Category Archives: Campus Life

Toys for Tots

Dec 1, 2014 | Author: Benjamin Mehic

via Toys for Tots

The holidays are almost here!

Most of us are fortunate enough to give and receive gifts every year while spending time with loved ones during our holiday break. Unfortunately, not everyone receives gifts during the holidays, and believe it or not, there are kids in the Upstate area that could use your help.

By giving to those less fortunate, you’ll have the chance to put a smile on a child’s face this holiday season.

As you have probably heard, Utica College will be doing their part in collecting toys for those less fortunate. Here’s more information about Toys for Tots:

Our toy donation box is located in the School of Arts and Sciences office, which is Room 286 of the Gordon Science Center, and we will be collecting toys until Friday, December 5th.

We ask that you please bring a new, unwrapped toy to our collection box and that you be as generous as you can.

Needless to say, any donations will be greatly appreciated.

In my opinion, there’s no greater gift than giving to someone in need. We all know the feeling of getting gifts as children, so if you can, please donate to Toys for Tots.

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Frozen Dome

Nov 25, 2014 | Author: Elaine Paravati

This past Saturday was the Frozen Dome Classic at the Syracuse Carrier Dome in Syracuse, NY. As a Utica College student, I scored a ticket to the festivities for just $10 at Student Activities. My boyfriend and I headed to the Dome around 2 p.m. and met up with friends before the Utica College Men’s Hockey team played against SUNY Oswego at 3 p.m. It was a great game, ending in overtime, and eventually, a tie.

Karita, Laura, and I at the Frozen Dome Classic!

There was a break between the UC/Oswego game and the big game of the day- the AHL Syracuse Crunch vs Utica Comets game. During the break, we explored the Dome, checked out some AHL gear on display, met some mascots, and even won prizes!

Karita LOVED meeting the mascots. It was hard to get her to leave them in order to get back to our seats for the game!

At 7 p.m., it was finally time for the big game. Although the Utica Comets lost to the Syracuse Crunch 2-1, it was still an awesome experience because we made history; we broke the record for the largest crowd for an indoor American professional hockey game, clocking 30,715 people in attendance.

Even though we lost, it was an awesome atmosphere and a great experience. I loved being a part of the Utica College student section and cheering for Utica College and the Utica Comets with my friends. The Frozen Dome Classic was a unique way to spend my Saturday and was definitely an experience I won’t forget!

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AVU Is On Top This Semester

Nov 20, 2014 | Author: LaShanna Saunders

Angelic Voices of Unity has been in the spotlight this semester. Preforming at every event and talent show they can get in, AVU has been standing strong, and the choir is set to have a bright future.

AVU is gospel group here at Utica College. The members go to church on Sunday, have events on campus and do performances here at Utica College, as well as at other colleges. Also, AVU has a dance team that performs. So if you’re looking to join a club with people that are on fire for God and love to perform, then AVU might be your club/org.

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Take Back Your Prom 2014

Nov 18, 2014 | Author: Elaine Paravati

Last Friday, the Utica College Gay-Straight Alliance and the Utica College Programming Board teamed up to host “Take Back Your Prom.”

The very handsome Elliot and I at prom! Elliot is a member of both the UCGSA and UCPB, so while he was working for both of those orgs, he was also workin' a great bow tie.

The very handsome Elliot and I at prom! Elliot is a member of both the UCGSA and UCPB- while he was working at the event on behalf of those organizations, he was also workin’ a great bow tie.

The event was held at a local banquet hall named Valentino’s from 8 until midnight, and transportation was provided to and from the event. There was a photo booth, a candy bar, appetizers, a DJ and dance floor, and even an area where students could have cheesy staged prom pictures taken. Best of all, admission was totally free for UC students!

Three UC Bloggers (and WPNR DJs!) at prom- Laura, Karita, and I!

“Take Back Your Prom” is a pretty popular event on other campuses, so the UC GSA was really excited to host our own here. The idea is to allow students the opportunity to reclaim their prom how they wanted it to be the first time around. Often, students wear different outfits or take different people, since they now feel more comfortable, accepted, and safe than when they were in high school.

My best friend Sarah and I were really excited to have an occasion to wear fluffly, sparkly dresses!

My best friend Sarah and I were really excited to have an occasion to wear fluffly, glittery dresses!

The UC students who attended the event (over 240!) said it was “the prom they always wanted,” which really attests to what a strong, accepting community we have at Utica College. As the Vice President of the UCGSA, I felt so great to have been a part of the organization that threw such a successful event. It was an honor to have helped students make the prom memories they deserved – and a night of dancing and sparkles is always a great time!

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Photos week

Nov 3, 2014 | Author: Juwan Wilson

Photos week was epic they through an amazing banquet that had great food, performances and great people it was nice to be apart of a great event and it was even more meaningful that I was able to be award sat with an award from one of the biggest leaders on this campus in every part of Utica College making it better and better every day. The award that I was given was the friendship award and it means a lot to me not just because it’s a great award but because of the people who gave me the ward so thank you so much to the brothers of Phi Iota Alpha fraternity, INC.

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What an amazing weekend

Nov 3, 2014 | Author: Juwan Wilson

This week was great, it was our first and only weekend without a football game this year and it just so happened to be Halloween week. Last year around this time I didn’t have as much fun has I have done this year and I guess due to the fact that you got to learn I mean as a freshman, I was the type of person that was ready to have fun, but I was uptight still and this year was little better I let things just work themselves out and I just enjoyed every day at being at school. And this week made it great was just the best weekend I have ever had school so big ups to everyone who throw a great party and ups to the city of Utica on knowing how to have fun , party, and keep it all safe

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COM 130: My Experience in My Favorite Class

Nov 2, 2014 | Author: Allison Acquaviva

As a PR major, I am so fortunate to be able to dabble in all different types of classes. This semester, I was so nervous to take the WPNR Practicum. The thought of having my own radio show for an hour was crazy.

I never pictured myself as the DJ type of girl. Sure, I could play the music easily, but could I talk? What on earth was I supposed to say on the air? How would I sound? What if I messed up? Those were just some of the thoughts that ran through my head, and that was just on training day!

Picture Courtesy of the WPNR Facebook Page

The first day that I was on air I totally didn’t expect much of anything. I figured that I would play the music, introduce an artist or two and that would be it. However; I was liking what I was doing!

As the weeks went on, I became more comfortable and I realized that I truly enjoyed this radio gig! Of course, I have a huge support system of family and friends who listen every week and always manage to give me positive feedback, so they always boost my confidence!

I now find myself really excited for Friday mornings. I love the music I play, I love getting the opportunity to let my voice be heard, and I love the fact that I step out of my comfort zone more and more each week.

I never imagined that this would become my favorite class, and I never expected how sad I would be to see it end. Taking this class has taught me so much about myself and what I truly am capable of!

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Preparing For The Cold Weather

Nov 2, 2014 | Author: Benjamin Mehic

via Notegraphy

For those who don’t enjoy the cold weather, I’ve got some bad news: It’s about to start getting really cold. For those who enjoy it, well, you’re in luck.

I’ve lived in Upstate New York for the majority of my life, so I’m pretty used to it by now. But for those who haven’t, you could be in for a surprise. Utica was amongst the top cities with the highest average snowfall and it’s virtually impossible to prepare for.

But, here are three tips on how you could survive the weather as a student at Utica College.

Commuters, stay prepared:

As someone who commutes to school, I know the trouble of staying prepared for the weather. Getting to school early in order to secure a parking spot is going to be essential. When the snow starts to fall and the roads become tough to drive on, it’ll take even longer to get to school than normal.

It’s also important to have a snow/ice scraper and some de-icer available in your car. You never know when your door handles or windshield wipers will freeze.

Dressing for the weather:

The school will obviously be heated, but from time to time, it’s important to stay prepared for the weather, especially if you have to walk to class.

Here’s a good tip from Go See Campus:

One more note about clothing: it’s important to learn the layering concept early. Often, there are extreme differences between the cold outside and the heat inside of a classroom or residence hall.

Don’t underestimate the weather:

Looking outside of your window to determine what you’ll wear or to assess the weather isn’t always a great idea. The weather can change at an instant. Having a jacket or coat ready will be essential. Checking the weather on an app the day beforehand is a good idea as well.

The cold weather is (almost) here! Stay prepared and good luck!

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Get Me Into Grad School!

Oct 29, 2014 | Author: Elaine Paravati

Lately, I have been focusing extensively on my grad school search. It’s intimidating and exciting all at once to look at and apply to future colleges. After all, my time here at Utica College will be over in less than a semester and a half, and who knows where I will be at this time next year!

Last week, I attended a presentation by Career Services entitled, “Get Me Into Grad School.” The presentation lasted about an hour, and had a great turnout. Students filled the room in which the presentation was held. Helina Lotyczewski, director of Career Services, led the conversation and gave plenty of tips and tricks for navigating the higher education application process. Here are some of her main suggestions:

-Know what you want. For some, grad school is totally unnecessary for success in their field. For others (like me, as I aspire to be a psychology professor), grad school is completely a necessity. Having a clear goal will help you figure out exactly what program will be the best fit in order for you to achieve that goal as efficiently as possible.

-Know what you need. In my case, the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is required for all of my applications, as are recommendation letters and a personal statement. I also need research experience and teaching experience in order to be considered for more competitive programs. Having knowledge of what would be expected of me as an applicant helped me accomplish everything early on, so I wouldn’t be scrambling the week before the deadline to pull things together. Look into program and application requirements early on, so you have plenty of time to prepare for exams, gather materials, and secure recommendations before your deadlines.

-Know who can help you. Helina gave us all sorts of great online resources from the Career Services page that helped with finding programs and universities. There are tons of tools on the Career Services page that can help any student, from job market opportunity analysis to resumé builders. However, there are also plenty of people on campus who can help you in your graduate school process. Helina explained that with a personal appointment in the Career Services office, students could receive help finding the right path for their desired career, they could practice their interview skills in a mock interview, and they even could have their personal statement revised! The professionals in this office are trained to help students, and their services are free, so it’s worth making the appointment and getting that extra help.

Overall, the “Get Me Into Grad School” program was a huge success. The students who attended received plenty of helpful advice and tools to assist them in their process. As for me, I left the presentation and walked straight to Career Services to schedule my personal appointment. I am determined to get into grad school, and am grateful that Utica College has so many great resources to help me along the way!

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Halloween

Oct 27, 2014 | Author: Juwan Wilson

Hey guys, how are you doing? This week is a major week for all those people who just want one night to be something other than who they really are. Yes, it’s that time again: Halloween!!! So go to Party City, Walmart, or any place that sells costumes, and get ready for a great week at UC.

Last year, I was thinking that Halloween at college is not even celebrated; it’s just another day. But I was so wrong. People really go all out, but it’s cool and fun. I really advise you guys to go out this weekend with your fellow UC student and have fun.

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