Fall 2010 Week 14

Week 14-by C. Sopa

Welcome back readers!

            Hopefully you all had a relaxing and well-deserved break from the academic grind for a few days. If your vacation was anything like mine, you did a lot of sleeping, eating, and spending time with family, so it was probably pretty enjoyable. It's always good to step away from papers and exams every once in a while and just spend time catering to yourself. It keeps us from getting burnt out, especially those of us with heavier workloads. Even though, we all put that vacation to good use we really to get back in study mode and spend those endless hours in Homer Babbidge, fine tuning final projects or papers, and preparing for finals week. Trust me, if you start preparing now, it will pay off ten-fold at the end of the semester.

            This week back was a bit quiet with everyone getting back into the swing of things however that doesn’t mean there wasn’t plenty to do. This week was AIDS week here at UCONN and as usual the campus was alive with events planned all week. Tuesday was UConn’s Wear Red Day in order to not only raise awareness but show support for those who are battling the disease today. I chose to don a red tie, with a white button down, blue jeans and some red sneakers. If you’re going to represent may as well go all out I always say.

             The 5^th Annual Opening of the Art4AIDS exhibit was on Wednesday in the Student Union Art Gallery and as always it was very entertaining and enlightening. During the opening of the exhibit there were performances by various a capella groups who sang songs of encouragement, while art lovers and activists enjoyed light refreshments. The exhibit is a compilation of paintings, sculptures, photographs and any other mediums that people have used to express their feelings about the AIDS epidemic. Some pieces were focused on more personal experiences while others were more informational displays of how to prevent the spread of the disease but the overall theme of the exhibit was to raise awareness, and bring an issue, which people often shy away from, to the forefront. I encourage anyone who hasn't done so already to go check it out.

            Also on Wednesday, the sisters of Lambda Theta Alpha Sorority, Inc. and the sisters of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. held a talent show in the North Lobby/Lounge the Student Union. The show acted as a fund-raiser for Journey House, Natchaug Hospital’s residential treatment program for girls, here in Mansfield, CT. The acts ranged from piano and vocal performances, to Greek salutes and strolling displays. It was a great time, and I personally can’t wait till next year.

            As for next week’s festivities I encourage you all to attend the Cultural Dinner held by the TIARAS of the iCONNic Concordia Chapter of Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority, Inc. on Monday Decmeber 6^th from 6:30-8:30pm in the Puerto Rican Latin American Cultural Center. I’ve been to about 4 or 5 dinners already and the food is always top notch and reminds me of back home. It’s $7 a plate and $1 for seconds, trust me it is well worth it!

            Also on Tuesday, December 7^th at 6:30pm in ITE C80 (the huge lecture hall in the basement) as part of the EDCI 3000 class there will be a performance by The Young Poet’s, a group of teenage poets who use both written and spoken word to express themselves. I’ve seen them perform multiple times and I can honestly say every performance is always great. The performance is open to the public, so if you enjoy poetry, or if you enjoy discussing educational issues I encourage you to join us. 


Well readers, I wish you all well as we enter the homestretch of the semester. One week of classes then  one week of finals...
Take care!