this is not always the case sometimes the open seats just don’t feel like the right spot to produce the greatness that is going to be your homework.

This is not always the case, for some this is a common occurrence. For these students they find themselves back in their room and the only solution to be taking a nap to try and sleep on the problem.  

No thanks, I'd rather buy a car

Jordan Spurling

The beginning of every semester brings high hopes and optimism to all students.  They print their syllabuses off, get new note pads and pens, and talk to their friends to see if they have the same classes together.

In the midst of all of this excitement, a daunting reality hits you in the face.  You have to buy text books.  “For the first two years of my college career, I had the wool pulled over my eyes and thought it was mandatory to buy all of the textbooks that my teachers told me about.  Some of them I didn’t even use!” said senior Bryce Carey.  Of course there are some classes that actually require you to use them, but it’s rare.  “I only bought one book this semester, and so far I am doing just fine,” said Carey.

According to scholarships.com, the average college students spend about 1,100 dollars on text books per school year.  Realistically, your average student will open each one of those books twice.  With the internet, students have all the knowledge they need just a few clicks away, so why waste the money on the book?

If you just have to have the books, there are some cost saving alternatives.  More than likely, you will be able to find a used version of the book you are looking for, for a reduced price.  You will just have to deal with some tears or scratches on the cover.  Also, students can rent books from various companies; you just have to be willing to pay monthly renewals.  You could also rely on my personal, all time favorite money saving tip, and just have your study sessions in the campus bookstore.

More than likely, these publishing companies are just asking ridiculous prices for their books because they know that it’s only a matter of time before the iPad runs them out of business.  I just pray that the app for that isn’t $249.99.