Our Biggest Event of the Year!

Hi everyone! I hope you all had a good weekend despite the rain and snow craziness. The semester is almost over. Only 6 weeks left! But before we leave for summer break there is a huge OCSS event coming up next month. What event is it you ask? It's Commuter Carnival! Commuter Carnival is a fun social event held on the quad (mainstreet if it rains). We're gonna have a bunch of FUN games, FREE foods and prizes!There will be a climbing wall, t-shirt tie-dye, caricaturists, photo-booth,  face-painting, balloon animals, and many games and prizes, all FREE of charge! We'll also have snow cones and cotton candy. I know everyone can fit a fun few hours into their hectic schedules so take some time out to come have some fun with your friends and have some good food (and we promise there will be good food). Come join us on May 7th on The Quad from 11:30am-1pm. We hope to see you all there!

It's Allergy Season

Itching, swelling, and runny nose....it's that time of year again, allergy season. Even though the weather is still chilly and there is no pollen in the air we somehow get allergies. Easiest way to get rid of them is taking medicine, but we can't always rely on medicine. So let's step away from the medicine and try these natural remedies from Dr. Oz. 

1. Got hives? Try a colloidal oatmeal mask! All you need is 1-2 TBSP colloidal oatmeal and warm water! Add water to the oatmeal until the desired consistency and spread it all over you face for about 5 minutes!

2. Puffiness around your eyes? Try cold potato slices on your eyes! Just slice up a cold potato, lay on your back, and relax like you're at a spa!

3. Sinuses? Try pepper and sesame oil! Just mix it together and place it under your nose. Breathe it in and it will start to clear up your sinuses; also make you sneeze.
 

Get ready for Registration!

Hi everyone!

I hope you all have had a wonderful Spring Break. I cannot believe how fast this semester is going! It seems like only yesterday we started classes. Now, we are midway through the semester and summer will be here faster than we think! However, we also must think about our fall semester and the classes we will be taking.

I know that it seems that it is far away now, but it will be here quicker than we know.

Registration for undergraduate students starts April 1, 2014. This is right around the corner! Students register based on the number of credits they have prior to the current semester. Registration dates are not determined by the in progress courses. Therefore, you need to be careful when you look at the registration times.

Students should also be aware that they will need to have approval from their advisors to register.  If a student does not meet with his or her advisor, then he or she will not have authorization to register. If you are able to meet with your advisor, please meet with him or her as soon as possible! It will help you stay on track with registration and scheduling.

Students can find the Registration time sheet located on the Registrar's website, or listed here: http://registrar.umbc.edu/files/2014/02/appointmentgrid.pdf 

If you have any questions about classes, graduation, or any troubles you may be having, it is important to stay in touch with your advisor. He or she will be able to help you or direct you to someone who can better answer your question. Remember, your advisor is there to help YOU! You just have to take the initiative and be proactive!

Also, talking to fellow classmates or friends is important. They can help guide you and tell you about certain classes that were beneficial to them. However, it is also important to not solely base your decision off of what they say. Everyone has a different opinion -- you just have to know which one will work best for you. 

If you have any questions at all, remember to communicate to your advisor. Talk to your classmates and friends! You can also talk to any of the CA's! We know how you feel and you are not alone!

Have a great day and rest of the semester!

A break worth needing

It's nice how spring break lands on the middle of the spring semester, before a lot of classes get to prepare for their next exams, which would probably happen sometime next week or the week after we get back. It's nice for us students and faculty to take a nice week break to wind down and relax, or to catch up on stuff for students who are behind.

While many of us are probably out of town to go somewhere nice and warm, and while others are helping out in their community (like UMBC's Alternative Spring Break), I for one are among the few who returned home to our families and just spent some time with them or spend time with old high school friends who had started their spring break too.

Spring break for me personally is a good way to relax and let your mind rest for a couple days before getting yourself back to the college school life. I've been at school since January and believe me I'm not sure how I would have been able to manage a couple months of work without some sort of break.

Though I think now that we're back, a lot of us would probably want to have a longer break, but for me however, I think I'm ready to tackle the rest of the semester. We're halfway there and spring break was our little break period. Now it's time to get back to basics.

 

Back to Basics

Hi everyone! I hope you all had a nice relaxing break. I know this break was much needed but sadly it has already come and gone. But don't fret, we only have about a month and a half left of school then we can look forward to summer break! But while we are counting the days till summer break here are some tips to get back into the swing of things after Spring Break.

1. Never fall too behind while on break, whether this is Spring Break or a general holiday break, you never want to do this!
2. Assess what things have and haven't been working for you this semester. 
3. Get back in the swing of studying and homework slowly so that you don't overwhelm yourself.
4. Remember you always need that outlet of me time during the school week
5. Do some spring cleaning and get reorganized! This will help not only de-clutter your surroundings but also de-clutter your mind.
6. Don't give up! We're almost to the end just a few weeks more.

Good luck everyone!

It's easy to give up when we're so close to the halfway point of the semester. There's nothing less motivating than having a break approaching because, for some reason, we want a break right now.  

That's why I love this quote! It reminds me what it means to do something well, with determination and discipline.  It reminds me that we're not on break yet and that we're here to learn. 

So here's some Thoreau advice on finishing well what you have started:

"All endeavor calls for the ability to tramp the last mile, shape the last plan, endure the last hour's toil. The fight to the finish spirit is the one characteristic we must possess if we are to face the future as finishers."  

 -Henry David Thoreau

        You can do it! Run the last mile so you can be proud of yourself.
                            Here's an inspirational video if you need it:

Apply to STRiVE!

Apply to STRiVE! I am excited to announce the 7th UMBC STRiVE Leadership Retreat will be held May 27 - 31, 2014. Because of growing demand, Student Life is offering this summer session to give more students and staff the opportunity to be a part of STRiVE. STRiVE is an intensive and engaging off-campus leadership retreat (5 days, 4 nights) developed to inspire students to become more effective leaders on campus and in their lives. The STRiVE Coaches (consisting of 12 UMBC students and staff) tailor a curriculum that encourages the 50 participants to make new friends, learn about themselves, reflect on values and ethics, work in teams to develop practical plans for making a difference on campus, and tackle both simulated and real leadership challenges. STRiVE has been developed by Student Life in partnership with the Student Government Association. You are invited to apply to be a part of the 2014 STRiVE group. Applications are due Wednesday, March 26 at 11:59pm: tinyurl.com/STRiVE2014 An optional information session will beheld on March 10 at 6pm in Commons 331  If you have any questions, please contact me (Virginia Byrne in Student Life) atvbyrne@umbc.edu. More information on this program is available below. Sincerely, Virginia Byrne, Student Life Coordinator for Leadership Development & Education Make friends! Make a difference! Have a ton of fun! Frequently Asked Questions What is STRiVE? STRiVE is an intensive and engaging off-campus leadership retreat (5 days, 4 nights) developed to inspire students to become more effective leaders on campus and throughout their lives. The STRiVE Coaches (consisting of 12 UMBC students and staff) tailor a curriculum that encourages the 50 participants to make new friends, learn about themselves, reflect on values and ethics, work in teams to develop practical plans for making a difference on campus and in society, and tackle both simulated and real leadership challenges. STRiVE is funded by Student Life, the Student Government Association, alumni donors and participant fees. Do I have to be an “involved” student to attend STRiVE? Absolutely not! STRiVE will be helpful to any student regardless of previous involvement or leadership experience. No prior experience is necessary! We are looking for a diverse group of students committed to developing their leadership skills and applying them to create positive change in the campus community. The application asks about campus involvement only to give the STRiVE planning team a sense of the different perspectives participants will bring to the retreat. Where is STRiVE being held? STRiVE will be held at an Mar-Lu-Ridge Camp and Retreat Center in Jefferson, MD (round-trip buses will be provided to participants). Participants will stay in cabins in a community (sharing rooms) and all activities will be held on site. How much does it cost? UMBC covers most of the cost of each participant’s attendance. However, there is a $100 participation fee that helps cover some of the cost of transportation, lodging and food. Money should not be a barrier to attendance, however, and there is a section of the application where any participant can request financial assistance.  What is the “Vision Selection”? STRiVE participants will devote a portion of the retreat to developing plans to make an impact in connection with an issue or problem about which they feel passionate. In the Vision Selection portion of the application, participants are asked to rank a few social topics so that we can group students with similar interests. However, there will be plenty of opportunities to interact with all STRiVE participants outside of the Vision Group. Please note that the planning team will make every effort to place participants according to their choices; however, we are unable to guarantee participants any specific topic at this time. We encourage participants to be open-minded and flexible when considering their vision selection. When is the participant application due? Applications will be available March 3 and will be due March 26. Applications can be found attinyurl.com/STRiVE2014 on March 3.  When are accepted applicants informed? Applicants will receive an email in April with additional details about participating in STRiVE. How can I find out more information about STRiVE? For additional information, please contact me (Virginia Byrne) at vbyrne@umbc.edu or come to the optional information session on March 10 at 6pm in Commons 331.

Virginia Byrne Coordinator for Leadership Development and Education University of Maryland, Baltimore County The Commons, Room 2B15 vbyrne@umbc.edu http://my.umbc.edu/groups/lc (410) 455-2318 @WeLeadUMBC

TSN Upcoming Events!

Hey!

I hope everyone semester is going well! TSN events are slowly coming to an end for the spring semester. This semester has been flying by! Here are the upcoming events:

  TSN: Academic Advising 
 When: Wedneday,March 12, 2014 (Noon - 1 PM)
 Where:Sondheim 202 
 Make sure that you are on track for graduation, meeting with your advisor, and know how to register for classes! This workshop will help you navigate your way to your degree.

TSN: Follow-up Workshop
When: Wednesday, April 9, 2014 (Noon- 1 PM)
Where: Sondehim 202
Learn how to do research for a paper! 

TSN: Ice Cream Social 
When: Wednesday, April,30,2014 (Noon-1PM)
Where: Lower Flat Tuesdays
Come out for some ice cream and meet other transfer students! 


Hope to see you guys there! 


Thank you for reading, 

Salma Waheed 

Check out these links:
http://my.umbc.edu/groups/ocss/events/23364
http://my.umbc.edu/groups/ocss/events/23374
http://my.umbc.edu/groups/ocss/events/23370

The Art of Recycling

Recyclemania is here! If you're not familiar with Recyclemania let me give you some brief info about this wonderful program. Recyclemania is an 8 week long friendly recycling competition in which colleges compete against each other. Whatever school recycles the most materials within this 8 week period wins a trophy and national recognition! Sounds like fun right? Go grab all your plastic, glass and aluminum materials so they can be recycled and go toward UMBC's recycling score. Help us win this year and become known for what great things we're doing for our community and the environment. Tell your friends and get involved, the more the merrier! Participating in Recyclemania is a great first step to getting more involved on campus and is a wonderful form of activism. For more information on the program or the upcoming Recyclemania events visit the links below.

http://recyclemaniacs.org/
http://my.umbc.edu/groups/casualcarpooling/news/42248

Weekend @ UMBC

Come back to campus this weekend! Here's a look at some of the fun events happening this Friday-Sunday:

(seb) Weekly Movie: Frozen

Friday, March 7, 2014 · 8 PM - 10:30 PM

Lecture Hall 1: Biological Sciences

Come out to Lecture Hall 1 on Thursday at 9pm, Friday at 8pm, or Saturday at 8pm to see Frozen!  

Tickets for the Thursday and Friday showings are $2 and available at the CIC. Saturday's showing is free! Bring your friends and (seb) will bring the popcorn!

Men's Lacrosse vs. Johns Hopkins

The Retrievers battle #13 Johns Hopkins

Saturday, March 8, 2014 · 1 PM - 3 PM

Stadium

The Retrievers host the #13 ranked Johns Hopkins Blue Jays.

Christie Finn '07, Soprano

Sunday, March 9, 2014 · 4 PM - 6 PM

Recital Hall

Christie Finn (’07 Music) presents a program of contemporary works featuring:

·         Linda Dusman (professor of Music): Triptych of Gossips (with violinist Airi Yoshioka, associate professor of Music)

·         Georges Aperghis: Récitations pour voix seule

A two-time winner of an interpretation prize at the International Stockhausen Concerts and Courses (Kürten, Germany), American soprano Christie Finn is actively involved in the world of contemporary performance and new music theater.

Check out more upcoming UMBC events here.

Be an Advocate for Health!Apply to be a Health Leads Advocate for Fall'14!

Hey there Commuters!

Are you looking for an internship during the Fall '14 semester? Passionate about transforming the healthcare system into a more comprehensive one? Interested in receiving transcript notation through the Shriver Center? If so, Health Leads may be for you!

Health Leads believes that a different kind of healthcare system is possible for America – one that addresses all patients’ basic resource needs as a standard part of quality care.  We believe that one day, all healthcare providers will be able to prescribe solutions that improve health, not just manage disease.

Health Leads mobilizes the nation’s undergraduates to provide high-impact services to low-income families and, in the process, to transform our healthcare system into one that is more effective and more just. We believe that undergraduates have what it takes to transform the American health industry, and we are always seeking passionate, committed students to join our movement.

The application is now open for the spring semester: Application Link

To find out more about our program visit HealthLeadsUSA.org


-Safa Zahangir

Spring Break Activities

Spring Break is almost here! A week and a half to go. It's count down time! Spring Break tends to get a little pricy especially if you're planning on traveling for the break. I know money can be tight especially when you're in school. Even though Spring Break is know for it's lavish partying scene in Cancun and other tropical party destinations, you don't have to spend a lot to reap the benefits of having fun while on break, so here are steps on how to have a fun yet economical Spring Break while at home.

1.  Catch up on some much needed sleep and then get a head start on some school work

2.  Do some spring-cleaning; get rid of all those old clothes collecting dust at the bottom of your closet

3.  Explore some local touristy locations wherever you live

4.  In case you really just want to stay in, you can finally finish that show you started on Netflix
5. Read the best book of your life!

Have a great spring break!

Go Healthy with COMMUTER CONNECTIONS

Hey guys!

Just to let you know we have an upcoming event this Friday.
Save the date! March 7th 12pm-1pm in the Sports Zone.

Reasons to stop by:

Peer Health Educators: The PHE representatives will be present to offer us great information on general health awareness and how to be smart when making daily decisions.

Green Dot: The representatives will also be present to show us what they offer in preventing violence on and off campus. It's always better to play it safe and be able to see the signs of someone in need of help.

Bicycle Club: This new club will have their own table at our event to promote what they have to offer. As a club they will provide meeting times, trails, and anything else for you cyclist out there.

RAC: The RAC will also be present to challenge you to know how fit you really are! They will also have schedules ready available of all of the free programs and fitness classes available to students at the RAC. Get those buns and thighs beach ready!

Other than the groups that are coming stop by and enjoy our free food and have a chance to win a free prize!

-Chris

One Fine Snow Day!

Hi everyone, I know there are some that are sick of the snow and just want it to warm up already but my advise to you would be to sit back, relax and enjoy this fine snow day. Some of my favorite things to do when there's a snow day are to skype with my friends from home and have a Netflix Law & Order: SVU day while sipping creamy hot chocolate in my pj's. I too am sick of the snow but as long as you get a snow day out of the bad weather outside, you might as well enjoy the little things while you can! Here are some steps to having a great snow day:
1. Put you pajamas on and be lazy for at least a few hours
2. Drink your favorite hot beverage like tea, coffee or hot chocolate (the kind with the mini marshmellows is my personal favorite!)
3. Kick back and watch some of your favorite shows or movies
4. If your the adventurous type go sledding or start a snowball fight!
5. Eat junk food (it won't be the same without some comfort food).
6. Enjoy yourself!