Small but Mighty

      Wittenberg's size definitely does not correlate to its strength when it comes to partying on campus.  After three and a half years of going to parties on campus, dancing/singing with strangers at the bar, and late-nighting after the bar with a Cousin Vinny's BIG 10 (freshmen if you don't know what a BIG ten is, LEARN!), I know a thing or two about Wittenberg and the night scene we have.  I realize that freshmen year is a time for exploration.  Freshmen tend to go all out when it comes to their partying, often times making those "freshmen mistakes" we all have made before. For example, drinking so much that you don't make it past 10:00PM or wandering around trying to find a party but not knowing exactly which house is the most welcoming.  These experiences are ones that will shape how you approach the social scene at Witt and will also teach you some very valuable lessons.  I think that as upperclassmen we should try to guide the little freshmen in their first year of Wittenberg nightlife; but also relish in the entertainment we may get out of watching them figure it out themselves and remembering our rookie year in college.     
       My knowledge of the night life on campus does not mean that I go out every night and am a complete party animal wherever I go.  I actually consider myself somewhat of a more conservative student when it comes to going out and partying.  For the first half of every year at Witt, I have been in a comlpete dry season because I play volleyball for Wittenberg and that is one rule we do not mess with.  However, the times when I do venture around Wittenberg's night scene, they are definitely nights to remember (depending on my alcohol content, the remembering thing may get a tad hazy).  Wittenberg is a very fun campus and  students are generally very open with their house parties.  I know that people outside of Witt who come here to visit friends and go out are always impressed with how much Wittenberg does party.  Just because we are small doesn't mean that we do not know how to have fun and throw a raging ugly sweater party! And also, I want to clarify, going out on Wittenberg's campus does not necessarily imply that you have to consume alcohol to enjoy yourself.  I know plenty of people who choose not the drink and still have a great time just socializing with friends and soaking up the overall environment that Wittenberg parties typically have.  I hope that my readers, especially if you are freshmen, are excited about the upcoming nights when they get to experience a night out on Wittenberg's campus laughing with friends, possibly streaking the Hollow, and creating memories that will last a lifetime.   

Witt VB's Experiece in Atlanta!

   Over this past weekend, Wittenberg's volleyball team traveled to Atlanta Georgia to play in a tournament hosted by Emory University.  The trip was primarily for competition purposes, but each player got much more out of the experience. 

   First things first, we flew to Atlanta.  The majority of us on the team had flown before; however, for one freshman, it was her first flying experience and surely she will remember it! We all were comforting her pre-flight butterflies and the flight staff even provided her with a set of pilot's wings to calm her anxiety. Once we took off, she was able to relax and even laugh a little as the flight attendent mentioned our team's presence on the plane and encouraged applause from the people on board with us. 

   As far as the volleyball aspect of the trip, it went very well! We won all three of our matches and of particular importance, we beat the #6 ranked team in the nation, Emory University.  That set the tone for the entire trip! We also enjoyed shopping and experiencing downtown Atlanta at a shopping mega-center where we had a very unique and delicious dinner at a place called Yard's House.  Many of us were sad to see our weekend getaway to Atlanta end as our plane took off and would shortly thereafter touch down in Dayton Ohio.  But even if it was only two and a half days of Atlanta, it was two and a half days that our team will never forget!

Party in the Student Center!

    Wednesday, October 24.  I am sitting at the computers in the basement of the student center and it is currently 11:02PM.  Yet, the student center is still buzzing with people! This is reassuring to me.  I feel like a big question on campus and with student government/union board is whether or not students take advantage of the Witt Wednesdays events, Doppelgangers, and Founders; especially on Wednesdays.  Where students are spending their Witt Wednesdays, at least this Wednesday, is in the student center.  I can hear people in Founders, watching the baseball world series and casually conversing among 21 year old peers.  I also hear individuals playing pool and other games in Doppelgangers, which is a satisfying discovery because that place could not have been a cheap investment for Wittenberg.  And finally, masses of students seemed to have poured out of the CDR after the Illusionist Witt Wednesday event was finished.  Also, another reassuring discovery; students are spending time going to free entertainment with friends rather than drinking in their dorms or houses.  Sure, there are probably still those party houses bumping on W. College and students anxiously awaiting bar time.  But maybe, just maybe, Witt Wednesdays are becoming less about drinking and more about using free and quality entertainment provided by Witt.  Only time, and more Witt Wednesdays, will tell.

Story Ideas....

     I have been thinking all weekend about what possible story ideas I could offer to my fellow journalists in class...Let me tell you, it was somewhat difficult to find unique story ideas!
However, here are my ideas and I haven't claimed any of them as of yet so feel free!

1). I have had several of my freshmen on my team ask me about scheduling for their second semester of college and advice for what classes they should take.  Possibly do a story on tips for freshmen as they schedule classes for the first time on their own? Getting quotes from upperclassmen who have registered several times and maybe even offer any courses they recommend?? (Actually as I write this post, I like this story idea more and more so I am claiming it as mine haha)

2). Maybe a reaction story to any of the Naked Week events coming up? I know there is the "Vagina Monologues" and "I Heart the Female O" early this week in the evenings.  These could be very relevant topics with the circumstances on campus recently.  I know I personally cannot attend these events but I would definitely read them in the Torch!

3).  My last story idea is whether or not students are taking advantage of the resources that are offered to us free of charge; like the Career Services center, the Oral Communications Center, the Math Workshop, the Foreign Language Center, the Writing Center, etc.  These resources are technically paid for by students through tuition so I am curious whether students are aware of that and if these services get utilized. 

I hope that these stories are interesting to you and that you see them as worthy of taking on! Enjoy!

The Infamous 21

      21: it may just be a number but when associated with age, it symbolizes the step into a whole new world.  A world where you are now legally allowed to buy and drink alcohol, something many college students value deeply.  No longer having to use a fake ID, have others buy you alcohol, and not being denied entry or charged to get into bars is huge.  See, like I said, a whole new and exciting world.

     I turned 21 in July and it was just as monumental as I had imagined it to be.  You'll hear stories about people taking 21 shots for their birthday or getting so drunk to the point where it isn't fun anymore for those around them.  I'll admit, I had my fair share of drinks bought for me on my birthday.  However, I wasn't falling over and throwing up like I have heard happen on so many birthdays.  It was definitely an experience that I can say I will never forget but also one that I don't completely remember.

     Using my new license gave me a sense of empowerment.  Not necessarily only because I am now legal to buy alcohol but it also gave me a new found independence and the feeling of being an adult.  So therefore, I showed my license whenever and wherever I could!  Unfortunately, the time I had to use my brand new license was cut short.  My athletic team adheres to a very strict dry season which began the second week of August and that consequently ended my time to consume/purchase alcohol until the end of our season in November.  But have no fear, I am not too distraught about this situation.  I know that when season is over and I am capable of having an alcoholic drink, my license will still be there in my wallet just waiting to be put to use! The infamous 21, it has a different meaning for every individual.  However, one commonality in the number is that majority of college students anxiously await the day where they have the power while standing at the bar.
      

And the Winner Is......

        An average student at Wittenberg enrolls in about 32 classes during their four years of college.  Of those 32 courses, is it possible to have a great learning experience and remarkable professor in each one? Unfortunately, the odds are not in your favor (any Hunger Games readers will understand that reference).  However, that just means the classes students do find particularly intriguing and stimulating will not only be excellent experiences while here at Witt but will provide great memories after they graduate.
       It is difficult for me to pick a favorite course that I have taken at Wittenberg because I have had some wonderful classroom experiences that are all very unique to one another.  However, if I had to choose one course that stood out from the rest, I would say my Introduction to Photography course that I took in the spring of my junior year.  I already knew I had an interest in photography but I did not know that I would love it as much as I did.  The course used solely 35mm cameras and black and white film.  I also was responsible for developing and editing my own images for each assignment.  This class was the ultimate creative environment for me because it was scientific in the developing but also extremely whimsical and invigorating when I had a camera in my hands.  I loved being totally in charge of what my photographs looked like and yet not getting that satisfaction until after the developing and printing process.  Black and white photography is such a beautiful art form, I think that it is great that Witt offers this course as an A general education requirement.
       With every high there must be a low; thus, my least favorite class that I have taken while at Wittenberg was during the first semester of my freshmen year.  It was an ethics and morality class regarding several different religions.  The class material was very dense, partly because the professor was not adequately conveying the content to us students.  He was not very interactive with the class and did mostly lecturing for the full hour.  It also was not very challenging because for every test, the professor would give the test questions and go over the answers prior to the exam.  All in all, I did not feel that this class really added to my Wittenberg experience as a student.  However, it did not deter me from the school and is truly a needle in the haystack of great classes I have taken at Witt.