Page 4 Tuesday, August 19, 2003 .The Pifer- Features Beating dorm drab Photo by Sarah Olimb Senior Emily Davis hangs a piece of her own artwork on a wall in her apartment. Christina Tyler Pilot staff Tired of looking at the same old dorm rooms, many students get creative and try to make their living space more like home. Whether you are new to Gardner-Webb and this is your first dorm experience or you are simply looking for a few pointers, try these tips for jazzing up your new liv ing space: - Bunk or loft the beds...it creates a lot more space and adds a new dimension to the room - Christmas or any unique stringed lights do wonders to spicing up the drab dorm room - Build bookshelves into your loft - Cover ugly couches with blankets - Search out Goodwill or UA Thrift for cheap buys - Use a shower curtain to hang up in front of closet-not only is it easier to get in and out of but it looks homier - Clean out the air filter-it probably hasn't been cleaned out in 20 years and you'll breathe easier. Surround yourself with pictures and posters that make you smile - Swipe your friend’s artwork and hang it on the walls - Cut up old calendars; frame them to add some class - Create a theme for your room - 3M Command Strips, will hold just about anything up—feel free to hang an old quit on your wall to add a splash of color - Buy a piece of fabric or some cur tains and hang them across your win dow - Buy student art at the art sale later this year - Decoupage works on just about anything and adds a personal touch to your belongings - Hang up pictures of your friends and family doing silly things - Hang up souvenirs from places you have enjoyed visiting - Make a collage of random things that make you happy - Silk flowers add a touch of color to any roorri - Scan the sale racks at Pier 1 Imports, Bombay and Pottery Barn for unique buys , - Clip cartoons out of the newspaper and put them on a bulletin board where you can see them every day - Write happy notes to yourself using a dry erase marker on your mirror What to do in 6d y foiling Springs Meg Elliott Pilot staff OK, admit it. We know you didn't choose Gardner-Webb for its fast-paced social life. In a town with one stoplight and no Starbucks, finding excite ment, adventure and romance sometimes means you must resort to making your own. So you finally scored a date with that gorgeous class mate two rows ahead of you in music survey and you really want to impress her. It's a , friend's birthday and you want it to be really special, but you can't seem to think of anything to do. Here are some helpful hints to finding fun in Boiling Springs: * Go to the Broad River Greenway right down the street from the campus (just keep dri ving on Main Street past Dover Theater, the practice fields and the wrestling house). Pack a picnic lunch or just enjoy walk ing along the river and count ing the (dead) fish. When under attack by the evil monster of insomnia and its equally deadly sidekick boredom, remember Denny's and Waffle House are open 24 hours. * Take advantage of the Gardner-Webb Theater depart ment and go see one of the shows. The Broad River Coffee Shop also hosts concerts occa sionally. If you are moved by comedy, drama or really loud music, this should keep you pretty happy. * There is a lot of very beautiful countryside down past the apartments. Take a drive for an hour with the win dows down and the radio blar ing. Trust me, it's very relax ing! Now, if you are just DESPERATE for the city life, Gastonia is only a 45 minute drive away and Charlotte is 90 minutes. So if you are up for a drive (think about all that pre cious gas!), you will find the regular movie theaters, restau rants and drunk high school students. But if you'd rather just stay on campus, you'll find a lot more fun than you'd expect if you are willing to be a little creative. If all else fails, you can always scan the recent issue of the Pilot of typograph ical errors... The roommate experience ± ititt t _:3 Meg Eiifott Pilot Staff TelL \'_,.e finally away from home. Independence, at last! And now, upon arriving at your new home at Gardner- Webb, you walk into your new room to find your room- mate- a person specially selected for you by someone you don’t know, and who is guaranteed to make your first semester the best of your col lege life— maybe. Although most freshmen have little say in who their roommate is, most freshmen roommate experiences are enjoyable. Junior Lauren McCall met her freshman-year room mate for the first time when she arrived at GWU. "I was glad to have had a pleasant rooming situation my freshman year, and that I was blessed to find a friend and confidante." Roommate bonding is best developed during the. first few days when both roommates are new and just beginning to lay foundations. Remembering that room mates may be a first time experience for many stu dents, here are a few tips to further encourage roommate bonding: * Go somewhere on cam pus and talk. Talk about your families, your hobbies, your expectations of college, and just get to know and under stand each other as people. You'll have an easier time if you actually know who you are living with. * Work out a schedule if timing gets to be a problem (ie. getting ready at the same time) * Remember to respect each other's space. * Let your roommate know if you are going to be out late. * Tell your roommate when you are having people over so that they will not be interrupted. The key to good roommate relations is com munication. * If you find that you and your roommate are from two totally different worlds, do not be afraid of compromise. * Tactfully confront your roommate if they are doing something that gets on your nerves. Of course, no matter how much effort both parties may put into it, the truth is there are some people who are not compatible as room mates. If that is the case. Photo by Sarah Olimb Roommates Lori Hill and Katie Alford help each other unpack. there are free room change periods about three weeks into each semester. To change rooms, go to Suttle Hall. You will need signatures from both your current and new roommates. But before changing rooms, you should always try to work out your problems you’re your roommate—all you might need is a little communication. There is no experience quite like college. It can be awesome, or it can be awful. And part of that rests on being comfortable in your new home. Remember that you have the power to make your living arrangements work, and sometimes it that takes more effort than getting up for an 8 a.m. class