Monday, August 26, 2013

Welcome Back Students!

Welcome Back Students!  We are so excited that you are back at Campus Towers for the 2013-2014 school year.  We hope you are enjoying your classes, and you are having a good time on and off campus.  Keep reading to learn more about the welcome activities this year for all students.  You can learn more at ECU.

First-year students were encouraged Monday to expand their horizons and commit to their studies over the next four years at East Carolina University.

One part pep talk and one part pep rally, the annual New Student Welcome and Convocation in Minges Coliseum featured addresses by university administrators, performances by marching band members and the Magnolia Belles singers, and introductions to athletics staff and Pirate traditions.
 PLAYERS
ECU Pirate football players enjoy the pep rally that followed Student Convocation.
“It is our pleasure to have you here in the Pirate family,” said Virginia Hardy, vice chancellor of Student Affairs. She urged the 4,000 students in attendance to think about why they selected East Carolina and what they want to accomplish here.

“Our number one goal is your success,” said Chancellor Steve Ballard. “We want to be your partner to realize your dreams, your degree and what you want out of a college education.”

Both administrators told students they were joining a university that is committed to academic excellence, leadership development and service to the community and region.

Students were also encouraged to step out of their comfort zone and find where their talents and passion lie. They might find a calling in an unexpected place, said Bob Kusbit, guest speaker at convocation.

“College helped me find out what I was good at, step out of who I’d always been and become someone new,” he said.

Kusbit has spent 30 years working in television with many of those years creating shows for MTV. Among his accomplishments is the documentary-style show “MADE,” which gives high school and college students the chance to break out of the social role they’re most comfortable in and receive celebrity coaching to achieve something new – being a triathlete or a rap artist or a fashion stylist, for instance.

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A climber scales the rock wall during Pirate Palooza.
“Take this time to try new things,” Kusbit said. “Quit being afraid to try something because you think you might look stupid…or you might fail at it.

“You can start your own MADE today when you walk out those doors.”

ECU Athletics Director Jeff Compher took the stage next to introduce the varsity sports coaches. Compher noted it is also his first year at East Carolina.

“We are so proud of the support we get from our passionate fans and that begins with you, our students,” he said. “I want you to have passion for your schoolwork, for your athletic teams and for each other.”

Also congratulated Monday were the faculty and staff member nominated for making the biggest difference in first-year students’ lives during the first semester of the 2012-2013 academic year. Student Government Association President Tim Schwan presented the Freshman-First Year Advocate Award to Stephen Gray, director of student services in the Department for Disability Support Services; and Dr. Todd Fraley, associate professor in the School of Communication and faculty fellow at ECU’s Honors College.

Pirate Palooza, an annual carnival-style welcome celebration held at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, followed convocation. Classes at ECU start Aug. 20.

Monday, August 19, 2013

Five Supplies You Do Not Need To Go Back To College

Moving back to college can be fun and  an exciting time.  However, saving money is also crucial on a college budget lifestyle.  Check out these five items that you really do not need to go back to school.  You can get away without them or find cheaper alternatives. Keep reading or check out College Hack for more information.

1: Anything From The School Bookstore
C’mon; are you a Freshman? The School bookstore is convenient, neat, and nice, and you’re paying a premium for all those services. Go on the internet; buy your textbook, rent your textbook, borrow your textbook from your friend; whatever you do, don’t buy it whole-priced, wrapped in plastic, from a smiling clerk who thinks you’re a Freshman now. Move ahead and buy from different sources when you can.
2: Highlighters.
When have you ever used highlighters? They look pretty and represent productivity. Wonderful. Underline your books with good old fashioned pencil and save your eyes the trouble of checking around the bright yellow sentences jumping out of your book. And don’t get me started on the variety packs of highlighters, full of new colors to color code your book as though that’s the thing that can write your essay. If you’re productive enough to want to color code your book you’re set: you’re productive enough not to need to. If, on the other hand, you, like me, would never do that sort of thing, don’t buy the highlighters because you won’t. Get it?
3: A Fancy Backpack
A backpack is made to carry your books. You don’t need it to be strong, you don’t need bonus pockets or camouflage or a holder for your water bottle. The entire backpack holds things: why do you need a bottle-holder? A backpack is simple: it’s something that isn’t a paper bag that can hond your books, packing them, if you will, on your back. That’s it. Nothing complex that can handle camping or whatever. Nothing huge to handle all the books you’re taking- you shouldn’t be taking more than two classes of books at a time, even, just for your back. Leave the fancy backpacks for the fancier students. Get one that works and move on.
4: Anything New in Bulk
If you want to get back to school, and you’re determined to try something, don’t get it in bulk. That includes protein powder, those colored post-its, or a whole set of assignment notebooks; whatever it is, no matter how much you want it, start smaller. Nothing’s more embarrassing than leaving forty bucks of school supply untouched when you’re September ambitions fade.
5: Anything New, Period.
Okay, maybe I’m biased, but don’t get anything new.
If you haven’t used it before, you’re not going to use it now. Sorry. Those binders, that orginization you say you’re always going to do? Not happening. And that’s okay. If you’ve survived this long without it, you’ll keep on surviving. Old dogs don’t learn new tricks, so if you find yourself looking at an impulse buy that’ll change the way you study, ask yourself: do you think you’re going to change anything? If not, then be honest, and save yourself twenty bucks. Otherwise you’ll do things just like you always have, only now you have a few shiny new binders under your bed.



Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Shred, Scan, or Store

Do you have paperwork laying around your house?  Find out if you should shred, scan, or store it.  Check out this info graphic that helps you decide what to keep and what to throw away.  You can find  out more great living tips at Apartment Therapy.


How To Decide Whether to Shred, Scan, or Store

Monday, August 5, 2013

Moving Into an Apartment


No-Fail Tips for Keeping Your Friends Happy While They Help You Move 
1. Proper planning prevents problems. Be prepared with your vehicles (unless they are bringing them and that's why they got stuck helping you move!), boxes, tape, packing materials, blankets for car protection and maps to help them find your new home. The greatest goal when having friends take time out of their day to help you move is to make it easy on them, and show your gratitude as best as possible. Preparation helps this process.

2. Food! Have some fun snacks or meals on hand, depending on the duration of the move for your friends. Take into consideration what they like and will appreciate. (ie Don't buy pepperoni pizza for your vegan friends, etc.) Have beer for your drinking friends during the move, but be careful not to drink too much! Also, have plenty of water and cold, icy drinks for super hot days.

3. Don't expect them to be there all day. Some of your friends may be able to help you for just a little while and then will have to or even want to go about their day. Try to schedule friend-helping time to move large pieces of furniture that you won't be able to move without help.

4. Do a clean sweep before the move. You might not need a lot of those books you've been holding onto, and they are definitely heavy. It will help you and your friends in the long run if you donate some of the items you won't necessarily be using in your new home.

5. Let them know what to do during the actual move. No one wants to rifle through your things or assume which pieces go where. Help your friends know how to help you by giving them specific tasks to keep them busy and the move, well, moving!

6. Give them a token of your appreciation. This doesn't necessarily mean that you have to buy them a gift—just return the favor. Take them to the airport a few times, or offer a babysitting date night, or organize a lovely dinner party at your new home when it's all set up! Remember your friends' acts of generosity and let them know you appreciate them.

It is almost that time of year.  You need to ask your friends and family to help you move into your new apartment for school.  Friends and family are always willing to help, but here are some tips on how to make the experience a bit more enjoyable for them.  You can find more great apartment tips on apartment therapy .


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