Volume 22 Orientation Issue Part B

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Tips on living with a roommate p. 3

Study spots on campus p. 8 Welcome to the family: NSU traditions p. 10

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Navigating NSU

Orientation Issue 2011 | nsucurrent.nova.edu

Special Rates for Nova $149.00 April 25 – May 30, 2011 $119.00 May 31 – September 29, 2011 $149.00 September 30 – December 31, 2011 All rooms are Ocean view on A1A across from the beach Complimentary High Speed Internet Service in entire hotel Within 13 miles of BankAtlantic Center & NOVA main campus

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News

nsucurrent.nova.edu | Orientation Issue 2011

Living and communicating with a roommate Written by: Michael Brochu Michael Brochu is the graduate assistant for mediation services in the Office of the Dean of Students.

The day that you have been eagerly awaiting for has finally arrived. You have checked into your new residence hall, met your resident adviser, and discovered that you have used muscles you didn’t know you had while bringing your most important belongings to your new room. Now all you need to do is meet your new roommate. The on-campus living experience can be positive and rewarding and result in life-long friendships.

While you may think your roommate is incredible, awesome and amazing during the first few moments of meeting them, it is important to keep in mind that everybody has their own positive

and negative characteristics.

Shortly after moving into your new “home away from home,” your resident advisor, also known as an RA, will provide you and your roommate with a roommate contract. In a perfect world, all roommates would get along and never experience conflict.

However, in reality, conflict is a natural component of any relationship. It is important to communicate with each other to help create a smooth transition and create a comfortable living environment for both of you.

When creating the roommate agreement, you may want to talk about what each of your study habits are. Do you study late at night or early in the morning? Do you need complete silence while doing homework, or do you prefer to listen to death metal while writing your term papers? It is important to discuss your study habits with each other soon after you move in, in order to establish a living environment

that will enable both of you to be academically successful.

Additional topics you will want to discuss and include in your roommate agreement are potential communal living issues. Talk about whether you wake up early or stay up late. What do you consider a “mess”?

What do you consider “clean”? Is it OK to have a friend visit for the weekend? Do you not want your roommate to include information about you on his/her Twitter or Facebook page? Will you take turns buying toilet paper for the bathroom?

You will want to discuss many different subtopics related to living together, such as finances and personal values to establish clear communication with each other that enables both roommates to live in a comfortable atmosphere.

Many roommate experiences are positive. However, it is possible that miscommunication and individual differences may result

in conflicts. Remember that a multitude of resources are available to you if issues arise between you and a roommate. Make sure to communicate with your RA if a conflict seems to need intervention.

Another resource is Student Mediation Services (SMS) in the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs.

NSU Student Mediation Services is a campus resource administered by the Division of Student Affairs and staffed by trained graduate students from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. The office offers resources for students to learn about interpersonal conflict and its management as well as resolution processes for helping students actively resolve conflicts. Whether it’s a roommate disagreement, argument with a fellow student or student club/ organization dispute, SMS offers a variety of free services including oneon-one conflict coaching, mediation and educational workshops.

Did you know...

SMS provides students with a safe and confidential environment to learn about and actively manage and resolve conflict in their lives. A primary purpose of the service is the support of students’ independence as adults and the development of individual accountability and responsibility as active members of the campus community in preparation for students’ future beyond the university setting.

Support and enhance your NSU experience and personal development by seeking constructive and positive avenues for the management and resolution of your interpersonal conflicts. Allow us to help you achieve these goals through the use of the services we offer. SMS provides information, brochures, tip sheets and contact information at www.nova. edu/studentmediation. You can also contact SMS at studentmediation@ nova.edu or (954) 262-7196.

Written by Yineth Sanchez

The Performing and Visual Arts wing in the University Center has a Mac-only computer lab on the second floor.

The Flight Deck, located on the first floor of the Don Taft University Center, offers snacks and drinks for $1.00 or less.

The Shark Discount Program offers NSU students a 10% discount from vendors like Ramone Pierre Salon & Spa, Hollywood Tans®, Pizza Loft® and Firehouse Subs®.

The Alvin Sherman Library does not accept cash for late fees, only checks or the SharkCard.

You can add money to your SharkCard from your computer and then activate it at any informational kiosk on campus or at the card office.

NSU offers daily shuttle services to the Broward Mall and Publix

The Shepard Broad Law Center offers an international dual-degree program that allows students to simultaneously work on law degrees from the U.S. and Spain or Italy.

In 1994, Nova University merged with Southeastern University of Health Sciences to form Nova Southeastern University.

The Alvin Sherman Library is the largest library building in Florida.

You can check out up to 30 items at a time from the Alvin Sherman Library, including books, DVDs and music CDs. •

The RecPlex offers classes in belly dancing, ballroom dancing, spinning, hiphop, Pilates, yoga and Aquafit, which is an exercise class that takes place in the swimming pool.

NSU students are not allowed to park in visitor spots.

Residential students can use the washing machines and dryers on campus for free.

The RecPlex has saunas, lockers, and showers for women and men.

has a NSU Loser” est “Bigg etition. m co p

Any NSU student can be a RadioX DJ; no experience necessary.

Through SharkPrint, NSU’s new wireless printing service, you can send print jobs from your own computer to any printing center on campus.

NSU offers online tutoring for mathematics and writing through the Office of Academic Services.

NSU’s Homecoming takes place during the winter semester instead of the fall semester.

The Henderson Counseling Center and health services give out free condoms.

Forbes magazine The Shepard listed NSU as Broad Law Center one of the top offers an online 20 American master’s degree universities leading program for nonin technology. lawyers seeking insight on the legal As a continuing implications of NSU student, you health, employment can register for and education law. classes online.

NSU is to the home M Dolp hins iami Train ing Facil ity.

Th Sher e Alvin ma is op n Library e than n more 100 h per w ours eek.

NSU has more than 70 on-campus clubs and organizations

RadioX broadcasts in three counties: Miami Dade, Broward, and West Palm.

The Alvin Sherman Library offers a discount on bus passes for public buses to NSU students at the checkout desk.

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Navigating NSU

Library services offered to NSU students Written by: Samantha Harfenist The Alvin Sherman Library, Research, and Information Technology Center stands tall in the center of campus. It offers students various tools which they can use throughout college. A vast array of resources is available for research. Private study rooms can be used for group study sessions. The computer labs provide students access to the Internet, various programs and printing. Here is your guide for navigating one of the largest and most comprehensive libraries in South Florida.

1. Digital resources NovaCat is the university’s private online catalog for research sources. Books, periodicals, CDs, and DVDs are just a few of the materials available through this service. You can also renew your rental online, both on and off campus, by accessing the Web site www.nova.edu/library/main.

Databases provide students access to a large selection of journal articles and eBooks as well as other types of informational materials.

These databases can be searched both on and off campus by using your NSU login information.

Periodicals such as magazines, academic journals and newspapers can be located in print, or online using NovaCat or Journal Finder.

Audiovisual materials and Microforms in the form of games, music and books are at the students’ disposal. These types of media come in CDs, DVDs, cassette tapes and other technologies. Microfilm and microfiche materials are also provided.

South Florida theaters get two fins up

PHOTO BY j. TRail

The Alvin Sherman Library, Research and Information Technology Center offers students several amenities including private study spaces, printing and copying areas and large computer labs.

2. Printing and copying Printing and copying machines can be found all over the library.

Some require a SharkCard, while others will accept change. NSU students receive a $75 printing balance on their SharkCard at the beginning of the school year.

Printing costs 10 cents per page.

3. The Connections Café There is a cafe located on the first floor in case a student needs food. Food is not permitted in the library. However food can be ordered to go from the café. There are also couches, chairs and tables in the café, which can be used for studying.

4. Document Delivery Can’t find that certain book or periodical in the NSU library or online? Contact a reference librarian and it can be ordered. The librarian’s contact number is (954) 262-4613.

5. Library Instruction and Arrangement of the Collection The research collections are ordered according to the Library of Congress system. As such, the children’s section, located on the first floor, is ordered by the Dewey Decimal system. NovaCat is the easiest and quickest way to search for other books and periodicals in

the library. Not sure on how to do that? A librarian can teach skills for using NovaCat, databases, Internet use and reference tools. A reference librarian is available at (954) 2624613.

6. Group study rooms Group study rooms are available for students by appointment. There must be at least three students.

7. DVD and VHS camera check-out DVD and VHS camera rental is available through the library. Students must provide contact information, including their N-number.

8. Computer labs There are several computer labs located in the library. It is recommended that new students consult library personnel for instruction on how to print materials in the lab.

Food and drinks are not permitted in the computer labs.

If utilized, the library can become one of the most important resources of a student’s academic career. In an age where Internet sources are not always verifiable, it is vital to have resources which are reliable. The Alvin Sherman Library, Research, and Information Technology Center offers that.

Parking 101 Written by: Giuliana Scagliotti For the nearly 1,500 students who live on campus, worrying about gas, unexpected flat tires and other unforeseen parking woes is not a problem. However, for commuter students, those issues, particularly parking, can transform a smooth morning into a honking-coffeespilling-I-had-my-blinker-on-andclaimed-this-spot-already-so-keeplooking tornado of a morning.

Getting to class on time depends heavily on finding the right parking space at the right time. Knowing where and how to park is key. This is a crash-course: Parking 101.

The NSU SharkCard is needed to gain access to almost all student-designated parking lots on campus. Faculty, staff and student parking decals are required for parking on campus, except where visitor parking spaces are marked.

However, students are prohibited from parking in visitor spaces.

Parking decals can be obtained at the One-Stop Shop on the first floor of the Horvitz Administration Building.

Orientation Issue 2011 | nsucurrent.nova.edu

PHOTO BY l. auRigeMMa

Students are able to park in this large parking lot in front of the Don Taft University Center.

Having a proper decal and a SharkCard is the first step toward stress-free parking. Every building on campus has corresponding parking spaces. There is a parking garage north of the Parker building.

Those visiting the library can park at the garage located northwest of the library’s roundabout. NSU students are permitted to park there on the second, third and fourth floors. The first floor is reserved for public visitors. There is also a parking lot directly north of the Carl DeSantis Building.

Medical students can park at the garage located on the east side of the Terry Administration Building.

The Maltz Psychology Building has a parking lot on its north side.

Law students can park in the lot

directly north of the Shepard Broad Law Center.

The Horvitz Administration Building has extensive parking lots on its north and south ends. The Don Taft University Center also has several choices for parking on its east side. The Athletics and Student Affairs Building has parking lots on its west and south sides, and the Mailman-Hollywood Building has one on its south side.

For overflow and events, there are extra parking lots west and north of the parking garage.

Now you can find your way around the campus and its parking spaces but you still need to pass the midterm and final for Parking 101 — surviving each semester without getting a parking violation ticket.

cOuRTeSY Of www.RaPOPORTSRg.BlOgSPOT.cOM

Cinemark Palace 20 in Boca Raton offers a premier package, which includes valet parking, special reserved seating and access to both bar and bistro, if you’re over 21.

Written by: Juan Gallo Movies enthrall us. Don’t believe me? Ask just about anyone who’s seen Inception. People love movies. There’s nothing like sitting down next to your friends with some Sour Patch Kids and a Tub’O Popcorn to see a movie that you have been waiting months to see.

However, there are several things that can ruin that experience.

Having your seat kicked by a 5-year-old is one. Not being able to hear the movie over the cell phone conversation behind you is another. Paying $15 for a ticket doesn’t help either. But, despite all of these potential setbacks and the accessibility of downloading movies from the Internet, people still want to go to the movies. Here’s a list of theaters that’ll make a trip to the movies go from “eh” to “ahhhh”.

If you want the works then Regal Sawgrass 23, Cinemark Paradise 24, and AMC Aventura 24 are the places to check out. These theaters are the closest to campus that offer all of the perks of a night out at the movies — valet parking, great picture and audio quality, numerous concession stands, more than 20 theaters, and more. But beware, on a weekend you’ll be greeted by enormous lines, high ticket prices, a mad rush for seats, and more hassle than any sane human being would ever want to deal with.

One of the best options around to avoid the crowd is located in Pembroke Pines. Regal Westfork Plaza 13 offers less theaters but also fewer crowds — even on opening weekend. It is also very clean and quite comfortable.

For the cinema buff seeking independent films and movies that are not widely released there is the very quaint and intimate Sunrise Cinemas Gateway.

One of the most unique cinemas in South Florida is Ft. Lauderdale’s Cinema Paradiso. This charming little venue was once a church but is now a theater displaying movies you won’t be able to find anywhere else in South Florida. Cinema Paradiso also hosts the Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival every year.

One of the best deals in town is right around the corner from NSU. Ridge Cinema 8 offers stadium seating and new releases for only $5.50 Monday though Thursday.

Lastly, if you want to make a night of it, you can take a ride up to Boca Raton with your date and enjoy the luxury of Cinemark Palace 20.

You can splurge like a big ‘baller’ and buy The Premier package, which includes valet parking, special reserved seating, and access to both bar and bistro, if you are over 21.

So, pick a theater, grab your Sour Patch Kids, your Tub’O Popcorn, and enjoy the show.

nsucurrent.nova.edu | Orientation Issue 2011

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Navigating NSU

You’re on the air RadioX: NSU’s student-run radio station Written by: Opal Owens & Keren Moros Apart from NSU’s 70 plus clubs and organizations, one of the most soulful ways to get involved on campus is through WNSU RadioX, NSU’s radio station, which broadcasts on 88.5 FM and online www.nova.edu/radiox.

Station Manager Beranda Harper said RadioX provides a diverse environment and creative outlet for NSU students.

“It showcases talents and creativity beyond campus and lets our voices be heard,” Harper said.

“It showcases the Sharks to the community.”

The non-commercial station broadcasts from NSU from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. every night. RadioX DJs

expose listeners to several genres of music, including alternative, hip-hop, reggae and jazz, as well as local band showcases and live dubstep DJ sets.

There is also live video streaming of several shows.

Harper said the station allows students to learn the ropes of professional radio broadcasting and develop unique on-air personalities. “[RadioX] gives students [hands-on] experience and gives them a chance to shine,” Harper said.

“They can utilize their skills and learn from them.”

Athina Casas, junior psychology major, has been a DJ for three years.

She plays alternate rock and hard rock and is known as DJ Ink. Casas said being a DJ helped her become less introverted.

“Getting to know different bands and different people made me

more outgoing and gave me lots of experience,” she said.

Reflecting the station’s axiom, “Your music, your voice,” RadioX serves as the voice of NSU. Shows address student issues and highlight student accomplishments.

Maximilien Ouelhadj, senior communication studies major, RadioX IT director and DJ, said the station interviews the student leader of the week. He said they also interview athletes every week. For example, they interviewed the swimming team when they won a championship.

Being part of RadioX also offers several perks. DJs receive opportunities to work as media at some of South Florida’s biggest concerts and events and interview top artists and community leaders.

They also participate and coordinate events like concert, movie ticket and

Photo by j. trail

Chris Foster, MBA in marketing student and assistant station manager at NSU’s student-run radio station, RadioX, demonstrates speaking on the microphone to listeners.

CD giveaways and games.

“I went to the Best of the Best Concert and got free Lil’ Wayne tickets,” said Phillip Williams, sophomore communication studies major, also known as DJ Classick. “I get to DJ events, and that’s been the best times of my life,” Williams said.

RadioX internships are open to all students. No experience is necessary as training is provided.

In addition to internships, the radio station also has paid positions like station manager, assistant station manager, program director,

IT director, production engineer, community program director, business manager and music director.

Students can become part of RadioX by stopping by the office on the first floor of the Rosenthal Student Center and filling out an application. More information is also available at www.nova.edu/radiox and at (954) 262-8457 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Students can also like the station’s Facebook page for live fan and DJ interaction. Live streaming is available on the station’s Web site and from the TuneIn Radio application.

Getting a job in college Check yourself before Written by: Keren Moros One of the best things about growing up is becoming financially independent. But when you don’t receive money from your parents, you need to make your own.

Making her own money is the reason Ileana Sanchez, sophomore psychology major, is the media manager for the Office of Student Activities and works at the office’s front desk.

“I was looking for a job on campus because I am a part of Phi Sigma Sigma, and I wanted a way to pay my dues without having to ask my mom and dad,” Sanchez said.

Besides asking offices on campus if they have jobs available, students can look for a job through Student Employment. Stacey Levy, coordinator of job location and development and special events in Enrollment and Student Services, said that students must be enrolled in class and fully accepted into their programs to qualify for student employment.

They then have to register for a Student Employment workshop at www.nova.edu/financialaid/student employment. The workshop is on WebCT which students have to log on to. After viewing a presentation and completing a quiz, the student prints out a certificate of completion.

“Once they have that certificate of completion, they would submit that student employment application to our office along with the certificate, and that’s how they would apply for a job,” Levy said.

The application can be printed from the Student Employment Web site and submitted to the Office of Student Employment in the Horvitz Administration Building. Applications are also available in the office.

Part-time on-campus jobs are available through NSU Student Employment. Off-campus jobs are available through Job Location and Development, which is a referral service. These can be part time or full time. For these jobs, students work for an outside an employer, not NSU.

Although students must apply

PHOTO BY K. MOROS

Sophomore psychology major Ileana Sanchez works at the front desk of the Office of Student Activities in the Don Taft University Center.

for it on Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be eligible for Federal Work Study, NSU Student Employment jobs are available for all students despite financial need.

Another employment program is the America Reads America Counts Program, a tutoring program in which NSU places tutors in 35 Broward County elementary schools.

“They’re paid and trained through NSU,” Levy said. “The school board does background checks, and then we place them in the schools.

That’s one of our most popular jobs because the pay rate is $13 an hour.”

Levy said student employment jobs do not have benefits. The average salary is from $8.50 to $9 an hour. For NSU Employment Program (NSE) jobs, hours do not exceed 20 per week. Federal Work Study jobs do not exceed 25 hours per week. Students are not permitted to start working until their first day of class. However, students may have the option of working full time during breaks like spring break and the summer as long as they are resuming classes the next semester.

However, the Office of Student Employment does not place students in jobs. On the application, students note which jobs they want to apply for, which are posted on a board in the office or the Student Employment Web site. Levy suggested that students start applying three to four

weeks before they want to start working. However, jobs are available all year.

“After submitting the student employment application, they would receive an email from me letting them know who to contact for those jobs, and then it’s up to the student to contact the hiring supervisor and set up an interview,” Levy said. “If those jobs don’t work out, we keep going until the student finds something.”

Sanchez suggests students look for on-campus jobs because of the opportunities they give.

“You’re on campus and you get to meet people: deans, directors, and assistant directors and, in turn, that helps you along the way,” Sanchez said.

Graduate students can apply for any job on campus. There are hourly graduate assistant positions available through Student Employment. However, graduate students can also apply for graduate assistantships, which carry more responsibility than other Student Employment jobs, through the Division of Student Affairs.

Allison Walker, first-year college student affairs master’s student, said being a graduate assistant for Student Affairs at the student educational centers has given her experience in her field while allowing her to have fun.

“Find what you love because the key thing is to find that job that you can have fun with but also that you can learn a lot through,” Walker said.

“It’s a chance to get that additional hands-on experience, outside of what you learned in the classroom, before you graduate.”

Some other examples of jobs around campus are student administrative positions, computer lab assistants and library workers.

Application deadlines and more information for the fall semester will be available on the Student Employment Web site during the first week in June. Sign up for the workshop will begin in July. The office will hold a Student Employment Job Fair on Thursday, Aug. 25 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Don Taft University Center.

you Rec yourself

photo by j. trail

The RecPlex, located in the Don Taft University Center, features a three-story high rock climbing wall.

Written by: Craig Heenighan

The Office of Campus Recreation offers a variety of ways to stay active — from burning calories in a spin class to pumping iron in the RecPlex. No matter how you get in shape the Office of Campus Recreation has something for you.

Located in the Don Taft University Center, the RecPlex is NSU’s primary gymnasium and has become a popular campus workout facility. The RecPlex is a state-ofthe-art, 110,000-square-foot-facility and is home to top of the line workout equipment.

The gym has a number of amenities including 98 pieces of cardiovascular equipment and 84 pieces of strength equipment.

The RecPlex has squatting racks, machine weights and a number of free weights in addition to a number of treadmills, elliptical machines and rowing machines.

Other amenities include two multi-purpose basketball courts, three indoor racquetball courts and three multi-purpose studios where spinning classes, yoga, and body sculpt and other fitness and

instructional classes take place.

Campus Recreation also provides fitness-based programs. If working out by yourself is not your thing, then why not try a group exercise class. Choose from more 15 different classes including 20-20-20, Aquafit, Body Sculpt, Power Sculpt, Circuit Blast, Cardio-Core, Cardio Step, Killer Abs, Spinning, Zumba and Yoga. These classes are free for NSU students. However sign-up is required and spaces are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Group exercise classes are great stress relievers and they lower the risk of heart disease through aerobic exercise. In addition, regular exercise, whether it is in the RecPlex or in the fitness programs, can help you lose weight and help tone muscles.

A number of instructional programs are offered at the RecPlex including Dance Jam, Belly Dancing, Ballroom Dancing and Scuba.

Campus Recreation offers the chance to get in shape in fun and unique ways. So, put down your dumbbells, pick up your dancing shoes, and try something different.

For more information on the RecPlex and group classes visit www.rec.nova.edu.

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Navigating NSU

Orientation Issue 2011 | nsucurrent.nova.edu

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Navigating NSU

nsucurrent.nova.edu | Orientation Issue 2011

Places to know on campus Photos and captions by: Chelsea Seignious

Gold Circle Lake

Library Quad

Medicinal and Healing Garden

Home of the Anything that Floats Raft Race and large iguanas. Gold Circle Lake surrounds the exterior of the library, the Shepard Broad Law Center, and the Horvitz Administration building.

Fairs, festivals, concerts, and more — this large open space of grass in front of the library is a great place to enjoy these events.

If you need a relaxing moment after class, stroll the reflexology path or enjoy lunch at one of the tables. This peaceful oasis is located just outside of the Parker Building.

FFV Pagoda

Commons Lawn

Flight Deck Patio

Find your fair share of BBQ’s and residential life events at the pagoda, located between the Founder’s, Farquhar and Vettel residence halls.

Located just outside of The Commons residence hall, this is a great place for a game of frisbee, socializing with friends or studying outside.

The Flight Deck Patio is an outdoor venue on campus located on the south side of the Don Taft University Center for students to eat lunch, play ping pong or host organizational events.

Reason #652

And you can read it.

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Navigating NSU

Free or discounted medical services offered to NSU students Written by: Samantha Harfenist NSU offers a wide array of health services to its students.

Students are required to possess health insurance while they attend the university. If they do not have a private insurance, then they must purchase NSU’s Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida policy. A major benefit of this coverage is that it gives students free or discounted access to a wide variety of the school’s medical services. Here is a brief description of the services offered at NSU’s medical facilities.

1. Family Medicine

Family medicine encompasses all procedures involved in the prevention and treatment of various illnesses. This is the facility where students and their families will come to receive that yearly physical and blood tests. Your primary physician in this department should be your first contact in times of emergency and medical questions.

2. Internal Medicine Unlike Family Medicine, Internal Medicine focuses solely on treating adults. The Internists practice outpatient and in-hospital care. Check-ups, disease prevention and chronic illnesses are some of the services offered by the department.

3. Nephrology and Hypertension

Nephrology is the treatment of kidney diseases and ailments as well as high blood pressure. Dangerous diseases such as diabetes and kidney failure can be thoroughly monitored.

Blood chemistry imbalances and kidney stones are also diagnosed and treated in the facility.

4. Pediatric Medicine This division specializes in monitoring the health and wellbeing of children. “Well visits” and illness care are among the services offered as well as prenatal exams.

The Pediatric department also offers school, camp and athletic physicals with the necessary State of Florida forms.

5. Geriatric Medicine This branch of the medical center caters to elderly patients of 55 years of age or older. Physical screenings for osteoporosis, diabetes and hypertension are available.

Psychosocial impairment screenings are also offered for ailments such as Alzheimer’s and depression.

6. Obstetrics/Gynecology This division uses the most up-to-date technologies available to assess the various issues related to women’s health. These topics include everything from birth control to menopause. The clinic specializes in all aspects of women’s health, from pre-teen to menopause.

7. Dermatology The Dermatology department enables students to seek treatment for skin problems ranging from chronic acne and eczema to skin cancer. Students may seek treatment for ailments concerning skin, hair and nails. Botox and Glycolic Acid Peels are just some of the discounted services available to the patients 8. Sports Medicine The Sports Medicine branch affords students a wide-variety of medical treatments, ranging from acute care for serious injuries to sports physicals. The clinic employs nutritionists and massage therapists in addition to physicians and trainers.

9. Osteopathic Medicine Osteopathic Medicine uses a specialized form of treatment known as osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM). This technique treats the entire body as a whole unit, focusing on the muscular framework.

It may be used as a sole treatment, or in conjunction with others.

10. Psychiatry and Psychology Evaluation, medications and psychotherapy are among the services the center offers to students over the age of eighteen. Therapists evaluate and diagnose illnesses such as depression, anxiety and other emotional illnesses. Although the goal of the center is to encourage holistic alternates such as talk therapy and exercise, a licensed

psychiatrist is on staff to prescribe medications.

11. Pharmacy

The pharmacy offers discounts on certain prescriptions and nutrition counseling. Disease management programs are available to students.

The pharmacy also offers free wellness screenings to students, faculty and staff on the third Tuesday of every month.

12. Dental Clinic

The services include orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, endodontics, periodontics, oral surgery, and prosthetics. The clinic offers discounted prices to its patients based on the person’s income. The patient is assigned to a dental student and is given the doctor’s personal cell phone number. This ensures that the patient can reach the dentist quickly as well as confirm appointments. All procedures are closely supervised by professional dentists who have been practicing for years. NSU’s Dental Clinic is open to students as well as the community. The only down side is that patients’ appointments can last up to four hours.

13. Optometric Health Care

This center focuses on the care and treatment of the eyes. Its services include routine checkups, optical services (glasses), and treatment of eye disease and injuries.

School is a rigorous undertaking.

Homework, tests and other commitments test our body’s ability to sustain itself. But, NSU offers many medical services to help you remain healthy throughout the year.

So, take advantage of them. Don’t let your health fall to the wayside as you work towards your future. For more information about the NSU’s student health insurance, contact Mark Reid or Caitlin Ballback at (954) 2624060 or studenthealth@nova.edu.

For more information about NSU’s medical services, contact the office at (954) 262-1262.

Orientation Issue 2011 | nsucurrent.nova.edu

Top five places to study on campus Written by: Samantha Harfenist

Whether it’s midterms, finals or just homework, sometimes we need peace and quiet to help us focus.

After being at NSU for three years, I’ve found some nifty little spots that are quiet, cozy and comfortable.

1. The third floor of the library.

The library’s second floor has nice big chairs, but it also has loads of people who apparently think the library is a social gathering site on campus.

However, the third floor has fairly spacious cubicles located in a “Complete Silence” quarantine zone. If you’re lucky enough to snag one, its tables are roomy enough to allow you to open up your laptop and books simultaneously. There’s also a convenient shelf above the table, on which you can place extra books.

The coup de gras? It’s isolated. Think of it as your personal mini-cave.

The downside is that there are other people who are in on the secret study haven so you might not be able to crawl into the study den. But, it’s quiet and, at most, you have a dozen people around as opposed to thirty.

2. The Mailman Hollywood 3rd floor conference rooms.

These secluded rooms come complete with large tables which enable you to spread out your notebooks, flashcards and textbooks.

The enormous conference tables permit even the most cluttered of study sessions to be accomplished.

These rooms are also perfect for group study sessions. The conference tables are circular and the rooms are equipped with whiteboards or blackboards. The only catch is that there might be the occasional class in there. If so, refer to the other suggestions.

3. The DeSantis building’s 3rd floor cubicles.

The spacious cubicles provide comfy chairs and convenient tables to organize your study materials on. The rooms also afford a semisoundproof study environment to encourage concentration. True, people tend to stare at you while they

walk by as though you’re an exotic animal in a zoo, but it’s worth it.

The single negative factor is that there are only three rooms. It’s a hit or miss, but if you’re lucky enough to snag one, you’ll love it.

4. The DeSantis building’s 2nd and 3rd floor corridors.

Go up the elevator, take a sharp left and go through the double-doors.

You’ll then see the study corridors that students frequent in order to catch up on headache-inducing homework or study for those excruciating exams. The chairs are equipped with plenty of padding to ensure you’ll be relatively comfortable throughout the grueling work you’re intent on completing. There are convenient armrests attached to the chairs on which you can place textbooks, notebooks or laptops. This access enables you to work for a while, minus the hunch-back inducing pain.

The wooden tables located in front of the chairs add to the suitability of the location.

The drawback? DeSantis has an open hall so you can hear the ruckus that students make as they file to and from class. But, if you are able to block out the extra noise, this place is ideal.

5. The DeSantis building’s 2nd and 3rd floor hallway couches.

Sitting snug between every other classroom is a plush couch large enough for you to put your feet up on.

What makes these better than number 4 is that they are more private and, thus, less exposed to the noise that reverberates through the building.

The catch is that there aren’t always tables on which to place your study materials. You’ll have to balance your laptop and books on your lap or on the couch itself.

Let’s face it — studying is never enjoyable. Whether the material is as easy as memorizing the ABC song or writing that 15-page term paper, it’s still an assignment you have to get done. But, at least with a convenient, relatively comfortable place to study, you’ll be able to complete the assignments faster. Then, you can get back to more enjoyable things, like balancing your checkbook.

At least look smart.

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nsucurrent.nova.edu | Orientation Issue 2011

Getting around on campus

9

Navigating NSU

Shark Dining: more than chum

Written by: Juan Gallo It’s unavoidable. Homework starts stacking up and you find yourself losing pounds on the toomuch-work-no-time-to-eat diet. But being on campus doesn’t have to mean eating poorly or not eating at all.

Shark Dining provided by Chartwells makes sure that sharks are well-fed no matter where they are on campus.

The central location for NSU gastronomy is The Don Taft University Center’s food court, which houses Chick-n-Grill, Culinary Table, Subway, Wild Greens, Coyote Jack’s, Juiceblendz, Starbucks, and Outtakes. Here you can find a smoothie to power you up for your workout, a sub to fill you up for lunch, a frappuccino to keep you awake during class, or a pizza to

munch on with your roommates.

If you can’t make your way over to the UC there are plenty of options just a few steps away from wherever you might find yourself. Monty’s Café in the Carl Desantis building is a popular spot for coffee and a bagel or fresh deli sandwiches and wraps from Einstein Bros. Bagels.

The Supreme Court Café at the Leo Goodwin building provides products from Dunkin Donuts and Einsteins Bros., as well as Au Bon Pain.

A great little nook for food is West End Deli located in the Alvin Sherman Library. Their sandwiches are overstuffed with meat and vegetables of your choosing to satisfy even the heartiest of appetites. The Sharks Grille at the Health Professions Division Café is the second largest dining option on campus. It features many of the options found at the

UC food court, but adds the Chef’s Table, Au Bon Pain, and Boar’s Head. A kiosk at the HPD library also provides Juiceblendz and Starbucks.

Finally, many students have acquainted themselves with the kiosk at the Parker building. It is the perfect snack fix for night classes at Parker where you can get the muchneeded caffeine from a soda, some chips, a sandwich, coffee, or even a bagel-dog. Don’t know what a bageldog is? You will.

The NSU campus becomes a home away from home for many students. You will spend a lot of time here and while (unless you’re living in a dorm) I can’t tell you where to sleep, these options should at least make sure you won’t go hungry while you’re here.

Photo by: A. Rodriguez

An NSU shuttle arrives at the Don Taft University Center. The Don Taft UC and the Health Professions Division are the two most popular shuttle stops.

Written by: Annarely Rodriguez Getting from the Health Professions Division to the Don Taft University Center doesn’t require a car or a one-hour walk in the hot South Florida sun. Students, faculty, staff and, even, visitors can travel around NSU for free when they ride the Shark Shuttles.

The air-conditioned, mid-sized buses run every 10 minutes and take you everywhere on campus, and once a day to Publix and the Broward Mall.

Ernest Nastari, site manager at the Shuttle Office, said that when all students are on campus, the buses transport an average of 4,500 to 5,000 people every week.

Neal Washington, second-year nursing student, is one of them.

“The school is over 200 acres and if you need to get from [HPD] to the administration building, you can take the shuttle instead of walking or driving your car and save on gas,” said Washington. “Besides, the shuttles are air-conditioned and cool and the drivers are really nice,” he said.

There are four routes. Routes

one and two run from 7 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. every day. The Rolling Hills Express Route runs from 6 a.m. to 12:30 a.m., Monday through Friday and from 7 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. on weekends. The shuttles also take trips to the Oceanographic Center in Dania Beach Monday through Thursday. The shuttles are scheduled to stop running at 12:30 a.m. However, Nastari said that a bus will take a final ride round of the entire campus at 12:30 a.m. in case someone needs a ride. For trips to Publix and the Broward Mall, a shuttle departs on Monday-Friday at 6 p.m. and returns at 9:40 p.m. On Saturday on Sunday, a shuttle departs at 2 p.m. and returns at 5:40 p.m.

The Shark Shuttles can be tracked online by logging onto www. nova.edu/nextbus. The Web site shows where the shuttle is and how long it will take to arrive at your bus stop. You can also have alerts sent to your phone letting you know when the bus is getting close to your stop.

Keep in mind that the shuttles don’t operate when a hurricane warning is active or during university holidays. For a list of stops for each route log on to www.nova.edu/ locations/maps/shuttle.html.

Need an elective? Highlights of unique classes offered at NSU Written by: Alyssa Sterkel Whether you’re majoring in biology, English or business, you need 120 credits to complete an undergraduate degree. Your major will not fill all 120 credits, so some of those credits will be electives. This means you can either register for electives that are filler classes or you can check out electives that excite you.

Here are a few electives offered throughout the year that will make your fall or winter semester course load a little more fun.

The Arts. NSU offers a range of classes that can help you delve into your creativity. Take a class that will help you relax and not think about midterms, finals or projects.

The Division of Performing and Visual Arts at the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences offers courses like Introduction to Drawing, Graphic Design and Digital Photography.

Learn how to draw or how to create a logo and maybe discover a new talent.

Humanities. If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about history, take Introduction to Folklore or Introduction to Celtic Studies this fall. With these two classes, you can delve more deeply into ancient cultures and maybe discover a fascination with one of them.

Music. College is a time to go beyond your comfort zone and experience something new. That could mean joining a fraternity or a club, or it could mean learning to play an instrument or to sing. Offered both semesters are Introduction to Piano, Introduction to Guitar, Beginning Voice and more advanced classes. Use your fingers and voice for something other than typing papers and giving presentations.

Theater. If you have a knack for telling jokes or imitating a character from your favorite TV show, then maybe theater classes are the electives for you. If you’re funny, take Comedy and Improvisation. If you’re good at impersonations, take

Acting 1. And, if you’ve always secretly wanted to be a movie star, take Performance for Film and Television. You may not aspire to be an Emmy-award winning actor, but you could become a Black Box Award-winning student at NSU.

Foreign Languages. If you’ve ever been jealous of someone who can speak two languages, NSU can help you out. Being bilingual or multilingual is a great gift, and, this fall, you can start on your lingual journey with Chinese, French or Spanish. You will have to study for midterms and finals, but it will pay off in the end when a company hires you for your degree and for your ability to speak two languages.

When you register for classes in the upcoming years, choose classes that you need to graduate, but also choose classes that you think you’ll enjoy. Don’t just take mundane courses to achieve 120 credits in four years. Let NSU help you discover a talent that you never knew you had.

Getting help when you need it Written by: Samantha Harfenist

If MLA, APA and Chicago bring to mind anything other than writing styles and professional associations, then you might be in trouble.

That’s where the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences’ Office of Academic Services comes in.

Located in the Parker Building, Suite 100, the office offers a variety of free services — ranging from 45-minute individual tutoring sessions to online information on graduate exams — to undergraduates.

According to Lisa WaltherAustin, director of the Office of Academic Services, tutoring is one of the office’s most popular services and is available for classes such as biology, chemistry, physics, calculus, statistics and computer technology. Students can find tutors

at the main campus and at the Student Educational Centers in Miami, Tampa, Orlando and Ft. Myers.

Online tutoring is available for students who are unable to get to one of these campuses. Online tutoring is conducted through the WebCT Wimba Live platform, which enables the student and the tutor to meet in real time. This requires a computer with Internet access and audio.

Tutors help students improve their writing skills. Students can meet with tutors at every stage of the writing process — from brainstorming to revision. The tutors also help students learn to spot and correct their own errors.

Tammy Graham, junior communication studies major, said Academic Services helped her tighten up her writing.

“I think it is a wonderful service available to students for free and

I don’t understand why everyone doesn’t take advantage of it,” said Graham.

Students who do not need tutoring can pick up support materials such as APA and MLA style guides and math DVDs. The office also has computer resources designed to reinforce topics covered in class and in tutoring sessions. These include access to software programs such as MathXL®, SPSS®, Microsoft® Office, and the eyeQ™ speed-reading program, which helps students read and process information quicker.

The office is open Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. To schedule an appointment, call (954) 262-8350 and to access the office’s online resources, including the MLA and APA guidelines, log on to www. fcas.nova.edu/academicservices.

Trust Your Healthcare to the Team that Teaches It

10

Navigating NSU

The best seats in town: Your guide to South Florida’s best concert venues

Orientation Issue 2011 | nsucurrent.nova.edu

NSU Traditions

Written by: Juan Gallo

There are hundreds of conversations going on at once. Suddenly, the lights go off and all attention is on the stage. In just moments, everyone begins to clap, whistle and yell in excitement. The band takes the stage and, before you know it ,music comes to life.

There are many venues in South Florida to feed your live music appetite. Each venue offers something different. One of the best in South Florida is Cruzan Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach.

The drive may seem intimidating, but it’s less than an hour from campus.

Get there early for some tailgating and make a whole day out of it. Prices vary depending on the performer but, if money is an issue, there’s always a great seat on the lawn.

For live music that’s practically around the corner, there’s Revolution Live and Culture Room in Ft. Lauderdale. Both of these venues are significantly smaller than Cruzan — allowing you to get close to your favorite band. Both venues offer a mix of national and local bands.

Revolution Live boasts three different floors to view performances, but both it and Culture Room get very

courtesy of www.eventfull.com

The Culture Room, located at 3045 North Federal Highway, is a great concert venue in town.

packed and, therefore, get very hot.

Be prepared to sweat a lot, but what is there to complain about? You’re at a concert — you should be sweating and screaming your lungs out.

One of the least talked about venues in South Florida is the Bayfront Park Amphitheatre, near Biscayne Bay, which recently underwent a multi-million dollar renovation making it one of the most beautiful venues in which to catch a show. This amphitheatre is so incredibly intimate that there is not a bad seat in the house.

The Biscayne Bay sightline and the beautiful architecture of high-rise buildings that surround and embrace this venue add to the magical feeling of listening to your favorite band

outside on a beautiful evening.

But, perhaps, the best place to see a show in South Florida is The Fillmore Miami Beach. With hanging chandeliers, elegant lobbies, and beautiful architecture, The Fillmore combines class and intimacy with a retro 1950s theater feel. Although tickets at The Fillmore tend to be a little bit pricier than at the other venues, the investment is worth it, because this small venue attracts some of the biggest names in music.

This classic South Florida venue has been around for decades making it a local landmark.

Now that you know where to go, the only real decision is who’s driving.

Introduction to intramurals

Photo by a. rodriguez

(From left to right) Dwight Harison, first year MBA student; Carlos Gonzalez, second-year pharmacy student; Orvelle Johnson, second-year graduate student in the Abraham S. Fischler School of Education; and Jose Valdez, third-year pharmacy student; play in the final round of a dominoes tournament, a new addition to intramural sports.

Written by: Keren Moros

If you are athletic but do not want to go through the pressure of intense competition, intramural sports may be for you.

Michael Prociuk, assistant director of Intramural Sports and Special Events, said intramural team sports at NSU include basketball, flag football, soccer, softball and volleyball. The seasons usually last five or six weeks with a tournament at the end.

“Intramural sports [consist of] competing against other students on campus,” Prociuk said. “Our rules are different [from regular athletics], too. Games are going to last no more than an hour, whereas [competitive athletic] games are going to last a couple of hours.”

Lissette Palacio, graduate assistant for intramural sports, said that other differences between athletic games and intramural games include the season schedules.

“In our regular season, you’ll have at least five games,” Palacio said. “You’ll play for a month. As far as athletics goes, you’re [going to play] 20 or more games a semester, and you practice every day but one.”

Prociuk said there are also extra-mural events where teams play against other schools’ intramural teams.

Besides sports, intramurals also holds special recreational events.

Palacio said these special events may not be physical, but they are still competitive.

Past events included a badminton tournament, a dominoes tournament, an ultimate Frisbee tournament, a flag football tournament and an eight-ball billiard tournament. There is also an annual golf tournament for students, staff and faculty. Prociuk said most of these events are double-elimination tournaments that last one or two days.

“We try to do sports that would relate to somebody who might not be as athletic, and [we] try to reach different diversities and different cultures,” Prociuk said.

Prociuk also said that the recreational activities that are chosen are influenced by the students.

“[If we see] interest in different things, we can add them,” Prociuk said. “It’s really up to the students. If they want something, and we have the means for it, we can probably offer it.”

Prociuk said that because Intramural Sports is under the Division of Student Affairs and not the Athletics Department, its goal is to reach NSU’s incoming students.

“We’ll continue to try to get these students involved through Intramural Sports as well as the other things that go on in Student Affairs,” Prociuk said.

Palacio said Intramural Sports officials also want to involve more undergraduate students “Right now, most of our participants are graduate students,” Palacio said. “But we want students who aren’t on athletic teams to participate and get to know people and really experience NSU.”

Photo by l. aurigemma

Students take part in a flash mob dance during the 2010 President’s tailgate outside the Don Taft University Center.

Written by: Lauren Aurigemma

Like any family, NSU has its own traditions. From academic to recreational, these annual, and semiannual, events will have you feeling connected to the NSU family.

Sharkapalooza

The first Friday of the fall semester, the NSU community gathers for Sharkapalooza. As the closing event of the Weeks of Welcome, Sharkapalooza enables students to get information about all the different clubs and organizations at NSU, making it the event to get involved in on campus. At the end of the night, gift certificates and other prizes are awarded with raffle drawings.

Life 101

Life 101: Personally Speaking is a semi-annual event that brings leaders from business, politics, entertainment and athletics to share their accomplishments and life lessons with students. The program consists of a 60-minute interview hosted by a faculty member, as well as an audience Q&A. Past guests have included John Legend, Elizabeth Edwards, Alyssa Milano, Jason Taylor, Michael Phelps and Kristi Yamaguchi.

NSU’s Got Talent NSU’s Got Talent allows students to compete for up to $500 for their registered student club or organization, athletic team or residence hall. Emulated after the popular television show, “America’s Got Talent,” students are able to express themselves through dance, music, comedy or any other talent.

Homecoming Homecoming Week is a time where NSU welcomes its students, faculty, staff and alumni. Along with the traditional men and women’s homecoming basketball games, the President’s Annual Homecoming Tailgate allows the NSU Community to socialize before heading into the games. Past tail-gates featured caricature drawings, performances

by NSU’s cheerleading squad and Razor — the school mascot — as well as the unveiling of the Shark Fountain. Other popular events that take place during the week are the NSU Homecoming Dance and the “Anything That Floats” Raft Race, where students make a raft out of wood, rubber, and whatever they can find to race across Gold Circle Lake

and back without sinking.

NSU CommunityFest NSU CommunityFest is an annual event held each February that celebrates and unites the NSU community around Gold Circle Lake, located behind the Alvin Sherman Library. Michelle Manley, assistant director of Student Media, created the event in 2004 while she was an undergraduate student. The purpose is to bring the university community together and build school spirit.

Each year, this event brings together more than 4,500 people from NSU community to the university’s main campus and features free food, live music, activity booths, a rock climbing wall and much more.

Senior Prom

Every year, the Office of Student Leadership and Civic Engagement hosts the annual Senior Prom, an event where NSU students and senior citizens from nursing homes gather for a night of music and fun. At the event, everyone dresses in evening attire for pictures and dancing, courtesy of NSU’s radio station, WNSU RadioX 88.5 FM. By volunteering at this event, NSU students can earn service hours for themselves or their organization.

NSU’s Biggest Loser

The Office of Campus Recreation modeled this health, wellness and fitness program off the popular NBC television show, “The Biggest Loser.”

For a small fee, this program offers contestants fitness assessments, physicals with blood work, three weekly training sessions with a team trainer, individual sessions with a “Healthy Lifestyles” coach, monthly fitness and nutrition education seminars, monthly “Team Fitness Challenges” and one-on-one sessions with the university nutritionist. The program runs for 16 weeks and the winner is announced in May. STUEYs Brad Williams, Ed.D., dean of Student Affairs, created the annual Student Life Achievement Awards, or the STUEYs, 11 years ago. The awards honor students, faculty and staff who contribute and show their commitment to NSU. Each year, nominees are chosen based on scholarship, service, commitment, leadership, integrity, inclusion and involvement. Every student, professor, corporate partner, staff or faculty member is eligible for nomination. The nominating period is from August to February each academic year.

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