Chapter 7

Managing your time and keeping on top of your academics can be a challenge as an incoming freshman. This can be especially difficult coming into the start of classes with a job. I am experiencing this first hand. In this first month, I have realized it is much more difficult to manage than I had initially thought. I am a server at a restaurant and I work Thursday through Sunday, starting at 5p.m. By the time I get out of work, I am tired and the last thing that I want to do is homework. All that this means is that I need to stay on top of my work and not get behind, so that my work does not pile up for one night. It is important to get enough sleep, as to not be too tired and sleep through classes. I have come into a nice routine after this first month, with my time being very well balanced between my workload at school and work. I need to keep this routine going, as the work load here at school will become harder as the year progresss. Time management comes down to even my morning commute on the Port Authority buses, as they are frequently late or are too crowded and pass me by. Taking the trolley is also a problem, you never know exactly when they are coming due to traffic or how many people are taking the trolley. Staying on top of the work load is hard to do, but very important.

Chapter 10: Drinking on Campus

"You might be an alcoholic if..."

How do you know if you're a college alcoholic? How about if every night of your weekend consists of going to parties? What about people who drink every weekend to fit in? This is a common problem found in college, especially when you have three-day weekends every weekend.

We all know that underage college kids drink, and we all know that when everyone leaves on the shuttle at 10 PM on a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday night that they're not going shopping. And this is where the trouble begins. All the freedom of college goes to their heads and they think that the only thing to do every weekend is drink and go from party to party in Oakland. One of my favorite weekend activities is sitting outside at night on the weekends to watch everyone who has been out partying come stumbling back in. The girls can barely walk in their high heels and the guys are loud and obnoxious. They're funny to watch, but the fact that they feel that drinking is the only way to have fun on weekends is not funny. When you live in the city, there's always something to do, even when most stores close by 6 PM.

Everyone knows that college kids are going to drink, even when there are other activities, but I think the party needs to slow down. The weekend shouldn't be about what parties to hit and how trashed you're going to get. What's the point of going to college if you can't even remember it in the morning?

By Leanna Indyk and Kaci Lewis

One Month In...Surprise Roommate!

One month into your Point Park Experience you may be realizing that your roommate may not live up to the high expectations or standards that you originally had. For example, I only spoke with my roommate a few times prior to moving into school. I was glad to learn that the entrance survey placed me in a room with a girl that had the same major as myself. It is nice to have a study buddy right there if we ever need each others opinion or notes on an assignment. I did not expect to have so much in common with someone I did not hand pick to live with. We had a good start when I moved in a day after her. She was all settled in and helped me move all of my bags and boxes. From the beginning we got along and had a respect and understanding for each others privacy and personal space.

It's good to keep an open mind going into a college where you know you'll be rooming with other people. Don't slash down a roomate because they have a certain band playing when you walk into the room, and definetly don't make a judgement of how awful your life will be now. If you stay open minded you might find out things you have in common, and a relationship can build from that. You shouldn't have high exspectations of what will happen and of what your roomate will offer to help out with. Be sure to 'Lay Down the Rules' before you need them too, the first week of school would be best, that way when a problem comes up you won't be saying "I'd rather you not do this-" when it's already happening.

An example of some rules could be sharing the grocery list;

• Will you share food?



• Will you split the bill?



• How do you decide who buys what?

My roommate and I had a fair plan for sharing food right off the bat. We keep our food on seperate shelves, but we share whatever we have. For example, I buy a case of water and the next time we need water she will buy it or give me the money to go to Sam's Club and get water. It is only fair that we split costs for food and water that we both enjoy. We also keep a running grocery list. Whoever uses the last bit of salsa or last few potato chips will write it on the list, so neither of us comes home to an empty jar of salsa.

Harlen Cohen Speaks at Point Park!

Few weeks back on a late Thursday, September 2, I was heading home for the weekend, but could not leave until I went to hear Harlan Cohen speak. Initially i went to his speaking as an extra credit assignment, and just wanted to get my book signed and that was it.. but i enjoyed him a lot more than i thought i would.
Harlan Cohen is the author of "The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College." As Cohen took the stage, started to speak and as he was speaking he grabbed his guitar and started playing, as he spoke. Right then, i knew he would be interesting. He continued his introduction on himself and then went right into a song about his roommate "Stew" who was a nudist, hence the title of his novel. So early on Harlan Cohen was very entertaining and captured my attention. He talked about just a few of the many issues we may face in college, such as long distance relationships (LDR), transferring, sex, not having sex, alcohol, drugs, ect. But this was not just a lecture on how to say "NO," it was more of him telling stories what he has been through and what stories he has gotten from other people and made it easier for us pay attention and really take in what he was saying.
What i liked the most was how enthusiastic he was about being at Point Park and having the chance to speak to us and give us his insight. He interacted with the audience, made us subject to his stories, almost like he was putting us in the shoes of whomever. He was extremely funny and very personable with us. He liked not only speaking to us but more so talking with us, getting our input and experiences to add to his speaking.
Lastly, he finished up with his well-known Syphilis song, which was very comical. I really hope Harlan Cohen comes back to speak at Point Park again, because i know i would love to attend another one of his shows!

First Time on the Incline by Ciera Onley

Who knew there was a whole other world up that mountain. At the top of Mount Washington a separate community sits over looking Pittsburgh. People who live there often work down in the city area, thus the incline was born. The incline, properly named The Duquesne Incline, is a way of transportation for the citizens of Mount Washington to get to and from work.
   I have always heard of the famous incline in Station Square but have never rode on  it. I find it amazing how the idea of a train car could be applied to going up the side of a mountain. It’s almost like an outdoor elevator that goes up and down a mountain, instead of a building. To my surprise the ride up was not very long. From a distance, it looked as if it would be a long ride but as soon I got inside, almost a second later I was at the top. The view from the top is perfect. You could look down and see every bit of Pittsburgh.
Atop Mount Washington, I could see all the buildings of Pittsburgh, the many bridges and the river. 
    If you are afraid of heights I do not recommend taking a ride on the incline. However if you are not afraid of heights, you must make it a goal to ride the incline. 

A View of Pittsburgh