Newspapers / Methodist University Student Newspaper / Aug. 27, 1997, edition 1 / Page 4
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/ 4 Wednesday, August 27, 1997 OPINION Pride New academic year brings opportunities, possibilities By Amanda Fellers Editor I am nervously following in the footsteps of Mike McDermott, last year’s editor of Pride. 1 still look to him as my editor, though. Endless e-mails from him full of ideas, advice, and encouragement are helping to ease my nervousness as well as helping to ensure that I carry on the success that Mike was very much a part of with last year’s return of Pride. I struggled to come up with an idea for my first editorial, so once again I turned to Mike and I read his first one. I love his quote, “College is about new beginnings for everyone.” So I’m taking off with the idea that even in my junior year, college is still a new beginning every year. My biggest new begin ning is my position as the editor of Pride. I’ve never been an editor before, and I am filled with many emotions. I’m nervous— but I’m also very anxious and excited. It is a wonderful opportunity for me to take advantage of, as I plan to have a career in journalism. 1 am sure that Pride will continue to succeed with the expertise of Jamee Lynch and a returning staff that is ambitious and experienced. I have more new beginnings that are equally important. Never before have I attempted to juggle a newspaper, an 18-hour course load, a part- time job, and plans for a wed ding—my wedding—in one year’s time. I know I can handle it with rhy good study habits and perseverance. 1 am very much looking forward to this busy, busy year. I hope that both fresh men and upperclassmen are looking forward to the new school year as much as I am. I hope that you’re ready to take advantage of the new beginnings that await you at Methodist this year. Let’s take a look at just a few of the opportunities we are being given... The Trustees building is now the home of a brand-new computer lab with 20 new computers. Every computer has Internet access and all students can have their own e-mail account. There is a laser printer in the back of the classroom available for unlimited printing of Internet docu ments and students’ work at no cost. The lab has been anxiously awaited by those students who have often dealt with ancient versions of Word Perfect and Word Star, dot matrix printers that were either out of paper, out of ribbons, or just broken. The lab will be open to everyone when classes are not in session, and there will be a lab assistant available to help you. We can no longer complain about being behind the times in computer technology or about having only a few computers on campus with Internet access. We now have a lab to fulfill our needs. Take advantage of it. Take advantage of the opportunity for you to become more knowledgeable and more successful in school. Use the Internet to read the daily news, to research, or even to meet new people and share ideas. The new computer lab creates a wonderful opportunity for students—take full advantage of it. Another classroom building has been added to the campus. The Math and Computer Science Building, located next to the old Science Building, is now open. With last year’s addition of the Medical Science Building and Joe Stout Hall, our campus is slowly beginning to expand. The new building has four classrooms and two of which are computer labs. We know that math and computer science courses are being taught in the building, but do we really know what’s going on over there? I spend most of my time in a comer of the Trustees Building where I have all of my communications classes. I hardly ever go to the gym, and when I do, I feel lost. This semester I have a b* health and wellness class there, though, and I’m excited about learning in a new place. Not only will I no longer feel lost, I might find that I’m interested in taking more classes in a field outside of my major. Explore the campus. Learn what goes on in buildings other than the one where you spend most of your time. You might find that you’re interested in an area of study that you never knew you were interested in. Near the end of last semester, a new organization was started for resident students. The Resident Hall Association, striving to promote and enhance the college experience, has gone into full swing this semester. Their investment in MicroFridge, a compact unit with ' microwave, freezer, and refrigerator, as well as their carpet and linen service, have been successes. After writing an article on the organization last semester, 1 encourage resident students to get involved in RHA. It’s a chance for residents to be heard without depending on their resident advisors. It’s a chance to liven up dorm life a little. Resident students should definitely take advantage of this opportunity to improve the quality of life on campus. New beginnings are great opportunities. Whether your new beginning is being required to take a class you know absolutely nothing about, joining a club, or buying a new car, you should always take full advantage of it. Not only should you make the most of what’s available to you, you should make t|je most of it with a positive attitude, and always believe that you can. Believe that you can get something out of that class, that you can make friends in that club, or that you can afford that new car. Welcome back and good luck with>'OMr new beginnings. DAO, yoU’LL BE QLAP "TO KNOW l'\/C CIVEN UP CIQASiVl TKS:.. SIGNE PHILADELPHIA DAILY NBWS Philadelphia USA Gr'eP ^'516H£P THZ fK£D Q\SHiV6 1T BUDGET from page 3 “ “You can’t tell anyone what to do—but I would advise stu dents against even having one,” Van Duvall says. If students do have credit cards, they should establish ground rules for their usage, such as not using them for luxury items Or dinners out, for example. ‘‘ Students should realize that credit cards are a form of bor rowing money, and that interest will add up if the balance is not paid in full each month, she says. “A lot of time, these credit card companies give freshmen low interest rates, but it’s only for six months,” she says. “Know as much as you can about the credit card.” Rhode, too, cautions T, against students toting plastic in their wallets. “If a parent is concerned about some type of emergency happening...they can get some type of secured card,” he suggests. With a secured card, the parent can limit the ceiling to $500 or $1,000 or whatever amount they choose, and ^ deposit that amount into a special ' account. Students also might choose a debit card, which acts like a credit card but subtracts money * immediately from an existing check- ^'ing account. “But with the debit card, there’s less consumer protec- ' tion,” he said. Unless it’s insured, an account can be cleaned out if a card is stolen. •Budgeting Like many students, Catherine Duffy is saving her sum- mer earnings to use as spending money throughout the year. Her parents will pay for tuition, room, 7 and board—but that’s it. “Food, parties, pizza— t whatever she wants extra besides room and board is her responsibil ity/,” says her mother. “She’ll have to learn how to budget.” Catherine figures she’ll spend about $30 each week on snacks or entertainment. “My dad is insisting he’s not giving me any spend ing money,” she says, then pauses. “There’s no way I can spend that little.” Van Duvall has a few sugges tions on how students can stick to a tight budget: “Use coupons. Go to campus entertainment instead of external enter tainment. Buy clothes that do not require dry-cleaning. Rent movies. Don’t eat out.” Rhode agrees that students must track expenses during freshman year. “There’s no way a parent and child can sit down before they go off to school and make a budget,” he says. The Debt Counselors of America’s website provides tips on sticking to a budget at www.dca.org. Rhode also suggests a few words of advice for freshmen who complain they don’t have time to track their ex penses. M ETHODIST College Pride Amanda Fellers, Editor Alexandra Nulle Dummer, StaffWriter Sonya Sparks Murdock, StaffWriter Georgette Singleton, Sports Editor Jamee Lynch, Director of Student Media The Pride is the biweekly student newspaper of Methodist College. The ideas and opinions ex pressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views and positions of the faculty and administration of the college. The Pride welcomes letters to the editor. All letters must be signed and must include the author's address and phone number. Address any correspondence to the Director of Student Media, 5400 Ramsey Street, Fayetteville, NC, 28311, or to the editor via campus mail. Questions or information concerning stories should be directed to the Director of Student Media at 630-7292. Sprint fetej'l 1 tOjHOlIOW' * " ite'kMa m I am Bokoraa kcauaW in llie middle tliis liitiel them|here|alone . d find oiitlM to drop Eiolog^ class, and ^daiie^rooitiitlHle, ^011 will sonielioff predict tkal YOURr RREHEREl Coverage available in most areas Cenam mtnctHXis app*v 'AvarlatXe an alptunumenc pages ooIy AlphanuiT«iic pMefs displav up lo tour Inet of mefsages O CfipvTight 199/ Spcim Cwpcxaiion All fights rewrveo With a pager from your local Sprint company, you can get the scoop no matter where you are. It's a handy little way to l(eep In touch with friends and roommates, as well as reality. So relax. 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Methodist University Student Newspaper
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Aug. 27, 1997, edition 1
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