SUMMER ISSUE | Volume 3, Issue 31 | Oxford, MS
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THE IMPORTANCE OF COLLEGE INTERNSHIPS page 2
COPING WITH DEATH IN A FRATERNITY page 3 MEDIA AND MEN page 7 SO YOU WANT TO STUDY ABROAD? page 13
Rebels Starting the New Year the Right Way. Photo credit: Jordan Mckeever
2 Scene on campus
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THE IMPORTANCE OF COLLEGE INTERNSHIPS
Reality did not hit me until last month, when my career counselor asked me one of the scariest questions you can ask any college student: “What do you want after you graduate?”
KATRINA CRUZ Kappa Alpha Theta
Katrina is a junior studying integrated marketing communications. You may contact her at kgcruz@go.olemiss.edu.
It still seems like only yesterday I was a freshman moving into my dorm, and there I sat, a junior, wondering where the last two years of my life went. My career counselor was able to give me a few ideas with my major and interests to help me get in a better direction for a career once I graduate. One of the most important things she taught me that day was the importance of internships, the first thing many employers look for on your resume. Internships are one of the best things you can do as a student, because they give you the chance to experience what you’ll be doing when you graduate and decide if your chosen field is really for you. You can learn a lot in the classroom, but getting hands-on experience as an intern will teach you more then studying a textbook. What most students don’t know is that internships also offer college credit, so not only will you be getting a first look at your potential career path, but you will also be able to earn up to 6 credit hours. There are many ways to search for internships. A great start is to find what interests you, so you can see what internship opportunities are available. Attending career fairs is also a great way to put yourself out there. They give you the chance to network and begin connections with potential employers. Another great resource is the professors who teach in your major department. For my business communications course, my professor highly recommends that we work on cover letters and resumes for internship submissions. She even took time after class to look over my resume and give me advice on how to improve. If you’re willing to ask your professors for help with internships, they’ll be more than happy to do so. Check out internships.com or use resources from the school such as EmployUM. If there is a certain company you want to work for, send them an email along with a cover letter and resume. If you don’t get a response in a few days, it’s important to send follow up emails and call to make sure your email was sent.
THE ODYSSEY AT OLE MISS EXECUTIVE TEAM
CREATIVE TEAM
President Chase Pruett
Editor-in-Chief Jordan Mckeever
Sigma Alpha Epsilon
Alpha Omicron Pi
Sales Exec Andrew Fehrenbach Sigma Alpha Epsilon
“As a Hospitality Management major, interning at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando was the best thing I could possibly do, because I got to learn more about my chosen career path from one of the top hospitality companies in the world,” said Nicole Quilling, a junior Kappa Alpha Theta. “I got to see, experience, and most importantly learn how to provide quality guest service to guests of all ages, as well as how to operate a successful business.” Companies are going to be busy throughout the year. If you want to make yourself stand out, you have to put yourself out there, even if it means calling every other day. Make them remember your name. If you don’t get your dream internship, there are always more opportunities. Try applying to 10-30 internships and you’re bound to find a great one. “I think that having an internship is very important for success after college. I know something that all potential employers look for is work experience,” said Taylor Huestis, a junior Beta Theta Pi. “So having an internship can really set you apart from all your competition. I’m actually applying to multiple internships in Nashville and Atlanta this summer. I’m hoping that the connections and experience I get this summer will help make sure I get a job when I graduate.” Before you know it, you’ll be graduating. It’s a scary thought, but if you start planning your future beyond college, look for internship opportunities, and make your connections, then you’ll be on the right track. Who knows? That internship could lead to a great job offer.
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Scene on campus
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3
COPING WITH DEATH IN A FRATERNITY
On November 9, the Ole Miss family was robbed of two of its members. Sigma Alpha Epsilon Christopher Grimaud and Kevin Eagan were taken from us when their vehicle Thomas is a junior studying geological rolled over on Highway engineering. You may contact him at 7. Because of this tragedy Tphotze@go.olemiss.edu. two different fraternities on campus, and countless other friends and family members, mourn the loss of their brothers, friends, and loved ones. And as someone who has been through this process before, I would like to extend a helping hand to those going through this rough time.
THOMAS HOTZE
For those of you who don’t know Sigma Alpha Epsilon lost three brothers in a month last spring in separate incidents across the country. The last of which took my little brother and greatest friend Price Thornal from me. So for those of you scoffing at these words saying, “You don’t know what we’re going through,” I do. My spring semester went to shambles after these tragedies took our brothers away from us. It has only been recently, with the help of family, friends and my fraternity brothers, that I have been able to finally stand on my own two feet without someone helping me along. For those who are looking for help with the healing process of grieving, read on please — because I don’t want to see anyone else fall into the same holes I did trying to heal from a loss such as this. There is no correct way to grieve, let me state that up front. Sure, there are the five stages of grief, but everyone will handle these stages on their own time and their own way. For me, it involved going to south Texas with my big brother and doing various ranch related activities and shenanigans down there. But for other people, it was to push on like nothing happened and let it all explode out randomly. There are no “Steps to Getting Over a Loss” that I can write to help y’all, even though I wish I could. There are a few things I can say that you should do that can help out with the process of remembrance for your brothers and your friends. However, you should all handle grief your own individual way and time. Be there for each other. Sometimes to help with your own grief, the best thing to do is be there for others. Be there for the family. When a brother is initiated into a house, you are also bringing his family into your house as well. The fraternity as a whole should be there for them during this rough time in their lives. Make phone calls to them often, go to the funeral, and help them out with anything they need, especially should they ever come to Oxford. Be a presence in their lives that they can count on because they are going through the same loss you are. Don’t turn away from your faith life. This is perhaps the hardest thing of all to do. It is easy to be angry at a higher power and to place the blame there. However, speaking from painful experience, this is the last thing you need to do. Religion is a powerful thing, and it can do wonders for your life, so please stay strong in your faith and turn to it for help if you need it. Talk to someone if you need to. There is no shame in showing emotion over this loss, and if you need to reach out to someone, do so. Bottling up emotion is a dangerous time bomb that will end badly when it explodes, so if you need to let something out, talk to someone you know is there for you. And for those of y’all who may not have known Chris and Kevin personally but who know someone who did and is grieving, reach out to them to show that they are not alone in this time of their life and that they can talk to you. Sometimes this is all someone needs.
Send a text, make a phone call, or meet up for coffee with someone you know is having a hard time, and be there for that person. Remember that Ole Miss is a family, and as a family we should all stand together and help each other. Finally, do something to remember the brothers lost. Whether it is a party, a charity event, hunting trip, or even something small that you do in your own life, doing something to remember the life of your brother does wonders to helping with your grief. Thanksgiving break is finally here so there is some time away from the sprinting pace that comes with the end of a semester. Thanksgiving break is a good time to be with your family and escape from the world for a week if you need it. With most of the Rebel family traveling across state lines and driving several hours to get home, I must implore each one of y’all to drive smart and drive safely. Keep the families of the departed in your thoughts and prayers, and spend time with your own. Unfortunately, death is a part of life and we never know when it will come for each of us, so live your life to the fullest and make memories while you can. You never know when you will be taken from this earth, so make the best of the time you have here. To the Gentleman of Alpha Tau Omega and Phi Kappa Psi, the friends of Kevin and Chris, and most importantly the families, I must express my most sincere condolences for your losses in this terrible time in your lives. Know that there are people who are willing to be there for y’all and be there to help with this time in your lives.
4 Scene on campus
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AWKWARD MOMENTS: REMEMBERING PAST RUSH WEEKS As the official week of rush draws nearer, I’ve been thinking about my past experiences
a round, our conversations will most likely revolve around food, fall, cats, and Jennifer
Looking back at my freshmen year going through rush, I definitely could have picked
I think my most awkward rush moment was when I was picked up in a house for a
of recruitment at Ole Miss.
better outfits and actually learned to curl my hair the right way. I also could have avoided
talking about wisdom teeth Youtube videos in one of my conversations during skit round. Being on the other side of rush last year and this year, I would like to say I have become
less embarrassing in my conversations, but I haven’t. When I pick up a rushee during
Lawrence.
round, and on the table were bowls of fish. Unfortunately at my table, a fish was floating
upside down. I couldn’t focus on anything other than the fact that the fish needed to be flushed ASAP. The fish was dead, just like my want to pledge that house. Here are a few other awkward recruitment moments:
Hannah Aldrich (Kappa Delta): “At
pref night, one of the girls preffing Jordy Leavitt (Alpha Omicron Pi):
“My freshman year, during AOII pref
round, my heel got caught on my other heel’s strap, and I face planted on my way into the house.”
me was so nervous about me going
that sorority that she was shaking uncontrollably and sweating so bad
that it stained her dress and ruined
her makeup. I spent the whole time
calming her down and consoling her that we missed the entire pref for the
sorority. Also, I did not pledge them either.”
Shelby Moore (Kappa Kappa
Gamma): “Well, I was running full sprint on Bid Day while all the boys
Mary Frances Graham (Kappa Kappa Gamma): “At Pi Phi during water
were yelling to run faster, and next
parties, I had this one girl, and I couldn’t
Kyle Weaver (Delta Delta Delta):
said ‘yeah’ to everything she said. As I
the end of philanthropy round that
so you do baton twirl?’ and I was like
So the entire round at one house, I
round, she picked me up and said ‘I
much I missed her…I think I even
baton twirling going?’ Also, I spilled
talk anymore. Somehow I got asked
hear her at all, so I just nodded and
“Freshman year, I was so tired by
continued saying ‘yeah,’ she said, ‘Oh,
I ran out of things to talk about.
‘uhhhh, yeah?’ Then, at philanthropy
talked about my dead dog and how
had you at water parties. How is your
pretended to cry so I didn’t have to
water on my girl at DG…talk about
back the next day.”
thing I know, I was flat on my face
on SportsCenter and Youtube. I got
up and yelled KKG, and then picked grass out of my hair for days.”
Youtube link: http://www.youtube. com/watch?v=zD_jwZ9cemc
awkward.”
Grady Nutt (Kappa Sigma): “As a few
actives were talking to a couple rushees about the events of the night before, a freshman walks into the conversation and without hesitation asks if we are talking about the chick flick, “The
Nanny Diaries.” We looked at him, and
then resumed talking about our night on the square.”
Jack Tobe (Sigma Phi Epsilon): “At one fraternity, I had a guy who tried to talk to me in a northern accent the whole time even though he was from
the South. Also, one of the fraternity presidents was talking to a group of
us, and he took a dip and threw up everywhere.”
Trey Weghorst (Kappa Alpha Order): “I saw a girl wipe out while
she was running to her house on
bid day. She tripped on the chain link fence and was bleeding pretty bad…”
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DRESSED TO IMPRESS
Lookbook fashion So here you are in your second or third (if you’re in your fourth you have no free time to read this) year of college.
5
RACHEL RICE Delta Gamma
Rachel is a sophomore studying political You’re just coming off of the science. You may contact her at rmrice@ go.olemiss.edu. high of summer, reminiscing on memories of music festivals and house parties, sunburns and float trips. While you were home, you probably became way too accustomed to your daily buffet of home-cooked meals and your dad’s credit card conveniently “lost” inside of your wallet (you can say you gave it back all you want, everyone knows you’re guilty). You probably picked up a previous high school job, nannying for the people down the street or mowing your grandma’s front lawn and earned some extra cash to spend on that Free People sweater you’ve been eyeing or whatever video game it is that all the boys waited in line for last week. Now, as you recover from the whiplash of getting back into school, forgetting homework assignments and being almost offended that you had a test last week (who doesn’t think it’s still syllabus week?), you feel like you have no idea where the first month of school went, or all of that extra money that you had saved up. Then, it happens. Your phone rings and you see that it’s your mom. You immediately start to panic that your Theater teacher personally emailed her to tell her that you’ve been skipping class (if she puts the PowerPoints on BlackBoard everyone knows attendance can automatically be considered optional), but then you realize that your teacher does not have that much free time… it would take her the rest of the year, considering 90 percent of the class does the same thing. No, it’s not about school, it’s worse: you have to get a job. “BUT WHY?!” you ask. You’ll cut back on the Toyo happy hour! You’ll even stop going to Miss Behavin! (Liar). No, she says. That’s not enough. She explains to you that you had your freshman year to learn how to balance school and friends, now it’s time to add in a third factor. She tells you that you’re never going to get a job in the “real world” if all you have on your resume is a babysitting job for your little cousins. The real world sucks. But, so does growing up, and that’s just unavoidable. After you scream and kick and cry yourself a river, you come to terms with the fact that she is right. And who knows? Maybe your job could even be kind of fun. You set out on an afternoon excursion, walking in to all of your favorite boutiques and sporting retailers (make sure it’s somewhere that you’ll use your discount!) and collecting job applications. You speed home to fill them out and are stepping out the door when your roommate stops you. “Excuse me, what do you think you’re wearing?” “What?” You think. You just got out of class for Pete’s sake. “No,” she tells you. “You need to dress up.” This is ridiculous! You’ve just put in tons of effort to get these applications (getting in your car and actually walking in there… I mean come on) and now she’s telling you to change?! While it may seem completely out of this world to some, yes, you need to change before even considering turning in your application. Many managers in college towns complain endlessly about girls walking in to apply for jobs dressed in their nightgown-sized t-shirts and hidden Nike shorts. Don’t get me wrong, I am all for an XL date party shirt and some comfy capri pants as I trek across campus to Bishop, but not as I stand in front of a business owner telling him why he should put me on his payroll. If there is one piece of advice any manager could give to a potential employee, it is look presentable. No one will take you seriously if you are clothed in your boyfriend’s t-shirt that everyone knows you’ve worn for the past three weeks. So, while growing up sucks and no one wants to do it, none of us have a choice. If you’re being forced to build your resume and/or find your own cash to spend at Rooster’s, you might as well do it professionally and always remember: DITCH THE TSHIRT and throw on that V-neck that’s been smashed in the back of your closet. Trust me, you’ll thank me after your first paycheck.
6 Ideas debate & discuss
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THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF POLITICAL IGNORANCE DEL MIXON
Sigma Alpha Epsilon Del is a junior studying history. You may contact him at jdmixon@go.olemiss. edu. Politics exists on the shortlist of things not to bring up in conversation. Political thought rests in the deepest parts of our minds, and people will defend their political ideas as they would their own children. But I am not informing anyone on this. We are all aware of how some people (even our own classmates) can become broken records of political dogma. Unfortunately, these people often find their way onto twitter, media, and finally (God forbid) actual politics. No matter what side of spectrum, politically active people despise the politically inactive. They cannot stand it when someone is to say, “I’m sorry, I have no idea why Obamacare is bankrupting our nation” or “ I apologize but I don’t know what the Republicans are secretly doing to oust Obama.” I am willing to argue that both sides have more hatred for the politically ignorant than they do for the other side.
Political ignorance can serve as the opposite of political proactivity. Proactivity doesn’t have to be voting. It can also be conversations, articles writing, tweeting, or YouTube soliloquies about libertarianism. Political ignorance is the choice to do and learn absolutely nothing in the political atmosphere. Like everything else, political ignorance has its own advantages and disadvantages. Here is a short-list: Advantage – Realistic Priorities: Caring is energy and every person has their own temperament for priorities. This is why college campuses become hotbeds for political passions. Populations of 18 to 22 year olds who worry only about finals and debit card balances have a lot of room to stress about politics. If you are passionate about something, you will stress about it. So why stress about things you have little to no control over? Disadvantage – Informed Voting: If you should wander into the voting booth, it will feel like that midterm you never studied for. However, this test has no wrong answers (you hope). Advantage – People will be able to stand you: Your presence will be welcome in any conversion no matter the topic (except politics of course). No one will have to worry about you “going off” on anything benign. Conversations will be less heated than the conversations of your politically active friends. As people understand your ignorance, they will be able to stand you and
your harmless opinions. Disadvantage – You’re “part of the problem”: As politically ignorant you will have to live with your own “I for Ignorant” scarlet letter. You are the scapegoat not only for current atrocities, but also for things like Hitler’s rise to power. Not you specifically, but your type: the terrible ignorant who allowed evil people to have their way. By finding yourself comfortably oblivious to everything going on, you are slowly allowing the world to die. This tactic is called shame and it also works for Unicefand Invisible Children in raising money. This disadvantage is a social one. You will have to learn how to live with “being part of the problem.” But are you really part of the problem? Yes: The government shut down could have been prevented if you educated yourself on issues and voted according to your political interests and for the interests of the country. Everything would be fine if it weren’t for scumbags like you. Or, perhaps, no: The government shutdown has been inevitable since the 1980’s, and its about time that it happened. Also, this bankrupt empire we call America already has control over everything, so it doesn’t really matter what you do. Thankfully there isn’t a right answer, and I have just wasted your time discussing an unfair question.
Ideas debate & discuss
7
MEDIA AND MEN: www.theodysseyonline.com
HOW WE CAN CHANGE THEIR VIEW OF WOMEN
I’m not saying we should all cover ourselves from head to toe in turtle necks and jeans, I’m
When it comes to the objectification of women in today’s society, men and women share the blame.
While there is a strong feminist movement in our country, the issue of women
BAILEY WILLIAMS Chi Omega
Bailey is a freshman studying textiles, merchandising, fashion design with communications. You may contact her at baileywilliams@gmail.com..
being viewed as objects continues to increase.
just suggesting that if we ever want to be viewed as more than just objects for men, we first need to change how we present ourselves. Do you present yourself as an object or do you imply that you are an able, powerful and successful woman? We need to reevaluate how we portray ourselves, because what we show, or don’t show, is going to be the deciding factor. That being said, it’s safe to say that both genders have responsibility in this department. We cannot be responsible for a man’s preconceived notions or how a commercial is produced. We can, however, be responsible for ourselves. Dressing in a way that is respectful is not
There is nothing that disgusts me more than seeing the objectification of women in today’s
bowing to or changing for men, it’s something we should do for ourselves because we know
society. Don’t get me wrong, I understand the whole “sex sells” idea. I’m in an advertising/
that we are so much more than a pretty face with a nice body. Try it out sometime and I
public relations class this semester. I just don’t agree with the image the media sends about
guarantee that, while you might not get as much attention, you will get a higher quality of
women.
attention. And let’s stop pointing fingers at the guys. We’re to blame, too.
Although there has been a strong feminist movement in our country, why does the objectification of women only seemed to increase when we have so many capable, independent women fighting for equal rights? This is where I believe we, as women, have gone wrong. Here’s what women need to understand: men are not wired the way we are. They do not have the same thought processes, feelings, experiences; they are completely different. One of the main differences is that men are visual. Sure, women fall into some traps, visually, but the affect on men is on an entirely different level. The common misconception is that men should be able to control this. Why should we have to change the way we dress and act for a guy? Because he is different. This does not make him a Neanderthal or a jerk. It’s simply the way they are and it’s a good thing. However, we need to be aware and sensitive to this if we are ever going to change the perception of women. Somewhere along the lines we, women, got the idea that we should be able to be who we want, do we what we want and wear what we want. This is awesome! I’m so glad we live in an age where the opportunities that we have as women are limitless. Our accomplishments are inspiring and I hope we continue to work towards equality. However, we still need to be aware of how men process things. I understand that you have done thousands of squats and you want to show that off, but exposing yourself and dressing in a way that is simply to show off your body and get attention is not helping our battle. If you dress yourself as an object, as something for men to only visually and, possibly, physically enjoy without any thought of you as a human being with emotions, thoughts, and dreams, you will be treated as an object. Maybe that sounds harsh or rude, and someone will probably disagree with me, but I’m willing to take that risk. You are worth so much more than just being some guy’s fantasy. A common rule of thumb is if you’re showing more on one half of your body, then you need to cover up the other. So if your skirt is a little short, keep the neckline high and vice versa.
8 500 words on entertainment
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TOP READS OF 2014
Looking for a way to pass the time this Christmas season? Many of us will be at home doing the typical holiday things, such as cooking, decorating, spending time with family, vigorously shopping, picking out the tree...the list goes on and on.
Although many of you may not think so, diving into a good book is a great way to escape and rejuvenate yourself to get back and deal with the holiday action. You will most likely not get this chance while at school, with the semester filled with deadlines and textbooks to read. Finally, a time where you can read for pleasure, whether you’re traveling, want to curl up somewhere for some downtime, or impress your parents with how intellectual you are these days. (Hey, maybe they won’t nag you about how well you did on your finals -- since you look so smart, they’ll think you are.) So, if I have you convinced, here are some of the top reads of 2013 according to Amazon’s Editor’s Picks: The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt is a shocking narrative
that begins in New York with thirteen-year-old Theo Decker. Having survived an accident that killed his mother, he clings to the only thing that reminds him of her: a small and mysterious painting that introduces Theo to the underworld of art. The story moves into his adult stages of life where he dives further into the deep mysteries of love, identity, and art. It is a triumphant story of self-invention and fate. And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini, author of The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns, has written another novel about how we love, how we take care of one another, and how the choices we make resonate through generations. Through following the lives and choices of the novel’s characters around the globe, Hosseini explores the many ways in which families nurture, wound, betray, honor, and sacrifice for one another. Thank You for Your Service by David Finkel, author of For the Good Soldiers, has written a similar piece at home here in the states. He creates a portrait of what life
GINNA MOORE Kappa Delta
Ginna is a sophomore studying history. You may contact her at vbmoore@ go.olemiss.edu. is like after war not just for the soldiers, but also for their wives, widows, children, and friends. He truly climbs into the hearts and minds of those he writes about and offers a compelling story that is impossible to put down. And there you have it! Now, I hope all of you dash to your nearest Barnes & Noble or download one of these to your Nook and sink your teeth into a good read this break. I think you will find it relieving after your finals, and rather rewarding when you are through as well. We don’t want our minds to turn to complete mush over the break, do we? So keep the blood in your brain flowing with either an action-packed novel or a philosophical volume. Whatever it may be, I hope you have a great holiday season. Happy Reading!
500 words on college life
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ORGANIZATION Everyone is finally back in Oxford and that means it is a new school year! No more summer jobs, living at home or lounging by the pool everyday. It is August, which means you packed up everything you owned and moved back to the greatest place on earth. It is time to buy books, school supplies and get prepared to start a new year. Now if you are like me you will start out with new supplies and new books and somehow you will make it to fall finals with only one of the pencils you started out with, but that is all going to change. This fall gives us a chance to make new goals for the school year, whether it is making an A in a certain class, trying not to skip classes or something as simple as staying more organized. Organization is easy in the beginning and then our calendars get full and other things become more important than simple school tasks. Being organized is seen as such an important skill that there are people that actually have titles like “Professional Organizer.” Someone should send them my way because I will probably need a lot of help later this semester. But there are ways that you can become and stay organized for this year. Buy a planner and make sure to write everything
down. Color code different tasks, use sticky notes, whatever will remind you to do your homework and study for tests. If you would rather not have to keep up with a planner and technology better suits you, use the calendar app on your phone. Set alert times to keep you updated with work. The constant reminders will keep you up to speed with everything that must get accomplished. Other than the calendar, there are a bunch of different phone apps to download that help with organization. One of my favorites is “Remember the Milk.” This app is free and is keeps everything you have on a big list of things to do. It will send reminders through email or text message and you can have events repeated throughout your calendar as often as you need. “Remember the Milk” is one application worth checking out. Another helpful tool is called “InClass.” This app allows you to organize everything on the provided calendar and aids in note taking with special settings for video, audio and picture notes. It has the added bonus of file sharing with other people who have the app, so if you do happen to miss class getting the notes will be easy.
9
OLIVIA SCHROEDER Kappa Delta
Ginna is a sophomore studying history. You may contact her at vbmoore@ go.olemiss.edu. Now if it is your room and not your schedule that needs more attention in the organization department there are stores devoted to unorganized people like you. Places like The Container Store have everything you need to organize every room in your house. Filled with baskets, boxes and bags, there is a place for everything and everything is in its place. There are bathroom accessories, closet accessories and accessories for accessories. If you do not live near The Container Store, Target and Wal-Mart have an ample supple of products to keep you organized. Stores like Office Depot and Office Max can help with all your desk organizational needs. With the help of these stores there really is no excuse to not stay organized. Download the apps, go pay these stores a visit and start this school year off right. Stay organized now and I promise it will save you a lot of time and headache later!
RUSH TO RUSH PRACTICE! I slouched into rush practice the other day with a less than enthusiastic mindset and a mental list Kappa Delta of about 23 other things I could be doing. It had been Sarah is a junior studying English.You a tragically long day of may contact her at sabaker2@go.olemiss. trying to avoid eye contact edu. with teachers that thrive on student humiliation and reading pages on pages of obscure writers’ views on Shakespeare. Simultaneously jumping on my tiptoes (that were still sore from last night’s Gianni Bini calf-enhancers) and clapping for hours was the last thing I wanted to be doing.
SARAH ASHTON BAKER
I walked into the chapter room expecting the usual drill, but as soon as I opened the doors, I heard a boom of laughter and the bass of a JT song. There were mini dance-offs in the corner and groups huddled around a single iPhone to see Miley’s latest attention grabbing stunt. Flashbacks of junior high sleepovers filled my head. My mood completely did a 180. I immediately cracked a smile and joined in on screaming, “I came in like a wrecking ball!” Eventually the shenanigans stopped and regular practice started, but it wasn’t like every other practice. For the entire time everyone was consistently energetic. Our sophomore pledge class had door stacks the Bring It On cheerleaders would have been jealous of, and our philanthropy songs rivaled the loudness of the ear deafening Hotty Toddy chant after Jeff Scott scores a mind-blowing touch down. The atmosphere was just — happy.
It goes to show that attitudes have a massive effect on every situation. The preparation for rush is trying and extremely time consuming, and our time is valuable. I mean, we could be studying, writing an outline for that six-page paper due tomorrow, starting the inevitable addiction to “Breaking Bad” or any other form of Netflix crack. But, in that day, I was never more thankful to be right where I was. I was surrounded by incredible girls that I’m blessed to call my sisters in a place with beauty in every homey corner, and it started to click with me just how essential these practices were -- not only for the obvious reasons of preparation, but also for the bonding. As Andrea Jordan of Pi Beta Phi points out, “It gives us the chance to really get to know our sisters in other pledge classes.” Mandatory and tedious as they may be, these practices are another time to be all together. Gabby Rossi of Alpha Omicron Pi sees rush practices as reunions. “It was so much fun getting to see all of my sisters again after such a long vacation.” Rossi said. They are opportunities to meet new people and get to know your little’s best friend. They foster friendships and remind us how amazing it is that we have found our home sweet home away from home. These are the same warm fuzzies I hope the freshmen coming through recruitment feel. After all, they are why we do what we do. The lost voices and door stack battle wounds will all be a distant memory when we welcome in the ecstatic faces and squeals of a new pledge class.
10 Self health & fitness
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SO YOU’RE PULLING AN ALL-NIGHTER... JORDAN MCKEEVER Alpha Omicron Pi
Jordan is a junior studying journalism. You may contact her at jemckeev@ go.olemiss.edu. The week of stress, studying, and no sleep is finally
here. Finals Week.
This is the week that stresses a college student out
to the maximum. You become overly worried about making a certain grade so that you can keep a certain GPA. You study more in one week than you have the
entire semester. You consider hooking yourself up to a Starbucks caffeine IV, but unfortunately, those don’t exist.
I’m a junior now, and I have managed to make my
finals week a little easier every year. As much as I want
to study weeks ahead like my professors suggest, it
just never seems to happen. I’ve been pulling study all-nighters since high school, and have finally found a few tips to have a successful all-nighter.
First off, it is ok to pull a few all-nighters, just don’t
plan on being able to pull multiple all-nighters in a
row. You’re not going to make it, and will most likely
you turn your phone on silent so that social networking
So unfortunately, you are going to have to study ahead
to hit up the Starbucks and get a coffee time to time
be the kid in the back row sleeping on his final exam. of time for most of your exams.
Plan a schedule out first. Find out the dates and
times of your exams. This way you can figure out which
classes need the most studying, and which ones you will be able to successfully study for the night before. Harder classes will need more than a night of studying. Before you leave to start your night of studying at
the library, make sure to bring food with you. The best food to eat is protein-enriched food. This will ensure that your blood sugar level stays stable, and staying awake will be easier.
So now that you’ve got your scheduled worked out,
and you’ve (hopefully) studied ahead for the majority of your classes, it’s time to head to the library. LOL. You
can’t find a seat. Heads up: this is the week everyone in school decides they are going to be studious students.
This is many people’s first time ever being in the library, and nothing is more annoying than that one kid sitting
at a 6-person table by themselves. Everyone will be giving you the death look, so don’t be that guy.
Once you’ve found a seat, get to studying! Make sure
sites, texts, and games will not distract you. Feel free
throughout the night. Do not go on a caffeine overload or you will crash. Most importantly, make sure you stay hydrated with water throughout the night too.
Try your hardest not to yawn throughout the night.
This will make you sleepy. If at any point you do become
tired, get up and walk around or go outside in the cold air. This will waken your body up and re-energize it.
Make sure to take multiple small study breaks as well. Another hint is to decrease the brightness on your laptop screen, because the brightness can cause you to
strain your eyes, making you even more tired. Playing
music while you study can also help keep you awake, as long as it has an upbeat tempo.
If you finish studying earlier, and have a chance to
get any sleep at all, take it. Even 30 minutes of sleep can re-energize your body. When you wake up or stop studying, switch to drinking tea instead of coffee.
You’ve had enough coffee intake, and the tea will relax
your nerves before taking your final exam. Get to your exam at least 30 minutes early and spend that time reviewing the material and hoping for an A. Good luck with finals!
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Self health & fitness
A HEALTHIER YOU
Ladies, Christmas break is over, and we all know what that means. It’s time to crunch, squat, and jog your way back into bikini body shape.
Instead, focus on foods that are high in protein, low in calories, tasty, and filling. No, this is not a joke. Foods like that are actually real.
Over the past four months, I have (hold your applause) lost almost 30 pounds. With this massive transformation have come endless requests for my workout and diet regimen.
So called “super-foods” such as avocado, Greek yogurt, blueberries, salmon, oatmeal, quinoa and many more are deliciously healthy and won’t leave you feeling hollow. A typical day of meals for me looks about like this:
So, without much ado, here are a few tips created by yours truly to help you lose those unwanted pounds and shape up for whatever beach you will grace with your presence this coming spring break. First of all, cut back on liquor and beer. Yes, I know that this is college and throwing back shots is practically a sport, but here are a few nutritional facts to show you what you’re really doing to your body. Most light beers contain anywhere from 90-150 calories. Yes, I said light. Only one shot of liquor such as vodka, tequila, whiskey, or rum can contain anywhere from 97-180 calories. Even what may be considered lighter choices, such as wine and champagne, may contain anywhere from 80-140 calories per glass. Whatever you’re drinking, be sure to factor that in to how many calories you should be consuming a day. When it comes to dieting, starvation is your worst enemy.
Breakfast: Plain oatmeal with local honey and a banana Lunch: A sandwich on whole grain wheat bread with peanut butter and a side of Roma tomatoes and sliced avocado with sea salt Mid-Afternoon Snack: Greek yogurt with local honey and blueberries Dinner: Salmon with fresh spinach and quinoa (an ancient grain that is AMAZING at cutting down on stomach fat) with sliced, baked sweet potatoes with butter. Another way to spur weight loss in a healthy way is to try and consume at least six bottles of water a day. This will not only help you feel full, but it is also great for the skin and will counteract against the negative effects of caffeine on weight loss for those of you who are avid coffee drinkers like myself.
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HALEY CLARK Pi Beta Phi
Haley is a sophomore studying philosophy. You may contact her at hcclark@go.olemiss.edu. Finally, the dreaded topic: exercise. Don’t get me wrong, I am no Iron Woman, but I have learned how to incorporate exercise into my daily lifestyle. Whether it’s parking a little further than usual from your class to get in a brisk morning walk, or following an actual workout routine, physical activity shouldn’t be a hassle. Aim for 30 minutes of physical activity that increases your heart rate each day. You’ll be amazed at the difference these few minutes will cause in your daily energy level. Losing crazy amounts of weight should never be the goal. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle should be, though. Combining good eating (and drinking) habits with minimal amounts of daily exercise will give you results, without requiring hours at the gym or frightening crash diets. Hopefully, these tips will help some of you ladies out in these coming months. I can’t wait to see you ladies this Spring Break representing how fine the ladies of Ole Miss truly are at locations all over the world. Hotty Toddy, and welcome back!!
12 Adventure traveling
A GREEK SUMMER For
some,
At the lobbying firm, Rob was able to see another side of the political process by
summer
vacation, means laying out by the pool or making
CARLY EASON Sigma Alpha Epsilon
a trip to the beach, but for Ole Miss Greeks it is an opportunity to get internships, study abroad,
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Del is a junior studying history. You may contact him at jdmixon@go.olemiss. edu.
and productively pass the days until school starts in the fall. It is not uncommon for many Ole Miss students to pack up and move to Washington, D.C. to work on Capitol Hill. Senior Kappa Alpha Rob Pyron. Rob spent his summer in the capitol city participating in two internships,
researching the farm bill. For Rob, one of the most enjoyable experiences was taking a tour of the Capitol dome, where he had a view of the entire city. Summer Camp is next on the list of popular college pass-times is of course summer camp. Junior Chi Omega Mills Witmer spent her summer at Camp Longhorn Indian Springs in Burnet, TX. A traditional summer camp that has been around for 74 years, Camp Longhorn is an experience to be had. Mills was a camp counselor for girls, enjoying the fun and responsibility of making their summer one to remember. With activities like “The Blob,” a Camp Longhorn original, swimming, horseback riding and more, Mills was busy in the Texas heat.
one for Congressman Alan Nunlee and the other for a lobbying firm called Adam
A very popular summer pastime is studying abroad. The University offers a
and Reese LLP. While working at the Capitol, Rob had many responsibilities in
variety of study abroad programs across the globe. Junior Gamma Chi Mellie
order to help insure that the office ran smoothly. One if his favorite duties was to
McGehee spent a month in Angers, France where she took six hours of upper-level
give tours to Congressman Nunlee’s visiting constituents, where he was able to
French courses, to go towards her French Major here at Ole Miss. Mellie had the
learn and share the interesting history of the Capitol itself.
unique and interesting experience of living in a Foyer in which her Residential Assistants were Nuns. This is not uncommon because she was attending a Catholic University. While she traveled to Angers with a group from Ole Miss, she made many international friendships with students from places like Scotland, Portugal, Korea, Spain, China and more. Ole Miss Greeks really did Study Abroad right in Cadiz, Spain this summer. A group of 32 students, including myself, spent a month learning the language and basking in the Spanish sun. All students took 6 hours of Spanish, and stayed in host families, giving them the unique opportunity of living with the locals. An experience which Junior Sig Ep John Woodall found rewarding. “Immersing myself in the Spanish culture through my host family was life changing. They welcomed us with open arms and cooked us fresh meals everyday,” Woodall said. The coastal city of Cadiz was beyond fun to explore, with a fresh market, a beautiful cathedral and many interesting shops. Favorite snacks included Churros and Chocolate, for breakfast, or really any time of day, and tapas. While for some studying abroad can lead to new international friendships, the Greeks who went to Spain made new friendships with fellow Ole Miss Greeks that they did not know before the trip. A language barrier and a foreign place can cause fast and lasting friendships. (as can trips to the discotecas till dawn). Spanish culture dictates late nights and siestas, which is how the world should run really, and was perfect for a college student’s lifestyle. Junior Chi Omega, Morgan Crumbaugh said when recalling her month spent in Spain that there was, “Nothing like being on the beach where Halle Berry shot a James Bond scene every day to learn some Espanol!” She is referring to the local La Coleta beach where Halle Berry’s bikini scene was shot. While Ole Miss Greeks definitely stayed busy this summer, the school year is almost here, so pack up the car and we will see you in Oxford. Hotty Toddy!
13 SO YOU WANT TO STUDY ABROAD? Adventure traveling
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The semester is slowly coming to an end and we will be thrown into second semester before we know Delta Gamma it, after a Christmas break that seems to last forever. Olivia is a junior studying integrated marketing communications. You may For me, spring semester contact her at ojschroe@go.olemiss.edu will be spent at a place other than Ole Miss. I have always wanted to study abroad, and next semester I will have the opportunity to live and study in London.
OLIVIA SCHROEDER
Currently, one of my best friends is studying abroad in Florence, Italy. From her pictures and frequent emails, I can tell that she is having the time of her life. Every few weekends she spends time in a different country, making the most of her trip. She was in Germany for Oktoberfest, in Ireland to drink her first Guinness, and she recently got back from Paris and Barcelona. I made the decision to apply for a study abroad program at the end of September this year, and had plenty of time to get my applications and paperwork completed. Going into this process, I had no idea what I was doing or what to expect. I dropped by the study abroad office in Martindale, made an appointment with Skip Langley, and was walked through the checklist of things to do. Before applying to the specific program, a general application must be accepted by Ole Miss. This application has a $100 fee along with a requirement of good academic standing and a GPA of 2.5 or higher. After receiving an acceptance from the school, the specific program application can be completed. I am going to London through a program called CAPA International Education. If you are interested in studying abroad, you need to find a program that works for you and one that includes a country you would like to study in. CAPA’s program extends to cities like Beijing, Buenos Aires, Dublin, Florence, Istanbul, London, Shanghai and Sydney. Through the application, you choose where you would like to live while abroad. There is an option for a homestay with a British family or apartment living with other students. I chose the later, fearing time with another family would make me miss mine too much. I have chosen my classes while I am waiting patiently for my VISA application to go through. While I am still being notified of the finalized program details, I do know that I will arrive in London around the middle of January and book my flight home for the end of April. If you are even considering studying abroad for next fall or spring, go make an appointment in Martindale. The study abroad advisors are more than willing to work with students to find a program that fits you, and they can answer the many questions that arise while applying to study abroad.
14 Sports local
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BASKETBALL’S “BAD BOY” OF WHITE GIRL WEDNESDAY HOUSTON BUCKLEY
Alpha Tau Omega Houston is a senior studying journalism. You may contact him at rhbuckle@ go.olemiss.edu. Last year, the Ole Miss Rebels started a young man by the name of Marshall Henderson. However, what Rebel Nation didn’t realize is that they started an epidemic that would sweep the nation. This epidemic is Marshall Madness, and it’s getting better every week. Marshall Henderson has become more than just a savior for the men’s basketball team. He has also become the center of social media, with Internet blogs, tweets, and gifs. Marshall’s antics may have blossomed at the Vanderbilt game last year, but this SEC sharpshooter backs up his antics on and off the court.
When you ask someone on the street who Marshall Henderson is, the answers you receive vary in a love/hate relationship. Some people don’t find his antics off the court too appealing, so they think negatively towards him as a player. Some people love him for more than just his off court antics. Marshall Henderson shot 20.1 points per game last year for the Rebels, and is shooting 18.7 PPG this year already. Henderson has shot above 35% from beyond the arc since being at Ole Miss, and is over 80% on free throw shooting. In actuality, the Ole Miss Rebels need Marshall Henderson. This year Henderson served a suspension in which he missed the Mississippi State game in Starkville, Miss. Once Henderson returned from his suspension, we played the Bulldogs again here in Oxford, a game in which we skull-drug the pups 82-63 in front of an electrifying crowd at the Tad Pad. The first time we played the dawgs without Henderson, we lost 76-72. Henderson has been more than just a social media icon. He has been a lethal presence on the court. Despite being called “the bad boy of basketball” by the website Total Frat Move, Henderson led the Rebels to an SEC Championship last year, the first one in over 30 years.
ESPN ranked the top 50 moments in sports for 2013, and Marshall Henderson stepping onto the scene in the SEC was in the top 25. Wednesday is no longer Wednesday, it has been forever labeled White Girl Wednesday and it came from the Native Flash himself. Throughout the flash’s many social media outlets (Twitter, Instagram, etc.) we have learned about all of his fun nights here in Oxford, and he isn’t afraid to speak his mind. Marshall Henderson has become the center of many gifs, including the infamous Auburn jersey pump, the Vanderbilt half court shot, the gator chomp troll, and my personal favorite, “Vandy fans sad because of Marshall Henderson.” Whether you hate him or love him, Marshall Henderson isn’t going anywhere. The greatest thing Ole Miss fans have this year is quite simply another season of Marshall Henderson. His on court antics may seem over the top and theatrical, but these “antics” reflect his passion and love for the game. Henderson’s lethal accuracy from beyond three point range has carried the Rebels to some of the best basketball we’ve seen in years, and his off court antics have carried him into social media stardom faster that the NativeFlash himself.
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