springfest weekend recap

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my best friends and i on springfest!

I hope everyone is recovering nicely from this past Springfest Weekend! As it was my second Springfest, I had lots to compare it to this year, and I must say that it surpassed my first year experience with the event. Although I barely paid attention to the concert and never made it inside the roped off venue, choosing instead to wander with my friends, I loved listening to Chiddy Bang and the band that followed them, the Dirty Heads. All in all, it was such a wonderful weekend spent with wonderful people, and I can’t wait for next year! Or…better yet, Alumni Weekend in just a few short weeks!

celebrate camp union while helping victims of the boston marathon bombing

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this super artsy pic is credited to the super cool maddy levine ’13!

In an effort to show our support for the families of victims of the Boston Marathon bombing, Delta Delta Delta Beta Psi is now selling Camp Union water bottles! For those of you who are freshmen, incoming or prospective students, you may not be familiar with this popular moniker for spring term here at Union College. Let me shed some light on the nickname. As we are now finishing up week five of the term, it has become frighteningly obvious that work is much harder to complete, the weather is beautiful and the quads are jam-packed with fun, music and girls tanning. Spring term begins to feel much more like a summer camp than actual school, hence the name Camp Union. As fun as this term is, the important thing is to remember that we do actually still need to attend classes and do our homework…although most professors want to be outside as much as we do, so take advantage of nice days by requesting an outdoor class!

Sisters of TriDelta will be selling these water bottles in Reamer all week, for the cheap price of $3 for 1 bottle and $5 for 2! Show your support and love for both Camp Union and the victims of the Boston Marathon Bombing!

wingfest!

Join the sisters of Delta Delta Delta and brothers of Sigma Chi tonight for WINGFEST! All proceeds go toward St. Jude Children Research Hospital and the Wounded Warrior Project, and tickets are $7 both in Reamer and at the door. What could be better than fun people, delicious all you can eat wings from Union Inn and raising money and awareness for two fantastic causes?! Not much.

wingfest

spring term survival guide

Maybe it’s your first spring term experience here at Union College, or maybe you’re a future Dutchman or woman who is eager to get on campus – regardless, there are some things you should know about the necessities for a perfect spring term, particularly for when you’re spending it on the quad.


1. Blanket - I’m not talking just any blanket, though. Bring a blanket you don’t mind getting dirty or ruining, because I guarantee if you bring out your favorite, fuzzy blanket that you keep on your bed, it will get ruined. Scout’s honor. My favorite part about spring term is hanging outside in one of the mini quad between Fox and Davidson, and I learned the hard way last year that when you bring out a blanket for you and your friends to sit on outside, it tends to get muddy and dirty. Better to just invest in a cheap one from WalMart reserved specifically for the outdoors, and not for your bedspread.

2. Sunblock - No, I am not your mother, but I am of Irish descent with fair skin and burn immediately when the sun is out. Skin cancer is real, people, and just because you’re a college kid running around outside for a little does NOT mean you are immune! I speak from experience: many a sunburns came about for me last year as a direct result of neglecting to lather up before spending hours outside. It takes two seconds to apply it before you head outside, and those two seconds are worth avoiding looking like a lobster, or a shedding snake once you inevitably start peeling. Gross.

3. Cooler - This sounds silly, but boy will it come in handy. Even if you live on the first floor, constantly going in and out to your room to get food or some water is annoying. Bring a little cooler to school, and your problem is solved. When it starts to get beautiful out, your entire Saturday and Sunday will comprise of being outdoors, and I promise you will start to get frustrated when you have to leave your friends to run and get a snack.

4. Beach Chair - If you haven’t already received the email from your Residence Director, I’m sure you will: they get a bit persnickety about bringing dorm furniture outside, as many students (myself included) often forget to bring the chairs back inside at the end of the day. Then, it rains, and voila. Ruined college owned furniture. Avoid the end of the year fine on your tuition bill and get some cheap lawn chair from WalMart to save yourself the trouble.

5. Music and Games - iPod speakers are an absolute must for spring term. Usually, someone provides the heavy duty speakers that can play for the whole quad, and maybe you can be that person! Even if it’s just an iHome, I guarantee everyone will appreciate the fact that you brought them out for the group and will be begging to play DJ. Just remember to bring them back inside and keep an eye on them so they don’t get misplaced. People will love you even more if you supply some activities for the group! Kan Jam is a favorite here on campus, as is hacky sack, ladderball, campus golf or any kind of catch. My personal favorite is to whip out the CatchPhrase and get some healthy competition going – people get really into it!

These are just some of the potential ideas for what to bring into your spring term, and I’d love to hear if you have any other suggestions! Enjoy the weather!

calling all movie lovers

One of my absolute favorite parts of life at Union are the campus movies offered every week in the Reamer Auditorium. Seriously, they rock. Not only does Union get access to every popular movie before they’re released on DVD to the public, but they are free! Perfect for a night in with your friends, or a cheap date night. Plus, Reamer is the perfect location to catch a late night flick – being that close to bookstore candy definitely makes it worth it. Last night, myself and a group of my guy friends made the treck from Fox to Reamer to check out Django Unchained at the 10 p.m. Sunday showing. Despite being pretty exhausted, I managed to make it through the almost 3 hour movie without dowsing off, probably thanks to Dutch Hollow being open until 12 a.m on Sundays and thus our ability to grab some popcorn chicken.

Let me just say, if you have not seen Django Unchained…you need to. Worth every Oscar nom it received, Django is an unbelievable movie. Yes, it’s rather difficult to watch, and the content is quite controversial, so if you have a queasy stomach I definitely would not advise watching  it, considering it contains plenty of that Tarantino gore. However, the performances were fantastic, and there wasn’t a moment where I was thinking about anything other than Django and his plight to reunite with his wife.

Needless to say, if you don’t pay attention to the weekly movie offering poster outside the auditorium, or notice it on the campus calendar, you are seriously missing out. Silver Linings Playbook is next week, and you better believe I’ll be the first one in the auditorium for it!

TriDelta Beta Psi for Team Terry

Today, I am reaching out in a different manner than usual: to ask for your help and support. The father of one of my TriDelta sisters is currently waiting on the 1A list for a heart transplant in the critical care unit at Mass General, hours away from his friends and family in Burnt Hills, NY. With every passing day, the cost to keep him there and as healthy as possible rises. At this point, Terry Miltner’s condition is worsening by the day, and his family has been forced to begin taking drastic measures to cope with the financial burden that his medical bills have forced upon them, as insurance will not cover all of the costs. Terry, a beloved former employee here at Union College and United States veteran, is facing this obstacle with the upmost optimism, and at this point, our generosity and compassion is really the Miltners’ last option. Right now, our goal is to raise $5,000, which will help to alleviate just some of the hardship, but going above and beyond that starting number would be truly amazing and greatly appreciated by the Miltner family. Attached is the link to Terry’s GoFundMe page where you can anonymously or otherwise donate to the cause, as well as learn more. Any contribution counts, even a dollar. Please help Delta help an amazing friend, sister and person and her warrior of a father! The sisters of Delta Delta Delta Beta Psi and the Miltner family would be eternally grateful.

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http://www.gofundme.com/2lzy7k

oliver’s cafe!

oliver's cafe!

If you haven’t been to Oliver’s Cafe in Scotia as an alternative to the usual West brunch, you are missing out on a seriously delicious and budget-friendly meal! Not only did all that scrumptious food cost me less than the average Bruegger’s trip, but it was so much yummier. FYI – it is cash only, so come prepared! You won’t be disappointed.

just call me judge maura!

Last week, I was appointed to the Greek Judicial Board here at Union College! I had applied weeks ago and had pretty much forgotten about my application until I finally got the email saying that I had been chosen to represent the Greek Community on its Judiciary Board. I am so excited about this opportunity! It was a big influence on my decision to come to Union, and I love Greek life here at Union so much, so when I was told about the open seats on the board and encouraged to apply for a position, I jumped at the opportunity. Not only am I sure this will be a wonderful and rewarding experience for me, but I truly believe it will help me grow both as a member of my own sorority, but also as a person. I can’t wait for our first meeting this week!

 

why union? the feeling.

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As the deadline for making that immensely important college decision rapidly approaches, I have been asked the question: Why Union? Well, luckily, I have a very simple answer. The feeling. I realize that sounds a bit ambiguous, so let me explain…

When I was a senior in high school and applying to colleges, I was deadset on a certain NESCAC that shall remain nameless. As time went on, however, I realized that I wasn’t really sure if I even wanted to go there, a place I thought I loved. Finally, I narrowed down my selections to my top three – Union wasn’t even in the running. After receiving admission decisions from all 10 schools that I had applied to, it was the week before the May 1st deadline, and I suddenly found myself panicking because I had no idea where I wanted to go. There wasn’t a single school from those that I was accepted to that truly made me feel like I would be nothing but happy spending the next four years there, or that I was simply in love with. That thought absolutely terrified me. Sensing my immense indecisiveness, my mom, in all her infinite wisdom, forced me to go visit Union a week before the deadline.

I only applied to Union for two reasons: it was a free application, and one of my close friends from home, Eliza, was already a student here. She essentially harrassed me until I promised I would apply, and had it not been a free application I probably wouldn’t have applied simply to assuage her, but boy am I happy I did. For the entire three-and-a-half hour car ride from Massachusetts to Schenectady, I was complaining. Honestly, my parents were probably considering tossing me out a window…I was that annoying about being forced to visit a school I had never really thought about.

When we pulled up to campus on a day in April where it was absolutely pouring, I knew something about this school was different, despite the particularly awful Schenectady weather. We got out of the car and walked from the admissions parking lot, through Skellar circle and toward the Nott. While I was approaching the Nott, I turned back to my parents and said, “Well, I hope you brought your check book to put down a deposit, because this is where I’m going.” Mind you, this was before I even started a tour. I just knew. As soon as I stepped foot on this campus, I immediately got that feeling where I knew I was home, and would never be able to find a place I loved more. Now, as I near the end of my sophomore year, I remain confident that I made the right decision, and not once have I ever second-guessed myself.

I have made so many wonderful friends to last a lifetime, formed a wonderful relationship with a boy I’d never have met if it weren’t for Union, joined a sisterhood that has changed me for the better, and expanded my academic horizons exponentially, learning to love my classes, work and professors. Union is a truly amazing school and community, and quite frankly…I never want to leave.

alex and ani is teaming up with tridelta for st. jude!

As some of you may know from religiously reading my blog, my sorority’s (Delta Delta Delta) philanthropy is St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. After reaching out to the Alex and Ani store in Saratoga, our wonderful Philanthropy Chair (you go Aubri Oliphant!) organized a fun event for our sisters and friends. Tonight, Alex and Ani will be opening its doors to the sisters of TriDelta Beta Psi to serve some yummy snacks and let us peruse the jewelry they have for sale. The best part? 15% of the sales from our event will be donated to St. Jude! If you have never heard of Alex and Ani, definitely check them out, or come by the Saratoga store! I personally own four of their bracelets – adorable, and they work with any outfit!