It takes LessThanUThink to get downtown and back safely

It’s the weekend and you want to be responsible while drinking.  You and your friends are trying to decide between hitting up bars on the Strip or bars downtown. Normally when going downtown, someone has to be a designated driver, which almost always leads you deciding just to stay close to campus. Thanks to The University of Alabama’s Student Government Association and the Transportation Services department, this decision has become a lot easier.

Now you can do both! Today, the SGA and Transportation Services introduced the Downtown Express. The new north campus and south campus routes will take you and your friends safely from campus to downtown.

The Downtown Express doesn’t make the consequences of binge drinking disappear. However, it does provide you a safe mode of transport between the two locations.

When using the Downtown Express remember: You think you won’t get on the wrong bus, and you wouldn’t. Three drinks ago.

Operating Times:

Thursday: 6:00pm – 2:00am

Friday: 6:00pm – 3:00am

Saturday: 6:00am – 2:00am

By Haley Schwartz

It takes LessThanUThink to have the perfect Valentine’s Day

First dates are scary. If you really like the other person, the pressure to make a great first impression can be a little overwhelming. As a girl, I can tell you that I’ve agonized over what to wear and how to fix my hair and makeup, wondered if my breath smelled okay and hoped that I wouldn’t say anything embarrassing. Once the first date is out of the way, the nerves may be gone but the pressure to impress isn’t. Through the crazy, confusing and wonderful dance we call dating, you’ll probably have some good ones, some great ones and some that you’d rather forget. Since Valentine’s Day is this week, I thought I’d share with you some dating advice on how to make the most of your night out!

• Having a smart-phone is a wonderful thing, but in a world full of iPhones, Droids and Blackberrys, sometimes it’s nice to be “off the grid.” While you’re on a date is one of those times. No one wants to look across the dinner table and see his or her date texting or updating a Twitter status. Be present when you’re with a date.
• Girls: wear clothes that fit and are appropriate for the occasion. Guys are noted for saying they are attracted to women with casual, easygoing style. Go easy on the makeup and remember: Just because it zips, doesn’t mean it fits.
• Limit your alcohol intake. The stories of dates gone wrong due to someone being too drunk are endless. Drinks at dinner or out at a bar are fine, as long as they’re consumed in moderation. You’re on a date because you genuinely want to get to know the other person, and doing so in an alcohol-induced haze isn’t the best way to impress your date. No one wants to be the sloppy drunk girl everyone laughs at while she struggles to walk across the restaurant. Have fun, but remember your limits.
• Talking may be the key to communicating with your date, but if you’re the only contributing to the conversation, you aren’t really communicating well, are you? Listening is one of the greatest qualities a person can have. Don’t forget to take a breath every once in a while and let the other person have some floor time.
• Everyone knows someone who they could literally care less about. Your date doesn’t need to know about them. As the conversation starts to flow, it’s natural that other people’s names will come up. Remember to be polite and don’t trash talk anyone (this includes ex’s). You don’t want to come across as a psycho, judgmental snob who doesn’t like anyone.

I know that most of these tips are old news, but everyone can use a refresher on how to be a good date. Being polite and staying true to yourself are the best ways to make a lasting impression on anyone you have your eye on. Happy Valentine’s Day!

 By Casey O’Rear

Spring break, coming FasterThanUThink!

After New Year’s Day, it hits you: “I have to get ready for Spring Break!” Most people immediately hit the gym and start eating their veggies in hopes of that perfect bod. A few weeks go by, and they quickly drop out of the routine (myself included). While that “spring break body” will look great in pictures, that’s not all you should be worried about. There are a few dwindling tasks to check off the list that tend to get pushed back until the last minute.

Believe it or not, spring break is only 30 days away! By now, plans have finally started to come together. You know where you are going and the friends you are taking along. Thirty days from now, you will have hopefully arrived at your getaway location and thrown all your cares away. But, maybe first you ought to consider adding these to-dos to your list:

1. Book the room. This task sounds easy, but, in retrospect, it becomes more of a process. Location is key. You and your friends want to be in a prime location close to all the action. But, a great location is often accompanied by a not-so-great price. You have to find out how much money your friends are willing to fork out on a room. After calculating the total you must find a room that fits the budget. Ok, you have found the perfect hotel, but wait – they are all booked up for the second week of March. The search continues. Start the process now, so you can avoid the pile of stress later.

2. Find the designated driver. This is an important decision. Your life is in their hands. The driver should be willing to deal with whatever distractions and complications may come their way. A huge responsibility comes with being the driver. Not only are they in charge of getting everyone to the location and back safely, but they are also in control during the trip. The whole group has to make it to dinner, to putt-putt, to the bar and back home. The driver is responsible for making sure that is a success.  Considering all of the possibilities and solutions now can help in a conflicting situation later.

3. Make a budget. Let’s get real, we are college kids. This means the majority of us are constantly checking our bank statement and praying our card doesn’t get declined at Publix. Mapping out a budget now could be crucial to the success of your spring break. Think of cutting back in the coming weeks. Saving $10 you would have spent on a cover and another $15 ordering drinks at the bar can buy you two meals during spring break (and that’s just one night’s savings). On vacation you spend much more money than a regular week at home. You need to factor in meals, activities and the nightlife scene. Eating out can definitely break the bank. You might want to consider stopping by the grocery store beforehand and grabbing Pop-Tarts and sandwich fixings. Thinking of smart ways to get more bang for your buck can help make this spring break a successful one.

These are just a few steps you can take now to get on the road to the perfect spring break.

Got any share-worthy spring break suggestions?

New year. Next month. Are you keeping up with your resolutions today?

We’ve all experienced it before. You plan on going to the on-campus gym the week after New Years Day. Not only are there any empty parking spaces, but if you’re lucky enough to get one, the likelihood of any machine being unoccupied is slim to none.

A new year brings about resolutions that more often than not are broken within two or three weeks from their conception. A month out from the start of 2012, its safe to say that many people (myself included) have broken at least one of the many resolutions they charged to stick with this year. You’ve heard them all before too—“I’m going to workout everyday, I’m going to lose 10 pounds by spring break, I’m going to cut back on my drinking”. While those resolutions often come from a place of self-motivation and desire to change oneself, variables in everyday life halt resolutions from continuing, many resolutions falling short before the end of January.

Frequently, college-aged students find themselves pressured to drink in excess and fit an image of what college recreational activities should entail. Students with body image goals in mind or who may be on a tight budget often feel that they should spend their extra calories and cash on alcohol and a night out at the bar. While such activities are appropriate in moderation, the following tips can be applied to any college student’s social life and will help any student maintain his/her resolutions for the long haul.

1. Accountability is key: Make a pledge with a friend to work out together a certain amount of times a week. Having someone who relies on you, and you in turn relying on them will help you both stay committed to your goals.  Doing this can even make working out more fun for the both of you.
2. Utilize the gym: Let’s face it—working out alone is often boring and you are more inclined to stop before your goal time is over as 10 minutes on a machine often feels like 45. With such a wide variety of classes at many student recreation centers, you can alternate your workouts and try new things too which keeps you focused and ready for more. In an average cycle class, you can burn up to 600 calories, which translates to about five light beers. Swapping a night on the town for a cycle class will help you stay focused and keep you on track. From kickboxing to Zumba to cycling, the possibilities are endless and working out with a large group of people keeps your mind off the time and helps you power through.
3. Get smart: Even though a lot of college involves going out and being social, we often forget we are in school to actually go to class. Seems manageable, right? Late, drunken nights can contribute to missing class, deadlines, and god forbid, a test or paper. Alcohol impairs your motor skills, judgment, memory and speech, all of which will effect your ability to get your work done. Knowing your priorities and having a clear understanding of what you need to get done during the week will make going out on the town less stressful knowing all your work is done.
4. Sunday Funday: How many times have you said you would be productive on Sunday and instead, laid in bed hungover for hours on end? Think about how many classes you missed over the course of your college career due to a rough night on the town. A rowdy night here and there is sometimes well deserved, but trying to make sure you make the most of your one-day off can help you stay on track with your resolutions. When you’re out, alternate an alcoholic drink with water so you don’t dehydrate yourself and can be productive the next day. When you drink, make sure you’ve eaten to absorb the alcohol you are putting in your body. Making sure you are properly hydrated and nourished will help you feel energized on Sunday and will help you make the most of your free day.
5. You are what you eat: We all want to be conscious of what we are eating and drinking but often we really don’t know what is in our food and drinks. In addition, we often eat when we aren’t even hungry because it seems like the right thing to do. Restaurants load bottomless calories in dishes to make them taste better and unfortunately, the drinks are even worse. One 10-ounce margarita has over 500 calories and a basic pasta dish can rack up over 1,000! Writing down what you eat will help you keep track of what you are putting in your body and can help you understand when you really should be eating. If you want to take it a step further, plenty of smartphone apps help you log your food and exercise and adds the calories allocated for you personally when you set up your fitness profile. Many apps have exact calorie counts from popular restaurants too so you can monitor your intake on the go.
6. More money, less problems: Many college students are on a tight budget and going to the bar Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights doesn’t help either. Going to the bars consecutively can burn a hole of over $60 in ones pocket once drinks are bought and cover charges are paid for. While its perfectly fine to go out and drink in moderation, keeping your weight and financial goals intact past January can be maintained if you set yourself an appropriate budget for your lifestyle and write down what you spend. Being conscious of what you spend your money on will help you prioritize your social life and will help you in the long run.

 

By Savanah Bass

 

It takes LessThanUThink to have a safe trip to the National Championship

 

While ‘on the road to 14’, remember these travel tips for a safe journey:

• Rest up and get a good night’s sleep. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, driving while drowsy is a contributing factor in 100,000 accidents annually. Drive only when well rested, and switch off with another adult every few hours, if possible.
• Drop the cell phone. According to the NHTSA, drivers who use hand-held devices are 4 times more likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves.  To ensure the safety of you and your passengers, avoid using your cell phone while driving.
• Dodge the crowd.  Be acquainted with traffic problem areas and do the best you can to avoid them.  However, if you do find yourself in an unpredicted traffic situation, be patient.
• Keep your eye on the prize.  Keep your eyes on the road while driving at all times.
• No illegal formations.  Avoid ‘too many players on the field’ by only having the same amount of passengers as seat belts in a vehicle.
• Huddle up and assign a designated driver.  Do not drive while intoxicated, do not ride with others who are intoxicated, and avoid the obvious times and places where you might become the victim of drunken driving.  While in New Orleans, call a cab if no one volunteers to stay sober.
• Snap your seat belt.  Be sure everyone in your vehicle is wearing a seat belt regardless of how long the trip.
• Review the weather reports, and plan your trip accordingly.

By Haley Schwartz and Anne-Marie Urrutia

 

Cut The Soda Habit

I never used to be a heavy soda drinker. Of course I had the occasional soft drink, but I always kept a variety in my diet: water, milk, fruit juice and iced tea. When I came to college, however, soda began to dominate my life. I found myself filling my cart with another 12 pack of pop at the grocery store, ignoring the button for water on all vending machines and reaching for a cold one every time I felt a hint of thirst. My soda intervention didn’t come until my dentist told me I had to cut back. Luckily, it takes less than you think to cut the soda habit.

The number one reason why a soda addiction starts is convenience. It’s easy to open the fridge and pop open a can of cold, sweet cola. There are not many other beverages that are so instantly refreshing and so terribly unhealthy for you. I found that the easy way to cut back is to find a replacement drink. One that worked for me was lemon water. I started by keeping a jug of water refrigerated and pre-slicing the lemon. When it came time to get a drink, I poured the water over ice (crushed ice is even better) and added a slice of lemon. Viola! The ice cold water is refreshing and the citrus from the lemon gives the water the pop that my taste buds were looking for.

If this still doesn’t do the trick, try buying a jug of iced tea or lemonade at the grocery store. The sugar in these beverages should satisfy your craving. Of course, if you find yourself still reaching for the coke, try buying liters of soda instead of cans. When we open a can of soda, we feel the need to drink all 12 fluid ounces. A liter allows you to moderate your consumption and eventually stop consumption altogether.

Any habit is hard to quit, and no one says that you can never have a sip of soda ever again. Just give yourself some time and be persistent, and you’ll find your cola cravings wont be so strong.

By Kassandra Hannay

Make a difference in your community.

Community service is not only a great thing to put on your resume to impress employers but also an extremely fulfilling and rewarding way to do something for others, and ultimately yourself.

I participated in a lot of community service events in high school, and when I came to Alabama I found it harder to become involved. I didn’t know when and where events were taking place and didn’t know where I could even sign up for them. If you are interested in community service events on and off campus, here are some ways to find out the details:

Fall Get On Board Day (Student Involvement and Leadership)
The annual Fall Get on Board Day will be on Aug. 25th from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Representatives from the more than 300 student organizations, as well as campus departments and local vendors, will be on site in the Ferguson Center Plaza and the Crimson Promenade. Students interested in getting involved on campus can visit different tables for organizations in which they are interested, as well as have the chance to receive free giveaways from local vendors.

The Community Service Center

Another great service to take advantage of is The Community Service Center, located in The Ferguson Center. You can access their website by going to http://volunteer.ua.edu/. On the website you will find anything and everything you need to know about upcoming community service events and how to get involved. I suggest checking out this website or visiting the Community Service Center as an easy and fun way to make a difference in your community.

Student Affairs Calendar

Another website to visit is the Division of Student Affairs at http://www.sa.ua.edu/. The Student Affairs calendar is a great way to find out what events are being held on campus on a monthly basis. By visiting this website frequently, you are able to find upcoming events that you might be interested in and the details of how to participate.

The LessThanUThink Campaign

If you’re interested in our campaign and want to get involved, we’re recruiting volunteers to help out at our events. From setting up and closing down to passing out promotional items and talking with students, our campaign offers plenty of volunteer opportunities for students. If you’re interested, log in to your SL Pro account and search for The Century Council or The Capstone Agency. Can’t find us? E-mail launchcampaign@gmail.com, and our volunteer coordinator, Megan Miller, will help you find a way to help out.

These resources are all good tools to help you get involved in your community. Your MyBama website makes it easy to connect to student organizations and event calendars so that you are aware of all of the events UA has to offer; trust me, there are plenty of them. Community service is a great way to make your time here at UA rewarding and worthwhile.

By Mary Marshall

Avoid the Freshman 15

Almost all college students worry about gaining the Freshman 15. You should be excited about making friends and settling into the next stage in life — not losing your figure.

Some tips from Jessica-Lauren Roberts, graduate assistant for fitness and nutrition services at the University Recreation Center, prove that avoiding the Freshman 15 does not have to be as difficult as you might think:

First: Consider what your lifestyle was like in high school. If you were an athlete in high school and are not going to continue playing in college, that changes your calorie needs. Ask yourself, “what am I coming from and what am I getting into?”

Second: Look at your portion sizes. If you are not hungry within four hours of eating, you are eating too much in one sitting.

Third: Make sure you have variety in your diet. Try to have something from as many food groups as possible on your plate, but in the correct portions. This way you will not leave the meal and start craving something.

Fourth: Get enough rest. Sleep has a major effect on your appetite and metabolism. Your body is a great fat burner while you are asleep, so if you do not sleep enough you might start gaining weight.

Fifth: Keep yourself hydrated. Your body better processes what you take in when you are hydrated. Be careful if you came from a high school or a home where you rarely drank soda. If you start drinking soda or sweet tea all the time you can add up to 1,000 calories a day, which could cause you to gain more than a pound each week.

Avoiding the Freshman 15 does not mean you should stop eating. It actually requires the opposite. Make sure to eat regularly, do not skip breakfast, keep healthy snacks on hand for busy days and try to incorporate as many food groups into your meals as possible.

Now that you are on your own, you have to be conscious of what you eat and how many calories it takes to keep your body running. Five simple steps is all it takes to avoid the Freshman 15, and being aware of your choices from the start will make life much easier.

by Amanda Coppock

Land an amazing internship

Meet Christina Hill, a senior majoring in apparel and textile design with a concentration of apparel design who landed an internship working at the world-renowned Cannes Film Festival. I had the chance to sit down with Christina to ask a couple of questions.

Q: Tell me about the process you went through to land this internship.

A: I had to go through many different steps to get this internship.  It all began in the beginning of this past fall semester. I first had to apply to Capstone International and the IIACI (Institute for Interdisciplinary Art and Creative Intelligence), a program run by Dr. Janeann Dill, here at the university.  Once I spoke with Dr. Dill, I had to send in a few things such as my resume, official academic transcript, essays and do a one-on-one phone interview.  This part of the process took about a month or so.  I then had to apply to American Pavilion (AMPAV), where I had to produce a resume, transcripts and three letters of recommendation as well as hold a phone interview and answer a series of essay questions.  The questions were related to my knowledge and experience with films.

Q: How many University of Alabama students were selected?

A: Twenty UA Students were chosen.

Q: How many interns overall were involved?

A: Overall there were 130 interns

Q: What was your typical workday like in Cannes?

A: I had check in at around 9 every morning, then I would head to work for a six-hour day.  I was selected to work on the tech support team.  I was basically in charge of making sure that the “round table discussions” were set up properly and the speakers were taken care of. Some of our speakers were James Franco, Michele Williams and the US Ambassador for France.  The days were long, but the scenery made everything worth it.

Q: What was your favorite part about the internship?

A:  Having the opportunity to go see films.  Most of the films I got to see will probably never make it to the states.  I also had access to everywhere in the Palais. This meant I could walk down the hall of the convention center and see Tim Burton walking into market.

Christina’s experience interning at the Cannes Film Festival was certainly an exciting and unique experience. Not all internships will seem so glamorous, but as long as you put in effort and make the most of it, even an internship at a small company in your hometown can be worthwhile.

Wondering how to get started? Try visiting the UA Career Center, attending internship fairs on campus or meeting with your college’s internship director.

Ditch the BuzzKill

Here the story: It’s Friday night and you are laid back sipping on your Natty Light, playing some Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, and right when you are about to obtain the level of Brigadier General, you feel it. It feels heavy, cold, dark and almost annoying. You look at your friends, and you can tell that they feel it too. The buzz from your cold Natty begins to fade into obsolescence.

BOOM! The door swings open, and there it is. It’s loud, obnoxious and overbearing; it’s the total opposite of seeing a scantily clad Jessica Alba standing in your doorway. It’s the Buzz Kill.

All the questions begin to race through your head:

“Who told him where we were?”

“This is exactly why I ignored his text”

“I just lost my killstreak because of this idiot!”

By this time, the two Natties have completely lost their effect. This may be a good thing, because you are going to need a clear noggin to avoid this perp ruining your whole night.

Ditching the BuzzKill:

You may think you’re trapped, but it really takes less than you think to ditch the Buzz Kill. 

Everybody magically finds prior obligations to separate themselves from the Buzz Kill.

“My girlfriend wants to hang tonight.”

“I might need to get going fellas, I have to be at work early tomorrow.”

“My dog just died, and I just need to be alone right now.”

Whatever can get you out of there, DO IT!

You should have already agreed upon another meeting location. This is where you all should get back together and meet in order to resume tonight’s festivities without the negative energy of the Buzz Kill floating over everyone’s head.

Avoid Twitter and Facebook updates at all costs. Buzz Kills will use this as their primary resource to find out where they can find the next chill spot to bust up in and . . . well, be a Buzz Kill.

Even though you don’t really want to hang out with him, don’t give up hope on your buzz-killing friend; there is help out there for him. Maybe you can sit him down and explain why you seem to always have something to do when he texts or calls. Maybe you could introduce him to other buzz killers, and they could sit around and kill each others’ buzzes . There is always the option of continuing the relationship with the Buzz Kill, but this is only acceptable if the he or she immediately related to you (brother, sister, father, mother).

Otherwise, my motto goes “Once a Buzz Kill, Always a Buzz Kill.”

by Joseph “J.B.” Bradley