Housing events

A lot of commuting students feel that there isn't really a whole lot to do on campus. This is probablly because they are not accutatelly informed about all the events on campus (especially events that are hosted by housing). I think that because our campus is growing more focus needs to be put on informing all students about events regardless of where they reside.

Hey guys! Yesterday was a crazy day for the Miss UIS pageant participants. Most of us had 8 am or 8:30 am appointments at BJ's grand salon and spa for our cut and color. I cut my hair and highlighted it and I like it. Some of the guys got there hair cut and colored too. Sing (hopefully i'm spelling his name right) even got his eyebrows waxed. Ouch! I left the hair salon at about 10:45 just in time to see both of my little brothers soccer games at the LLCC field. Later that day we had a photo shoot with Kimberly Smoot. I'll post those pictures after the pageant is over...

Springfield Southeast high School. C/O 2006 Baby!

Fill this out about your SENIOR year of high school. The longer ago it was, the more fun the answers will be...

1. Who were your best friends? Amber Foster (square), Matt Snyder

2.What sports did you play? Swimming, Diving, and Wrestling

3. What kind of car did you drive? A 1999 Chevy Cavalier (the one I have accident pictures of in an earlier blog)

4. It's Friday night, where were you? probably either taking tons of pictures or cooking with my square...or attending some sporting event....

5. Were you a party animal? Not at all

6. Were you considered a flirt? Yes even though i didn't always try to be

7. Were you in band, orchestra, or choir? Nope, my senior year I traded science classes for choir

8. Were you a nerd? Not nearly as nerdy as when I was a freshman and studied all the time

9. Did you get suspended/expelled? Nope, never

10. Can you sing the fight song? uhh i can hum the song but i don't really know all the words...I transfered my junior year...it's not entirely my fault

11. Who was your favorite teacher? Walls

12. Where did you eat lunch? Commons/Outside

13.What was your school's full name? Springfield Southeast High School

14. School mascot? Spartan

15. Did you go to Prom? Yes. I had a lot of fun.

16. If you could go back and do it over, would you? I didn't go to my school's senior prom..I went to another one on the same day...I tried to go to both but it didn't work out...If I could change it, I would have gone to both...

17. What do you remember most about graduation? Kate Warren's amaising speech

18. What were you involved in during Highschool? NHS Secretary, Diving Captain, Wrestling, Swimming, The Voice Correspondent, Volleyball, Yearbook, Drug Prevention Club, Spanish Club, Computer Banc Volunteer, Debate Society...and i'm sure others I can't recall right now...

19. Where were you on senior skip day? Playing at the park

20. Did you have a job your senior year? Yes, I worked at Bergners and then at Sears

21. Where did you go most often for lunch? Closed campus :(

22. Have you gained weight since then? A little bit...but nothing major...just really out of shape

23. Where did you go after graduation? UIS

24. When did you graduate? 2006

25. Who was your Senior prom date? Michael Crum

26. Are you going to your 10 year reunion? Probably

27. Who was your home room teacher? Mr. Harrison...I think

28. Who will repost this after you?? I have no idea...

Miss UIS!

Hey guys! So now i'm officially running for Miss UIS along with 7 other awesome girls (2 being my lab partners). This is the first year that we've had a pageant for the girls, and I wasn't sure what to expect. Hmmm...Is it going to be similar to a real pageant or is it just going to be for fun like the boy's pageant?...Well we had out first meet-n-greet last night wher we discussed things like that...This pageant is the real deal....we're doing the whole shabang....formal wear, a little dance, cute dresses, sportswear, talent, and questions from judges...I'm so excited...We get to get our hair done by BJ's Grand salon and spa about 2 weeks before the pageant and then they're doing our hair and makeup before the pageant...we get manicures...a few photoshoots with a photographer...all that jazz =)

Somedays I just love being girlie!

The pageant is on May 4th at 7 p.m. Everyone should come. Afterwards there's going to be a campus party at the Hilton. There's going to be a DJ and everything...it'll be lots of fun...I promise.

Uhhh!

So...i'm all itchy and I can't scratch...i have poison ivy really bad...it sucks...

My Poor Baby!

I had a really long night last night. My five year old sister Leah was playing with my brothers and ended up falling and hitting her chin on the corner of her wooden bed. She screamed and ran to the bathroom. My brother Adam looked at her cut and goes "It's all the way through. She's going to need stitches." I drove my mom, sister, and 2 brothers to Saint John's hospital while Adam stayed home to tell my dad what was going on when he got home. My brother and Dad met us at the hospital. I called my sister at work. She left Bergners early to come to the hospital. She ended up having to have a plastic surgeon sew her up. They had to sedate her. It was hard seeing her tied up to all of those machines. She even had an iv. She got 7 stitches on her chin, 6 stitches on the inside of her mouth and 1 stitch on her top gums. It's been almost about 24 hours and she still can't eat anything without really hurting her mouth. Pray for her!

I have some pictures I might put up of her if I can figure out how to use my bluetooth thingy. Later....

For those of you who saw pairs of purple shows sitting along the sidewalks
and were confused. I'll help you out. Today is purple day for relay for life. So wear purple!

P.S. If anyone want to buy crispy cream donuts from me, let me know! Proceeds go to Relay for Life.

Happy Birthday to Jummie!

Yeah so I had another crazy weekend...

Friday I had biology and chemistry labs. I disected a crayfish in biology and it kind of grossed me our because it reminded me of the crab that I ate a few days earlier. After the chemistry lab, I hung out with Marquita in her townhouse. Then we got food from PAC and went over to LRH to watch "Passions" with Lara and Jummie. "Passions" is probably the only soap opera I've watched more than once. lol

After the show was over, We headed to the mall to get Jummie a present. Our trip to the mall was eventful. The best part was definitely getting to see lara wear a corset. Charlie and I tied her up in it. I have pictures but I didn't think Lara would want me to post them.

We left the mall and decided to eat at Perkins. I had a strawberry milkshake that was to die for.

After we are, we went to Meijer and did some grocery shopping. We drove back to campus, hung out a little, and then I went home.

Saturday was Jummie's Birthday party. The weather was pretty bad outside. It's was raining so I had an umbrella but the wind was blowing to hard and I broke it. We decide to go to Applebee's for dinner. The only bad thing about Applebee's is that they don't take reservations. We had a party of 18 people and it took us forever to be seated. They were so busy.

Our waiter was a very interesting guy. I think either he was on crack or was a little bit mentally handicapped. He hated it when we took pictures, had a tremor in his hand, and would tell us about his problems. I just didn't think that waitering was his cup of tea. He was kind of creepy.

After dinner, we all headed back to Jummie's for cake. I didn't get to have cake though because I had to leave early. =(


|

Snow Days!

Hey Guys! Wow the weather's been horrible! I've lived in Springfield my whole life and i'm pretty sure this winter has been the coldest that I can remember. Some say the weather change is due to global warming, but i'm not really sure.

This week has been a pretty easy week. Monday was the day of the really bad storm. Tuesday morning I watched the news to see if UIS had cancelled classes. I was dissappointed when every school in the area was cancelled except for UIS. The roads were to bad to drive on so I decided not to go. I found out that the campus had closed and 1 p.m. and that my biology and chemistry classes were canceled. I was glad that I didn't miss anything. We didn't have school Wednesday either.

I didn't really do a whole lot during my snow days. I did, however, learned to do do something new. I used a sewing machine for the first time. I'm not nearly as good as my cousin who can sew dresses, but I can sew pillows and things and I think it's pretty hot. Other that that, I just studied my my biology exam and watched movies with my sisters.

These past few weeks have been very stressfull since i've had exams in most of my classes. I'm just glad they are over. Thank God it's Friday.

So I saw this thing about the MISS UIS pageant. My friend Emily and my bosses have decided that i'm going to be in it. I haven't consented either way thought. I've never been in one so I don't know what all is involved with it....

Well i'm off to lab.....

Snow Days

Hey Guys! Wow the weather's been horrible! I've lived in Springfield my whole life and i'm pretty sure this winter has been the coldest that I can remember. Some say the weather change is due to global warming, but i'm not really sure.

This week has been a pretty easy week. Monday was the day of the really bad storm. Tuesday morning I watched the news to see if UIS had cancelled classes. I was dissappointed when every school in the area was cancelled except for UIS. The roads were to bad to drive on so I decided not to go. I found out that the campus had closed and 1 p.m. and that my biology and chemistry classes were canceled. I was glad that I didn't miss anything. We didn't have school Wednesday either.

I didn't really do a whole lot during my snow days. I did, however, learned to do do something new. I used a sewing machine for the first time. I'm not nearly as good as my cousin who can sew dresses, but I can sew pillows and things and I think it's pretty hot. Other that that, I just studied my my biology exam and watched movies with my sisters.

These past few weeks have been very stressfull since i've had exams in most of my classes. I'm just glad they are over. Thank God it's Friday.

So I saw this thing about the MISS UIS pageant. My friend Emily and my bosses have decided that i'm going to be in it. I haven't consented either way thought. I've never been in one so I don't know what all is involved with it....

Well i'm off to lab.....

November 30, 2006

Wow guys, the weather is really really bad out today. It's wierd because it's been so nice outside lately. Most people that I saw today were dressed for the occassion with warm jackets, scarfs, and mittens. However, I did see a few people who weren't even wearing a coat:( I would suggest that everyone dress warmly. We're supppossed to get at least nine inches of snow tonight. For my fellow science geeks out there who are wondering if we have class tomorrow you can call 206-6600 after 6 am. and find out. I'm sure it will be quicker than listening to the radio or tv. Classes are cancelled for tonight and we'll see what happens tomorrow.

My Thanksgiving Break

I'm sorry guys. I haven't posted a new blog in what seems like forever. Some of you have been complaining about how some of the things that I talk about aren't really related to UIS. The reason for this is that I'm a commuting student so my home life is just as important as my school life. I apologize if this offends anybody. This is my family.

Dad, Adam, Krystal, Mom Eva and Leah Minus Adam. Plus Me. Kaleb, Nathan, and Leah

I didn't have class last week because of Thanksgiving break. My week was interesting. I got to hang out with some of my friends that were back in town from college, work a lot, and spend thanksgiving with both my family in Loami and my boyfriends family in Petersburg. Petersburg was fun. My boyfriend's nephew was doing karyoke. He's three and couldn't read all of the words so he just made most of them up. It was hillarious. I swear he's the best rapper I know lol

The day after thanksgiving interesting too. I work retail so of course I had to be at work bright and early. My shift was from 4:30 a.m-2 p.m. My store wasn't nearly as busy as we were last year. I ended my day selling about $17,000 worth of electronics so i'm not complaining. After I got off, I had to ice my feet. Being on your feet for nine hours in heels does damage.

Then, I got ready for the concert that I was going to that night. I was going to see Pape Roach with my cousin. She met me at my house at 5. We got to the Warehouse around 5:30 thinking that the doors were opening at 6. However, there had been a misprint on the tickets and the doors did not open until 6:30. It was really cold outside waiting to get in. Well, the concert was a lot of fun. I'm not sure why I always end up in the mosh pit though.
I can't believe this semester is almost over. I'm really dreading finals :(

Happy Mole Day!!!

mole day
Originally uploaded by acheu2.

Mole day is celebrated annually on October 23 from 6:02 a.m. to 6:02 p.m. in honor of Avogadro's Number (6.02 x 10^23). This chemistry holiday was created to increase people's interest in chemistry. Schools throughout the United States and around the world celebrate Mole Day with various activities related to chemistry and/or moles; UIS is no exception. Today, for example, the Chemistry club served liquid nitrogen ice cream. I didn't think it would be very good especially when I saw the smoke that was forming when they were making it. However, after tasting it, I though that it was pretty good. It tasted like vanilla. I would never have thought to make ice cream out of liquid nitrogen.

What I would change about UIS

All of the English 101 classes were given a prompt for an essay on what we would like to change at UIS. A lot of different things were brought up in my class’ discussion about the topic. I’ll name a few of these ideas here. Students had chosen to write about increasing the food choices in the cafeteria, finding our who your roommate is earlier, quiet hour not being quiet, and problems with the grading system. Personally, as a commuting student, I think that a better transportation system is needed. Here is my proposal. This is only my first draft so excuse my mistakes…

A Better Transportation System

The University of Illinois in Springfield is continuously growing. The IBHE is providing the funding for the proposed construction of a new residence hall and townhouses. This $15.8 million dollar expansion of UIS would not be possible without funding from auxiliary funds. Enthusiasm, as in the essay “On Becoming a Better Student,” is important to the success of this campus, and the student body is excited to start building. The new residence hall will allow 200 more students to enroll here at UIS. This increase along with the new townhouses equals an allowance of over 850 students to live on campus. With the continuous expansion of campus, a better transportation system is going to be needed both on and off of campus.
As of now, there is no form of shuttling on campus. This is feasible because the campus is still pretty small and you can get to most places fairly quick. However, the University of Illinois in Springfield is just in the beginning stages of growth as far as construction goes. Moreover, as the campus expands out, students are going to have to do a lot more walking at a longer distance. “Too much walking” was one of the issues addressed in the essay “What No One Ever Told Them about College (A Survey).” Not only is this inconvenient for the student, but it also puts the student’s health at risk. Students can get sick from walking in bad weather or suffer from back strain from carrying too much stuff across campus.
Another point to consider is the addition of the first year General Education program. This is the first year that UIS has accepted General Education freshman. There are currently 201 Gen-Ed students at the University of Illinois. This gives students the choice of whether to live on campus or not, and many have chosen to commute. Transportation is very important to the commuting student.
There are five colleges located in Springfield. These are as follows: Springfield College in Illinois, Lincoln Land Community College, the University of Illinois in Springfield, Robert Morris College, and SIU school of Medicine. Although multiple colleges are located in Springfield, Illinois it is not associated with being a college town.
In a college town everything revolves around the campus, and most extracurricular activities take place nearby campus. Champaign, for example, is a perfect example of a college town. The University of Illinois practically owns everything there. Then, most college towns have an excellent transportation system. The University of Illinois in Chicago, for example, has a bussing system that runs until 2 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 6 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
The location of Springfield is very different. It is impossible for everything to revolve around the University of Illinois at Springfield when the city is so widespread. The city itself is expanding.
Then, many people go into debt early in life because of student loans that they took out as college students. In order to help prevent this from happening, a lot of students are forced to work their way through school. It would not be strange for a student to get a job in Springfield that is ten miles away because of how widespread the city is. This would cause a real problem for a student without a car.
Of course, a person may argue that there is no real problem here. He may just suggest that the student ride a city buss. However, a lot of times students are not able to use the Springfield Mass Transit bussing system because it runs every half an hour only until about 6. If a person had to work late or had to pick up something off campus for a class project that night then he would be out of luck. Last year, the city received funding in order to allow the busses to run until 11:30 p.m. However, due to funding this pilot program was canceled. The city of Springfield has not had nightly bussing since 1950.
Thus, the University of Illinois at Springfield is constantly growing with construction and with student population. Adjustments are necessary with these changes. Therefore, establishing a shuttling service for the students of the UIS would prove highly beneficial. As of now, there are no on campus shuttling services and students are forced to take the city bus which only runs at selects times. This can cause a major inconvenience for students without transportation. However, this proposed change would highly affect the students’ school experience in a positive way.

I love Jesus!

Romans 1:16
The decision has been made, the dye has been cast, and I have stepped over the line. As a disciple of Christ, I will no longer look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I’m finished with low living, sight walking, worldly talking, cheap giving, and tamed visions. I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, power or popularity. I don’t have to be right, recognized, praised regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, walk in victory, and labor in love. The road before me is narrow and rough, but His commission is undeniable, thus my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of the sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the enemy, pander at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won’t give up, shut up, let up, until I have prayed up, praised up, paid up, and spoke up for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I am a Christian, an Unashamed Firm Believer in Christ.

I love ice cream!

coldstoneSUPP
Originally uploaded by acheu2.

Cold Stone Creamery is Freaking Amazing! It's Downtown Springfield for all of ya'll out of towners.