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Life


Life

Spectrum Theater presents

"It's never just fluff," said fourth-year student Megan Ross, the director of this year's production of "The Vagina Monologues," with regard to the content of Spectrum Theater shows. Ross said the group has produced such shows as "The Bad Seed" and "The Importance of Being Earnest" on stage in the past and strives to create socially challenging and provocative drama for its audiences, as opposed to "just fluff," or something simple and straightforward such as sheer comedy. "We want it to be interesting and to make people think," Ross said. The cast of ten actors for "The Vagina Monologues" was chosen at auditions held last weekend. Ross said she helped with "Monologues" during the first semester of her second year and got a part in the group's production of "Arcadia" that spring.


Life

Off-Grounds and Overwhelmed?

Off-Grounds housing may be some students' first step into the real world, and without the right information, it can be a slippery slope into late fees, landlord fights and roommate blues. The University provides assistance to make this transition into independent living a smooth and easy one for all students.


Life

An open application for a Lawn room

I've applied for a Lawn room every year at this University, and every year my efforts to procure myself a spot of immortal glory have been rebuffed by a Lawn committee grown fat with self-importance.


Life

RISE-ing

It's quite a riddle for the average overcommitted University student: an activity that everyone at the University participates in on a daily basis, yet also an activity that doesn't make it onto students' lists of extracurriculars or their resumes.


Life

Three Degrees of Winnie

I am more popular than Kevin Bacon. For Kevin Bacon, it's six degrees of separation, six steps from every person in Hollywood.


Life

Office space

With an undergraduate University community totaling about 13,000, it seems quite easy for a student to become lost in the crowd. One possibility to defend oneself from anonymity is to attend the "office hour" -- a term that has been ingrained in all University students upon their entrance into college life. While most professors and TAs encourage their students to take advantage of office hours on some level -- for questions, concerns or just personal interaction beyond the classroom -- many students never show. Whether students feel as though they are imposing with unimportant concerns or too nervous or intimidated to approach their distinguished professors, it's necessary to ponder just what a student is missing in doing so. "I've had a really positive experience with office hours," said first-year College student Courtney Mallow, who went to all her professors' office hours at least once last semester.


Life

Mess for success

Before college, I always thought of myself as a neat person, but it turns out that my mom's a neat person.


Life

Fourth year-itis

A new semester is upon us. No worries, faithful readers, my planner is being color coded as we speak.


Life

'Tis the season

Nothing brings out the worst in us quite like holiday shopping. Working in retail over winter break, I saw friends and neighbors at their nastiest, victims of the season of giving. The holidays mean big business for department stores.


Life

¿Habla Español?

Living in a country home to the fifth largest Spanish-speaking community in the world, it comes as no surprise that the department of Spanish, Italian and Portuguese is one of the largest departments at the University. "Spanish has become de facto the second language of this country, and people have started to realize this," department Chair Randolph Pope said.


Life

Ordinary and extraordinary

The only audible sound was the faint patter of bare feet on wooden floorboards as a group of 20 people walked aimlessly around The Forum at Observatory Hill Dining Hall.


Life

Is there a God?

There are several schools of thought on the existence of God. On the one hand, there are those who believe in God and would say, "Yes, there is a God." On the other hand, there are those people who do not believe in God and, if asked, would probably answer, "No." On the third hand, there are people who are not sure either way and tend to respond, "Meh." These three groups are called theists, atheists and mehists, respectively.


Life

Untraditional

"Appearing as a white male, I was raised in an almost all-black community," Sociology Prof. Matthew Hughey said.


Life

Wine-tasting with Mr. Jefferson

"I deem this the happiest movement for the University that has ever been made. I have no doubt that a large proportion of the students, if not all, will eventually join." Professor William Barton Rogers, 1842. I know what you're thinking.


Life

Green Christmas

Yesterday's frigid weather and light snow marked a radical change from last December's mild temperatures and warmer winter. Students who received new outdoor apparel for Christmas found themselves leaving their gifts inside the boxes since they had little need to wear them. "I got all these cute winter clothes for Christmas and now I can't wear them," first-year College student Kayce McGehee said. In addition to holding off on coats, jackets and mittens, many students found themselves pulling out summer apparel to keep cool. "I was wearing shorts for about a week because it was over 60 degrees," second-year College student Richard Murray said. McGehee also said she was shocked at what she was wearing during her time off.

Puzzles
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Latest Podcast

David Leblang, Director of Policy Studies at the Miller Center, analyzes how the Center has remained a nonpartisan institution during a particularly divisive time in politics. He delves into the various programs, events and policy proposals associated with the Center, and how they are making an impact at UVA and beyond.