"Freshman, beware of Creamery"

While scanning through the Daily Collegian the word "Freshman" caught my attention. This article discusses how creamery ice cream can help the naive freshman gain the horrid "Freshman 15." Rather than focusing on the creamery's delicious sweets, I'm going to focus on the "Freshman 15" itself which is mentioned throughout the article.

Before I went to Penn States Summer Session I made a vow that I would not gain the "Freshman 15." Luckily, I met girls who were also worried about the weight gain that came with the freedom of college. We got into the routine of exercising daily in the sweltering heat, whether it was basketball or volleyball or swimming which carried onto my Fall and Spring semesters. But, I can say first hand that many of my fellow classmates in the graduating class of 2014 have started to put on the pounds from eating fatty foods or taking in the calories from those glorious cans of Natty Light we put into our stomachs and livers each weekend.

I know of a few friends of mine that have gained up to 25 pounds from June until now. Are they lazy? Honestly, yes! I can count the number of times that I have seen them take the initiative to actually venture out to the IM building, Fitness Loft, White Building, or Rec Hall. But, I cannot keep track of the amount of times that they have ordered food to their dorms from Lion Menu's at 3 am, not to mention the trips they have taken to Are You Hungry or McDonalds each weekend. The Creamery is not to blame for the underclassman's weight gain, we are!

If you don't exercise weekly or you take the bus every chance you get, 8 times out of 10 you will pack on the fat. Fitness and diet are a big part of my life, its not for everyone. But, staying healthy should be! I hope you take this message in a positive manner, get to the gym or walk to class! Put down the pizza from the Big O, turn around and grab a salad! Yumm. Trust me, it will help you in the long RUN.


Some advice:
http://www.freshman15.com/
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2006-10-22-freshman-weight_x.htm

 

"Shirt Sends the Wrong Message"

Today I scanned through the Daily Collegian to find an interesting article. The title, "Shirt Sends the Wrong Message", immediately caught my attention. The article discusses a Facebook group that is selling t-shirts for the annual State’s Patty’s Day and the non-students who visit Penn State to binge drink each weekend, specifically, on State Patty’s Day. This t-shirt disturbs the public because many believe that the slogan “KISS ME, I’M WASTED” sends the message that it is okay to be sexual with someone who is under the influence of alcohol. But, why do I feel the need to blog about this specific article? Because I am one of the many college students who will be attending this event which starts at 12:00 AM on February 26, 2011.

As a born and raised Pennsylvanian, I can safely say that the word “partying”has been synonymous with “Penn State” ever since I was old enough to understand the significance of what it meant to “party.” As we all know, my university has a party-school reputation and the 241 citations issued by police last year at the 2010 State Patty’s Day proves it. But, out of the 241 citations, 150 of those citations were given to non-students of Penn State. This fact brings me to the dilemma that concerns the administration of PSU, that non-students come to Penn State “to take advantage of our hospitality, our sense of community and our party-school reputation,” (The Daily Collegian Online). I personally know that people come to the student created State Patty’s Day to binge drink because I have received many phone calls, texts and Facebook messages asking if a friend or a friend of a friend could stay with me (a.k.a. drink with me and my friends) on State Patty’s Day. I agree with the article when they say that the outsiders are “contributing to our party-school standing.”  As a matter of fact this year one of my friends came to visit me and left the next morning crying with a nice souvenir for her parents. Can you guess what this souvenir was? A citation for underage drinking. People come to Penn State expecting to have a good time and naturally we give it to them. Is this a problem? Yes, but that does not mean I won’t support the event on February 26 in order to prevent the visitors from wreaking havoc. State Patty’s Day can be a safe and fun holiday for everyone if visitors learn to safely celebrate OUR holiday.

"Shirt Sends the Wrong Message." The Daily Collegian Online. 19 Jan. 2011. Web. 19 Jan. 2011. <http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2011/01/19/shirt_sends_the_wrong_message.aspx>.