Eating in the dining halls is not that bad

Hi everyone!

My name is Joanna Smith and I am also an upcoming Orientation Advisor for the summer of 2011. I am currently a sophomore Sociology major through the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, and after two years of living on campus, I can definitely share some great tips on dining.

First off, your location on campus usually dictates where you are going to eat. Because a lot of people have classes on the mall, the South Campus Diner is a hotspot during the week. Here, as mentioned before, Seasons 12 and the Jalapeno Grill are delicious places to grab lunch. But get there early, the lines get kind of lengthy because these stations are only open from 11am-2pm during the week. Personally, my favorite place to eat at the South Campus diner is the Around-The-World station that offers salads that are made to order. My favorite is romaine lettuce with strawberries, mangoes, chicken, and sesame dressing, but there are a lot more options to choose from.

Because I have lived on North Campus for my first two years at UMD, my go-to diner is The Diner (located in the Ellicott Community on North Campus). One of the great options about this dining hall is that there is a vegan station, Sprouts, that offers twenty-eight different choices for lunch and dinner. My favorite station to get food from at The Diner is the Grill because they make Quesadillas and Philly Cheese Steaks, yum! Whenever I am running low on dining points, I love getting a Vegetable Quesadilla  because they are inexpensive (about $4), super filling, and really tasty! And if you are on campus during the weekends, try the Breakfast Pizza at the Luigi's station at The Diner. It is scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, and cheese on a slice of pizza; a perfect option for brunch! Lastly, if you don't have a dining plan, every dining option on campus accepts Terrapin Express (as well as credit cards and cash), so you will never be a hungry Terp!

Is this cheating?

Hi!  My name is Nicole Leonard and I am a senior English major training to be an orientation advisor this summer.  With finals coming up, everyone is starting to stress about papers and last minute assignments before the actual exams start.  I remember my first bout of final exams and the shock of how much more work there was than high school, surprisingly, the shock never really seems to go away. 
With so much work coming up for everyone, I wanted to remind everyone of the honor code.  Most students at UMD are honest and want to do well in school on their own; I know very few people who set out with the intention of copying a paper or plagiarizing.  However, not everyone realizes how easy it is to "accidentally" break the honor code.  When writing papers, always be sure to carefully cite every single source you use; it is better to have a citation in every single sentence than take credit for something that isn't yours!  Also, be sure to follow the correct format, as even incorrect citing can be considered plagiarism.

Study groups are a great way to study for many students.  When you are working on homework problems or essays, however, be sure that you do not cross the line between "helping" and "cheating."  Even if you work through difficult concepts together, always be sure that you are doing your own work and are not sharing answers.  Even if you are not directly copying and are working together, answers that are too similar can be considered dishonest.  Be careful of a professor's instructions regarding working with others.  If a professor prefers that you don't work together, there are always other options for learning hard material such as attending office hours, speaking with a professor after class, or finding a tutor on campus (the Office of Mulicultural Students offers free tutoring for certain classes!).
The best way to avoid being caught in a sticky situation, even accidentally, is to always question yourself.  Plan ahead so you don't get caught the night before an assignment is due without anywhere else to turn, and always ask the professor if you question your own judgment.  Good luck on finals and with the rest of your semester!

America Reads*America Counts Fall 2011 Mentor Applications Available!

Do you like working with kids?  Do you want to become more involved in your local community and learn about the education system in Prince George's County?

Apply to become an America Reads*America Counts Mentor for the Fall 2011 semester!
Federal Work Study Positions start at $10 an hour. Volunteer and Academic Credit positions also available.

Applications for Fall 2011 Mentor Positions will be accepted throughout the summer. There are several priority deadlines, all listed on our website.

Apply Today at www.thestamp.umd.edu/arac

Website: www.thestamp.umd.edu/arac

TODAY: Off-Campus Living Fair

Are you still searching for Fall 2011 off-campus housing? It’s not too late to register for the Off-Campus Living Fair where you can find out about current housing options! You might also meet a future roommate. 

The Off-Campus Living Fair is a one-stop shop for incoming students, faculty, and staff to research their off-campus living options. As a housing seeker, you will get personal assistance with the what, when, and where of off-campus living, interact with integral campus departments, and meet other off-campus students and potential roommates.  The fair is a perfect opportunity for you to get immediate answers to your all off-campus living questions!

An additional feature to this year’s fair is the Turbo Roommate Match-up!  Similar to speed-dating, this will allow roommate seekers to talk with other students who are looking for roommates in a fun setting. 

The Spring Off-Campus Living Fair will be held on:

Tuesday, May 3^rd, 2011

5-7pm

Colony Ballroom, Stamp Student Union

We invite you to attend this FREE fair, and you can register online now!  Just visit www.och.umd.edu/oclf.    Questions? Call 301-314-3645, e-mail och@umd.edu, or AOL instant message us at OCHatUMD.

Go Terps!

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Common Ground Dialogues

Hello!  My name is Maddie Prebil.   I am a sophomore Government and Politics Major completing a minor in Terrorism Studies, and am an Orientation Advisor for this upcoming summer!  I am also a Peer Dialogue Leader in the Common Ground Dialogue Program through the Department of Resident Life.

The University of Maryland is an incredibly diverse community.  The rich diversity and multiplicity of backgrounds, ethnicities, and individual experiences is certainly one of the university’s strengths. In an effort to maximize the benefits of our campus diversity and to broaden student’s perspectives, the Common Ground Dialogue Program was developed.

The Common Ground Dialogue Program allows groups of 12-14 students to engage in dialogue on current, controversial, multicultural issues.  Each group is assigned a topic to discuss based on each student’s individual preferences.  The program lasts four weeks, with each session one-week session lasting an hour and a half.  The goal of the program is for students with multiple and individual perspectives to enrich each other through civil dialogue.

The Common Ground program is also unique in that peers, not professors or graduate students, lead all dialogue groups.  This program is the only one in the nation in which undergraduate students at the university facilitate all sessions. This practice ensures that participants in the dialogue groups feel comfortable expressing opinions to their peers, not an authority figure.

The Common Ground Dialogue Program is a valuable and enriching experience.  The evening sessions fit conveniently into students’ schedules, while allowing them to gain new perspectives on contemporary and recent multicultural topics.  To set up a Common Ground Dialogue group, or apply to be a participant in an upcoming group, contact Dr. Rhondie Vorhees, the Program Coordinator, at rhondie@umd.edu.  Furthermore, contact Dr. Vorhees to express interest in becoming a Peer Dialogue Leader, and facilitating dialogue groups.

LAST Onigiri sale by Japanese American Student Association this semester

LAST Onigiri sale by Japanese American Student Association this semester

Subject       : LAST Onigiri sale by Japanese American Student Association this semester
When          : Friday, April 15, 2011
Where         : Stamp Student Union
Event Type(s) : Diversity

You know it, you love it, you gotta have it. And guess what?

So many people requested the yummy Japanese food so JASA will give it to you!

JASA is going to hold its last Onigiri, rice ball, sale in this semester.

We'll be outside in the usual spot in front of Stamp at around 10:30 a.m. We'll sell til 4:00 p.m.

They are only $1 and have tuna, salmon, or vegetarian.

Please do not miss this last chance.

After this, JASA is not going to make it again until next semester.

Website: www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8640309929

For more information, contact:
Hiroshi Sasakura
Japanese American Student Association
202-340-7128
hsasakur@umd.edu
www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8640309929

Summer Job Position

Staff Applications for Summer Bridge Program

Subject       : Staff Applications for Summer Bridge Program
Where         : Engineering
Event Type(s) : Other

The 2010 Summer Bridge Program for Scientists and Engineers is seeking hardworking, responsible students to serve as Undergraduate Mentors.  The program will be held June 26  July 29, 2011.

Mentors must be Proficient in Algebra, Pre-Calculus, Calculus I, II, III, or Differential Equations and available to act as a Resident Assistant in the dormitory for the duration of the five-week program.

Compensation: Room and Board from June 25-July 30, 2011

To apply, please submit cover letter and resume no later than Friday, April 22, 2010 to:

Kimberly Holmes
kholmes@umd.edu
Center for Minorities in Science and Engineering
1131 Glenn L. Martin Hall

Website: lsamp.umd.edu/bridge.html

For more information, contact:
Kimberly Holmes
Center for Minorities in Science and Engineering
kholmes@umd.edu
lsamp.umd.edu/bridge.html

For more information, contact:
Kimberly Monique Holmes
+1 301 405 9433
kholmes@umd.edu
lsamp.umd.edu/bridge.html