Katie Ward
Senate Correspondent
In recent years, USF’s Center for Institutional Planning and Effectiveness has reported improved freshman retention rates. ASUSF senators and students of the current freshman class feel that the freshman retention is alarmingly low, however, and must be discussed in order be improved upon. Continue reading Senate: Students Disagree with Administration’s Claim of Improved Freshman Retention Rates
Hayen Gehr
Staff Writer
TIARA TUCKER
Tucker’s arrival at a Division 1 basketball school is clear evidence that size, in fact, does not matter. The five-foot-three point guard is four inches shorter than any other player on the Dons, but boasts a quickness and fearlessness that can make any height disadvantage seem unimpor- tant. Tucker spent her high school days at Brookside Christian and then McNair High School, both of which are in Stockton, Calif. As a junior at Brookside Christian, Tucker fully displayed her offensive explosiveness, averaging 29.6 points per game and scoring a ridiculous 73 points in a sin- gle game. This scoring output was the fourth highest individual point total in high school women’s basketball state history, and for good measure, she had two other games in which she scored over 50 points. Continue reading DONS FRESHMAN PROFILES: THE FUTURE OF USF BASKETBALL
Nick Schebetta
Contributing Writer
NICK LOEW
For freshman walk-on Nick Loew, earning playing time and the trust of his coaches will come down to one thing: hard work.
“As a walk-on, I feel that I just need to show the coaches that I can play really hard and give a great effort,” Loew said. Continue reading Dons Freshman Profiles: The Future of USF Basketball
Pranav Mandavia
Staff Writer
Welcome to USF new Dons! Congrats on making it to your first day of freshman year. Once you move into your dorm, meet your roommate(s), and experience the hype of new student orientation, you’ll be wondering, now what?! As new students nationwide start a new adventure in their lives, the pressure’s on to make the most out of college, especially freshman year. So, how will you make the most out of your first year at USF?
Moving to San Francisco from New Jersey, I definitely was very nervous and anxious about my first year. Looking back, I now know that I definitely could have done things a little differently to make the most out of my first year, like getting involved with student organizations such as the Campus Activities Board my first semester instead of in my sophomore year. If I could give one piece of advice to new students, I would say to get involved as much as you can the first day. Go to all orientation activities, and try to meet as many people as you can.
To help give some insight into freshman year and what to expect, we’ve asked some experienced students here at USF to reminisce on their time as freshmen and give some advice on what to definitely do your first year and what they would do differently their first year if they had the chance.
Sarah White,
Senior, psychology major:
“Be more involved. My freshmen year, I lived in Fromm and I felt really alienated. I’m really shy so I didn’t really reach out, which is why I think I don’t have many friends now and I’m a senior. Just get more involved. Everyone is in the same boat as you, so don’t be afraid to reach out and make new friends. Enjoy all the clubs you can.”
Christina Seruge,
Junior, international studies major, Latin American minor:
“I would definitely spend more time socializing with people instead of studying all the time. You get to make more friends. I would join more clubs right away so you have seniority by the time you’re a junior. Get to know the people in financial aid and CASA because they will be the ones to help you when you register for classes.”
Kevin Bachar,
Junior, nursing major:
“Taking advantage of office hours and your professors as a resource are the biggest things I would go back and change. You get so caught up wanting to do everything that you never really sit back and say ‘oh hey, my professor can be the greatest resource I have.’ Because now, my professors from my sophomore and junior year, I have that kind of relationship with.”
Caleb Banks,
Senior, psychology major:
“I wanted to be a lot more active. There were some things I really wanted to do in terms of helping and changing the school, or pursuing my own interests that I decided to step back from and not really take advantage of full-heartedly. I didn’t know much as a freshman and I was too naive. If I could do freshmen year all over again, I would be more ambitious and take advantage of the things I wanted to get done for myself and for the school.”
We’ve all heard of the horror that is the Freshman Fifteen, and we all spending some extra time in Koret is usually the best way to fight it off. But what if you hate working out? Never been to the gym in your life? Then these tips are for you!
1. Participate in Intramural Sports
USF offers nine sports in the fall that are open to all students! Not only is it a great way to stay active, it provides an opportunity for you to hang out with friends and even meet fellow students with similar interests.
2. Run up the Lone Mountain Stairs
Give yourself two minutes to conquer all 142 stairs. Best way to ensure that happens every single time? If you have classes up on Lone Mountain, leave your dorm five minutes before your class starts. Heavy backpacks and intimidating professors can be very effective in helping students stay active.
3. Avoid late-night pizza/burger runs to Crossroads
Being 10 feet from the University Center and armed with a copious amount of Flexi makes getting supper incredibly convenient. But is standing in line for over half an hour for a burger really worth it? And you leave smelling like smoke. If you get hungry at night, go for the fruits or yogurt parfaits. You don’t emerge with the lingering smell of smoke in your hair as you’re usually out of there in five minutes and won’t regret having a burger at midnight the next day.
4. Lose your MUNI Pass
Since you are only entitled to one MUNI pass per semester, if you lose it, you’re forced to pay for bus rides. Two dollars for a couple of blocks on the bus? Just put on a pair of comfy walking shoes and power walk your way to your destination! With the way the city is built, you’ll be fit without even trying to be. And chances are, with this cool weather, you won’t even break out in a sweat.
5. Make Flexi work for you
Flexi money isn’t monopoly money. It doesn’t mean you should go around buying chips and ice cream everyday just because you can. Go for the healthier food options like the salad bar. You can even walk up to Lone Mountain and buy food that you can make in the dorm kitchens. Making your own food means that you get to control what goes in it and the portion sizes. If you have friends that don’t have the meal plan, help them out! By sharing, you eat less and accumulate good karma.
Through eating smart and constantly staying active, you should be able to avoid the freshman fifteen without ever having to work out at the gym. If these tips don’t work for you, then maybe it is time to get yourself over to Koret a few times a week…
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