Photo: Chelsi Semler
If your roommate is leaving food and dishes everywhere, do not strangle them.
Be honest and try to work things out.

“Dear Zoe,

One of my roommates constantly leaves dirty dishes in the sink, hair in the shower and her clothes all over the apartment. It has gotten to the point where I want to move out. Help!”

— Living in a pigpen

Dear Living in a pigpen,

As we approach the second week of school after a long weekend, many of us are finding out our roommate’s quirks. Even if your roommate was your best friend, living together can be an eye-opener.

Everyone is raised differently. Some people are neat to a point of medical isolation and others could submit their room to the TLC show ‘Hoarders,’ but the vast majority of people fall in the middle of the two extremes. Communication is the key to making the apartment a livable space for all.

Some people are soakers, meaning they like to fill their bowls up with water and let them sit in the sink before they wash them. I hate to see dirty dishes sitting out and I will try to wash my dishes as I cook.

Find out what your roommate’s personal comfort zone is. Chances are, she doesn’t know her behavior is bothering you.

When I was in the residence halls last year, I was lucky because my roommate’s living style was similar to my own. We were on the messy side, took afternoon naps and did not have friends over often.

Not every situation turns out like that.

Sometimes you find yourself paired with someone who would like the apartment to be a quiet place to study when you want to have friends over. The key to any roommate relationship is communication. Tell the other person exactly how you feel and why.

My dad likes to tell me that living with someone is great training for marriage. Marriage feels far off, but roommates are part of the current reality. You may not kiss your roommate, but living with someone for a year will better prepare you for spending the rest of your life with someone else.

Be forward and honest with your roommates as soon as you notice a potential problem. Set up house rules and talk about things such as doing the dishes, sharing food, how often significant others can be over and everyone’s favorite: cleaning.

If you address an issue early on, you could avoid a heated argument later.

Save moving out as a last-case scenario. If you feel that someone is in danger or the environment has become hostile, then remember to take care of yourself, but if the issue is that she left her hair in the sink, realize that the world will not end if you stay.

Roommates are sometimes a pain in the neck, but they can also turn into life-long friends. Hang in there, compromise and do not sweat the small stuff.

Zoe N. McDonald

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Every fall, chapters open their doors for potential new members and seek to grow the community as a whole.  For incoming freshman, going through recruitment can be intimidating, but it is an experience that can help you meet new people and make new friends regardless of whether or not you join a house.  Each chapter does things a little differently, but all hope to show off their commitment to scholarship, philanthropy, sister or brotherhood, and personal growth.

The actual process of recruitment is often mystifying to those who know nothing about it, so I am here to give you some information about the process.

To start, the process is completely mutual.  That is, the opinion of the person going through recruitment matters just as much as that of the chapter.  There is no reason to worry about picking the wrong house. The choice to join is up to both the chapter and the potential new member.

The process of meeting each chapter is also painless. The members just want to get to know what each person has to offer and in return let them know what the chapter has to offer so both can make an informed choice. The main thing to know is that chapters are just as nervous to meet new members as new members are to meet them, so it should not be a scary experience.

Before you write off the choice to look into Greek life, talk to a chapter member and get some information, because the process is a whole lot more fun than you might think.

Allison Cetak

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The ACA provides more healthcare rights for young adults, women and people with pre-existing conditions. I think this is a wonderful thing.

Illustration: Chelsi Semler

Conservative America, however, tends to disagree. Currently, there is an attack on women’s health and reproductive rights.

Romney intends to overturn Roe vs. Wade, a constitutional amendment that makes abortion legal, according to his official campaign website. I think this is wrong. Being pro-life or pro-choice is a personal decision a woman should make on her own terms.

“Americans have a moral duty to uphold the sanctity of life and protect the weakest, most vulnerable and most innocent among us. As president, Mitt will ensure that American laws reflect America’s values of preserving life at home and abroad,” Romney’s website states.

This statement implies that if an individual is pro-choice, they are immoral, which is completely inaccurate. I consider myself to be a very moral person, and I am also very pro-choice. If you are pro-life, however, I completely respect that, too.

Depending on a woman’s religious views, there is a possibility she may consider an abortion. There are multiple reasons why.

Perhaps she was a rape victim, she has health issues that would make pregnancy risky for either herself or the child, or maybe she just is not ready for motherhood. No matter the reason, the decision belongs to her, not a male politician in D.C.

Lately, there has been a lot of discussion about women’s health, specifically about rape, pregnancy and abortion. On August 19, U.S. Representative Todd Akin, R-MO., said that women’s bodies have a way of shutting down pregnancies from rape, therefore making pregnancy from ‘legitimate rape’ rare, according to ABC News.

Obviously, this statement is completely, biologically impossible. A woman’s body cannot tell the difference between ‘rape sperm’ and ‘legitimate sperm.’ It’s all the same thing. If an egg is there, pregnancy can happen. End of story.

In response to this lunacy, President Obama said, “What I think these comments do underscore is why we shouldn’t have a bunch of politicians, the majority of whom are men, making health care decisions on behalf of women.”

I could not agree more. I honestly believe that women’s reproductive rights should be completely left up to women — sorry guys.

It is great for men to have opinions and to be supportive of the women they care about, but at the end of the day these decisions impact women’s bodies.

Of course, abortion should not be taken lightly. It is a personal decision that should be thought through and weighed. But that is the point: a woman should have the choice to do just that.

Let your voice be heard — we really can make a difference. Even if you disagree with me, your opinions are just as valuable. Write to our state representatives to let them know what you care about. After all, is that not their responsibility? They are sitting in D.C. to represent the citizens of our state, not their own personal agendas.

Chelsi Semler

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The requirements are incredibly simple: have a high school GPA of 3.0 and an ACT score of 21, according to the admission requirements web page, and UW opens its arms.

But, there is debate around campus questioning if the ACT score requirements are too low.

The national average ACT score for 2010 was 21 according to act.org. UW’s ACT requirement is equal to the national average, but some wonder if the bar should be raised.

UW is not an Ivy League school, nor should it strive to be. While other schools in the region, such as CSU and BYU, require higher ACT scores, UW is not an inferior school. It competes on equal ground both athletically and academically with other schools in the region, even with lower admission requirements.

Research has concluded that ACT scores correlate to college success only up to a certain point. In other words, students can have high ACT scores and still drop out of college in their first year, or students with low ACT scores could go on to earn their doctorates.

In order to be successful in college both hard work and book smarts are required.

What the ACT does is attach a number to students’ intelligence much like an IQ score. Numbers are an easy way to quickly compare students to one another, but also carry the risk of oversimplification.

The ACT measures generalized information and as a result allows little room for creativity and original thought.

There is no sure fire way to measure someone’s potential to learn and work hard, although both the ACT and IQ will claim they can.  It is all too easy to reward students who perform well and punish those who perform poorly. What the ACT measures is a student’s ability to take a test and little more. This system makes it hard for people who did not perform well on a test at age 17 to get into college.

UW needs to remember that 40 percent of its students are nontraditional students who did not go to college straight out of high school.

By raising the ACT score requirements, many students will not be accepted, and UW will miss out on many potential students and free thinkers.

If students want to go to a school with a lower admission rate, let them apply to Harvard or Yale, but let UW remain a place that welcomes students from all walks of life, not just those who performed well in high school.

Zoe N. McDonald

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One of the most distinct differences in all of us is
not where we come from or our interests, but in our religious beliefs.

I am familiar with that old saying, “The two things that a person should never debate are religion and politics,” but I disagree with that statement.

As a fourth year student in the Religious Studies program, I think religion should not just be discussed every once in a while, it is something people should consider in their everyday lives.

I am not alone in that belief. Dr. Paul V.M. Flesher, professor of Religious Studies and head of the department at the University of Wyoming, believes that religion affects not only those who study it, but everyone else as well.

“What college really is, it’s a moment to learn about the world,” Dr. Flesher said. “If you want to know what motivates humans to act,
what motivates their decisions, it comes down to three things: family, economics, and religion.”

Part of the problem people have with discussing religion is that it is considered a private matter. Yet, it should not be because it shapes one’s life in such a way that nothing else can. Whether you are a devout Christian or an extreme skeptic, one’s view on religion has an impact on the surrounding world.

“Students should learn about religion because of the impact on their lives,” Flesher said. “Politicians will be making decisions based on religion.
We will all be affected by the decisions they make. In particular, we need to think about Islam for the rest of our lives. The Muslim world is going to be a driver for international trade, international politics.”

Religion no doubt plays a vital role in our lives not just in college, but in our futures as well. Regardless of majors, religion will have an impact on future careers.

This is exactly the reason why we need to discuss and study religion. It is a subject that has always been around and is not going away anytime soon. Understanding who we are as a student
body, as well as a global society, is the key to success in the future.

Do not be afraid.
Start talking about religion.

Mike Dunn

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However, it came to my attention last year when I lived in the residence halls, that UW runs their sprinklers during
the day.

Not only do they run during the day, an excessive amount of water is wasted in other ways.

I have always believed that watering during the day is wasteful, as the weather is hot and the water can quickly evaporate.

Although only a small amount is evaporated, I cannot help but notice the amount of water that flows down the gutters and into the drains.  This wastes water regardless of whether it is night or day.  I feel that with such great staff at UW, they could easily fix the problem. I am not a water expert, nor is it my job to care. I just do not like how water is wasted.

We are in a drought, and we need to conserve as much water as we possibly can. I do not mind UW watering the grass and trees, but they could be a little more conscious about it.

The university could fix the sprinklers so that they just run on the grass, not on the sidewalks and streets. Perhaps they could cut down the watering time. Now that winter is on the way and summer is just about over, they could stand to be a tighter with the water.

Although I have never personally experienced it, I have also heard that the water quality in the dorms is horrible.  Perhaps UW could work on the water quality in the dorms and less on the quality of their grass.

If the university could cut down the amount of water they waste, I think they would be doing many people a favor.  I do not think the life of the grass will decrease if they cut down a few minutes, or change the watering schedule to early mornings or later evenings.  Regardless of the university’s decision, I hope UW  continues to amaze me with beautiful flowers and comfortable, green grass.

Sheridan Hancock

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Photo: Ashlee Williams
Without additional funding from the University, club sports like the Rugby Club could suffer.

With all the attention given to the “big name” athletics around campus, the University’s Club Sports find themselves at a loss both in finances and status.

Those recently passing through the Wyoming Union have probably noticed the Men’s Rugby team selling raffle tickets to the students and faculty passing by.

The tickets, sold at 10 dollars per ticket, give people the chance to be entered in a drawing for an expense-paid trip to the UNLV football game Nov. 16th in Las Vegas.

The department funding UW Club Sports has agreed to match the Rugby team’s sales for the fundraiser. This means if the team raises $10,000 thousand, which is the maximum amount they will match, the department will then contribute an additional $10,000 to their account.

This rule only applies to Nordic skiing, hockey and to the rugby club sports.  A majority of club sports receive no funding at all.

Though this allocation of funds seems generous, in recent years it has not been enough to fund teams like rugby to travel and compete throughout their season.

“To put in perspective how much funding we need in order to travel for our games, it takes approximately $17,000 to send 40 to 50 players to our game in Seattle,” team captain Jonathan Daraie said. “That’s just the cost of one traveling trip,” Daraie said.

Although sports like football and basketball are important to the University, it is often forgotten how much other club sports and activities mean to the students around campus.

Club sports are a great way to bring together different groups of people and play the various games in an atmosphere where winning does not mean everything. Without proper funding for these activities, the school would lose a sense of collaboration among students who enjoy spending their time doing these extra-curricular activities.  Not only that, students miss out on the things they love to do most while taking a short break from academic pursuits.

“I don’t think that the University realizes just how much Club Sports mean to our school,” Daraie said. “The students in these different types of athletic programs bring a sense of enthusiasm and joy to sports which is always such an amazing thing to see.  I feel that is something that is overlooked far too often.”

Photo: Ashlee Williams
Without additional funding from the University, club sports like the Rugby Club could suffer.

Ashlee Williams

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Photo: Zoe McDonald

For some college students, video games are the much-needed escape from reality. In games, no one works a 40-hour week or has to cram for a chemistry exam.

I started playing video games later than most. I began playing Wii in high school, almost ten years after my friends. I missed out on years of playing classics like Super Smash Bros. for the Nintendo 64 and Sonic the Hedgehog, but I quickly made up for lost time. I am an avid fan of games such as Mario Kart Wii and Star Wars Battle Front, but my true passion lies in the games of the ’90s.

The first game I invested large amounts of time in was Sonic the Hedgehog 2 for the Sega Genesis.

The objective was simple: get to the end of the stage. Sonic then led to Mortal Kombat. These first two games left
out the handy combo blockers; meaning getting backed into a corner was almost certain death.

Twenty years ago, video game graphics could not hold a candle to modern games. The characters and stages were so pixilated it is laugh-out-loud hilarious. It is
even more fun to play old systems on a large high definition TV because the pixels are sometimes the size of a penny.

My twelve-bit Sega boldly claims to have high-definition graphics. It is about as high definition as my graphing calculator. After playing a Sega Genesis, an Xbox looks like a portal into the fourth dimension.

Old games can be surprisingly hard even by today’s high standards. Many do not include the ever-so-helpful save points, so if your character dies on the final level, you have to start over at Level One.

I have noticed that old arcade games are especially difficult. It makes sense because the more you die, the more money you spend.

For a real challenge, try to beat the original Mario Bros. The first few stages are relatively playable—except for someone like me who jumps off the stage—but one mistimed move and it is game over and back to square one.

It is easy to assume that puzzles and cheats would be relatively easy because these games were marketed for kids. Not the case. Programmers are just now going through the code of old games and discovering secret levels and strange characters. On the game 007 GoldenEye for the Nintendo 64, there is a hidden playable island. Even the puzzles on the Legend of Zelda are no cakewalk.

Next time you and your friends log on to Xbox Live for a quick round of Call of Duty, remember that old, dusty system sitting in the corner. It may not look great, but chances are it will give you just as much
of a challenge.

Zoe N. McDonald

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Higher One, a company that provides students with financial aid refunds, teamed up with the University of Wyoming for the upcoming year. What this means is that all refunds will no longer go through the University, but rather through Higher One.

Prior to the agreement, UW would write checks to students or deposit funds into students’ personal accounts.

After dealing with the annoyance and difficulty caused by the Higher One “Cowboy Card”, I find myself wondering why the University would choose to be paid off instead of worrying about students’ convenience and welfare. Without the happiness and well-being of the students, the University would cease to move forward and succeed.

Furthermore, I am curious as to why the University feels it  can dictate and make loopholes in regulations regarding students’ refund money. Last time I checked, as long as all fees were paid to the school, the money belonged to students and not to the college.

Anyone who has tried to receive a refund but did not put the money directly on the Cowboy Card probably shares the same irritation.

Not only does it take two to three business days to transfer the money to another account, but students also must fax or mail forms, which also add an additional few days. When students are in a bind to purchase books and pay rent, waiting a few extra days is not an option.

It is the same process to have a check mailed to your current place of residence. It can take days before it finally arrives.

The “preferred option” is to have the money put directly on the card. Sure, that sounds like a great idea because the money is disbursed to the card the same day the refund is sent out. What they do not say is that there are hidden fees that every student is charged. Fees include a 50-cent charge for every pin-based transaction, and a $2.50 charge for using an  out-of-network ATM, several of which have been placed on campus.

There also is a first time insufficient funds fee of $29, subsequent overdraft costs of $38 and finally a $19 per month abandonment account fee for accounts that have been inactive over nine months.

What it boils down to is that Higher One is taking money from the poorest of college students by charging millions of dollars in hidden banking fees. Unfortunately, there is nothing students will be able to do about it because of the benefits the University receives by teaming up with the company. I guess even UW can overlook its standards if given the right profit for it.

Ashlee Williams

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College is more expensive than I thought. How can I make more money?”

–Bone Broke

Dear Bone Broke,

Money complaints are the great unifier among college students.

Quite frankly, most of us are penny-pinching and taking out student loans just to keep afloat.

It can be hard (and sometimes nearly impossible) to keep bank accounts out of the red when new expenses keep popping up.

How can students afford books, tuition, rent, gas and food, and still have a little left over for a date on Friday night?

A recent report said that the economy is bouncing back, but many students, and even adults, struggle to find a well-paying job.

My advice is to apply for everything.

Many local business and organizations around campus are hiring students right now. Many allow prospective employees to upload resumes and applications online in a relatively painless process.

It is true that most part-time jobs pay about minimum wage, but even working a steady 10 hours per week can make a difference over a semester.

Volunteer opportunities are often over-looked because they are non-paying, but they should not be forgotten. By volunteering, students can gain valuable work experience that looks great on any resume.

Keep a change jar; a few quarters a day can make a difference when rent is due.

Drive less and ride your bike more. Laramie is bike friendly, and, yes, it is possible to ride a bike in the snow.

Make that date night on campus. Go to the free movies or long board around Prexy’s.

It is true that most people are not fortunate enough to have their own super PAC or have a rich uncle, but that does not mean students should have to eat ramen noodles every night or propose using a ring from a vending machine.

Look for job ads in the Branding Iron or the classifieds, find odd jobs around town and remember that taking out a student loan is not the end of the world.

A student’s main job is to study and learn as much as he or she can; college only lasts a few short years.

To submit or answer a
question email, zmcdonal@uwyo.edu.

Zoe N. McDonald

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