Look! It's a bird! No, it's plane!!! NO, IT'S...

...finals week here at UAF!!

Oh, no! The horror! :O


Actually, finals week isn't too bad. Well, actually, it is. It IS that bad.

We are constantly running around borrowing notes, drinking coffee by the pot, checking out textbooks, taking caffeine pills, and whatever else us crazy, college students do to keep going.

However, there are somethings that we do to "study" that, in reality, isn't really doing too much. And these are common things that everybody (and I mean EVERYBODY) does. Including myself. If you catch yourself doing any of these things: stop, take a minute, breathe, and refocus on your task at hand.

#7 Photocopies, notes, and textbooks.

This happens to everyone. Thinking that by hoarding textbooks, notes, handouts, and whatever else we can get our hands on related to the topic is going to help. WRONG. You are wasting precious study time by trying to get all of this excess material together and then when it actually comes to sitting down and opening a book, you feel overwhelmed. There is too much to handle right in front of you that you feel discouraged. So, STOP, take a deep breath, and a step at a time.

#6 Highlighters

Highlighters are NOT magic, people. When we highlight, we tend to quickly skim through the reading thinking everything we see is important. So we highlight and highlight and highlight to realize that it looks like a unicorn threw up all of the colors of the rainbow on your textbook. Instead, try writing the stuff out. You'll know if you have too much information because your hand will get tired.

# 5 Homes and nests made from books.

No. This isn't going to help either. Look back at #7. You will spend more time making the perfect nest to study than actually studying.

#4 Re-reading notes.

Wrong. I'm notorious for this. We think, "Oh, man. I can study by re-reading notes and text and be on Facebook all at the same time!" Nope. Doesn't work. When you find yourself doing this, stop. And actually DO what you are studying. For me, that would be acting out scenes, working on my monologue or drawing out a potential set. If you are actually absorbing the material, do problems that are going to reinforce your knowledge.

#3 Best way to prepare for exams?

By DOING an exam. Seriously. Make sure to get a final review or maybe a final from the class before.

#2 Skip the pity-party.

Saying "I'm SO screwed" is NOT going to help your situation. So you missed class, the class is really hard, the professor hates you, your dog ate your homework, whatever. It's in the past. You can't do anything about it now. Just focus on what you are doing RIGHT NOW.

#1 Do not blame anybody else, but you!

The bottom line is is that YOU are the one who has to take the exam. Again, by trying to blame somebody isn't going to grant you a miracle from God. What you need to do is bite the bullet and crack open the textbook. College isn't pretty.

All of these tips I got from cracked.com. Take a look at their page. (Their page is HILARIOUS).

Good luck with finals, folks!

Cheers!
-Dion T.

Fine Arts Warms Students!

Temperatures have dropped after a lot of fresh snow this past week. Currently we're seeing about -7 F (-21 C), which is still short-pants and skirt weather for some individuals. But for most, the body is dressed in many layers to accommodate the contrast of temperature change in going from the frigid outdoors to a toasty building and vice versa. Below zero temperatures aren't too bad in dry arctic desert areas but as soon as the wind is anything more than calm the cold atmosphere can nibble at your skin and comfortably rest in your hands and toes.

On cold days it's nice to warm up a little by checking out some of the latest displays at the University Art Gallery located in the Fine Arts Complex just left of the Great Hall in the Art Department. The University Art Gallery is an exhibition space for UAF Art students, faculty, staff and visiting artists. The gallery hosts MFA and BFA thesis exhibitions, a required component of graduating students, and constantly hosts exceptional art.

Photo from The Native Art Center at UAF Facebook page.

Currently, The Native Art Center proudly presents Monoprints and fashion STATEMENT, an exhibition in collaboration and partnership with the University of Alaska Fairbanks Native Arts Center and Printmaking Program, the International Gallery of Contemporary Art, artist and professor Melanie Yazzie from the University of Colorado, Boulder, as well as Alaska Native Artists and students, Kathleen Carlo, Erin Gingrich, Eric Hamar, Sonya Kelliher-Combs, Erica Lord, Da-ka-xeen Mehner, Junko Yanagda, Marjorie Tabone, and Denis Keogh. The show is on display until 18 November in honor of National American Indian & Alaska Native Heritage Month.

Another great way to keep busy and relieve stress during cold winter months is to not only view art, but make art! Art classes in

Ceramics

Computer Art

Drawing

Metalsmithing

Native Arts

Painting

Photography

Printmaking

Sculpture

are not restricted to students in an Art degree program but are actually available to all UAF students. The same goes for Music and Theater classes.

I encourage you all to come in from the cold once in a while and see what's new at the University Fine Art's Gallery, and also to consider signing up for art classes next semester. Art is a fun and engaging way to experience others' ideas and creations, and to express one's own opinions and worldview. Fine Arts can keep you warm, and sometimes might just get your blood boiling. Stay warm, be inspired, and express yourself!

The University Fine Art's Gallery is open Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., and is closed on weekends and University holidays.

For more information about spring 2012 classes, search under ART to see what will be available next semester, and speak to your academic adviser about registering for class!

On My Birthday . . .

By now, people in my life know I like food. {Alas, I'm still learning how to use the kitchen in my apartment.}So what I mean to say is that I enjoy eating. For my birthday this summer, I was fortunate enough to be gifted TWO homemade cakes. I have included pictures of them. The first is a chocolate, vegan wonder, made by my sister, who I obviously didn't need to go to UAF to meet :p  But the second is made by my neighbor, who is from Kazakhstan!!! And it's a chocolate cheesecake.

Time at the university is all about making life awesome in little ways like this.                                --------->

I've gotten to know people from seriously everywhere you could imagine {that's on Earth and not Antarctica, but I do know someone who used to live in Iceland}. And I still am learning the names of all these cool villages scattered about Alaska. Oh, all the places you will go, all the lovely people to meet~!~!

Halloween isn't for candy this year.

Yesterday was Halloween.  One of the most exciting days of the Fall 2011 semester. But I wasn't excited about dressing up and handing out candy to the trick-or-treaters who stopped by my apartment.
The Spring 2012 Course Guide became available on UAonline!! This means I am finally able to plan out my last semester as an undergraduate student at UAF.

Unfortunately for me, I didn't plan out my second major very carefully and I have to take a slightly harder path for my biology degree (in my opinion). 

Courses for Spring 2012:
Organic Chemistry II
Fundamentals of Biology II
Fish and Fisheries of Alaska
Jazz @ 6
First Aid and CPR

I'm definitely looking forward to finishing up this degree and seeing what else the world has in store for me.

My First Bike at UAF

Like many new students to UAF, when I was a freshman I did not have my own means of transportation. I relied on friends, public transportation and my own two feet. My second year here I acquired a car and for the past two years have been able to get places relatively quickly and on my own time. However, in August while in Anchorage my vehicle became ill and I had to return to Fairbanks for the fall semester without it while I was waiting for it to be repaired.
Originally I had thought that I would be without a car for maybe a week, so I did not look into getting a bike, but after about ten days of walking(which can be very time-consuming!) to where I needed to go or asking for rides from friends I decided to keep my eye out for a bike. When a friend offered to give me one due to the neglect it received, I was grateful and appreciative. Though I did have to put some money into tuning it up (buying a pump, a couple tools and a new inner tube) it was well worth it. Being able to ride my bike instead of walking was liberating. I could now get to the places I needed to go in a fraction of the time it would take me to walk.
After about a month of biking I now have my car back and I have to admit I am using my bike less often, but do intend to keep it for summer. It's getting a lot colder and while there are people who rough it and bike all year long, a warm car is too appealing for me. I guess what I'm trying to get across is that if you don't have a vehicle and would like a relatively inexpensive way to get around, I suggest investing in a bike. Or if you do have a car and want to save some gas and get some exercise, a bike is a great alternative.

Rasmuson Library: 4th floor

One of the strangest things, in my opinion, about UAF is many buildings are not built to where you walk into them on the first floor.  The Rasmuson Library is no exception.  I'll give a mini preview of each floor over the next few weeks.  Today's floor of choice:  the fourth floor. One of the most awesome facts about the Rasmuson Library is that we have the largest collection of books in Alaska! (There is another university who happens to have more square feet, but we think the books are what matter

There is a new feature to the library.  We have a cell-phone tour of each of these locations I'm about to tell you about. 

I work at the Rasmuson Library.  I'm a student assistant, so you might find me sitting at the circulation desk located on the fourth floor!  Despite the fact that 99% of our books are not on the fourth floor, this is still where you bring them to check out.  In addition to the books that we have in circulation, there are also about 2000 CD's, more than 8,400 DVD's, more than 7,000 VHS tapes (if anyone watches those anymore) and tons of media equipment.

Our media equipment ranges from GPS's, to laptops (Mac [some even have Final Cut Pro] and PC), video cameras, iPads (1 and 2), point-and-shoot cameras, DSLR cameras (of the Canon brand), to more obscure (again, in my opinion) items, like record players that can record tracks to your computer and wi-fi cards.

The media desk also offers duplication services.  If you need 18 copies of the skit you did in American Sign Language, and there isn't a copyright, you can pay a small fee and we'll duplicate those.  Our requirements include: you must be affiliated with UAF, the item cannot have a copyright (unless you have specific documentation from the copyright holder) and all items should be academically related. 

The 4th floor is awesome because it is not a quiet floor.  In order to help students participate in group study, we have created two types of floors.  Quiet and not-quiet.  Floors 2, 5 and 6 are quiet floors, with the exception of a small portion of level 2. Levels 3 and 4 are areas where you can talk in a normal voice and not get nasty glares - unless you are really, really distracting and then we'll have to ask you to quiet down.  I do remember a time when two people were practicing their German REALLY, REALLY loudly.

If you have a chance, you can meet Donner.  He's a cichlid who lives by himself because he eats all of the guests we put in his tank.  Careful though, he might play hide-and-seek with you.

The fourth floor is also home to about 30 public use computers.  They are all connected to the internet and printers and have Microsoft Office on them.  Use of the computers is free and should be used for business or school purposes, but we all know we need a break once in awhile, so we don't block entertainment.  Printing is not free and requires a Polar Express card or a printing card (available for purchase for $1).  Your Polar Express Card has the ability to carry a monetary balance, called Bear Bucks.  They are usable to print, make photocopies or even purchase snacks around campus and town.

The fourth floor also has the Reference Desk.  Reference librarians are amazing at helping people find resources they need.  They have limited hours in the summer, but during the school year, they are there quite a bit more.  Their fall semester hours are as follows:   M-R 9a-6p, F 9a-5p, SS 1p-5p. 

If you are looking for a reference material item, they are located on the 4th floor as well.  Many of our reference materials are available online, so this section is continually dwindling.  We are slowly gaining more best sellers to the collection and these books are also located on the 4th floor. 

Nursing

Hello students and prospect nursing inquires,
     
The medical field is an ever growing occupation making it an excellent degree field to invest in. UAF has joined with UAA to bring Fairbanks students the option to obtain their associates of nursing. Students can stay here in Fairbanks while pursuing their degree through UAA. However, being accepted into the nursing program is not the same as being accepted into the pre-nursing program.

Once all your prerequisites are achieved, a separate application must be submitted to the nursing program along with taking the nursing entrance exam.The nursing program is based on a point system. All of the prerequisite classes are worth a certain amount of points as well as the nursing entrance exam. The points earned from the test, prerequisites and GPA are added up to decide who the top candidates are for the program.

Extra points can be earned by working as an EMT or a nurses aid. The program is growing fairly quickly and many students go on to obtain their bachelors of nursing by taking an extra year of school online while working as a nurse with their associates degrees.

There are many opportunities to take advantage of here at UAF and more to come.
    

Research Perspective: Arctic Ground Squirrels

Hola~!

It is now midday in the Drew lab and experiments have been underway since 8:00am. Tissue samples and their respective proteins are analyzed by a procedure called the Western blot. {I've since heard of methods called the Southern and Northern blots...but no Eastern blot...hmm!} I, personally, have been in what I like to term the "Operating Room". And, yes, with an arctic ground squirrel, another intern, and a graduate student.

courtesy of Jeanette Moore

You might be wondering why such a friendly student like myself would participate in animal research. First, a research lab is kept under strict supervision and all experiments must be approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Plus, I treat the squirrels with respect and am grateful for what their amazing biochemistry teaches us.

Through the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP) I saw a presentation about the Drew lab. This was back in 2006, when I was a junior in high school. {Start sprouting connections early!} All these years later I'm finally an intern in the lab. This essentially means that I get paid to learn. My grant money comes from the National Science Foundation, but the opportunity was presented to me by ANSEP. By coincidence, I discovered that this lab collaborates with the Dow Neurobiology Lab in Portland, Oregon. I passed through that city this summer, on my way to a friend's wedding. I arranged to meet a neuroscientist there. We spoke of her research and graduate programs in the area.

My advice: keep asking questions and check-out all the different opportunities. You never know when one may bloom :)

Changing your mind: Choosing your future

Many people have the misconception that once you choose a field of study you are stuck with it. At UAF this is not the case. UAF is an institution that promotes finding a field of study that students are passionate about, as well as setting up career choices in the future. In order to accomplish this goal students are encouraged to do what is best for them and their future.

It is perfectly okay to also decide that your original field of study is not what you actually want to pursue once you get started or even before you start to take classes. A student must ask themselves these questions: Is this what I am really interested in? Can I see myself doing this for the rest of my life? While making this decision it is important to also evaluate what you want to do in the future.

When I started off my college career I believed that my major was locked in stone. I ended up switching to a different department at the end of my sophomore year even though I was hesitant about not finishing my undergraduate degree in the time frame that I planned. Before I came to college I wanted to major in Journalism. Throughout both of my freshman and sophomore years I took the majority of my general classes while also taking a couple journalism classes. Although I have a passion for journalistic writing and delivering news I discovered it was not my passion so I decided to switch my major to something I knew I would enjoy.

When I decided to switch my major I was really interested in the Justice department and did some research to learn more about the field. There were steps that I did before making this decision which included 1) evaluating possible careers that I can gain from having a Justice degree; 2) talking to other students about their overall experiences with the Justice program; 3) setting up an appointment with a professor in the department to get an understanding of the degree requirements; 4) making sure that the justice program was one where I felt I could be challenged as well as excel; and 5) getting advised about classes I should take before completely finalizing my decision. I am now a Justice major and starting my last year in my program. It worked out that the journalism courses that I did take have also fulfilled my core requirements in the humanities section, so it actually helped with the progress of my degree by helping me become a well-rounded student.

If you don’t know what field of study you actually would like to pursue, many students start their college experience as a General Studies major. You will work with an academic adviser to complete your general requirements. The advisers will also help identify your interest and declare a major. If you don’t get anything else out of this article understand that it is okay to change your mind when it comes to choosing a major know that there are people at UAF that to help you pick a major that will lead to success.

UAF's Friday Flashbacks Year in Review

Every Friday during the past year, Todd Paris uploads one of his favorite images from his years working as a photographer here to UAF's Facebook page. Here's his Year on Flashbacks in review.

A picture says a thousand words. UAF in photos...

Todd Paris, UAF's amazing photographer, recently put together a montage of photos that had been used on the front page of our university website.
Check it out!

Frisbee Golf

Ah summer, how we long for it through the 50 below winters and the seemingly endless classes. This summer I decided to spice up my life a little bit and take advantage of the long summer days by learning something called "frisbee golf" or "frolf". Luckily for me, my best friend happens to be an avid frolfer and a very patient person. I am now on my fourth or fifth week of training and I must say that I thoroughly enjoy it (though my friend tells me I don't swear nearly enough to be considered a serious frolfer yet).

The object of the game is to throw your frisbee into the basket in as few tosses as possible. The baskets have open sides and are metal with chains to help catch the frisbee, the UAF baskets have a big yellow band at the top so they are easier to spot. All of the 18 baskets are a par 3, meaning that you should theoretically be able to get your frisbee into the basket in 3 tosses. So far my record is 26 over par.


Discs can be purchased at most sporting good stores for around $10 each or rented from Outdoor Adventures for $3-$10 (http://www.uaf.edu/woodcenter/outdoor/rates/). There are several different kinds of discs (just as there are several different kinds of clubs in golf), putters, mid-range, distance drivers, and fairway drivers are the main ones you will find. I started out with a mid-range disc because it was more capable of putting than a driver and more capable of driving than a putter. I now have a putter, a mid-range, a distance driver, and a fairway driver. When looking to get your own discs there are several things to look at. I am not under any false belief that I can accurately explain this to you, but a really good resource that I've found is http://www.innovadiscs.com/discs/disc-comparison.html. Every disc has its own unique name and I find them all very entertaining (possibly even my favorite part of frisbee golf).

Overall, I am pretty terrible at this sport but I still have a lot of fun playing so don't be afraid to give it a shot! Even if you're awful, you will most likely have a good time! The UAF course map can be found at http://www.uaf.edu/files/src/18course.pdf and it includes the rules of the game also. Another useful link is http://www.pdga.com/ where you can look and see just how serious frisbee golf can be. I strongly recommend trying it at least once before the end of summer!

Summer Activities

Residing in the interior of Alaska has its perks for those who enjoy the outdoors. The University of Alaska Fairbanks is one of the best gateways to these forms of activities.

With 36 miles of summer access trails on and around campus you don't even have to go very far to experience what the interior of Alaska has to offer.





The Chena and Tanana are two majors rivers that are easily accessible to people in the Fairbanks community, and of course with flowing water comes great possibilities for fun! It seems near everyone I've discussed this topic with mentioned floating the Chena river as one of their favorite outdoor activities in the summer.




Bicycling around Alaska is one of the best ways to take in all of wonderful sights it has to offer. Numerous biking trails on and off campus give anyone in the community the ability to safely enjoy this activity.





Camping might well be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of things to do in Alaska. There are countless choices when deciding where to camp here in the interior.







If you are more interested in rumbling around on the tundra with your ATV you will find that Fairbanks is one of the best points of egress.







If it is competitive sports that peak your interest then you would find that outdoor sports abound at UAF in the summer. Even some.... slightly less mainstream sports find a home here...








Summer in Fairbanks is not just for adventure and sports though. The farmers market gives people in the community a spectacular chance to experience the extraordinary produce that is grown locally.




All in all your choices are limitless when finding a way to delve into the great outdoors in Alaska. The University of Alaska Fairbanks as well as the city of Fairbanks offers many tools to aid your journey, not least of which the the Outdoor Adventures office here at UAF.


Such as with all things in life remember that safety comes first! Always adhere to the safety guidelines provided for any activity you wish to partake.

Now get out there and have some fun!

From Zebras to Bacon&Everything In Between: Student Jobs

As we all know, college isn't free and we all take different approaches to manage our financial responsibilities. Some work multiple jobs or at a high wage job during the summer, some enroll in the military or national guard, some work throughout the year, or maybe they do something totally different, or a combination of the above. One way or another, once you become a college student the independence we like to enjoy comes with a lot of responsibilities, and managing your own finance is an important part of it.

I know what some of you are thinking... "I'll just take out student loans. no worries!" Trust me, that's not the answer. Yes, the majority of the population has student loan debt by the time they graduate from college, but just because everyone else has it, doesn't mean it's the wise choice to make. So what should you do? Taking loans out isn't a bad thing. Just have a plan on how you're going to pay it back. You should never take out more than you need. And get a job! Try to pay back your loans a little bit at a time before they start collecting interest. (it's not illegal. i promise). If you manage to pay back your loans while you're in college, that's Super Awesome! and it is possible. My roommate has been doing pretty awesome at it, she's expecting no student loan debt when she graduates.

Anyways, back to the main topic of getting a student job. Any job is great, but student jobs have some notable perks, especially for full time students.

Advantages Of Being A Student Employee

1. Flexibility: You get to set your own work schedule. (of course within office hours) and if you need time off to catch up on school work, your supervisor will understand and be reasonable with you.
2. Encouragement: I'm sure you've heard this phrase before... "You're a student first." They expect you to do good in school, or you can't work. Which means you have an internal and external motivator to do good in school.
3. Care: The University really values their student workers. At the Wood Center, they are really good at making student employees feel appreciated and I've heard great things about how other departments treat their student employees too. Students are almost always happy with their campus job.
4. Convenience: When you're a full time student, it's pretty hard trying to find time to put in hours and even the commute to work can be a hassle. well with a student job, you never have to worry about the commute since you're already on campus!
5. Connections: You're going to meet so many people and you will work with a variety of departments around campus. Especially if you are an Awesome person, people are going to want to help you when you need something and it can make certain class projects easier. ;)
6. Sense of Belonging: One of the important factors to being successful in college is that you feel that you belong here. The more involved you are, you're going to want to do better. A great way to create that sense of belonging is to work on campus. The more you know, you're going to feel comfortable being here.

I'm sure there are tons more perks to being a student employee, but we will leave it at where it is for now. I bet you're thinking, "Well how do I get a job on campus?" Let me take you through the applying process.

How To Get A Student Job

1. Go to www.uakjobs.com.
2. In the upper left hand side, you'll see Create Job Profile. Click on it.
   
3. Fill out your information.
   
4. Now, I did mine a few years ago so I'm not sure where you end up, but once you're done creating a profile get back to the HOME page of uakjobs.
   
5. Click on Student Jobs.
6. The uakjobs website posts jobs for all UA campuses (Fairbanks, Anchorage, Southeast, and all rural campuses) so scroll to the bottom and switch the job locations from "Any" to "Fairbanks." and click Search.
   
7. You should now be able to see all job posting in Fairbanks. So click on view, under the title and look around and see if you like any of them.
8. Once you've found the job you like, click on Apply for this Posting.
9. Sometimes there will be a few questions you have to answer before you can upload your resume, cover letter, and references.
10. And now it's kind of a waiting game until you hear back from the department.

Tips On How To Make Your Resume & Cover Letter Better

• Have a bomb-a** resume! Seriously. I don't mean the content has to be super-duper impressive. I am no means an expert in the area, but make sure you meet at least these criteria:

-Make sure you're name is clear. and have your contact information at the top where it's easy to see.

-Proofread!! like 10 times. for reals. If you have a typo on your resume, it can cost you the job. Have other people look at it too!

-Have your work history and skills. They don't have to be lumped together but it's important that you show off what you are capable of.

-Organization! the more organized your resume is and neatly displayed the better!

-Keep it to 1page. and use the whole page!

-Don't use online templates. I've seen resume's where the person used a template and it definitely didn't look as nice as other peoples. If you find a format you really like, it's okay to use the same format, but remember you do want to stand out, in a good way.

• Have a bomb-a** cover letter! Some people say the cover letter is more important than the resume, because it's the first thing the employer looks at, and if you don't make an impression they won't even look at your resume. When I write a cover letter, I try to think of it as more of an opportunity to highlight/elaborate on the top two, maybe three, reasons why I would be awesome at the job. So what are some of the basic criteria of an awesome cover letter?

-Similar to the resume, make sure your name and contact information is available at the top of the page where it's easy to find.

-Make sure to address which job you're applying for. Don't forget that! especially when the job posting has several jobs listed it's important to address what position you're applying for.

-Tell them why you want the job. What about the job interests you. Show some of your personality.

-Make sure you tell them why you deserve the job. What can you do? and be specific! give examples.

-It may seem silly, but ask for an interview at the end.

-Let's not forget to thank them at the end either.

More Tips

Here's a few more tips I thought you should know and also tips my friend Sarah Belmont, who's a student employee at Human Resources, gave me that I want to share with everyone.

1. Before you put someone down for a reference, make sure they know. Your reference will appreciate that. A LOT! and that way you can ask them to speak about a certain experience with or quality about you. You have to work the system to your advantage;)
2. Even if it's past the review date, just submit your application materials anyways. There's no rule that says you can't submit it, nor that the employer can't look at them. Chances are, the employer will review your materials.
3. "pooled" positions mean more than one department will have access to your application materials. On top of that, they can access to it anytime. Pool positions are often posted for departments that tend to have vacancies, frequently. which brings us to the next point
4. Don't be discouraged if your application is "In progress" and doesn't seem to be going anywhere. It might just be that the job isn't open just yet.
5. Only use professional references. Don't use family members or friends unless you really don't have anyone else.
6. Feel free to contact Sarah anytime. her work number is (907)474-5563. She can help you with any questions you may have about uakjobs and she can look over your resume, along with her co-workers, and help you revise it. (the Writing Center and Career Services are also great resources if you need resume help)

Good luck everyone on finding an awesome job!

From Zebras to Bacons&Everything In Between: Ice Cream Thursdays

If you ever take classes during the summer at UAF, you will have the pleasure to enjoy Ice Cream Thursdays, which is my favorite activity of the summer! Actually, Ice Cream Thursdays is everyone's favorite activity!

Surprisingly Alaska is said to have the highest ice cream consumption in the nation! Whether it's sunny or rainy, Alaskans will stand in line for their ice cream.

Ice Cream Thursdays have been going on since the 70's or maybe even before! and I guess it used to only be $.15!! unfortunately that is impossible in the current economy, but we still try to keep it as affordable as possible, so it's only $1 a scoop! and trust me when I say we give out HUGE scoops! we fill up a 9oz cup , as you can see in the picture to the right.

At Ice Cream Thursdays, we try to have a variety of flavors every week! When we order our ice creams, we try to keep in mind chocolate, vanilla, sherbet, and a fun flavor! and our flavors change through out the day. As we finish one container, that's 3 gal., we bring out a new flavor. Customers that really want a specific flavor try to come as early as they can. Usually we have a line starting at least 15 mins before our opening. By the end of the day, we usually go through about 15 to 18 gal. of ice cream!

We frequently have customers ask us where we get our ice creams from. Well it's not Hot Licks, which is a local ice cream brand that's very delicious. We get our ice cream from a vendor and the ice cream comes from Denali, Anchorage and Seattle. but there's quite a variety in the brand.

btw. that's my boss Cody, in the blue, and co-worker RJ, scooping ice cream, working hard during ice cream =]

From Zebras to Bacons&Everthing in between: Wood Center

Today I'm going to take you through a quick tour of my home, Wood Center. Wood Center is the "student life" building at UAF. What I mean by that is, Wood Center is where many students can get involved with extra curricular activities. but not only that, it's one of the

more common places you'll see other students hanging out at to pass time as well.

Wood Center is located in the middle of campus, so it's really easy to access. The Wood Center has a huge lounge, where students

hangout with friends or do homework in between classes, a food court where students can get breakfast, lunch, and dinner, a games area to go bowling or play a few arcade games, the student union (ASUAF), The Pub for students 21 and over, and several offices that plan activities for students to get

involved throughout the year.

So what kind of activities are available to students you might ask. Outdoor Adventure plans activities like hiking and camping trips, rock climbing classes, and many more. they also have gear rentals. L.I.V.E. stands for Leadership, Involvement, and Volunteer Experience, and they have leadership lunches, Alternative Spring Break, an annual Leadership conference, and many more activities that will give you the opportunity to further develop your leadership skills and give back to the community. The Student Orgs office is where you can find out about clubs and organizations on campus or even create your own club! Student Activities Office is in charge of providing the students with entertainments, such as comedy shows, lectures, dances and the list goes on and on. New Student Orientation is of course the office that plans everything that happens during your freshman orientation.

I call Wood Center my home because everyone that works here is like family to me. I've been working at Wood Center for over 2 years now and it has been the best work experience I've ever had! (I'll tell you guys how you can apply for awesome campus jobs in a later blog!)

Student Organizations at UAF

Whether you are a leader, geek, a jock, an adventurer, a scholar, or an athlete you can find a place at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. With clubs ranging from the Chess Club to the German Club to the Latin Dance Club there is something to do at just about any waking moment of the day. Many clubs on campus utilize our vast outdoor resources to facilitate activities that are both entertaining and are a great way to exercise. Others give students an opportunity gather in a setting that allows them to engage with their fellow students and learn from their peers in a variety of
topics.

UAF also hosts a small (yet growing) Greek Letter Society. Two Fraternities and one Sorority have a chapter on the UAF Campus. These chapters (Alaska Alpha - Sigma Phi Epsilon, Nu Omega - Alpha Phi Omega, and Zeta Mu - Sigma Sigma Sigma) help foster a setting of academic success as well provide a healthy social environment.

Greek Life at UAF

Sigma Sigma Sigma became the first national sorority in Alaska when it was installed at UAF in 1993. Founded in 1898, the sorority has more than 90,000 members nationwide who share a strong commitment to sisterhood, academics and community service as part of the college experience. Sorority membership provides Sigmas with academic support and leadership opportunities.

Sigma Phi Epsilon, the first national fraternity in Alaska, was installed at UAF in 1997. The fraternity began nationally in 1901, founded on the principles of virtue, diligence and brotherly love. It is one of the oldest and most respected fraternities in the nation. Through community service, campus leadership and fraternalism, Sigma Phi Epsilon gives its members the opportunity to live a balanced life.

Alpha Phi Omega is a national, co-ed service fraternity that has set the standard for college campus-based volunteerism since 1925. The organization strives to help each individual member develop leadership skills, experience friendship on many levels and provide service to others.

For more information on Sigma Sigma Sigma, Sigma Phi Epsilon and Alpha Phi Omega, visit us online at www.uaf.edu/studentorgs/ or contact the LIVE Program (Leadership, Involvement, Volunteer Experience) at 907-474-1959.

Through Club Council the Associated Students of the University of Alaska Fairbanks (Student Government) provides the funding necessary to sustain the clubs and student societies on the UAF campus. Club Council also provides the opportunity for clubs to interact with each other in a formal setting.

Clubs must follow the guidelines as provided by the LIVE (Leadership, Involvement & Volunteer Experience) Office in order to be recognized by the University. These regulations can be located here.

Active participation in these clubs is not key to academic success, but is a tool readily available to all students who wish to expand their horizon.

As President of the Alaska Alpha Chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon, an ASUAF Senator, and member of two other student organizations I personally like to stress the benefit that participating in student organizations has on a student.

On behalf of these and other student organizations I hope to extend an open hand to all new and returning students attending classes this Fall.

Overview from a Recent UAF Grad

I am Bronwyn Harrod, a recent graduate from the Chemistry Department here at UAF, as well as an Honors Program alum. I attended UAF for 5 years, living with my parents for my first year of college, and moving to campus for the remaining period. I was simply a dorm resident for that second year of college life. For my final 3 years at UAF, however, I became a Residence Life Peer Mentor; for this position, I lived with, tutored, and gave advice to the freshmen of UAF. I will be the first to tell you that my time at UAF, in the Honors Program, and as a Fairbanks resident have really helped to set my life’s course, and set me up for graduate study at another major university.

UAF is a nationally ranked school for engineering and the sciences, and has given me the basis I needed to be ready to pursue my future in academia. The opportunities here are unlike those available in the vast majority of other schools, and for a price that is affordable to boot! I was involved in research here before I even graduated high school! This experience started my path that led to further one-on-one research with UAF faculty mentors, a couple of research internships at a national top tier school (Texas A&M University-College Station), three second-author publications in scientific journals, and ultimately to my acceptance to the Chemistry Ph.D. program at the University of California-Davis.

Being in the Honors Program accelerated my progress; it gave me the chance to be creative, independent, and self-motivated, all the while providing the resources and guidance that I needed. The friends I made through the Honors Program were by no means the least of the benefits. We took several classes together, and would help to push each other through our rough spots and hard times, with respect to both school and life. It was so nice to have a group of people to count on, right from the start. We used the Honors House – our own program facility – for everything from a study area for our all-nighters together, to a movie night relaxation spot, to a dinner party venue, to a haven for sound advice. Without these aids, I honestly wouldn’t be where I am today, nor have the success that I have experienced.

Of course, one also has to at least like the area in which one is living for the years of college; I found Fairbanks to be perfect for me. The people here (fondly referred to as “Fairbanksans” or “Fairbanksians”, depending on to whom you talk) are friendly and helpful. This is a town of people who are simultaneously dependent on one-another and independently self-sufficient. For example, many Fairbanksians live in dry cabins, driving their own water to their house, hunting or catching their own meat, growing their own vegetables, etc. However, as soon as their car dies, or their heater cuts out for no reason in the middle of a 20 to 40 below winter, or they find themselves without a sponsor for a big school program, someone is always there to help at the drop of a hat. And yes, I am completely speaking from experience… Besides, where else can you take a photo of yourself in shorts and a tank top in front of the university temperature sign, which is reading -38 degrees?? Or ride an ice sculpture of a polar bear, or “Nanook”, in the dead of winter? Or have 20 hours of daylight as you are studying for Spring semester finals? This town, this campus, this environment…. all so unique! Or should we say UNIQUELY AWESOME! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at blharrod@alaska.edu. I would be more than happy to help in any way I can!