08/30/2015 by Ashley Probst Panther Newspaper
The Panther Newspaper sat down with current students to get the scoop on the inner-workings of Chapman University. This article is a compilation of ideas from Jerry Price, vice chancellor of student affairs and dean of students, senior economics and environmental science major Chris Thatcher, senior business major Jonathan Newman and junior dance major Twyla Malchow-Hay. So, here are your Chapman hacks:
Getting Involved
• Make this school your own and don’t become just another face in the crowd. Stand out by being yourself.
• Join multiple clubs and organizations, but don’t be afraid to quit the ones you decide aren’t beneficial.
• Work in the on-campus gardens to learn about the origins of your food.
• Challenge yourself and others—Push the boundaries, whether they’re personal or those established by the university and society.
Making Friends
• Meet people in your major or department.
• Don’t settle for having a lot of acquaintances and make friends that will truly last a lifetime.
• Take personal risks—Be friendly, purposeful and intentional. Don’t be afraid to start a conversation with someone you haven’t met yet.
• Sit alone in the cafeteria because you never know who might ask to sit down and eat with you.
• Branch out—Get to know people who are different than you, even if you wouldn’t normally see yourself being friends with them.
• Upperclassmen are a great resource and most will be more than willing to help you, so just ask.
“Making friends is about giving. It’s not about finding people who take an interest in you, it’s about learning how to take an authentic interest in them.” – Jerry Price
Studying
• Keep a positive mindset—If you tell yourself that you’re going to fail, then you certainly will.
• Be wary of pulling all-night study sessions because it will take your body, brain and sleep cycle a few weeks to recover from it.
• Avoid studying in your dorm room, apartment or house where personal items and electronics will serve as distractions.
• Most classrooms are unoccupied after 10 p.m., so use the empty rooms to study.
Dorm Life
• Simplify your belongings.
• Raise beds as high as possible to utilize space underneath.
• Keep pictures and other reminders of home to invoke feelings of familiarity in a strange place.
• Respect your roommates’ belongings, space and personal boundaries.
• Your roommates can’t read your mind, so encourage open communication and be honest with each other.
Parties
• Know the truth behind drinking myths—For example, bread and other carbohydrates don’t absorb alcohol and actually make it stay in your system for longer. Protein and water are the only substances that neutralize alcohol.
• Drink a glass of water for every alcoholic beverage you intake to protect yourself against dehydration, blacking out and a nasty hangover.
• Use the buddy system—Leave with the people you arrived with and never leave anyone behind. If your group decides to split up, make sure everyone has a plan.
• Travel places in groups, walk along well-lit paths and don’t take shortcuts through dark places.
• Use Chapman Safe Ride—A program run by Chapman students who will drive other students anywhere within a one-mile range of campus.
• Protect your peers—If someone is obviously too drunk, don’t let them hook up with someone or make a decision they may regret in the morning.
• If a situation makes you uncomfortable, get out. There will always be another party.
Food – Cafeteria
• Mix and match items from different stations, such as avocado from the vegan station, and put it in a sandwich or wrap
• Warm up nachos or cookies in the microwave, not the toaster oven
• Take fruit home with you for an easy breakfast or snack
Food – Cooking
• Get a group together and pitch in for a Costco card. Buying in bulk saves money and time.
• Use the Morlan kitchen to make food and then freeze it to have pre-made meals that you can reheat in your microwave.
• Find easy recipes for microwaveable meals you can make in a mug like oatmeal, quiche or cake for dessert.
Classes and Textbooks
• Discover fun physical activity courses held off-campus such as sailing or bowling.
• Bring an add/drop form with you on the first day of class, in case you decide to make any last minute schedule changes.
• Make your class schedule the background of your phone for easy access and memorization.
• Establish a relationship with your professors so they’ll be there for support if you need extra help.
• Use discretion when ordering textbooks—Always compare prices, but remember that renting books is typically the cheapest option.