Group Projects

I am not sure there is anything in the world that I loath hearing more than those two words from my teachers, although “you fail” comes pretty close. Nothing about group projects are pleasant, even when the group members work well together. Finding time is next to impossible with college schedules.

The make-up of groups makes or breaks the project putting people into high stress mode, no one wants to get a bad grade because their group sucks, however the high stress affects the group dynamic making people feel uncomfortable. Then comes the problem of interpersonal relations with in the group (the friend-to-friend process does not work in this situation), nothing is more annoying then having two group members always at each others throats for some stupid reason that no one else can understand.

But it always seems to happen at the worst time—the night before the project is due. Seriously who gets their homework done before then? Definitely not communication majors (myself), well there are a few(darn Taleah and Allyssa), but whatever.

So when teachers force students to form groups, either student choice or teachers, I don’t understand how they think anything will actually be accomplished. I guess we do get it done eventually—after several stressful group meetings were nothing happens. Other wise teachers wouldn’t assign group projects.

Which makes me think that everyone should boycott group projects this semester.

If all students stopped doing the homework then teachers could possibly fail us, but they might also finally get the hint that group projects are not the way to go. We should form a students union, protesting our rights as individuals with lives outside of school. Progress can only be made threw sacrifice. Yes, I am asking you to not do homework, but it is for the betterment of society. Or at least my mental health.

When faced with group projects this semester and you get to the point were you just want to shank* everyone (violence is NEVER the answer) in your group remember my advice, we can win against the teachers, but only as a united force.

Michelle Current


*Rees Hall nor Union College support the use of shanks and they are an illegal item to have in the dorm.

Poppin' Party

Poptart
Soda Pop
Popcorn
Lollipops


Everything you could think of. Thanks Ruth for planning it for us.

Saturday Night Fun!

Ice Skating at the Ice Box 10:30 p.m.-12:00

If you know you'll fall on your face try this

Or just do this:

Hannah's Stolen Words of the Week

We have been trained to look
Away, shamed eyes
Dropping like my embarrassed glance at
A handicapped person, as I guess
Some of them are
Or a drunk, as I guess
Some of them are,
Or a crazy person, as I guess
Some of them are.
As if that way it won't matter;
They'll disappear like snowflakes
When we step inside. And I've
Discovered, mastered even, technique:
If I close my ears, squint
My eyes they do
Nearly, almost disappear,
Leaving only a faint
Twinge of guilt that can actually be
Ignored.
I use my gender as an
Excuse. It's not safe. Better
Not acknowledge another
Human being trying to
Cope with a loss of
Humanity.
Awakened this once by frozen eyes,
I dig deep into pockets and pride
Wondering what we all can afford.
I happened upon some
Spare change.

---

Spare Change was written by Courtney E. Belcher, a student at Wheaton College (the west of Chicago).

Her words hit me hard. They hit true. I've been taught it's not safe to give money to a beggar. I've been taught not to help anyone with a flat tire. I've been taught the world is a dangerous place. And it is. It's dangerous to get so caught up in being safe, that we stop looking for ways we can help and create effective change. Getting out of our comfort zone is exactly that: uncomfortable. I have a hard time getting away from what I know, what's easy, convenient, self-serving. It's scary to do otherwise.

This afternoon, I'm heading with my friend Kaity to help with Food Not Bombs. If it hadn't been for her initiative, I wouldn't have been brave enough to get connected with people I've never met before. These people are rad.

Courtney Belcher is right. We can all afford to take part in change. If at first we can't step out of our comfort zone, we can begin by reaching. Today, I'll be reaching. Tomorrow, maybe I'll learn to step.



From the main Food Not Bombs website:
Food Not Bombs shares free vegan and vegetarian meals with the hungry in over 1,000 cities around the world every week to protest war, poverty and the destruction of the environment.

From Wikipedia:
Each chapter collects surplus food that would otherwise go to waste from grocery stores, bakeries and markets, sometimes incorporating dumpster diving, then prepares community meals which are served for free to anyone who is hungry. The central beliefs of the group are:

* If governments and corporations around the world spent as much time and energy on feeding people as they do on war, no one would go hungry.
* There is enough food in the world to feed everyone, but too much of it goes to waste needlessly, as a direct result of capitalism and militarism.
* Vegan food is both healthy and nonviolent.

Food Not Bombs works to call attention to poverty and homelessness in society by sharing food in public places and facilitating gatherings of poor and homeless people. Anyone who wants to cook may cook, and anyone who wants to eat may eat. Food Not Bombs strives to include everyone.

Slumber Party

Remember when the epitome of girly fun was a slumber party where you watched girly movies, ate fantastic food until you couldn’t move, talked about nothing, and laughed until you cried? It still is.

I was reminded of this on Saturday night. We bought loads of pita and hummus, crackers and cheese, cookies and frosting, fruit and juice. Added “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” (what could be better than John Corbett and “What do you mean he don’t eat no meat?!! That’s okay, I make lamb”) and some comfy pillows and blankets. slumber parties only get better as the night goes on. You never know, someone might try to convince the group that they could be a one-woman rainforest soundtrack! Or you might have a biology major run and get her bio textbook to explain to the rest of us how pheromones work (never go swimming on the first date!)

You know, as a junior, sometimes I feel like my life is slipping away from me. I graduate next year! But what have I done to get me to this point? What am I going to do with the rest of my life? Every once in a while I’m smart enough to realize that if I keep thinking like that, some of the most precious moments of my life might slip away from me. Enjoy your time in college – it will go much quicker than you think. (Everyone always says that, but now I know it’s true.) Enjoy these carefree moments – even if it’s a girly slumber party.

-Tori H.

Emily and Leslie’s top 5.….Things to know about January 27th

There are 338 days remaining until the end of the year



1910 – Thomas Crapper passed away - The English inventor whom among other things, invented the flush toilet, the porcelain throne.
1785 – The University of Georgia is founded, the first public university in the United States.
1984 – Pop singer Michael Jackson suffer second and third degree burn on his scalp during the filming of a Pepsi  commercial in the Shrine Auditorium.  

Top of the billboard this date
1967 I’m a Believer - the Monkees (remember the big comeback of the song in the movie Shrek?)
2009  Just Dance - Lady GaGa

That's what makes them Pirates

Hey ladies!

This is an update on That's What Makes Them Pirates, a musical by Mike Mennard, our very own English professor. So far, everything is going very quickly and smoothly. The stage is built, and we know our songs and (most of) our lines. We still need to decorate, figure out all our constumes, and do a few other things. Today, our choreographer came and led us in some awesome moves for several of the numbers. It was so neat to watch it all come together. My personal favorite is the song, Bucaneer on Broadway, with Owen Hansen singing the lead part of Mr. Mallard. The choreographer taught him some awesome dance steps that look really cool and hillarious all at the same time.
Please keep the cast and crew in your prayers and come watch us on Sundays! We welcome any audience.
That's all for now... expect regular updates on our progress.


Love,

Captain Natasha Rapscallion

Mariela and Emily's video of the week

Always a rock and never a geode

As a college student it seems like there is never enough time to get everything done. I have spent the last year attempting to be more organized so that I can get everything done—it hasn’t worked. I am now a serious planner, everything goes into my cute little Union College planner, yet this does me no good when I forget to actually look at it.

 Which leads me to then think that some teachers a sadists.

Why else would they assign so much homework in such a sort time frame? And if teachers are sadists does that make most college students masochists? I mean how many people would willingly put themselves through something they knew was going to be difficult? Something that would stretch their abilities to the very limit and then ask for more?

College is about more than getting a degree. If that was the only thing I had come for, I would have left a long time ago. College is about learning your limits and then pushing past them, because you can. When the homework gets to difficult and I find myself staying awake all night to finish an assignment I question my sanity.

“Why am I doing this?” becomes a mantra in the back of my head until my determination turns around and smacks it. I have to constantly be reminded that even when things seem hopeless if I can over come that, then what could possibly defeat me? When the time comes to graduate (lucky seniors) I hope that each of us will be able to look back upon college career as if it was a rock polisher. We all come to college as rough stones with little value, but we leave as beautifully polished rocks.

This is what I do when I work in the R.A. office...surf the web

A reason why I enjoy Sabbath

I enjoy Sabbath because that is when I get eat Reese's Puffs Cereal.

It is the one day where I throw health and nutrituion out the window and just enjoy food for food.














You can pair this cereal with this:

And you got yourself a delicious calorie free breakfast (there are no calories on Sabbath, typical calorie counts count every other day of the week though*.)






*yes this has been scientifically proven ask Dr. Freidline

Hannah's Stolen Words of the Week: Friday Lies, Confidence Cries

Drained. Overwhelmed. Relieved.



Replace those three words with Friday. After the rush of the week, responsibilities slamming against our will power and tugging down our restraint (Yes, I will show up to class. Yes, I will turn in that assignment. Yes, I will sacrifice test-studying for friendship-building)we want to collapse. Not just from the stress of school and work, but from everything related to being a college student (and if you're experiencing it, it's related).

Fridays bring promises. Sometimes, it whispers about relaxation. Other times it slyly winks and murmurs, "Of course you'll catch up on Sunday." But you don't believe it. When Sunday comes, you really don't believe it. It seems too much to handle, or maybe just thinking about the week to come is too much to handle.

Homework has to be cajoled. Teased out. Conquered. By Friday, our confidence about academics may have melted completely away. One messy aspect of our lives impacts and affects other areas, and suddenly it's all just a big mess.

It doesn't have to be. You are a phenomenal woman. Don't let Fridays' lies convince you otherwise. Listen to Maya Angelou, and re-discover your courage. Instead of drained and overwhelmed, you may instead feel inspired.

You are powerful. Without the confidence to shoulder against responsibilities and emotional needs, the wall seems impenetrable. Don't let that wall knock you down, instead build your own strength by first believing in it. Ghandi explained that "strength does not come from physical capacity, it comes from an indomitable will."

I have confidence in yours. Do you?



Phenomenal Woman by Maya Angelou

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman

Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Flash Mob

I have a memory of when I was kid, maybe 8 or 9… my hands all sticky with mysterious foodstuffs and my brain still happy and flapping in the clouds; careless and feather-light with Lego floor plans being the heaviest thoughts that I owned. My family and I were walking down some respectable street with respectable people looking reaaallll cool and swinging their arms in just the right way, when suddenly, out of nowhere, over half the people on the street freeze in position. No joke. Like they were all little shy spiders who had just seen the shadow of God. They stayed that way for a good 4-5 minutes and then instantly resumed their fast-paced paths to success.
What?!!?
Which brings me to FLASH MOBS!!!
Some Google definitions of Flash Mobs:

A flash mob (or flashmob)[1] is a large group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an unusual action for a brief time, then quickly disperse.

Are these not the coolest new trend? As far as trends go, I say their pretty rad. Speaking of rad, Lincoln would be rad’ier if it had some. Who doesn’t want to take 10 minutes out of their day to freak some people out in a coffee shop by silently dancing in a mob of 20 + people or all taking off their pants at the same time? I can’t think of better waste of time. I think Union should start a group.

Attached are some pretty hip-hop happenin’ flash mob events that I’ve researched to lure you all in:



Is anyone else obsessed with this, or is it just me?

-Kaity M

Emily and Leslie's Top 5...Songs to sing in the shower.

Emily and Leslie's Top 5...Songs to sing in the shower.



1. Paparazzi - Lady Gaga
2. Express Yourself - Charles Wright and Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band
3. Money (That's What I Want) - Flying Lizards
4. Sexy Back - Justin Timberlake
5. Single Ladies - Beyonce

Taleah's Tip of the day #2

DISCLAIMER!!! GUYS SHOULD KNOW THAT THIS IS ABOUT WOMEN'S HEALTH!!!

Tip:Be wise when choosing your undies.

Many ladies don't realize the importance of wearing proper undergarments for staying healthy. It never crosses their mind that their undies could cause them to get horrible UTI infections and other bacterial infections. How to combat this is actually very simple.

#1 Always wear 100% cotton undies.

Cotton is hypo-allergenic, dust-mite resistant, allows for better air circulation, and keeps your skin dry even in hot humid weather. Other synthetic materials can store up moisture allowing bacteria to grow and potentially cause an infection. GROSS!

#2 Wear thong underwear sparingly.


Thongs make a direct connection between your anus, vagina, and urethra due to the construction of the undies. This allows bacteria such as E.coli spread easily(93% of urinary tract infections are caused by E. Coli from the bowels) from your anus to your vagina and urethra. Other infections you can get other than UTIs are bladder infections and yeast infections.

So be wise and limit your use on the thongs and always opt for 100% cotton. Your body will be happier and healthier in the long run.

Vote for your favorite Rees Hall Memory

Megan and I had a surprise flood in our room. Some girl two floors above us decided to leave her sink on while she sat outside her room talking on her phone. The result a flood in our room at 3 a.m. Four inches of water across our room, shoes floating away. Very memorable.



Fierce, Ferocious, Fabulous.


Last year, some friends* and I tried to ride/slide down the stairs going to the basement/clubhouse. We tried various combinations of cardboard, cushions and bruised butts before calling it a night. On a one-to-fun scale? Freaking fantastic fun.

Say no to turkey neck.

Winter is hitting very hard making even the whitest girls look ashy. Here is one thing that you all need to remember when moisturizing.

Remember to lotion up your neck. Many people forget about this. As we start to age and things start a droopin' our necks included in this droopage. The reason to lotion is simple. By adding moisture to your skin it retains it's elasticity thus not becoming like this:

It is awful, horrible, the worst travesty in life. (okay that was an over statement there are much worse things in life.  click here to help Haiti)


Remember to moisturize your neck!

Random story of the week

My adventures with Kayla, I have come to the conclusions that it cannot be called an adventure unless Kayla is involved.



Last Tuesday Kayla and I decided to go get food of campus (because always eating the in the café gets old) well we pulled up to the little ordering board thing and gave the nice man our order. Everything seemed like it was going ok until he read back the order to us, something fast food restaurants do to insure accuracy. We had ordered a crunch wrap supreme, a crunchy potato soft taco, and a cheesy bean and rice burrito with no cheese (basically a bean and rice burrito) the man had gotten everything correct except for the cheesy bean and rice burrito with no cheese, he thought we wanted to add beef to the burrito, after a few seconds of very confusing conversation we thought he had our order exactly as we wanted it. We were wrong. Instead of getting one burrito with only beans and rice we got two burritos: one with the cheese still on it, and one with beef added to it. Having not checked the order until getting back to Union we decided to call it good instead of going back and complaining, since they didn’t charge us for the extra burrito (which went to my roommates boyfriend, he loved it).

The fun adventures I have with Kayla make the entire week enjoyable, because no matter how stressful things get I have a friend who makes everything better by revealing the humor behind it.

Michelle Current

Happy Sabbath

Hannah's Stolen Words of the Week

I wanted to start a conversation about words. About people. About what it's like to live, work, study at Union College. And although we may smile at each other while navigating slush-filled sidewalks, it's hard to move beyond common courtesy. Beginning a conversation without some sort of connection is rare, if not impossible. How do we open our personal world to include new faces, ideas, languages, and adventures? If you are reading this (which you obviously are), you are already connected to every other Rees Hall resident (and random blog visitor) who decided to do the same. It's not a big deal. It won't change your life. But maybe, just maybe, it can begin a conversation that will.

From an Atlas of the Difficult World
by Adrienne Rich


I know you are reading this poem
late, before leaving your office
of the one intense yellow lamp-spot and the darkening window
in the lassitude of a building faded to quiet
long after rush-hour. I know you are reading this poem
standing up in a bookstore far from the ocean
on a grey day of early spring, faint flakes driven
across the plains' enormous spaces around you.
I know you are reading this poem
in a room where too much has happened for you to bear
where the bedclothes lie in stagnant coils on the bed
and the open valise speaks of flight
but you cannot leave yet. I know you are reading this poem
as the underground train loses momentum and before running
up the stairs
toward a new kind of love
your life has never allowed.
I know you are reading this poem by the light
of the television screen where soundless images jerk and slide
while you wait for the newscast from the intifada.
I know you are reading this poem in a waiting-room
of eyes met and unmeeting, of identity with strangers.
I know you are reading this poem by fluorescent light
in the boredom and fatigue of the young who are counted out,
count themselves out, at too early an age. I know
you are reading this poem through your failing sight, the thick
lens enlarging these letters beyond all meaning yet you read on
because even the alphabet is precious.
I know you are reading this poem as you pace beside the stove
warming milk, a crying child on your shoulder, a book in your
hand
because life is short and you too are thirsty.
I know you are reading this poem which is not in your language
guessing at some words while others keep you reading
and I want to know which words they are.
I know you are reading this poem listening for something, torn
between bitterness and hope
turning back once again to the task you cannot refuse.
I know you are reading this poem because there is nothing else
left to read
there where you have landed, stripped as you are.

Mariela and Emily's Video blog of the day!

Emily and Leslie’s Top 5…Things to Know About Your Head RAs

Top 5 things to know about Emily

1. Makes a full meal out of Tator Tots, regularly

2. Collects rubber duckies

3. Drives her dream car, a beat-up Toyota truck named Rufus

4. With a desire to be more like Leslie, task forced at Union Springs Academy in New York

5. Gets tired of being accused of having pen on her lip, they are freckles!



Top 5 things to know about Leslie

1. Biology major with no CLUE what to do after graduation

2. Has a abnormal obsession with bats

3. Task forced at Highland View Academy in Maryland

4. Rode a camel named Alex in Egypt

5. Loves bumper stickers, as evidenced by her black Jetta

Want to work on your fitness

Union College offers some great fitness programs to the students. Yoga and personal training were the highlight of last semester, but now a new class is coming to campus. Zumba.

Elba (Rees Hall 4th west R.A) a certified Zumba instructor teaches this class. This semester it will be offered at Larson Lifestyle Center. Some of you ladies may be sad because it isn't located in the basement anymore, that was easy access especially in the cold, but never fear your trek won't be in vain. The new location is going to be way better. There is a mirror wall so that you can see if you are doing the moves correctly (or laugh at your effort) and a better sound system.

Don't be afraid to go! Zumba is exciting, fun, and makes you sweat. Put on those sneakers and grab some of your friends and head over to Larson around 7:55 tonight. Class starts at 8:00 and finishes at 9:00.

Getting in shape will be a joy as you salsa and meringue. So check it out tonight and Thursday night.

Unique Beauties

There is an odd obligation that I feel as a woman that I am held too. I must look beautiful and not only that, I must be the most beautiful or I’m not good enough. It’s an endless cycle of comparing and judging my self against others and their ability or lack there of to keep up with what I presume to be the only standard worth competing against. 


The worst part about it is that I have been led astray by the lie that I have to be some where close to the top in order for a man to desire me. If I fall near the bottom it is as if I’m an unseen shadow.

I see so many beautiful women on this campus, each in their own way. Unique blends of flavorful qualities that make them shine like the first star that you see. Yet, by my own false belief of the need to compete I in a way bring them down. How many girls on this campus feel untruthfully ugly?! Most likely more than one and yet instead of using the ability God has given us to edify and help each other we look and judge and with just a glance condemn each other to the fate we have so unwillingly carved out for ourselves. 

It’s true that what you see in yourself you portray to the world. So while we may need to help support each other start by believing in yourself. See yourself for the beautiful woman God created you to be and eventually others won’t be able to help, but see that in you too.


-Kaylea Blackburn

Taleah's Tip of the day #1

Eat clementine cuties.
Fast and easy.
Sweet and succulent.
Healthy and delicious.
No guilt (unless you eat your roommate's).

Introducing: Michelle Current

Hello ladies,

As another week is about to begin at Union college I hope all of you are looking foreword to the classes you will be taking this semester. If you don’t like your classes at least they will only last for a semester. I am Michelle Current and I will be writing for the flush flash this semester. I am a Junior Communications major and I love people those are basically the only important things I have to share about me, other trivial information includes my obsession with cute things, the color green, and love for good stories. Some people in the dorm affectionately call me purple head, because my hair is purple.

A few exceptionally exciting things have happened already this year. Taylor decided to unplug her fridge for break and came back to find it had started growing mold, no moves have been made to clean it as of yet. I sprained my ankle walking down the stairs… the weather had no part to play in that. Best of all the first weekend is here, meaning time to catch up on sleep and recuperate for all those who have already gotten into the bad habit of staying up late, and yes I am most definitely one. Enjoy your day off.

(Taylor and Michelle)

Sabbath Breakfast!

Thanks to our dorm party planner Ruth and all our lovely R.As and Deans we had a fabulous breakfast for all you ladies. Check out the photos.

A chilly Sabbath

First of all ladies Happy Sabbath. I'm so happy it is the end of the week and we have this time to chill and relax with our friends. I apologize that it is cold, but hey you can go sledding right?

I'm still not happy with the cold though. Tonight as I was getting ready for bed I chucked my boots off and de-socked my feet and I was surprised. My toes they looked beautiful! I forgot that right before I came back from break that my mom did a nice French tip pedicure on them (I love my mom). However no one will ever see them, I won't wear some nice strappy sandals or coordinating flip-flops with my happy sabbath outfit because it is so cold.

. 

I guess I'll just enjoy them now while I'm in my toasty room listening to some Sabbath music.

Have a nice day!

Let me introduce myself

Welcome ladies to the new Rees Hall blog. Here is where you can get the latest about the ordeals of Rees, UC, and your friends. Pictures of events, competitions, rants and raves are going to be posted here.

Why are we doing this? Because there is more to life than just checking your Facebook and using Google scholar. Here you can read about the latest events happening in Lincoln, what latest trend is sweeping UC, and your neighbors opinions on stuff. This is your blog. We want you to write what's on your mind. Here you can comment on the blog and write your own blogs. (It will be fairly easy to be published)

What you need to do. Start following us, bookmark us, or place us in your Google reader. That way you can stay updated by the newest blog on campus.

Want to write a submission? It's easy. We are looking for blogs about: school, friends, family, hobbies, crafts, God, religion, pop culture, food, fashion, photography, humor, politics, relationships, sports,art, music, viral videos, web, and more. Just send us what's on your mind to ucreeshall@gmail.com and check the blog often. If accepted you will get an email in 24 hours and will be published in no longer than 48 hours. REMEMBER! This is an Adventist school and we do have standards in what we publish. So please don't send something that could cause you to get a call from the Deans or Linda Becker. Be smart about what you write!

Check often and Enjoy!