School is starting up again for CU students. Coming from someone with experience, the transition from a nearly month-long vacation back into the realities of college can be disorienting. Tests, essays, and Chicago-Style papers complete with annotated bibliographies are about to consume the lives of the students at CU Boulder yet again. I find that even my grades suffer from the transition. As such, I believe that the best remedy for this is to get right back into the university lifestyle. In my experience, the first two weeks or so of a new semester bring a kind of calm with them. Getting back... Read More

As a CU Boulder student currently on vacation in New York, I have been considering what it means to be away from Boulder. What do I miss? What am I happy to get a break from? It will not be long before I must return to Boulder, yet my more melodramatic side feels the need to examine the differences between the two cities. Perhaps the best thing about being a student at CU Boulder is the town surrounding it. The ‘hipster’ vibe which has earned Boulder the nickname of the ‘Boulder Bubble’ is something I do not receive in New York. The vibrant green grass of the city, the trees,... Read More

As a student who has just completed the first semester of her junior year at CU Boulder, I have been reflecting on my time at the university and what to make of it. During the school year, life is so turbulent and busy that it is difficult to truly consider the realities of being a student. As an English major at CU Boulder, this semester has been an interesting one. As a campus, I find that CU Boulder does attempt to be an inclusive and bonded one. As a woman and as a member of the LGBTQ+ (LGBTQIA) community, I can honestly say that I have not felt any negative pressure from my peers or my professors.... Read More

While the holidays are an enjoyable time for many, the same cannot necessarily be said for students. This time of year, for many a student, is filled to the brim with the stress of finals. However, as finals season comes to a close, there are a variety of ways for students to become immersed in the life at CU Boulder again. For those students who may be staying around the college after finals, there are a variety of activities to participate in. A favorite place of mine on campus is the Fiske Planetarium. Fiske is so fabulous that some people who have never been to the CU Boulder campus will come... Read More

Of the many stigmatized issues that young people face, a significant one is the use and abuse of substances; which includes alcohol and other recreational drugs. As a full-time college student myself, I see how these issues plague my peers. I also see how these problems are not properly addressed in a university setting. As I watch my friends consistently struggle with the abuse of substances, I find myself becoming more and more frustrated. Many of my fellow students, a significant number of whom are not even twenty-one yet, have become dependent on alcohol. Nevertheless, we pretend as though... Read More

Viewing art can be confusing and displeasing for many students. Modern art especially has garnered a reputation for confusing the viewer only for the sake of intellectual elitism. However, what I have come to understand about artforms of just about every sort is that the meaning itself is something abstract, even with art pieces which one might look at and not think to extract any sense whatsoever. Art must inevitably be what a person makes of it. When it comes to looking at art, one can view the evidence in front of them and make a decision based on that. Indeed, if one wishes to see art in a... Read More

We are slowly but surely approaching the autumn break in the semester, and, as we do, many of us will leave the university to go visit home or take a vacation. As this break arrives, and as midterms and schoolwork take command of our lives, it can be easy to forget about all the activities occurring on campus. And, after we return from fall break, we quickly become consumed with the preparation for finals and the end of the semester. During this time, I feel that my fellow students are profoundly stressed, and, because of this, do not always involve themselves in the goings-on of campus life. So,... Read More

It is that time in the semester when stress spreads like a rampant plague through the ranks of the students at universities. We are right about halfway through the semester, and every week my workload seems to grow heavier and heavier. When I was a freshman in my first semester at college, I had no idea how to cope with this stress. I wish I’d known about some of the options available for students to reduce this anxiety. What I have come to learn is that there are a wide variety of resources available for college students, many of which are quite reasonably priced. Yoga I know how this must... Read More

CU Boulder is always filled to the brim with things to do and see. I may have my own criticisms about the university, but I can honestly say that there is a plethora of activities to participate in. One of my favorite programs at CU Boulder is IFS, or the International Film Series. However, it also seems to be a hidden gem within the college. As someone who has attended CU Boulder’s IFS multiple times, each time I go, there always seem to be far fewer people than I would have anticipated. And yes, I am fully aware that the types of films offered at IFS are not for everyone, but I would love... Read More

There are many ways in which our world and society could be improved, I doubt that anyone could disagree with that. However, I do feel that one thing has genuinely advanced from days passed; the desire to take mental health far more seriously. Our culture is finally appearing to make mental health a major concern, and, because of this, there is a movement sprouting to take care of our minds in a variety of ways. Professionally, I have been diagnosed with a number of things, although by far the most prominent are a variety of anxiety disorders. Perhaps the most prevalent is what is known as G.A.D.... Read More

My experience as an English major at CU Boulder has undoubtedly been a mixed bag. Every week my opinion varies when it comes to college. Some days I rejoice in my existence as a university student, other days I feel as though I am counting down the days until I am finally released from the bonds of school. My journey to attending CU Boulder has been quite the process, as I bounced around between a couple of schools before finally settling upon CU. When I first entered college, I was a psychology major in Kansas City at UMKC (the University of Missouri at Kansas City). I quickly became dissatisfied... Read More

Almost every student at CU Boulder has an opinion about “The Hill,” a very popular section of Boulder with shops and restaurant within walking distance from the university. Many students, including myself, will head over to “The Hill” between classes for a quick bite to eat or to grab a cup of coffee. However, “The Hill” is also infamous for having a wild party scene and being possibly dangerous after dark. Because of this, I cannot responsibly recommend going to ‘The Hill’ at night, especially if you are alone. However, I have been to ‘The Hill’ a number of... Read More

Ever since entering the Film Studies program at CU Boulder, I have become privy to how complex and marvelous cinema is. It has also made me realize that film has more to offer than what is commercially popular. There are hundreds upon hundreds of brilliant films which go unrecognized, mostly owing to lack of exposure. However, there are programs which strive to remedy this. One of these is the Unseen Festival, which will take place in Boulder and Denver over a thirty-day period. The Unseen Festival is focused mostly on experimental films, many of which are not shown elsewhere. In attempting to... Read More

I have had a long, complicated love-hate relationship with school bookstores. My experience with school bookstores truly began when I was still in elementary school. There was hardly a time I looked forward to more than the Scholastic Book Fair, which would come around now and then. The book fair gave me almost as much pleasure as did waking up on Christmas morning. Back then, purchasing books was practically a magical affair. My friends and I would discuss what we’d bought and fawn over our newfound treasures. Though, this excitement could have had something to do with the flashiness of... Read More

Coming back to school from a summer off can be profoundly souring, it may feel as though a student will be taking tests and writing essays for the rest of their life. One of the most significant mistakes I’ve found that a student can make is to overly involve themselves in grades and academia while neglecting the other aspects of college life. Now, for my sake, please do not mistake this as me telling you not to try and do well in classes. However, just like everything in life, there must be a balance. There are many ways to create this balance, but a personal favorite of mine is the social... Read More

Apartment living in Boulder is ridiculously expensive, deterring many from moving to the area. For a student taking classes and likely working a minimum wage job to earn a little extra cash, Boulder housing can be almost impossible to afford. This is why I am blown away by the fact that much of the student off-campus apartment options in Boulder are some of the most upsetting rip-offs imaginable. When I transferred to Boulder from a college in Missouri, it was relatively late in the summer, and housing choices were limited. However, much to my delight, I managed to secure a room at one of the most... Read More

Where to live can be one of the most challenging aspects of student life to figure out; this goes double for living in Boulder, where the housing costs are outrageously high. If a student has the option of living at home with family or moving out and renting a place of their own, it can seem almost impossible to decide which course of action to take. There are benefits and disadvantages to both sides of the issue, and a student should genuinely consider what they want before making this choice. One of the best ways I’ve found of making a decision of this significance is to lay out the options... Read More

It would be nearly impossible to deny the immense size of CU Boulder. The university, which boasts a student population of just over 33,000, can be overwhelming for a new student. It will inevitably take a new student a few days to become truly acquainted with the campus. Yet the daunting nature of CU Boulder is not limited to new students alone. Becoming disorientated with the campus is something that even experienced students can face. As someone who is entering her second year at the campus, there are places and buildings on the campus that even I have not set foot in. For this upcoming fall... Read More

The transition into college can be difficult to negotiate, especially coming from Springfield, Missouri to Boulder, Colorado. It would be difficult to imagine two places so opposite to each other. While Boulder may not seem like a big place to everyone; especially when one considers that my hometown of Springfield contains a larger population than Boulder, it was a significant change of pace. So, why does Boulder seem like a colossus compared to Springfield? Perhaps it is because Springfield is such a quiet place, earning the nickname, “the Queen of the Ozarks,” from many of the locals. There... Read More

Ordinarily, CU Boulder is seen as a liberal leaning, animal friendly campus with daily visits of dogs belonging to students and locals alike. It’s no rare thing to see pups of all ages and sizes out playing fetch or taking a stroll, especially on the campus’ largest open quads, such as Farrand Field or the Norlin Quadrangle. Though with mental illness becoming more frequently reported by students, it’s becoming apparent? that one growing source of self-care is still unfortunately banned by most universities. Mental health issues have been growing on college campuses for years, and as conversations... Read More