Nearly every first year student worries about putting on the dreaded “freshman fifteen” upon entering college, which makes the dining hall and food options offered by a university a major focal point of conversation among its student body. While most colleges across the nation have a variety of options in their dining hall and the students are satisfied, a lot of colleges simply suck in the food programs they provide for their students. However, while those programs may not be ideal for the student body, administrations often work with students to get insight into creating better menus, offering more variety, and improving overall healthiness of the food.

My university is not one of those schools that eagerly works to improve the situation in the dining hall, even though it is overwhelmingly a huge issue on campus.

From day one, I have heard nothing but complaints from my peers, and even my professors – and now, two and a half years later, complaints and concerns of the dining program (created by Sodexho – a program which works with many schools across the nation) still circulate on a day-to-day basis.

As a campus, Hollins students are indisputably guilty for interminable complaining about the issues with Sodexho as a program and the administration taking responsibility (or lack thereof) for student concerns over food issues, but I don’t blame anyone for their incessant pressure on trying to improve the situation. Hollins doesn’t offer a varying meal plan; its unlimited access to the dining hall from breakfast until the cafeteria closes at 7pm binds students to the meal-plan, making getting off the meal plan nearly impossible. Read More »

My friend and I decided “to hell with this recession!” and did a little shopping this past weekend. Well, discount shopping (I’m not totally frivolous). Stops included Nordstrom Rack, Off 5th, Loehman’s and, my personal fave, H&M.

Upon walking into H&M, where I was looking for some basics, I was visually assaulted by something so outrageous, I didn’t know what to say. While my friend was sifting through a pile of spring sweaters (read: throwing all the sizes she didn’t want on the floor), I was frozen in my place, staring at what couldn’t-possibly-but-so-totally-was a zebra jumpsuit.

Yes, you read that right. Zebra. Jumpsuit.

If you have been to an H&M in the last few months, you have probably seen this before. The saleslady, who came over to assist me in my state of shock, explained that the jumpsuit had recently become H&M’s biggest seller. “I don’t get it, but the minute they come in they are sold out.”

I had so many questions:

“Why?”

“What?”

“Are girls getting too lazy to pick out a shirt and a pair of pants?”

“Isn’t it more difficult to pee with that thing on?” Read More »

Jennifer Aniston is reportedly bringing her boyfriend, John Mayer, as her date to the Academy Awards this Sunday, which has everybody talking about what’s going to happen when/if they run into Brangelina on the red carpet.  It’s the first time Jen, Brad, and Angelina have been in the same room together since Jen & Brad’s divorce, so will it be totally awkward?  Will Jen and Angelina get into a hair-pulling-roll-on-the-carpet catfight?  Or will they totally ignore each other?

We’ll have to wait till Sunday to see what happens, but this whole possible situation got me thinking how any of us could have (or already have) that inevitable run-in with an ex and his new love, and what we should and shouldn’t do when we find ourselves in the same situation:

DON’T run in the opposite direction – Chances are if you saw him, he saw you too. Running away looks pathetic, awkward and could result in injury. Trust me on this one. The stress of the sitch may cause blindness and that poor freshman walking behind you falls to the ground a lot faster and harder than you’d think.

DO look good – What better way to make the guy feel like the a-hole he is than by reminding him what he’s missing out on?  Of course, there’s always the chance that you’re going to run into him when you’re least expecting it, like at Starbucks first thing in the morning before you’ve had a chance to shower and you’re still wearing sweatpants and last night’s makeup. In that case, just be extra charming and act like nothing is bothering you at all, making him wonder why he let you go in the first place and his new girl wonder why she isn’t as laid back and cool as you are. (Also, hold onto that coffee really tight; your nerves could get the best of you and dumping a scalding hot Mocha on the new girl could not only be seen as a little insensitive, but is also a waste of some damn good coffee.) Read More »

Jennifer Aniston is reportedly bringing her boyfriend, John Mayer, as her date to the Academy Awards this Sunday, which has everybody talking about what’s going to happen when/if they run into Brangelina on the red carpet.  It’s the first time Jen, Brad, and Angelina have been in the same room together since Jen & Brad’s divorce, so will it be totally awkward?  Will Jen and Angelina get into a hair-pulling-roll-on-the-carpet catfight?  Or will they totally ignore each other?

We’ll have to wait till Sunday to see what happens, but this whole possible situation got me thinking how any of us could have (or already have) that inevitable run-in with an ex and his new love, and what we should and shouldn’t do when we find ourselves in the same situation:

DON’T run in the opposite direction – Chances are if you saw him, he saw you too. Running away looks pathetic, awkward and could result in injury. Trust me on this one. The stress of the sitch may cause blindness and that poor freshman walking behind you falls to the ground a lot faster and harder than you’d think.

DO look good – What better way to make the guy feel like the a-hole he is than by reminding him what he’s missing out on?  Of course, there’s always the chance that you’re going to run into him when you’re least expecting it, like at Starbucks first thing in the morning before you’ve had a chance to shower and you’re still wearing sweatpants and last night’s makeup.  In that case, just be extra charming and act like nothing is bothering you at all, making him wonder why he let you go in the first place and his new girl wonder why she isn’t as laid back and cool as you are. (Also, hold onto that coffee really tight; your nerves could get the best of you and dumping a scalding hot Mocha on the new girl could not only be seen as a little insensitive, but is also a waste of some damn good coffee.) Read More »

It seems like purse strings are pretty tight these days, and it can be pretty hard to choose what to spend money on. A manicure or dinner? A new pair of shoes or gas? A night at the bar or books for class? Pretty tricky. But there are some luxuries that you can skip in favor of doin’ it on your own, like your brows.

Yeah, they always seem great when you get them waxed, but if you use the right products and know the right tricks you can do it in your very own home…and spend the $15 on a long island iced tea instead! Read More »

[The following post is courtesy of our homegirls over at YourTango. Well, their male perspective. They’ve been through it all and know just about everything about love, so we thought we’d bring their expertise to you. Enjoy!] 

I am an aficionado of the kiss. No other act is so simple and so intimate. The light suction, the flick of the lip, the playful nibble, the deep advance and retreat of the tongue—a good kiss is like jazz, an improvisation of melodies, flirtatious staccatos, and passionate brassy crescendos. A good kiss is a rapport enacted physically, like sex, but more erotic.

Many women don’t realize this. I’ve been surprised at how many treat kissing like it really is “first base,” just a step towards something better. And when I meet such women, I face a dilemma, like being a music lover who discovers that a new friend has bad taste. Do you break it off, or do you educate? And if you educate, how do you give lessons without giving offense? Read More »

So, who made it through to the American Idol finals?

Keep the roommates from eating those leftovers from home.

Spring handbags for under $50. Heaven.

John Mayer is taking Jen to the Oscars. Watch out Brangelina!

Rihanna still loves Chris Brown.

30 things to do with a naked man.

Pamela Anderson models camel toe at NY Fashion Week…

How to deal with the Sophomore Slump.

If I were Zahara Jolie-Pitt, I wouldn’t look so pissed to be shopping with mom.

Rachel Bilson is engaged?

The worst of fashion week.

Melinda Doolittle’s got a music video.

Sex is kinda like a cell phone. You can live without it, but in the end, would you really want to? Like our cell phones, we all end up taking what we can get in a pinch. We may not be happy with the phone (or person) we choose, but sometimes anything can be better than nothing.

I’ve taken the liberty to analyze the various sexual shenanigans we get ourselves into, and I think I’ve come onto something. I’m starting to think that our sexual partners closely resemble that of our cellular telephone devices. Think I’m full of s**t? Well read on, nonbeliever.

The Crap Nokia aka The One Night Stand

So you’re hovering over the frat house toilet seat, trying not to get an STI or pee on yourself, and your phone slips out of your back pocket and plops into the water. Suddenly, you’re out of a cell phone and you need one, STAT. Just like getting dumped or running into your ex, I would think of this as a rather desperate situation. So what do you do? You go for the next easy thing that comes along and satisfies your basic needs. Just like your friend’s gigantic Nokia phone with Snake and an antenna, a one night stand will be there for you when you need one thing and one thing only. You may use Mr. Nokia for a night or two, but you can bet you’ll toss that puppy as soon as something better comes along. Read More »

I don’t want to know…

Victoria’s Secret’s Pink launches new bath line.

Isla Fisher’s got some style

This whole monkey story is so sad. And he was so cute.

Spring Break is coming up! Where are you going?

What is Obama’s housing plan?

Spring is just around the corner…time for Spring makeup! YES!

Posh can do no wrong…ever.

Lilo and Chace Crawford? Absolutely not.

Selena Gomez is adorable…and soo over N. Jonas.

What Brad Pitt’s Oscar speech really said.

I’ve studied abroad.  But not really.  If you are currently studying abroad, or plan to in the future, I can assure you that my overseas experience was a bit different.  I began my college experience in London, rather than waiting until Junior year to try the whole passport-and-a-long-ass-flight routine.  Whenever I say, “I spent a year in London,” (I transferred during sophomore year), people assume I studied abroad.  I did not.

At my school, Americans who were enrolled in degree programs were labelled “Degree Students,” while Americans who were specifically there for a semester or two were labelled “Study Abroads.”  So, while I was an American sewing my wild oats just like you might be, there were some major differences.  I moved to the UK when I was 18, fresh out of high school.  I’d never had a keg party experience, I’d never lived in a dry dorm, and I’d never been to a major college sporting event.  Though I wasn’t always on my best behavior, my best friends were from all over the world, and I could see through their eyes how Americans earned bad raps as being obnoxious, immature, and annoying.  Make the most of your experience. Don’t make these mistakes.

1.  Do Know That Your Accent Says It All.

Have you ever heard an English person swear? I don’t care how “sodding” pissed off they are, it sounds so much nicer than an American politely asking, “Whaat tye-am is etttt?”  Most natives of whatever country you’re in won’t be instantly appalled by your accent, but they will know approximately where you hail from.

2. Don’t Get Wasted and Yell Things That Would Be Funny at Home.

As I just stated, your accent gives you away.  Which can work to your advantage… or not.  Screaming your school’s sports chant– P-I-T-T Let’s Go Pitt!– is not only loud and obnoxious, but do you really think the residents of Queensland, Australia give a f*** about the University of Pittsburgh?  Singing bar songs (American or otherwise) will also make everyone, including fellow Americans, want to punch you in the face.

Read More »