Recyclemania 2010

Beginning January 17th, Lasell College embarked on a nation wide challenge to recycle as much waste as we could in a 10 week period. This competition was brought to us by "Recyclemania."

"Recyclemania" is described as "a friendly competition and benchmarking tool for college and university recycling programs to promote waste reduction activities to their campus communities." Basically, schools report recycling and trash data which are then ranked according to who collects the largest amount of recyclables per capita, the largest amount of total recyclables, the least amount of trash per capita, or have the highest recycling rate. With each week’s reports and rankings, participating schools watch how their results fluctuate against other schools and use this to rally their campus communities to reduce and recycle more.

Lasell has managed to do pretty well since the beginning of the competition. Out of the 607 schools registered, on February 2nd Lasell was ranked 132nd spot out of the 179 in the Competition Division. This achievement was noted on the Lasell Recyclemania Facebook Group Page as "Not bad, but not good." Unfortunately, on February 7 Lasell was recorded at 189. Though, there is time for improvement and with our colleges recent developments to become more "green," I am sure a comeback is instore.

To find out more information about Recyclemania feel free to visit http://www.recyclemania.org/ and for information regarding Recyclemania at Lasell, check out the Facebook group by searching Lasell College Recyclemania 2010.

Valentine's Day on Campus

Valentine's Day is this weekend and has created quite the hype around Lasell. The 1851 Chronicle came out yesterday with multiple Valentine's Day features and conversations can be heard all around campus about plans for this long weekend.
Many couples in college are stumped as to deciding which romantic activities to take part in. As college students, most of us are on a tight budget and unable to provide our significant others with the expensive, lavish gifts we would like to shower them with. So, the question is posed: What realistic options do college students have when deciding what to do for Valentine's Day?
After careful consideration I've answered this question with three options: Hospitality Club Candygrams, adventure into the city and the classic, dinner and a movie.
Candygrams, upon first observation, are most likely one of the first things someone may cross off their list due to the simplicity of the gift. Though, with a bit of creativity, a simple candygram could lead to a great surprise! Since candygrams can be sent anonymously, this could be a great way to show your crush you care. Or, a message stating a time and place could be a mysterious way to start off a date with your Valentine. The Hospitality Club will be outside Valentine Dining Hall February 4, 8, 9 and 10th selling their candygrams that will be put in your sweetheart's mailbox right here on campus.
Students may shy away from taking their Valentine into the city, fearing jacked-up prices and expensive transportation, but if done correctly a night in the city may not be out of reach. In stead of taking a taxi or driving into Boston and paying for parking, the T is an obvious solution. A great idea for an interactive date in the city could be The Aquarium. Taking the T to the Aquarium couldn't be easier- it has it's own stop off the Blue line. Also, The Aquarium offers discounted tickets for students costing around $20 with student ID's.
Finally, everyone's go-to date: dinner and a movie. This may sound boring to some, but on the Lasell campus there are a few different ways to make this old dating staple a new idea. This weekend, CAB is showing "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" in Rosen Auditorium at 7pm. There's no transportation necessary to enjoy this activity, but even better: it's free! As for dinner, the 155 Grill in the Campus Center has a variety of food with which you can purchase with you Laser Loot stored on you Torch Card. I'm positive you won't be able to find a more convenient alternative this Valentine's Day.
Planning a Valentine's Day to remember isn't as hard as you may think. There are so many options on or around campus, you just have to keep your eyes and ears open. For more information on activities happening around Lasell visit the MyLasell web page or follow CAB and the Office of Student Activities on Facebook!

Getting "in the swing" of Spring '10

my first weekend back at lasell college!

Coming back to Lasell after four months abroad and almost two months of winter vacation definitely had it's "ups"and "downs." I felt as though I had been thrown into three different lives within the matter of a year: Student and apartment owner abroad, family member and girlfriend, as well as Lasell junior with a heavy course load.
When I drove on to Campus for the first time since last May I remember thinking, "Shouldn't I be done with this? I've had so much life experience, I feel like I've already graduated." The truth is, I hadn't graduated and though that life experience will stay with me forever, it's time to snap out of it and come back to reality.
Beginning this semester I already knew I was in for a different experience because I had chosen to live in a single room in one of the residential houses on campus. I had never lived in a single before, but was anxious to see what it would feel like to have my own room. I also knew this semester would be different because I was taking 6 academic Communications courses as well as taking on the position of Editor of the Arts and Entertainment section of the 1851 Chronicle.
My first week back was easy. Reconnecting with friends I hadn't seen before I left the country was among some of my favorite parts about rejoining Lasell. After the first week of classes I started to feel the academic pressure rising- my assignment book was flooding with pen marks and the calender hanging in my room had not one open spot to write on. I had almost forgotten how busy college can be!
Getting back into the "swing" of things ended up to be an easier transition than I had thought. I fell in love with my homey residential house and the room that's all mine, my old friends had made new friends that are now a welcomed addition to my life, and the long nights of homework, early morning classes, meetings and going to work gave me a purpose back at school, so I never felt out of place. Today is my deadline for the first issue of the Chronicle and I was up a good amount of last night editing and writing, but I almost feel relieved to be back to normalcy... even if "normalcy" means writing and typing through the night!
Feeling like you may not belong or have a purpose in your college community sometimes stems from not trying to "put yourself out there." Finding a club, organization or job that you enjoy and that challenges you is a great way to find where you "fit." Often, it takes some time to find where that is, but there are so many options on campus that finding your place may be much easier than you think.