by Hannah Whitley

Halloween is just around the corner for Oregon State students, which means that it’s just about time for pumpkin carving, picking out the perfect costume, and planning the perfect trick-or-treat route. One thing to keep in mind while prepping for the perfect Halloween night is that while the OSU campus and city of Corvallis as a whole are considered friendly communities, remember that any city is vulnerable to crime – especially on nights where ghouls and tricksters are in such abundance! To help keep my fellow Beavers safe this Hallow’s Eve, I’ve compiled a few tips you can keep in your candy bag just in case:

1. Travel with a friend – or even better – in a group! The more the merrier, right?

2. Avoid dark, vacant, or deserted areas. You want people to see your costume, right? Stay on well-lit and well-traveled routes to keep your and your friends safe!

3. Trust your instincts. If you feel uncomfortable about a fellow Halloweener or a sticky situation, remove yourself immediately. To report any potential crimes or emergencies, refer to the following numbers: Campus Non-Emergency: 541-737-3010; Campus Emergency: 541-737-7000; Corvallis Police: 911. For a full list of emergency phone numbers, visit http://fa.oregonstate.edu/publicsafety/campus-safety-information/emergency-phone-numbers.

4. Take advantage of the SafeRide Shuttle Service. SafeRide operates from 6 pm to 2:30 am seven days a week – including Halloween! To request a ride, download the SafeRide OSU app from your Google Play, Android, or iTunes Store to be picked up. Don’t have a smartphone? Have no fear! SafeRide dispatchers are on standby to help you request a ride and can be reached at (541) 737-5000. For a full list of SafeRide regulations, visit http://asosu.oregonstate.edu/saferide.

5. Remember that Oregon State operates a zero tolerance policy for use of alcohol or intoxicating substances by minors on campus. Under OSU policy, minors using alcohol or illegal substances on campus may be subject to arrest, citation and or student judicial proceedings. Driving under the influence and the sale or distribution of alcohol to minors is also a criminal offense and persons involved in these activities are subject to arrest.
Make good choices, Beaver Nation! I believe in you.

by Cam Nhung Vo

Do you like traveling and meeting new people? Have you ever considered the idea of exploring the world and immersing yourself in an unknown culture? Did you know that Oregon State University has many wonderful opportunities for you to explore and do just this?

Well, if not I have the perfect place for you to go. Here are a few suggestions to help you find new ways to broaden your education here at OSU.

This year on Wednesday, October 28th, 2015 at the MU Ballroom from 11am to 3pm, the Global Opportunities Fair will take place. At this fair, students who are interested in education abroad can meet others who have previously gone abroad through IE3 or OSU GO to ask questions about their experiences. Students will also have the chance to explore various clubs and organizations which have an international focus as well.

At the fair, there will be many booths designated for specific study abroad and exchange programs with information about Asia, Europe, Africa, South America, etc. Students can also find out about how to earn the International Degree, a unique opportunity to pair their primary major with a secondary one, earning two degrees by the time they graduate. Information will also be available on the international internships through IE3. Often times students can fit these programs to their major through working with their adviser to pick the best option based on duration, concentration, and cost.

With the many options offered students will likely have questions about Financial aid and scholarships. These questions can be addressed here at the Global Opportunities Fair through staff from the respective departments here at OSU. So what is there to wait for? Make sure to come by and check out this wonderful opportunity. You won’t be disappointed!

For those of you who are looking for even further opportunities to get engaged with the international community, I have some good news: every year at OSU, the International Living Learning Center holds an event called the International Fair. This year, the fair will be on November 17th. The fair will display an abundance of traditional foods, games, and activities from various cultures around the world that students, faculty, and staff can explore. These booths and activities can be found throughout the building on every floor. The event is also free of charge and open to the public.

The International Living Learning Center is located on 1701 SW Western Blvd. past Dixon Recreation Center, across from Arnold Dining Center.

These are just a few of the many events held at OSU. For a list of upcoming events related to the international community, refer here to the ISOSU website: http://sli.oregonstate.edu/isosu/events/irc-events for links to event information.

By Hannah Whitley

 
Hey fellow Beavers!

We’re closing in on week 5 of fall term, and if you haven’t by now, it should be prime time for midterms, projects, and papers to be due pretty soon. The middle of the term comes with its own challenges, but luckily, Oregon State students have a plethora of resources available to help them as they journey through college! One of my favorite resources at OSU is the Academic Success Center. Located in Waldo Hall, the Academic Success Center provides students with a variety of services, varying from study tables, to assistance with writing, to supplemental instruction and coaching. Here are a few programs the Academic Success Center offers that can help keep Oregon State students successful in the midst of midterms:

 
1. The Writing Center. Offering free help with any writing project at any stage in the writing process, the Writing Center is open to all OSU students in addition to staff, faculty, and members of the Corvallis community. In addition to academic papers, Writing Center assistants are trained to help with resumes, cover letters, and applications as well. Alongside their location in Waldo hall, the Writing Center has an online presence through the Online Writing Lab, where students may submit their work-in-progress though this portal: http://cwl.oregonstate.edu/owl.php. Call (541) 737-5640 to schedule your appointment today, or stop by Waldo from 9 am – 3:30 pm for a walk-in appointment.

 
2. Supplemental Instruction (SI) offers peer-led, group study tables for challenging courses. Though the support courses change each term, students can find which courses offer SI at this link: http://success.oregonstate.edu/si. SI groups meet once a week for 50 minutes during weeks 2-10 of each term. The Academic Success Center reports that “students who participate in study tables at least 5 times or more per time, on average, receive final grades 1/3 to ½ a grade higher than students who do not participate.” With that said, check out the SI tables today!

 
3. Feeling stressed about exam preparation? Struggling with your study plan for a challenging course? Academic coaching may be right for you! Academic coaches are available for a series of conversations which aim to assist students with their personal well-being and academic performance. With 45 minute appointments, coaching sessions allow students to discuss time management, test preparation, test taking, procrastination, and stress reduction with a trained coach. I was able to participate in academic coaching during my first term of college, and I will say, it’s the best thing I could have done at the time! Coaching helped me analyze how I was taking tests and gave me tips for how I could better my test taking experience. I definitely recommend academic coaching for anyone feeling stressed out during midterms or even with their impending final exams.

by Sam Trunkett

As a senior, I can definitively say that fall term is by far my favorite term of the year. Fall term is the term where the air is finally crisp, football season is back, and all of my friends come home from a long summer break. However, I can also definitively say that with age comes nostalgia. Since I am starting my fourth and final year, (yikes), I have recently taken time out from stressing about the future to reflect back on my first fall term at OSU.

 
My freshman year fall term was one for the books. Even though the winter and spring terms were great, this was the term where I met and was positively influenced by so many amazing people. One of my favorite experiences was taking Sports Media Through the Lens of Twitter, a UEngage course taught by Louie Bottaro. Louie didn’t just teach us to understand how media shapes the world of sports but also how to make the most of OSU. He made himself available to all of us and if there was anything we needed he would always try to help. By the end of the term, I found myself to be a not only a more confident student but a more confident individual.

 
Through this experience, I realized I wanted to help new OSU students adapt to this university too. I became a UEngage teaching assistant during my junior year and loved it. Not only did I get to work with Louie again, but my group of students were amazing individuals. I learned from their perspectives on sports, media, and also from hearing them share their experience as new OSU students.
In the interest of helping other students have UEngage experiences as rich as those I have been lucky enough to have, I have created a short list of tips to help current and future students get the most out of their UEngage course.

 
1. Ask Questions: Even though this tip may seem simple, most students do not feel comfortable during the first couple of weeks to raise their hand and ask a question. If you are this type of student, I recommend that you write down the questions you have in class and talk to your professor or teacher’s assistant after class. This way you can get to know your instructor and teachers assistant while building up confidence to ask questions in class.

 
2. Get To Know Your Instructor: What most students don’t know is that your instructor wants to get to know you. Most will take the time to keep in touch with you during the term and will help you adjust to college life. Your UEngage instructor will also be the most connected person you meet during your first term at school because he or she has been around OSU for at least a few terms and have built relationships with many instructors, offices, and advisors. They can refer you to different on-campus resources or they have the know how to figure out an issue if you have one. The biggest mistake a first year student at OSU could make is not getting to know their UEngage instructor.

 
3. Get To Know Your Peer Leader: The second biggest mistake is not getting to know your UEngage teacher’s assistant, or peer leader. UEngage peer leaders go through a course to learn about the different on-campus resources so that they are equally as knowledgeable as the instructors. Unlike instructors, peer leaders are also undergraduate students. Even though I learned a lot from Louie, sometimes I was able to get even better advice from my UEngage teacher’s assistant, Caitie. She was able to relate to the class in a way that Louie could not (if you’re reading this, Louie, I am sorry to point out the age difference). Your peer leader understands how hard it is to be a student in today’s changing world and just as eager to help you resolve your issues.