Let’s face it: we’re all busy. Countless research studies have shown that today’s students are more involved than ever. While the amount of classes and extracurricular activities have increased, the number of hours in a day has not. Although our days may seem longer, in fact it’s just the amount of things that we try…
Author: James Vair
A senior majoring in Political Science and Communication, James hails from Omaha, Nebraska. He focuses primarily on the unique things that define our everyday lives.
Dealing with change
This past week I was working on a group project for one of my classes that entailed making a group video. No, it didn’t require an Oscar-winning performance from me; instead, the assignment required we find clips and assemble them together. The project seemed simple enough. Our group did an excellent job working hard to…
The vast wasteland
We all have our vices. For some it’s video games, others it’s a controlled substance, and if you’re like me, you can’t get through the morning without a can of Diet Coke. Nobody’s perfect. While I can safely say that I have several bad habits, probably one of my biggest is watching TV. I don’t…
National New Year’s resolution
After a hectic semester, winter break was truly glorious. It was nice to catch up with family and friends from back home and, most importantly, catch up on sleep. Compared to the crazy schedule of finals, I was almost in shock the first few days being unable to grasp the concept of free time, something…
Christmas time is (almost) here
For as long as I can remember, I’ve always looked forward to the winter holiday season. It seems like each year as the calendar rolls around to December, the atmosphere just becomes electric. People’s moods change, the number of random acts of kindness exponentially increases and there’s an overall sense of optimism that pervades daily…
Remembering Thanksgiving
By the time this column is printed, Thanksgiving will have come and gone. I hope yours was full of holiday cheer, time spent with family and friends and much needed R&R. Your holiday traditions probably vary from mine, but the gist is generally the same wherever you go: sitting down to dinner with your family,…
Never give up, never surrender
As the end of the semester approaches, I’m finding myself watching lots of “feel-good” movies and TV shows to help me pass the time. With mounting stress from papers, exams and the Christmas Concert, I find refuge in movies that have nice, happy endings dominated by storylines where the main characters consistently conquer adversity. After…
Common courtesy
As an upperclassman, you start to appreciate things that you used to ignore when you were a young, sprite first-year. Things like free time, convenient parking, groceries and quarters for laundry usually top my list. Items that once seemed so magical in recent years have lost their novelty. My weekends have become increasingly defined by…
Why Recycling Matters
Like many of you, I went home for fall break. After getting everything wrapped up on campus, I loaded my car and made the 400-mile journey south to Nebraska. While home, I was able to catch up on lots of rest, enjoy quality time with friends, spend way too much money and hold my cats. …
Cereal Aisle Adventures
When I make my weekly grocery list, I generally do a good job of noting specific items, how many to buy and typically what my spending limit should be for each. As a poor college student, I should win an award for my thriftiness. While others can come easy, one item will always remain daunting:…