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College 101

by ashley Hennefer

A m u s t- d o c h e c k l i s t f r o m A n o l d e r s i s

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y brother and stepsister are new college students, and it’s been fun transitioning from “former college student” to “wise academic sage” (as I see myself now). I’ve had almost every possible role at the University of Nevada, Reno, as a student, grad student, researcher and teacher. I like to think my experiences have taught me a thing or two about college life. Here’s what I recommend to my siblings and my students, as someone who’s been there, done that.

1. Use yoUr resoUrces This has become my mantra as an older sister and now a teacher. This means using what’s at your disposal to answer questions and learn. This applies to academics—don’t know what MLA style means yet? Google it!—but also your life outside school, too. (Don’t know how to use a parking meter? Ask someone!) Luckily, UNR is full of resources—tutors, counselors, career advisers, resident assistants, professors and librarians who are all there to guide you through this time in your life. There’s also computer access everywhere. No question is too silly.

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2. Don’t blow all yoUr money on fooD It’s very tempting to spend those Wolf Bucks, that $20 from your grandma, or your student loan money on food. UNR has a lot of great food options, but it gets very expensive very quickly. It’s not worth it to rack up debt. College is already pricey, you should be eating nutritiously when possible, and I promise you don’t need a Starbucks frappe every day, even if it feels like you do.

3. Diversify yoUr frienD groUp While working at the campus library as a freshman, I had a group of friends in which each person was from a different country. We taught each other new languages and shared music, recipes and family traditions that then became traditions in our own lives. Friends who push you out of your comfort zone open up your worldview and increase your empathy for people around the globe whose lives are different than yours.

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Seek out new experiences the same way you would in another country. Meet the locals, try new restaurants, take pictures, go to art exhibits and shows, and volunteer. It’s cheaper than studying abroad but just as valuable a learning experience, and I guarantee you’ll have a blast if you think like an adventurer.

5. GeT compeTiTive

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The future is interdisciplinary.

This means that regardless of the major you choose, you’ll have to adapt your skill set. No two fields are mutually exclusive.

Some of the smartest, coolest people I know from college are people who majored in seemingly contrasting degrees (like atmospheric science and art, or math and history). You’re not defined by what you major in, and most jobs require diverse abilities.

Your degree shows the world you have a passion for learning and a specialized interest, but it doesn’t dictate your path. It’s OK to love more than one subject, and I encourage you to find ways to integrate all the things you love into your future. Ω

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Go Big Blue!

Join Greater Nevada Credit Union’s It’s Time to Support the Band fundraising drive and help keep our Nevada band jammin’! Greater Nevada’s commitment is stronger than ever, which is why we’re matching every dollar donated, now up to $25,000 annually! With your donation, we help provide new instruments, uniforms, travel costs and more.

Come see us at our game-day booths, at any Greater Nevada branch, or online at: SupportNevada.unr.edu/MarchingBand

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This is a great time in your life to build an impressive portfolio beyond your GPA. UNR has many student competitions, from independent research projects to entrepreneurial cups. They’ll give you unique networking opportunities, a chance to bond with other students and delve into your chosen field of study, and an experience that’s both fun and appealing to future employers.

And sometimes, money prizes can help you pay your way through school.

6. Think beyond your major

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4. Travel where you live

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If college bores you, well, that’s your fauit.

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You could also just end up rooming with your best friend, which sounds great in theory. But the danger here is that this might be the worst opportunity to find out their idiosyncrasies. What started out as cute habits eventually become fuel for your solo spite parties. Be honest early about things that bother the both of you, before you get in too deep. Things your friend does, like hoarding dirty spoons under the bed, are hilarious until they start gnawing away at your patience.

Perhaps instead you’ve chosen to shack up with your significant other—doing what my parents like to call living in sin.

Respect thy roommate.

Shacking up

Do whatever you can to stay organizeD by anna hart

How to live in Har mony witH otHer Hum ans

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eaving for college for many American youths is a welcome blessing. It gives you the opportunity to hightail it out of the proverbial nest and start living on our own in the real world. Whether you’re sharing a dorm with another freshman, an apartment with your best friend, or a studio with your significant other, living with someone else has its challenges.

If you choose to live in the dorms, odds are you’ll be paired with a stranger.

There’s no law that says you must bond

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with this person. But it’s likely they’ll be the first to know about your breakup, and the first new person you spend serious time with, and they’ll be first to cover for you, should your residence-hall adviser be out for blood.

So, unless you’ve got verifiable evidence that your new roomie is going to go Single White Female on you, befriend him or her. It makes everything go much more smoothly.

As for me, I moved in with my fiancé after we had been dating for four months.

Two years later, living together has definitely strengthened our relationship, but not before we gave up the concept of personal space and privacy. Whether it was the closet space I had to share or the fact that he would know every time I had diarrhea, I’m not sure which was more jarring.

Needless to say, be sure your relationship can handle this new level of intimacy.

Regardless of who you’re going to live with, however, there are a few universal truths by which you must abide if you’re planning on making it out of there unscathed. Ω

Be realistic aBout fooD

If it means buying storage dividers, doing laundry more than twice a semester, or storing stuff at mom and pop’s house, do it. There is no room, literally or figuratively, for argument here.

whatever you Do, Do not skimp on the ply I think one of the most earth-shattering ideas for me when I went shopping for groceries for the first time was that all toilet paper is not created equal.

You get what you pay for (and if you want to pay for sandpaper that falls apart at the first sign of a struggle, that’s your business).

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One of the most unnecessarily stressful situations roommates have is sharing food. The notion of divvying up the cost and consumption of your snacks is nice, but unrealistic. Try buying your own groceries instead, and contributing equally to a “shared snacks” pile. Or, you could be the roommate who menacingly hoards food like you’re prepping for a harsh winter. Your call, though.

communicate Communication is key, regardless of where or with whom you’re living. Though passive-aggressive notes about putting the toilet seat down are great for Tumblr posts, they’re horrible in practice.

But the real secret to living in peace? Pick your battles. You don’t always have to get along with your roommate, but remember: they know where you sleep.

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THINK

UNR’s police department handed out more than 300 minor-inpossession tickets last year.

FREE.

Party smarts S c h o o l yo u r S e l f o n a l c o h o l l aw S b e f o r e yo u pa r ta k e

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s a college freshman, drinking can feel like accidentally walking in to a high-level elective class: You start off confident—excited, even—but pretty soon you realize the room is unfamiliar, you’re trying to keep up with all these jaded upperclassmen, and all you can do is nod and mumble while your professor blows your mind with lessons you weren’t quite ready for.

Alcohol is the professor in this scenario, and it can teach some brutal lessons to the unprepared. Who will be enforcing these lessons? The officers of UNR Police Services. Director Adam Garcia has been with the campus police department for 14 years, and has plenty of experience educating students about the law—both in his capacity as an officer and as an adjunct political science professor at Truckee Meadows Community College.

“We want to make sure our students are successful in their education,” Garcia said. “Being successful also means being responsible. We take a zero-tolerance policy stance on underage drinking and inappropriate conduct. … If you’re caught drinking, and you’re underage on this campus, you will be cited and/or arrested.”

In the interest of preparing new students for their first semester, here are a few things you need to know about Nevada alcohol laws.

MIP (MInor In PossessIon) The most common alcohol-related offense on the UNR campus, “Minor in Possession” (or sometimes “Minor in Consumption”), sounds pretty selfexplanatory, and it is, but just ditching your beer before talking to the police doesn’t

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always mean you’re safe.

“MIP can take on a variety of different faces,” Garcia said. “Having a drink in your hand, you’re in possession of alcohol.

Any time you are in possession of alcohol, we can charge you with MIP. That includes if you do not have one in your hand, but you’re drunk, or we can tell you’ve been drinking. You have, in essence, possession of alcohol in your body.”

UNR police handed out 320 MIPs in 2014—the penalties for which include a suspended driver’s license, community service and a substance-abuse assessment from the university.

DUI (DrIvIng UnDer the InflUence) The most common alcohol offense among idiots. Seriously. Call a cab, your dad, professor, dentist, a campus escort—someone sober to drive you. However, as dumb as getting drunk and then driving is, it’s not the only way to get a DUI. “There have to be a couple things that happen before you can be charged.

You have to be physically in possession of—and be able to drive—that car to be charged … by having the keys or having some mechanism in place where you can drive off,” Garcia said. “If you’re sleeping in the front seat with the keys in your hand or in your pocket, you could potentially be charged with drunk driving.”

Campus police issued 27 DUIs this year, and while some authorities might be inclined to let a drunk student quietly walk home if he or she lives around the corner, they’ll prosecute a DUI every time. No exceptions. Violators can expect a criminal record, thousands of dollars in fines and/or up to six months potential jail time.

b y M at t B i e k e r

PrIvate ProPerty “It’s the cops! Nobody open the door!” said every drunk kid at every house party, ever.

Although it’s true the police can’t enter private property without permission, they can still gain entry if they need to.

“Police can enter your house under a number of different pretenses,” Garcia said. “1. If they’re invited in, of course; 2. A search warrant; 3. If they believe somebody is in danger; 4. If they are able to see there’s criminal activity taking place, and it happens in front of them.”

The police aren’t going to kick down your door, but if they can see alcohol through the window, they might not just leave you with a warning, either.

oPen contaIner law The open container law states that no one can have an open alcoholic container on public land—land owned by the city, for our purposes. Certain events will periodically occupy entire streets, wherein alcohol is legal for the duration of the occasion.

These legal lines get a little blurry around Reno’s numerous bar crawls, which are huge, but still do not permit open containers on the streets, as no one pays the city for the permit. Brown bag or not, open containers will almost always land you in trouble.

College means having the freedom to make choices, and drinking or not is one of many decisions incoming freshmen will make in the coming months. Decisions mean consequences, though, so if you intend to break any laws, at least know what they are. Ω

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PHOTO/GEORGIA FISHER

Cindy Marczynski is the director of counseling services at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Student counsel Ci n dy M a rC z ynsk i

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indy Marczynski’s office at the University of Nevada, Reno is full of plants, books and doodads—decades’ worth of little gifts from colleagues and clients, as well as stress relievers like magnetic toys and even a small tray where one can make his or her own sand art. There’s the obligatory Kleenex, too, and chairs where you can sit or curl up, if so inclined. It’s a cozy room for holding secrets, and at least one regular has likened it to a tree house.

When Marczynski studied clinical psychology in the early ’90s, she wondered why anyone would work with a population other than college students.

“They’re bright,” she says. “They’re highly verbal. They’re interesting.

They’re really self-introspective, and they have a lot going for them in their lives, so you can do realistic problemsolving and actually have impact.”

Plus there’s something invigorating about being on campus—“a sense of hope springing eternal each fall,” as Marczynski puts it.

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by Georgia Fisher Big transitions can beget issues, however. Counseling Services sees around 10 percent of UNR’s population, with around 40 percent of clients reporting stress as their top issue, and roughly one-third of them suffering from sleep problems. So we sat down with the good doctor to hear her thoughts and advice.

What do incoming students need? What are some of their concerns?

Sometimes students are unprepared for the amount of information and uncertainty that occurs in the first two to three weeks of the new semester, and at Counseling Services, what we often have clients coming and telling us is that they feel really overwhelmed.

What seems to overwhelm them the most?

Just so much information. They have social things happening, there are events, there are classes to prepare for—every class. You may have had the experience where you go in, and you look at the syllabus, and you think, “Oh my gosh, how am I going to do all this?” And then you go to your next class, and it happens all over again. And then you go back to your residence, and you’re meeting new people, and you’re maybe trying to find work or dealing with financial things, or with what you eat, and how you manage your schedule, and when you find time to exercise. There are so many activities and opportunities that I think students can find it really overwhelming. At least that’s what they tell us.

I imagine some of them ARE away from home for the first time, or even here from other AUGUST 13, 2015

parts of the country.

Are they homesick?

Yes, some of them are. It’s way different from high school or maybe a community college or a smaller college, just in terms of the speed and the amount of challenge and demand. We hear lots of students say, “I just didn’t know it was going to be so much. People don’t tell us stuff.”

In university, you don’t have a parent or an adviser taking you by the sleeve and saying, “OK, you need to take care of this. Be sure you get some sleep. And you might want to get up in the morning and make sure you get some food.”

It’s on you, and sometimes when students get overwhelmed, they want to back away really fast. They’ll go, “I can’t do this. I want to go home.” … One thing I would recommend is to establish a routine and a set prioritization of tasks

Student counsel

continued on page 12 J O I N T H E PAC K

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Sometimes when students get overwhelmed, they want to back away really fast. They’ll go, ‘I can’t do this. I want to go home.’

Cindy Marczynski UNR psychologist

Student counsel

continued from page 11 and time demands. Not many people do this in real life, but when it starts to fall apart, at least you started strong, versus starting with chaos and then thinking, “Well, sometime during the semester, I’ll have to buckle down and study.”

So is there a tangible thing you’d suggest, like getting a planner? Or maybe breaking your day down into blocks?

Those are basic things. Get a planner, look at your syllabus. Meet instructors, go in during office hours, take advantage of things like supplemental instruction, tutoring—all the services available on campus. The writing center, counseling services, the math center. It’s about being aware of those things, and [taking action] early in courses where you think you might struggle, instead of waiting until after the first exam or two, then saying, “Well, you know, maybe I should do that.” Get help early if you sense something isn’t going well. Don’t give up. Don’t panic.

I remember panicking a lot and partying a lot.

Those things happen.

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Well, I look back now and wonder if they went hand-in-hand. It’s quite a way to check out.

I think it’s a way to say, “Well, I’ll just blow it off right now and do the social thing.” There’s guilt and there’s panic, and then—this is the worst of all—there’s a lot of avoidance.

Is that a young-person way of dealing with things?

Absolutely. It’s an old-person way of dealing with things, too. If you’re not really sure, you’re going to say, “Well, I’ll think about that later.”

But I think as you grow up, you’re better able to understand it’s going to be OK. That’s really a big thing. Students feel like, “If I don’t get this figured out this second, it’s going to be horrible,” so they either flurry around and feel overwhelmed, or say, “Well, I can’t do anything with this, so to hell with it. I’ll just not think about it.” A more reasoned approach would be to just kind of pace yourself, and say, “OK, what can I do with this week, this day? What things do I need to do right now?”

AUGUST 13, 2015

So instead of saying ‘my whole college career is on a bad trajectory,” it’s more like, “OK, I’ve got a test at 2 p.m.”?

more manageable thing. If you’re actively working on something, the anxiety is so much less. Whereas if you’re avoiding it, normally people just worry about it. You think you’re avoiding it, but you really find yourself not sleeping, and feeling really stressed and overwhelmed.

Yeah. You look ahead to your week and say, “I’ve got two tests this week; how can I organize my life in a realistic way—not study 24/7, but how can I plan ahead as realistically as possible?”

Could you walk us through what it’s like for someone to seek counseling services, and maybe what the appointment will be like?

Can you think of ways people can relieve stress on campus? Apart from eating right and sleeping right and scheduling things right, are there good exercise facilities— things like that?

Exercise is really important, [as is] taking time to do non-academic things, limiting drugs and alcohol, and trying to not do everything in short bursts, like, “OK, I’m going to stay up 20 hours, and then I’ll sleep for two days.” Trying to have a somewhat regular schedule is really helpful. If someone comes in to see me, and they’re in a crisis of being overwhelmed, what we want to try to to do is help them break whatever it is into a

I think it’s initially a bit scary, and part of that is you’re maybe afraid somebody’s going to think you’re crazy, or other students might see you and you don’t know where the information is going, or how you’re going to be judged.

We try to reassure students who come in that it’s confidential. Students come to see us for all kinds of reasons, everything from “I can’t figure out my schedule,” to being homesick, or “I broke up with my boyfriend,” on the one hand, or major mental health issues on the other hand. ... And it is confidential; we don’t tell their parents, it isn’t on their record, and we don’t make them do anything.

We just might help them sort things out, or do some problem-solving. Ω

To learn more about counseling services at UNR, visit unr.edu/counseling

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Pogonip is a unique weather condition and a fine cat name.

You can view all the 2015-2016 course offerings at catalog.unr.edu.

ProPAgANdisTic ArT, 1925-1945 (ArT 476) If you’re interested in the bold and iconic style of propaganda—and its effect on the wars that transformed the world—this is the course for you. This class covers the art of propaganda in print, film and radio in the U.S. and Europe.

Class act

by Ashley hennefer

UniqUe coUrse offerings from Unr

B

eyond the required math, English 101 and core humanities, the University of Nevada, Reno offers some unconventional classes for students of all majors. After all, college is about more than career readiness, so why not expand your knowledge while you’re there with some of these cool courses?

Keep in mind that some of these require prerequisites, as they’re part of larger programs, but they might inspire your direction if you’re undeclared.

sTrANge ANd dANgerous WeATher (geog 221) This awesomely cryptic-sounding course provides an overview of the planet’s most unique weather phenomena, such as hurricanes, dust devils, lightning and pogonip. Don’t know what pogonip is?

Take this class to find out.

PirATes ANd hAckers (hisT 224)

clocks, rhyThms & diseAse (Biol 476)

Aside from having the most intriguing course name ever, this history class promises some fascinating discussions and research about society’s underground—and underwater—rebels throughout history by exploring the sociocultural causes behind piracy and hacking.

This upper-level biology course is all about how life responds to time—the study of “chronobiology,” which basically sounds like something out of a superhero movie. Science is so cool.

ArchAeology of NevAdA (ANTh 350) It’s easy to take for granted the sagebrush-covered landscape of the Great Basin, but many secrets are buried in its depths. Here you can learn about the “prehistory paleoenvironment from the ice age to historic times” of the state.

This course involves field work, which should appeal to aspiring Tomb Raiders.

iNTroducTioN To ArTificiAl iNTelligeNce (cs 382)

hAPPiNess (Phil 451) The pursuit of this class means you’ll discuss and dissect that elusive subject, happiness. With your classmates, you’ll investigate the sources of happiness from friendship to religion to nonconformity.

And puppies. Definitely puppies. Ω

Aid the impending singularity in this computer science course about artificial intelligence. Or maybe just learn how to design a robot who can make you coffee.

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If you can’t find a club or extracurricular group that suits you, fear not. There’s plenty of time to network and build your own.

Extra, extra H e r e ’ s H o w t o r e a l ly r o u n d o u t y o u r s c H e d u l e

L

ife as a college student is tough and time-consuming. You’re getting used to the workload, balancing a part-time job with classes, and attempting to fit two dates and a kegger into your weekend schedule. So who has time for extracurricular activities?

In high school, teachers, parents and counselors groomed us for college.

While good grades and test scores helped, it was what we did outside of school that made us stand out to admissions boards. And it was then that clubs, student government and sports stopped being anything more than a means to an end.

This notion has been so fervently beaten into us that by the time we get to college, we have no one to impress, and thus no reason to participate anymore.

But in college, these non-requisite activities actually give you creative, educational and networking opportunities.

More importantly, they keep you sane.

In this case, getting involved means more than just joining a frat or running for student government, although both

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of those can make for a great time in college if you enjoy them. Our university has a wealth of different clubs and organizations—literally hundreds of them. So take the time to find one that fits you, and consider joining a group that can strengthen you and forge connections within your major.

Contrary to popular belief, being a music major is actually difficult.

So during my freshman year, I joined Sigma Alpha Iota, the women’s music fraternity on campus. It was a great tradeoff for me. As a sister, I gained another chance to meet other music students outside of the classroom, and developed a support system of girls who all understood why the hell I was crying in a fetal position in the hallway.

Branching out has value, too, so take the chance to learn something in another area that interests you. When I was in high school, for example, I loved mock trial (which, for god’s sake, is not the same as debate). So it became an intuitive decision to continue with it in college.

by Anna Hart

Being involved in a criminal justicebased club as a music major was more than a little unusual, but the experience gave me invaluable skills. It afforded me more confidence with public speaking, helped me form logical arguments, and taught me how to point out all of the bull on Law and Order.

You should also find an outlet through which you can speak your mind. It is possible to have passionate, intellectual discussions that aren’t facilitated by a TA. If you’re fired up about social injustice, LGBTQIA+ rights, religion or basically any hotly contested topic, there is a group who advocates for it.

Finally, don’t forget to enjoy your time in college. From Dungeons & Dragons to Ultimate Frisbee to swing dancing, we have a club for any hobby—and if we don’t have a club for what you want, grab some like-minded friends and start your own.

For so many young people, college becomes one of two things: an esoteric, soul-searching journey in which we

AUGUST 13, 2015

find out who we will become as adults in the real world, or, more frequently, a requisite state of purgatory between adolescence and adulthood that we pray only lasts four years.

In reality, college exists somewhere between these two concepts. The point is to wander and explore while you have the chance (because you haven’t signed your life away), and realize that the experience only steals your soul if you let it.

So take a dance class, join the marching band, pester your peers to sign your weed legalization petition, do something. After all, college has so much more to teach you than what you can read in textbooks. Ω

J O I N T H E PAC K

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