But who’s gonna take it?

Gerard Butler is naughty!

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Surprise! Everyone hates Chris Brown.

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While it’s obvious that there are situations common to all college students whatever campus they may call home, every campus has its own unique traditions. Some, like walking through a certain fountain upon graduation, date back hundreds of years. Others, like puking under a table at the late night Mexican restaurant on the night of your 21st birthday, are simply infamous amongst the student body.

And it is these things that unite students and make us proud to call our specific school home. So this week I asked the CollegeCandy writers to show a little school pride and share their university’s eccentricities with the world.

Tell us: what campus “tradition” sets your school apart from the pack?

Ness – Sheridan: You know you go to the biggest art school in Canada when all the guys are either high or gay. Sigh.

Teresa Wu – UCSD:  You know you go to UCSD when it’s hard to find a seat at the library on the third day of school.

Kim – Stanford: You know you go to Stanford when there is a protest for anything and everything.

Lauren H – The New School: You know you go to New School when there’s only one guy in your class and he’s looking for guys too.

Elizabeth – UC Berkeley: You know you go to UC Berkeley when you’ve been kissed by a bum.

Nina – Michigan State University: You know you go to Michigan State University when a half hour’s walk to a party or class is no sweat … it’s actually the norm.

Kari – Florida State: You know you go to Florida State when the sight of Potbelly’s makes your heart flutter, when you refuse to wear anything that pairs orange and blue together (hideous), and when you’ve eaten a slice of pizza bigger than your head from MoMo’s.

Thu – USC: You know you go to USC when you can dorm in a hotel your freshman year (I did!).

Rosie – Duke: You know you go to Duke when your pre-football game tailgate consists of students completely wasted by 9 am, dressed in ridiculous costumes in a parking lot, throwing beer, chilling in kiddie pools, dancing on speakers, and then, after 3 hours of a complete sh*tshow, totally ignoring the football game itself for a nice longggg nap.

Lauren – University of Michigan: You know you go to Michigan when the mere site of an Ohio license plate makes your blood boil. And when you look around for the skinniest person near you at a football game whenever the team scores.

Brittany – University of Richmond: You know you go to University of Richmond when you’ve never seen, only heard of, the UR basketball team and not even the incentive of free pizza can motivate you to go to a game.

Elizabeth – University of Missouri: You know you go to Mizzou when campus tour groups are the most excited to see the Rec Center. Hey, can’t blame ‘em for wanting to see what Sports Illustrated ranked #1 Best College Gym in the nation.

Brianna- Fordham University: You know you go to Fordham (At Lincoln Center) when you wear sweatpants to dorm parties because all the men are looking to hook up with other men.

Charlsie – Hollins University: You know you go to Hollins University when one random day in October, after the first frost, the president cancels classes in honor of Tinker Day. We eat Krispy Kreme donuts and then hike up Tinker Mountain, where we do class skits, class songs, and eat fried chicken. Or if you are too cool for that after first year, you get drunk off of mimosa’s and pass out by noon.

Samantha – UC Santa Barbara: You know you go to UCSB when instead of a football team, you have a soccer team, and instead of tailgating you pregame and throw tortillas onto the field.

Elizabeth – University of Missouri: You know you go to Mizzou when campus tour groups are the most excited to see the Rec Center. Hey, can’t blame ‘em for wanting to see what Sports Illustrated ranked #1 Best College Gym in the nation.

Sarabeth – University of Texas: You know you go to Texas when you’re asked the time and you automatically respond, “It’s ___ o’clock…AND OU STILL SUCKS!”

Mechelle – Florida State: You know you go to Florida State when you play drinking games better than you play football (and own more than one t-shirt with announcing that fact).

Alex K – Lakehead University: You know you go to Lakehead when you’re in line at Tim Horton’s and the guy in front of you has his full fishing gear (rod, hip waders, ETC).

Ricki – University of Michigan: You know you go to Michigan when the Insomnia Cookie Truck is the only thing that will make a drunk person feel better.

Carly – Grinnell: You know you go to Grinnell when you find yourself drunk at a party late on a Friday night… having an intense discussion about philosophy.

We’re talking hardcore, fast and furious, make it or break it time.

Only 16 teams left. And only 8 spots remain to be filled in the Elite Eight. Who will make it? I give you my predictions below, after watching the action-packed first two rounds of the tourney.

First of all, we can finally settle the debate on which conference is the best this year, and possibly even in history. For the first time in the history of the NCAA tournament, five teams from one league advanced to the Sweet 16. The Big East is home to Connecticut, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Syracuse and Villanova, all of which made the cut and will play in the regional semifinals on Thursday and Friday.

The ACC, which was the other conference in the debate, only has two of its members left, although they are reputably two of the best college teams and have one of the biggest rivalries in sports history: UNC and Duke. (Sidenote: dark blue is wayyy better than that gross baby blue color. Eww.)

Anyway, do you remember last year when, surprisingly, all four #1′s made it to the Final Four? Well, this year marks the first time all the 1-, 2-, and 3-seeds are in the Sweet Sixteen. Looks like Cinderella is going to be hard to find this year.

But what a great first two rounds it’s been.

Does anyone remember Demetri Goodson’s last-second game-winner in that 83-81 second round Gonzaga victory over Western Kentucky? Or how Ty Lawson came back from a toe injury and permanently quelled rumors with his 23 points, 6 assists and 0 turnovers against LSU? And when Clemson’s Terrence Oglesby was ejected from the Michigan game for elbowing off the screen and cried about it like the little girl he is in the locker room afterwards? Ok, maybe I’m being a little harsh on him. It’s just because no one looks man enough next to the almighty Gerald Henderson.

Now for my picks:

East- Pitt over Xavier, Duke over Villanova (gotta go with the Dukies).
Midwest- Louisville over Arizona, Michigan State over Kansas (it’s over for the defending champs).
South- Syracuse over Oklahoma, UNC over Gonzaga (the Orange winning in 6 overtimes?Mad props).
West- UConn over Purdue, Memphis over Missouri (the Mizzous will give Memphis a run for their money, but the higher seed will prevail in the end).

No Cinderella this year, it looks like. But it’s ok; the chalk bracket will be a heck-of-an event to watch. I guarantee it.

Once you get past the fact that the NCAA Selection Committee made the mistake of not including some of the best teams that could have been this year’s Cinderella (Arizona State instead of St. Mary’s? come on), the board actually came up with a pretty good draw. And for the next 2 weeks, I will be fully immersing myself in the insanity and awesomeness that is the most exciting sporting event of the year: March Madness.

The best conference in the country (and maybe in history) is hands-down the Big East. 3 out of the 4 number 1 seeds are from the Big East: UConn, Louisville, and Pitt. Even Barack Obama believes in the dominance of this conference, since his bracket that he filled out on Wednesday (live on ESPN! what a cool prez) shows it filling half of his Elite Eight. Although Obama didn’t have our lovely school in his Final Four, Coach K isn’t worried.

And he shouldn’t be worried either. Thursday was the big first day of the NCAA tournament, and the big seeds shined just like they were predicted to. During lunch I heard the big news of #1-seeded UNC ripping Radford to shreds in the South, winning 101-58 (42 points too many, in my opinion). The other #1-seeded UConn also came out with a deafening roar, with the Huskies winning 103-47 against Chattanooga. #2 Memphis (who I have going to the Final Four) won as well, and of course the almighty Blue Devils beat Binghamton (ha, no chance at all).

The upsets were few, but pretty significant. Both the #10′s beat both the #7′s: Maryland showed they earned their spot in the draw by crushing California, while Michigan just got by Clemson (serves them right for beating Duke once in a fluke). Editor’s Note: GO BLUE!

#12 Western Kentucky beat #5 Illinois in a shocker, which definitely messed some of my friend’s brackets up and led to some name-calling on FB statuses (but with a “hilltopper” as mascot, they’re kinda asking for it). #9 Texas A&M beat #8 Brigham Young, which was expected, but the one non-upset that got me most upset (because it ruined my otherwise perfect bracket) was #6 UCLA squeezing by #11 VA Commonwealth! The score was 65-64, in a real nail-biter of a game (seriously, you should see my nails).

Oh well, 15 out of 16 – that ain’t bad. Watching the madness ensue on our flat-screen tv in the common room – that ain’t bad. Having Super G on our team – that’s the total opposite of bad. Now, if only Ty Lawson from UNC never comes back from sitting-out due to his injury…well, that’ll just be the icing on the cake.

Did anyone else feel like their world turned upside-down last night, what with NO GOSSIP GIRL ep on the CW? I personally didn’t know what to do with myself, so I worked off my weekly-dose-of-Chace-Crawford- cravings on the elliptical for an hour. Maybe when the season ends, I too can have a Blake Lively body. Yeah right.

Since, sadly, there was no new episode to recap last night, I thought I’d do a brief refresher on what has unraveled so far this season. Feel free to post your fave GG moments of the year below, since there is simply too much for me to fit into one little post!

Nate Archibald

Early season partner: Catherine, the married cougar who turned out to be a Duchess. Nate walked the fine line between “partner” and “prostitute” with Catherine, after Catherine paid off some of Nate’s family’s debt in order to keep her sexy young stallion around.

Mid-season partner: Well… early-mid-season, Nate had a mini-fling with Vanessa, until Catherine scared V off. Then there was the hot Yale girl, who Nate posed as none other than Dan Humphrey for, in order to get into her lofted bed.

Current partner: After Nate kissed Jenny, the internet was ablaze with fans who couldn’t believe the plot twist, due to the real-life age difference between Chace Crawford and baby Taylor Momsen. Nate later bounced, but Jenny still appears to have his heart.

Season Shocker: After Daddy Archibald tries to get Nate to flee to the Dominican Republic, Nate convinces his felon-father to turn himself into the FBI. (And his dad’s tragic mini mustache.)

Blair Waldorf

Early season partner: Marcus, the seemingly boring dude who turned out to be royalty…and Catherine’s stepson…and Catherine’s other lover.

Mid-season partner: B. and Chuck have been playing some of the steamiest love scenes on primetime TV, but they’re currently trying to stay cooled off.

Season shocker: Blair being nice to Jenny on Thanksgiving, after trying ruthlessly to destroy Little J’s budding fashion career as Mrs. Waldorf’s apprentice (ironically, Little J. ended that gig on her own accord).

Serena Van der Woodsen

Early season partner: Nobody. Then Dan again. Then nobody again. Then some loser dude for five minutes, in order to make Danny jeaous. Then nobody again.

Current partner: Aaron, the polygamous art-dude who is willing to try monogamy (and sobriety) with the lovely Miss S.

Season shocker: Serena’s brief stint as the bitchy Queen Bee she used to be.

Chuck Bass

Early season partner: A myriad of nameless women.

Mid-season partner: After a flicker of interest in Vanessa, Chuck must have gotten blue balls from the frequently panty-clad, in-heat Blair Waldorf. But it was his idea for he and B. not to go to the next level.

Season shocker: There are so many to choose from! This has totally been Chuck’s season. I think my favorite woah moment from CB has to be when he told Blair, “I’ve chased you long enough. Now it’s your turn to chase me.” That was so hot.

Jenny Humphrey

Early season partner: Eleanor Waldorf’s design shop. Jenny was pretty much married to it.

Mid-season partner: Model Agnes was lined up to be J’s business partner…until she went crazy and burned Jenny’s dresses on the street. Whoops.

Current partner: Nate, though she doesn’t know it. After telling Vanessa she doesn’t want a guy to come in between their friendship, V stole the love letter Nate wrote to poor, innocent Jenny.

Season shocker: The head-to-toe punk-chic makeover that happened overnight.

Dan Humphrey:

Early season partner: Nobody. Then Serena. Then nobody.

Mid-season partner: There was that bookworm chick that was one of Chuck’s pawn. I don’t even remember what happened with that… mostly because I tend to forget every Dan Humphrey plot line.

Season shocker: Dan opening his mouth and saying something to accidentally get someone else into hot water. Oh wait. That’s expected.

Vanessa Abrams (Yes, she has a last name!)

Early season partner: Nate. Until Catherine blackmailed her to stay away.

Mid-season partner: Sparks seemed to fly between V. and Chuck. Until Blair doused that flame.

Current partner: Nobody. Poor Vanessa. The more she cares for Nate, the more fate prevents her from ever being with him.

Season shocker: Vanessa trying to join the Blackmail Express to get Catherine out of Nate’s life. Of course, Blair is the queen of vengeance, and poor V didn’t quite profit from her attempt at being evil.

The Old People:

Lily and Bart are still together, but after discovering that Bart has files on not only herself, but her kids as well, Lily was last seen crashing Rufus Humphrey’s meager Thanksgiving shindig.

Though he appears to be a master of the espionage, Bart did have a moment of decency after reading Dan’s manuscript, which outlined his strained relationship with Chuck. Will the two develop a real father-son relationship by the end of the season?

Of course, the real geriatric shocker is that Ice Crotch Eleanor Waldorf is engaged to a silly little man with a heart of gold… who also happens to be Aaron-the-Polygamist’s father.

Well, folks, that’s my mid-season wrap up. Throw in some catfights, spilled cocktails, and scantily clad teenagers, and it’s like you didn’t even miss an episode. See you next week as we welcome back our favorite private school heathens!

Let’s face it: We LOVE to gossip. We gossip about friends and we gossip about foes. Such idle talk allows us to convey information quickly, although not always accurately. This being said, it is no surprise that the website Juicy Campus has been increasing in popularity since it was founded on August 1, 2007.

When my friends first introduced me to Juicy Campus, I wrote it off as another place for people to share their college exploits online. But I quickly realized that this site was different; I actually knew the people that were being discussed! Friends, classmates, hookups—no one was free from the wrath of this critical group. Let’s just put it this way, if the “Burn Book” from Mean Girls was published online for all to see and comment on, I would imagine it would look similar to Juicy Campus.

The site was created by Mark Ivester, a Duke University Alum, with “the simple mission of enabling online anonymous free speech on college campuses.” (Editor’s Note: That’s a nice way to refer to sh*t talking!) There are currently 64 colleges listed on the site, including many prestigious institutions such as Harvard, UPenn, and Brown. The topics on the site range from the innocent (“Best Frat on Campus”) to the scandalous (“Sex with Professors”). Each post gets a rating ranging from 0% Juicy to 100% Juicy, so the juicier the gossip, the better the rating.

And because everything posted on Juicy Campus is anonymous, people have no censor when it comes to describing how they truly feel about someone. As a result, degrading, racist, homophobic, and downright hurtful remarks are prevalent throughout the site.

As guilty as I feel reading through the posts, I often find myself deciding to read “just one more.” I mean, who doesn’t want to know if she is considered the hottest girl on campus? But sometimes this curiosity gets people into trouble, as was the case here when a junior at Baylor University found her name not under “Hottest Girl,” but rather under “Biggest Slut.”

The embarrassment doesn’t end here. A couple of my own friends have been named on the site (yes, first and last name) saying they are “easy” or “ugly” when I know that it is simply not true. Furthermore, I have encountered posts where people comment on another person’s genitals (one of which referred to a guy that I had been seeing—kind of sucked) or even post naked pictures of an ex in retaliation. I don’t know about you, but I would be mortified.

The site takes no responsibility for the information posted, claiming that the authors are the ones responsible. In fact, as shown on CNN, people who have been hurt by the website have no way to fight back. Kind of hard to place the blame on Mr. Anonymous, wouldn’t you agree?

So we are left with one question: Is Juicy Campus just a fun place where college students can dish out the dirt on their friends and classmates, or has it become a way for people to tarnish the reputation of others with no repercussions?

[Photo courtesy of NYTimes.com]

Does the food at your cafeteria suck? Want to make some extra cash? Can you cook candied olive crumble with fish, braised short ribs with scallops, robiola cheese with fizzy carbonated grapes or chai ice cream with miso-sesame chocolate and powdered peach and pineapple? Didn’t think so.

Fortunately for Duke senior Bryan Zupon, who just loooves food, all this was a possibility. So, he opened a restaurant…in his dorm room.

Those Duke kids, they’re always going the extra mile. Damn overachievers.

“I don’t think that New Southern cooking has changed since the mid-’90s,” Zupon said to the New York Times. “I’d talked to a lot of big-name chefs in the area — for personal reasons and also for the newspaper — and they were so apprehensive to change. I was like, this is frustrating, so I’m just going to do my own thing and see where it takes me.”

Now I know, having grown up in North Carolina, that the state is not known for its culinary wiles. Although there aren’t any top restaurants, there are still some delicious places I look forward to eating every time I go home that could rival some of the best southern cooks out there.

Allow me to share:

• Bojangles. Nobody makes a Southern fillet biscuit so perfectly fluffy with just the right amount of crisp on the outer edges. Mmmm delicious. And even better when you’re high. And the sweet tea?? Don’t even get me started. It’s about as good as my Aunt P’s.

• Taco Bell. You can’t eat fast food in New York. I’ll eat street food but I do not eat fast food and you shouldn’t either (unless you like mouse poo burritos). But back home in the South, the Taco Bell has a 100.1 rating and awesome service. Who doesn’t love a seven-layer burrito for fourth meal?

• Waffle House. Sure, the waitresses are usually missing a few teeth, but who am I to discriminate? Just because Waffle House may not be in the upper echelon of NC Cuisine sure as hell doesn’t mean they don’t serve up a mean cheesy eggs. And don’t try to switch out the raisin toast, people! When paired with the apple butter, it’s a match made in taste bud heaven.

Two weeks and counting before I hop on a plane and head home to some of the most delicious food EVER.

Maybe Zupon should open his mind—and his mouth—to the South.