The big move 12/30/2009
 
By Nikky Farmakes

If I could use two words to describe moving the Rothwell Student Center into the new Yellowjacket Union they would be, exciting and bittersweet.  After a few long eight hour days of moving boxes, furniture, and more boxes I’ve come to really get to know backwards and forwards the new YU. And believe me, after moving in all the Student Life and Leadership offices, Student Government, YAC, RHA, and the Stinger into their homes in the new R.O.C. (the Rothwell Opportunity Center) that equals out to be A LOT of boxes.   

What is exciting about this move you say? The building that all of us (exception being incoming freshman this semester and new transfers) have been walking past for at least this last semester is finally starting to take shape.  The new furniture (and some old) has now been moved in, and familiar places like “Jacket Book and Supply” (the Bookstore) and the “Union Information and Services Desk” (the Info Desk) are nearly all put together thanks to their amazing staffs.  The bookstore workers deserve three cheers (hip-hip HORRAY and repeat twice) for their massive and expedient effort to get the bookstore moved and stocked in the YU before they open sometime in the next two weeks.  Not to mention how all the furniture and all the little random this and that’s being placed here and there are really making the YU look like its ready to entertain people.  

Also exciting is the incredible new food service area.  The A’viands workers have been working so hard to get the new food areas, the “Union Café,” “The Brick Oven and Grille,” and “Jacket Java” ready for when students arrive.  The whole experience of eating on campus is going to change with this new space.  All three are in the same area eliminating that pestering decision of upstairs or downstairs, and the seating area is built more to feel like a restaurant rather then a cafeteria. An added bonus is the massive glass window that gives diners a magnificent view of Old Main ( well mostly, only a few dirt piles remain until the construction on the new Swenson Hall is finished.)   

The moving isn’t quite done yet.  There are still a few odds and ends that need to be brought over, and  even more things that need to be organized and either sent elsewhere on campus or be sold in a surplus sale (more to come on this next week.)  In short- I’ll be waking up bright and early with stiff muscles and joints to continue to help get one building cleared out and one filled in.   

But why is the experience also bittersweet? I’ve been on this campus for two and a half years.  RSC in that time became a place for me to enjoy entertaining events, work on homework, socialize, eat, work, and play.  I grew attached to that building and each box I move is like I’m losing a huge part of my college experience.  Each box is a silent reminder that soon, it will be almost as if RSC didn’t exist and its foundations covered in a parking lot and green space. However, that is only the bitter part because bits and pieces of RSC will always live on in the YU and a reminder to all those students and Alumni who made memories in that building and having those treasures will always be sweet.   

So, for your entertainment, pictures have been taken of this process so you can see for yourself just how amazing YU is coming together.  Hopefully they will get you excited, if not, I can try again next week!
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By Laura Podgornik

Happy winter break UWS students! J Most of us won’t step foot on the UWS campus until January 19th. What are you going to do with your spare time? The following is a short list of activities I’ve come up with to cure boredom over the chilly January days ahead.

4. Donate your time and/or unwanted clothing.
A friend of mine mentioned that the Domiano center in Duluth is full of those in need for warm clothing; hats, coats, gloves…etc. It takes only a few minutes to go through a closet and gather clothing you no longer have an interest in. Volunteers are always welcomed at many locations across the Duluth/Superior area. Spend a few hours in a soup kitchen over break. Visit local.com and enter your city/state to find volunteer opportunities in your area.

3. Spend some time planning your future.
Now that grades have been posted for the fall 2009 semester, take a good half hour or more to examine your degree progress report. You can learn how many credits you need and what classes you have yet to take. You can look up the course numbers and read their descriptions when you browse the catalog. Why not read into future courses and save yourself the headache later? The Degree Progress report can be accessed from a dropdown in the Student Center section of E-hive. Click below to log into E-hive.
https://www.uwsuper.edu/myehive/index.htm

2. Cook a new recipe.
As a student and employee, cooking isn’t something I find time to do often. I love trying to create something that tastes as good as it looks. Though I fail to create perfection every time, it’s worthwhile to find out what I can’t make. I personally made a batch of delicious perfect sized Peanut Butter Blossoms this past weekend for a Christmas celebration. The link below will lead you to the recipe I used. With any recipe, be sure to read the directions carefully.
http://www.hersheys.com/recipes/recipes/detail.asp?id=5191

1. Watch Family Guy
Though it may not be everyone’s favorite show, I find that Family Guy is always good for laugh. Even if you don’t enjoy television, do something that makes you laugh. Take time to relax; we’ll all be back to the books soon enough. But if you do enjoy Family Guy, log onto hulu.com to watch episodes for free.
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By Chelsea Einerwold
　
I don’t really remember much about my drive home to central Minnesota last Tuesday evening. My brain was maxed out and I think I might have been experiencing culture re-entry shock to life outside of Jim Dan Hill Library and the Rothwell Student Center, where I had spent a majority of my time the last three weeks of the semester.

Since arriving home I have had plenty of down time. Especially because of the massive three day blizzard. The trip to my grandparent’s house for Christmas was delayed and so my parents, my dog and I spent Christmas and the day after cooped up in the house, with the exception of shoveling and blowing snow. Heavy, sticky snow. Which wasn’t so nice to shovel, but very nice to make a snowman!

On the morning of the 23rd, before the snow had actually started and we were still waiting to see how much we were going to get hit with, a family friend made an insightful statement: “Sometimes it’s nice to know that there still is something that we can’t control.”

When it became evident that we weren’t going to Granny’s after all, we were frustrated. We have spent every Christmas that I can remember with extended family. But that frustration melted away when we realized that thanks to Mother Nature, we wouldn’t have to worry about packing and loading the car and driving for three and a half hours. Instead, we could relax. We had no other choice. It was good down time; just what my over crammed brain needed. Family, movies, TV, sofa, sweets and playing in the snow.

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By Zach Anderson

We may not see eye to eye, but we’re family.

Only a few times a year do I have the pleasure of entering a home that is occupied by such an eclectic and memorable group of people, and they all happen to be related to me. I’ll share three moments from my Christmas Eve. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

Among the attendees was my ultraconservative uncle, who’s always looking for a verbal battle about surface-level politics and ideologies that aren’t appropriate for any of the young children in earshot. When pouring me a cup of hot joe on this festive day, he asked me if I still like my coffee like I like my presidents. I simply smiled, grabbed the mug of black coffee, and swallowed down the caffeinated beverage in order to keep my mouth occupied while he went on to ask me if my beard was a sign that I was converting to Islam.

A cousin of mine uttered some similarly naïve phrases during the celebration, but this little boy’s words were much more entertaining, and his elf hat and penguin slippers only aided in the innocent tone of his words. At one point, when discussing how gross it is that I kiss my wife, he described a scene from a film that was so repulsive in nature that he was forced to hide his pure eyes as “a boy and girl British kissed.” I believe he was referring to a style of kissing that is often called “French,” but I didn’t have the heart to tell him.

Later, during a heated game of Wii Tennis, my twin brother thought it wise to cross in front of the television. My wife, with a powerful swing of the remote that Andre Agassi would have envied, hit my brother directly below the belt. After dropping straight to his knees, a young cousin inquired about his sudden injury. When she asked if he got hit in the eye, my brother lightly uttered the response, “Yes.”

All violence and disagreements aside, though, we enjoyed each other’s company as usual. I look forward to the next holiday so that we can do it again. I’m so thankful for this bizarre gathering, and I can only assume that mine is a common story.
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By Sue Sharon

Well I went to two Christmas parties Wednesday and got to hang out with Nick and his wife.. what makes the parties fun is the friends! Got to hang out and drink a Tom and Jerry's with my friends Chad and Sarah Brown at Bev's Jook Joint until midnight.. and ate allot of cookies too!

Thursday was a fun filled day of shoveling and getting stuck in the snow.. cant wait to do that again. Surprisingly the snow fall has brightened my day.. or was it Christmas?

I received an Asian new year calendar from Golden Inn on Tuesday! it is to be the year of the tiger for 2010.. That’s me by the way! So watch out! :)

If you have coffee at your family gathering, surprise them by bringing a bag of Highlanders Grog (can find on top shelf in coffee isle at super one :) The taste and smell is sure to please. Till next week Ho-Ho-Ho!

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By Britta Bloomquist

Winter break started right after the first day of finals for me!  It was nice to try to get more Christmas shopping, wrapping, and card writing done, but really, as I sit in my toasty house with only two shopping days left, I really still have a lot to get done!  I have spent a lot of excess time wandering around Target wondering what to get for my family and friends.  Maybe I will figure that out on Christmas Eve!

On Monday, a friend and I took a trip to Duluth to see the lights at Bentleyville!  It was chilly, but it was well worth the four dollar parking and complimentary hot chocolate.  I have never seen so many lights before; I am sure the electric meters are spinning like crazy while the lights are all turned on!  It is a great place to go and see no matter what the age.  For more information about Bentleyville, check out:  http://www.bentleyvilleusa.org/

The break hasn’t been too exciting yet, but it has been really nice to sleep in when I can.  It will be great to see more friends and family as the week goes on.  I am just hoping that the impending snow storm still allows my family and I to travel to southern Minnesota on Christmas Day.  With that said, I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy new year!
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