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