Incoming freshmen at five different American universities are using a Facebook application to send roommate requests to other students. The application helps students find a roommate through “online scouting,” and matches each student according to political or religious views, study habits, and even cleanliness.

The creators of RoomBug describe the application as one that allows students to “do their own roommate matching at on-campus residences and off-campus student properties across the nation.”  They explain that their mission is to “empower residents in the roommate selection process.”

As of right now, students at Emory University, the University of Florida, Temple University, Wichita State University and William Paterson University can use the application to fill out a form and describe their living preferences. If they find a “match” on the application which fits their description, the student can then send a request to other users.

Approximately 25 percent of the 5,179 incoming freshmen at the University of Florida are using the application.

“We decided that rather than continue to fight against the social media that is so much a part of our students’ lives, we need to get engaged in that social media,” explained TJ Logan, who works as the associate director of housing at the University of Florida.

The application allows students to fill out a 5-point questionnaire, so rather than providing a “yes or no response,” users can rate their answers on a scale of 1 to 5. All of the users are asked questions based on their:

• Neatness level
• Preferred bedtime
• Visitor frequency
• Activity level
• Academic vs. social focus

Once they have completed their own questionnaire, users answer the same five questions to describe their “ideal roommate.” For the final question, students must then select whether they would like to live with a smoker or a non-smoker.

Users can choose whether they would like their “lifestyle filter” to be turned on or off. If the lifestyle filter is turned on, all of the answers they have provided about their “ideal roommate” will be applied, and the number of roommate matches will be limited to only those who fit their preferences.

But the RoomBug application isn’t the first of its kind: Over 83,000 students at 775 American institutions are already using URoomSurf, and students can create their own profiles, complete surveys, and then view their online matches. And two years ago Tulane University announced their partnership with a similar application called RoommateClick.

But not everyone is praising the use of social media as a roommate-matcher, as some feel this gives rise to racial, religious, or sexual profiling.

“As you leave behind high school to redefine and even reinvent yourself as adult, you need exposure to an array of different ideas, backgrounds and perspectives — not a cordon of clones,” writes Maureen Dowd, a reporter for The New York Times. “College is not only where you hit the books. It also should be where you learn not to judge a book by its cover.”

“The Science of Roommates”

Picking your future roommate is a serious decision that should not be taken lightly: Studies show that your roommate’s lifestyle could not only have a positive or negative impact on your education, it could also affect your state of mind as well.

According to a University of Michigan survey of 1,600 freshmen at two different universities, college students are more likely to fall into a state of depression if they live with a depressed roommate. Another group of researchers at Harvard found that non-drinkers who live with a partying roommate actually receive lower grades, and this is especially the case if two partying roommates, specifically males, live and drink together.

Also,  if a student lives with a roommate who has a video game addiction, studies show that their grade point average is 0.2 lower than students who don’t live with video game addicts.

In another study conducted with freshmen at Marquette University, it was discovered that females who live with heavier roommates are less likely to gain weight as opposed to those who live with thinner roommates. Margo D. Maine, who is a psychologist and specialist in eating disorders, explained that women between the ages of 17 and 19 are more at risk of developing eating disorders if they live with a “calorie-counting roommate.”

“Peer pressure is intense in that first year of college, probably more intense than in any other year of life,” states Jeffrey Jensen Arnett, a research psychologist at Clark University and author of ‘Emerging Adulthood: The Winding Road From Late Teens Through the 20s.’ “Everyone around you is a stranger and you want to fit in…One way to find that place is to go along with what other people seem to be doing and what they seem to want you to do.”

When I once asked my Uncle Joe to name a couple of staples of his college academic experience he began with two of his most dreaded aspects: instruction delivered entirely in lecture format and the three hour final exam, especially those featuring a blank blue book.

Uncle Joe could not believe his ears when I told him that at MIT the lecture format was being tossed by the wayside though he acknowledged that development was basically positive. But his incredulity will no doubt top new heights when he learns that one of the premier educational institutions in America is rapidly phasing out that traditional final exam.

In the July-August issue of John Harvard’s Journal, the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) of that venerable institution “adopted a bland-sounding motion” that revoked a longstanding tradition at the school:

“henceforth, ‘unless an instructor officially informs the Registrar by the end of the first week of the term’ of the intention to end a course with a formal, seated exam, ‘the assumption shall be that the instructor will not be giving a three-hour final examination’ and no slot will be reserved for it in the schedule.”

Once upon a time, the faculty members’ handbook dictated that courses were to end with examinations “unless instructors petitioned for an exemption.” But alas, the magazine reports that no professors had ever petitioned current dean of undergraduate education Jay M. Harris to forgo administering an exam.

But it seems that for those elders whose college experiences were defined by those hated blue books that the new policy actually reflects current practice at the school. Last spring, of 1,137 undergraduate-level courses scheduled at the school, just 259 finished with a final exam.

Though petitioning was not part of the current landscape, Harvard Magazine reported that until the 1940s, “requests to conclude a course without a final examination required a formal vote by the entire FAS.”

The move “to examine less and less and less and less” of course did not sit well with all professors, even some who voted for the language change to ensure the bureaucracy was up to date. Many wondered aloud whether those courses without exams would suffer diminished attendance late in a semester while others pointed out that the holdouts, those still delivering exams, were feeling pressured by the rancor of students seldom having to sit for exams anymore.

As for other reasons to eliminate the finals, some professors questioned their value as assessment tools while others frowned on the practice of having to proctor them.

The move, perhaps seen as a positive one by students, has immediately drawn criticism from the likes of Education Next:

From Education Next:

Harvard Wimps Out on Testing

Wouldn’t it be nice not to have to take — or grade — final exams? But wouldn’t it be nicer to know what students are learning?

We are left wondering: Without exams to prove it, how can students be sure that they are ‘generally educated’ when they graduate? How can the institution itself be sure? Or doesn’t it care?

Those criticisms will no doubt pale next to what Uncle Joe has to say when he hears that Harvard is about to eliminate what has always been one of the most stressful weeks in any student’s academic life. To be honest, I am not sure I will be able to put his thoughts on this site, not his exact words mind you.

Because no doubt it will begin with left-wing, liberal …….

What say you? Is it time for all schools to move in the same direction? Will you pressure your school’s faculty to follow Harvard’s lead?

While many college courses fit the staunch, conservative mold, there are a number of options that just cry out for the opportunity to be in the classroom, even if the course were to be offered primarily in lecture format.

Today we take a look at those options, our “Coolest of the Cool College Courses.”

Music Specialties

If you are into music, then UCLA is a place to consider. You can take courses such as The Beatles, an “examination of life and the music of the Beatles within social and historical context of the 1960s” and featuring an “emphasis on how this music has reflected and influenced changes in sexual, racial, and class identities and attitudes.”

Better yet, you can delve into the History of Electronic Dance Music, a survey of groove-based electrified dance music or take Motown and Soul: African American Popular Music of 1960s, a five credit course featuring four hours of lecture and one of discussion. You study the “relationships between musical forms and cultural issues of 1960s, including Civil Rights Movement, counterculture, black-nationalism, capitalism, and separatism, and larger dimensions of African American experience as mediated through groove-based music.”

Better yet, you can opt for pass/fail grading though you best be into the history of rock and roll as that course demands a letter grade.

Of course, if you are thinking of majoring in music, it will not be all fun and games. You will have to contend with courses on The Symphony, as well as the great composers: Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven. And in some instances, it is letter grade only.

Bah-dah-dah-dumm.

But if music is your specialty, the coolest of the cool has to be Nuthin’ but a “G” Thang at Oberlin Experimental College. Yep, the course features Nas, TuPac, Run DMC, Biggie, Dr. Dre, Snoop, Scarface, DJ Screw, Wu-Tang Clan, A Tribe Called Quest, and Grandmaster Flash. You can even present artists of your choice to the class over the final two weeks.

Television Fanatics

For those into TV, there are some real interesting options. First, consider How to Watch Television at Montclair State University, a course designed for both broadcasting majors and non-majors. In the category of can I really get college credit for this, the school catalog has the course goal as “analyzing television in the ways and to the extent to which it needs to be understood by its audience.”

If you were or still are into Sesame Street (who cannot bust out with a verse of “It’s a Rainy Day” when kids are around and the drops are falling) and those love-able puppets, then you no doubt would love Muppet Magic: Jim Henson’s Art at the University of California Santa Cruz. The focal point of the course is (are you sitting down?): how the Muppets have changed television, film and art.

Or how about The Simpsons? At San Jose State you can delve into the comic characters in The Simpson’s as Social Science, a course that compares Homer and Marge’s stories to real-life issues.

If that doesn’t quite cut it, we have heard tell of Introduction to Cultural Studies: The Simpsons at the Rochester Institute of Technology featuring an introduction to cultural theory and the analysis of popular culture based on the television hit. But the best Simpson’s option could well be the University of California at Berkeley’s Simpsons and Philosophy. But there you need to be expert on Simpsons trivia as to pass the class you must write a 22-minute show for your final exam.

Other cartoon based culture options include Calvin & Hobbes where Professor Timothy Morgan takes a look at the strips quality, ‘relatobility’ and its wealth of themes and ideas. But sadly, one of the most unique, Far Side Entomology at Oregon State may be coming to a close. Students in the Honors class receive “a clipping from The Far Side and then work in teams of two to prepare a presentation the following week on the insect in their cartoon.”

For Trekkies, there has been Philosophy and Star Trek at Georgetown University, Star Trek and Religion at the University of Indiana and The Religions of Star Trek at Muhlenberg College.

At Georgetown and Muhlenberg we could not find the course still in the course catalog despite our hearing that the class considers such amazing questions like “whether or not time travel is possible and if reality is radically different from what we think it is.” InStar Trek and Religion at IU, students are introduced to the “writings of classic critics of religion, mystics, and constructive thinkers who combine some insights from modern physics with religious ideas.”

Moving on to the world of books and movies, the cult phenomena that is Harry Potter has taken the fantasy world to a number of college campuses. There is Science of Harry Potter at Frostburg State University, in Maryland a course that features a comprehensive look into the “reality in the fantasy of Harry Potter” and the magical aspects that are then turned into a study of physics.

We understand that Yale now offers Christian Theology and Harry Potter, a course where students analyze the world of the warlock and how it fits with Christian themes like innocence, sin, and resurrection.

Those who still actually watch pro wrestling would love a chance at MIT’s Topics in Comparative Media: American Pro Wrestling. The course is an “exploration of the cultural history and media industry surrounding the masculine drama of professional wrestling.

Demonstrating the principles of marketing, the class also hones in on the promotion of the sport and “how shifts in wrestling characters demonstrate changes in the depiction of American masculinity.”

And if you are into the phenomena that is YouTube (who isn’t) there is now Learning from YouTube at Pitzer College. And yes, the course consists of students watching, discussing, and commenting on YouTube videos. In fact, the course syllabus and videos from the class are available on YouTube.

But for perhaps the most unique, we turn to Occidental College where students can take an entire course in The Phallus. With puns available galore, we simply note that students examine the signification of the phallus and its relation to masculinity, femininity, and a number of other topics we will leave out at this time.

And in saving the best for last, it is also at Occidental that one can take a course in Stupidity. According to the school catalog, “Stupidity is neither ignorance nor organicity, but rather, a corollary of knowing and an element of normalcy, the double of intelligence rather than its opposite” and how stupidity “makes itself felt in political life ranging from the presidency to Beavis and Butthead.”

Inside Higher Ed suggested that ‘Fitness for Life’ may well have been “the most discussed college course around” in recent weeks. But almost as soon as the course made national news, it has become a footnote in internet lore.

Adopted in 2006 by Lincoln University, the course was to be a graduation requirement for a select group of students: those seniors with a body mass index score of above 30. This year’s seniors were the first to be affected by the requirement: either lose weight or complete the Fitness for Life course by the time they graduated.

Amidst Outrage, Other Colleges Express Interest

According to newspaper sources, Lincoln faculty, concerned with the negative publicity surrounding the requirement, met on Friday and made the course voluntary in a near-unanimous vote. The policy will be one that encourages students who are obese to take the course, but the school has ended “the stipulation that these students enroll in the class as a graduation requirement if they don’t lose weight.”

Interestingly, according to school administration, once the story hit the national news, phone calls began coming in from other colleges seeking information about how to set up programs to help obese students. While those inquiring might have had a different idea about making course requirements, apparently many schools are concerned with the issue.

Still, many staff at Lincoln, the first historically black college created in the United States, were reportedly upset by the school’s sudden, new-found fame. Instead of the university with “the fat class,” Lincoln’s faculty and alumni preferred a return to the days when the school was known for the likes of Thurgood Marshall and Langston Hughes.

Though the faculty chose to end the requirement, James L. DeBoy, chair of Lincoln’s health, physical education and recreation department, continuously held fast to the idea. Prior to the meeting, DeBoy published a document urging staff to ‘stay the course’ and not dwell on the outside criticism:

“As educators we must be honest with our students and inform them when behavior, attitude, knowledge bases, or habits of mind are not what we, the faculty, deem as acceptable,” wrote DeBoy. “Any factor/trait/characteristic that we believe will hinder students’ maximum development and full realization of life goals must be: (1) brought to their attention; (2) substantiated as being detrimental; and (3) adequately redressed.”

After the vote, Inside Higher Ed noted DeBoy “was not distressed because of the continued commitment to the course and to raising the issues involved.”

Though Legality Unanswered, Students Pleased

The vote left the legality of the requirement up in the air. Many had called the initial requirement discriminatory since it required only certain students complete the course. But school officials insisted that legal concerns were not a critical component of the decision.

Students however, seemed pleased with the results. They also seemingly had an impact on the final vote since several were in attendance at the meeting.

One of the students present at the meeting, junior Sharifa Riley, was unequivocal in her pronouncement when discussing the topic with Philly.com. “It’s discrimination if they tell one group, ‘You’re too fat, you have to take this course,’ and they tell another group, ‘You’re OK, you don’t have to take it,’” Riley was quoted. “If everyone had to take the course, that would have been better.”

And fellow junior Lakeishia Fleet, 20, called the new policy “a good idea; it gives us a choice. Now we can get back to worrying about finals, not a weight class.”

According to reports Lincoln University had been the only college outside the nation’s military academies to invoke some form of physical fitness requirement for graduation.

It was about two weeks ago we saw the alarming headline:

Report says 75 percent of Americans unfit to serve in military.

Calling it another threat to our national-security, the report, Ready, Willing and Unable to Serve (pdf) , indicated that 75 percent of Americans ages 17 to 24 do not qualify for military service because they are either physically unfit, they failed to finish high school or they have a criminal record.

On the education front, about one in four in the 17-to-24 age group lacks a high school diploma. That statistic has Education Secretary Arne Duncan pressing Congress to approve the Early Learning Challenge Fund, a 10-year initiative to improve childhood development programs.

According to MercuryNews.com, roughly one third of all Americans in the age range would be disqualified for a wide variety of health related issues including asthma or for taking pills for depression or attention disorders. And another 27 percent of all young Americans would be disqualified by obesity alone.

New College Requirement

With that as a backdrop, we turn to Lincoln University in Pennsylvania where the school has enacted a physical fitness course requirement. The graduation condition is causing a major fuss because the course is not necessarily a requirement for all students.

Instead, the mandate exists for students with a body mass index of 30 and above, a BMI deemed as obese. Those students in that category must take and pass a fitness course that meets three times a week.

And if they are assigned to the class but do not pass, there is no diploma.

The requirement went into effect in the fall of 2006 but is only now making national waves as the time approaches for the first set of graduating students to be affected by the policy. And one should not be too surprised to learn that the school is now facing criticism from both students and the greater public.

Most articulate that the unfairness comes from the fact that not all students are being held to the same standard. James DeBoy, chairman of the school’s Department of Health and Physical Education, offers quite a strong rebuttal to that assertion.

He likens the requirement to other remedial courses that some students need to take to improve their reading or math proficiency levels. He also went so far as to offer this rather candid assessment:

“We, as educators, must tell students when we believe, in our heart of hearts, when certain factors, certain behaviors, attitudes, whatever, are going to hinder that student from achieving and maximizing their life goals.

“Obesity is going to rob you of your quality and quantity of life,” he went on to add. “We believe that this is unconscionable.”

Lincoln, an historically black college named after the “Great Emancipator,” might be a bit more cognizant of the general issue, since roughly four out of five African-American women over the age of 20 are overweight or obese according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. When summarizing the situation, the folks at CNN added: “Obesity increases a person’s risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, some cancers and other ailments.”

But the same report offers this assessment from the legal perspective:

“The school’s requirement seems ‘paternalistic’ and ‘intrusive,’ David Kairys, professor of law at Temple University Law School in Philadelphia, Pa., offered. ‘The part that seems excessive is forcing them to take this course, or to exercise three hours a week, which isn’t a bad idea for them, but should be their choice.’”

Addressing a Problem

We began by reminding folks of the recent military assessment of Americans ages 17-24 and noted the push for early childhood education to potentially address the 25% of this age group that did not graduate from high school. Of course, while no one questions the overall goal, many will question whether the funding of early childhood will be the answer.

Likewise, with 27% of that age group deemed obese, there should be a call to action to address this alarming trend. It of course has long term ramifications that transcend the military concerns and gets to one critical element of the healthcare debate, the idea of taking personal responsibility for one’s physical well-being.

And there will no doubt be those who insist that the Lincoln requirement, or any such similar expectation at the collegiate or high school level, will do nothing to address the issue.

But then again, there is little doubt that the first step to solving a major issue is to educate the public on that issue. Lincoln appears to be doing just that.

The school even goes one step further. It takes those bright and hard-working students nearing graduation that are most in need of addressing this specific concern and mandates they be educated on the issue.

When asked as to how you did last semester, nothing can top the sound of that simple four-word explanation:

Made the Dean’s List.

It certainly has a positive connotation to it. It also carries a special sense of pride, whether you are talking to your parents, grandparents, or one of your former high school teachers. And most importantly, it is a great thing to be able to place on your resume.

When you say “I made the dean’s list” it means one simple thing – you can handle the expectations associated with the rigors of college.

We know you want to be part of the select group that is able to make that claim and here is our six step method to making it happen.

1. Be Organized

Almost all college courses follow a troubling pattern – front loading information and back loading assignments. Too many courses begin with lots of reading and little in the way of written work only to end with major projects and papers due just as semester exams approach.

The most important step for academic success is to create a master schedule/calendar of your courses and the assignments due for the semester. It does not matter which format you use, digital or traditional, you just need to create a master with all pertinent information.

That means taking the entire syllabus for each course and plotting all written assignments, projects, papers and exams on one master calendar. Be sure and highlight any extra credit work options that are noted or add them to the calendar when the professor makes them known.

Once complete, to ensure you have a complete sense of the demands ahead, spend 30 minutes each Sunday evening reviewing the upcoming week and the two weeks that follow. Look carefully at that work and then plan your study time for the week. In the early going, when less written work is required, make a commitment to doing more than the required reading. A good goal is to work towards being at least a week ahead at the end of the first five weeks of the semester.

Second, organize all materials into folders and notebooks. There are way too many expectations to have you wasting time searching for some paper or papers you have misplaced. Such materials include all the original class handouts, the additional materials provided by the professor during the semester and your returned assignments, quizzes and tests. Don’t forget, those returned papers can be extremely helpful when it comes time for final exam preparation.

2. Find a Quiet Place to Study

One of the most critical aspects of college success is to be able to place the social scene on hold so as to be able to focus on the task at hand. While most think of the need to limit such time to the weekend, the reality is that the dormitory is often a social scene, one that can be a constant source of disruption. Limiting the time you spend in your dorm room is the only way to eliminate those distractions.

It is imperative that whenever you are reading challenging materials or preparing for an exam you have a quiet place where you can truly disappear. It might be the back stacks at the library, the basement lounge at your dorm or a study area in one of your campus classroom buildings. Ultimately, you must utilize this place whenever you need to find some real quiet time.

3. Attend and Participate in All Classes

It goes without saying that it is extremely important that you go to all of your classes every week. Your professor will not only spend class time on the subject matter, he or she will also help you identify how class projects and homework assignments will be graded and what you will need to know for tests.

In addition, some college professors make class participation a component of the overall grade. In such instances, they expect the students to be more than just present, they want to see you ask questions and contribute your thoughts to class discussions.

Obviously you cannot participate if you are not present. And you cannot participate in a meaningful way if you are not prepared.

And even if there is no grade for attending or participating, your presence and your participation can be extremely helpful. Your presence and participation will indicate to your professor that you are interested in the material and that you are committed to your responsibilities.

Such a step cannot hurt when that prof is about to provide that final grade for the semester and you are right on the line between a B+ and an A-.

Lastly, remember – taking notes is also a form of participation. Jot down everything that appears relevant, especially the information presented in overheads, in power points or written on the board. And if you are not good at note taking, get a tape recorder and record the class.

4. Implement the 15-Minute Review

To ensure you make the most of each class, arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled starting time and implement the 15-Minute Review.

At that point, instead of seeking out others to socialize, take the time to review two items briefly but as thoroughly as you can. First, review your notes from the prior class to remind yourself of what was being discussed and where the class ended. Then, quickly glance through the required reading in your text so as to have a sense as to where the professor will go during the class.

Doing these two tasks in a focused manner will not only ensure that you are in a proper mindset for the class when the professor begins, it means you will have a much better sense as to how the material the professor is presenting connects to the prior learning. Those two things will ensure your class is extremely productive.

To maximize the benefit of this concept, begin by implementing the review the evening before. If you have three classes the following day, take 45 minutes and break that time into three segments where you review your notes from the prior class and the reading material. Doing so the night before, then repeating just prior to class will again make class attendance far more productive. It will also greatly reduce your need for last minute study time when exams loom.

5. Limit the Social Scene

College offers enormous academic and social opportunities. It goes without saying that the social opps are far more enjoyable.

At the same time, all experts concur, that taking some time from studies is critical to maintain an emotional balance. But there is a difference between an occasional recharging of batteries on the weekend and shortchanging your responsibilities during the week. If you do not remind yourself of the task at hand, it is all too easy to get pulled away by your classmates at times when you really should be focused on completing some critical assignments.

Ultimately, you must remember why it is that you are attending college – that the academics must come first. The failure to do so is the undoing of far too many students – in some cases it is the difference between that A or B grade and a C. Sadly, in other instances, it is the basis for why so many are forced to drop out, their C’s having fallen to F’s.

There will be people around you who are taking a less rigorous academic program and thus can spend more time socializing/partying. There will be even more people around you who have forgotten why they are attending college.

You cannot forget, not if you want your name on that magic list.

6. Study

Yes, it does come down to the fact that you will need to study. But when it comes to studying, forget those stories about the all-night cram sessions, the weekend in a motel room with nothing but your books, some Ramen noodles and your hot water pot.

Simply stated, cramming sucks, from an emotional standpoint and from an academic preparation standpoint.

In college it is truly the story of the tortoise and the hare. You need to be a turtle, slow and steady with an emphasis on the word steady. The key is to do a small amount of work every day.

Unlike high school, when you are not in class, your time will be yours. There are no study halls and no required places to be. If you have a one hour class at eight, another at eleven and a third at three, it can be very easy to waste away the time from nine to eleven, or from one to three.

This is where your calendar comes in – you need to schedule that time, assigning a specific chapter to read or constructing an aspect of a paper or writing up those math problems. If you are not careful, you will find ways to fill that time with other things that seem more enjoyable yet do not match up with the reason you are actually attending college, the idea of earning a diploma.

And scheduling that time means time and location – where are you going to go so as to ensure you do the work you set out to do.

Making the Dean’s List

We must add that taking care of your physical health is also critical. You need to eat right, get to bed at a decent hour and find some way to exercise consistently. Such steps are critical to remain physically and mentally healthy.

In addition, select the right courses, those that you have the required prerequisites and background for, and be sure not to overload yourself with too many reading-based courses, too many lab based courses, etc. Five classes can be too many if each course expects hundreds of pages of reading between each class. Think through your schedule carefully to ensure you have a reasonable and balanced workload.

All in all, getting good grades in college is not beyond the realm of the serious student who displays the proper attitude.  If you attend class, work hard, and stay on top of the expectations, at the end of the semester you will be one of the select few, the proud, the student who can offer a humble shrug as you answer that question as to how you did last semester.

Made the Dean’s List.

You went off to college with great expectations yet now the excitement is definitely waning.

Perhaps you were barely ten days into the school year when the pile of dirty clothes began resembling the dormitory equivalent of Mt. Olympus? Another ten days later, not only did you note an odor beginning to emerge from the pile but you soon noticed other not so rich smells?

That each time your roomie entered the room you recalled the smell you generally associate with a large dumpster? Was it at that point that you realized he seemed completely unaware of where the shower was located?

Or was the issue less stomach-churning yet equally troubling. The constant stream of visitors or the CD player burning incredibly hot as it unceasingly blared rap music that would even cause Eminem to want to find some quiet time?

Perhaps it was even less insidious but just as onerous; as in the loudest snoring you have ever witnessed? That last snort always sounding as if your roomie might actually be drawing his very last breath.

Did your first call home to express your outrageous horror only result in Dad being, well…, Dad? The usual minimizing of the negatives and the suggestion that this could be a good thing, that it will help you get out of the room more and develop other friendships? Not to mention help you develop greater resiliency and even teach you to take a look at your own actions?

Surviving the Roommate from Hell

Rooming with another person is a great challenge, especially when two people have very different tastes and personal practices. Living in a very small space such as a dorm room involves compromise from both parties.

While it is easy to place heaps of blame on the person in the other bed, it could well be that you might just be getting on your roommate’s nerves just as much as he or she is getting on your’s. Still, just what is a person to do when, well, they seem to have been assigned the roommate from hell?

Dealing with Serious Concerns

DO: If you have concerns, it is imperative that you begin by discussing the specific issues directly with your roommate. In doing so, you must confront each issue head on but you also must do everything in your power to remove all emotion from the discussion. Politely note what you are witnessing, and why this is an issue for you. As you do so, to keep the emotions down, be sure to focus on the behavior and not the person. It is imperative that you not be seen as rendering personal judgment. Therefore, it is very helpful to begin the process by noting that you will let him or her express any possible concerns they might have with your actions!

DON’T: Whatever you do, don’t wimp out and leave a note. They never work and most times, they usually backfire. Also remember that bringing in outsiders generally only adds fuel to minor issues, especially if it begins with you making sarcastic comments that somehow manage to get back to your roomie. So don’t bring in the Resident Assistant before you have at least made a minimal level of effort to confront this particular issue yourself first.

Dealing with the Odor Queen or King

DO: This is a legitimate issue that falls under the first step noted above. You must confront your roomie with the specific issue. Most importantly, to help them make progress you must be ready to offer concrete suggestions and even some much-needed help. If the issue is a monstrous pile of smelly clothes, it just might mean that you will need to explain the concept of a laundry bag. Maybe even offer to have him or her accompany you on your next excursion to the laundry area. If it is about BO, it may be helpful to offer access to specific body products like shampoo and deodorant, perhaps even purchasing a few extra items and make them available.

DON’T: Whatever you do, don’t belittle him or her in the process. If you make your roommate feel too small, your words will fall on deaf ears. They will be angry and see you as simply being hypercritical. The magic words most definitely include, “I am telling you this for your own good – as your roommate I feel I must make you aware of this issue so that it does not interfere with your ability to make friends. I just know that if you knew this was a problem you would want to take care of the issue.”

Dealing with the Aspiring MTV DJ

DO: Again, take this issue into your own hands. The bottom line is your room must provide you with a place to sleep and to store your personal items. Be sure to create a schedule with your roommate’s input that preserves these basic elements. That said, in an effort to fight battles worth fighting, it must be noted that your dorm room does not necessarily need to be your place to study. If your roomie insists on music blaring and you need solitude to work your academic magic, you must find a quiet place on-campus to study and do your related work.

DON’T: While it is easy to give in on the study time schedule, don’t let the issue interfere with your sleep needs. While you can let him or her blare that rap music afternoon and early evening, there comes a point when it must be turned off so that you can sleep. As part of the negotiations process, let your roomie know you will allow him to get his music fix as much as you can reasonably manage but come 9:00 P.M. (9:30 or 10:00, whatever makes sense for you) you need the room to be quiet.

Dealing with the 24/7 Hostess

DO: As with the DJ, this is an issue that can be minimized to a certain extent. It begins with a discussion of a reasonable schedule, when it is appropriate for visitors to stop by. It then also involves requesting the common courtesy of knowing when someone is stopping over. That way you can plan accordingly and make your way to your study sanctuary if need be.

DON’T: Whatever you do, don’t waver in your expectations regarding having a quiet room for those moments you want it quiet. That means no visitors after a specific time. And don’t be afraid to declare specific items off base, as in no visitors plopping down on your bed or somehow managing to paw through your personal items. Offer your desk chair as one place to sit but otherwise you would expect visitors to be parked on your roomie’s bed, in their desk chair or seated on the floor.

Dealing with Rip-Snorting Snorer

DO:This actually may be the toughest to deal with – such issues represent breathing problems often brought on by weight or other physical ailments. It could be that your roomie is not aware that his nighttime breathing is so contorted it is causing the blinds to rustle. Noting this behavior just might be the impetus to his getting the issue examined. After all, he may not even be aware of what is taking place. A set of earplugs could be helpful if your roommate is not ferociously loud. But of course with such items in your ears it might prove tough to hear that alarm clock come morning.

DON’T: Don’t ignore this issue if it is keeping you awake at night. To be productive, you must get your sleep on a regular basis. Again, this can be one of the most challenging of issues to actually solve and could well be the one where you quickly enlist the help of the RA or HR.

Dealing with Candidates for the University of San Quentin

DO: When in high school, we develop a sort of notion that we must not rat out the behavior of classmates. But when it comes to such behavior occurring in your dorm room, it is imperative that you challenge illegal activity and emphatically insist you will not tolerate it in your room. If it involves drugs or other related behaviors that can result in a criminal record, it cannot be ignored. In too many instances, the failure to confront this problem results in you being painted with the same brush that your roommate is painted with. That may not be too disconcerting with certain peer groups but it certainly is when the persons addressing the issue represent law enforcement.

DON’T: Don’t waiver – once you are witness to such behavior, give your warning that you will not tolerate illegal activities in your room, that if they occur again you will report them to the Resident Assistant and/or Head Resident. Then if he or she calls your bluff, you must act.

Moving Out

Of course, one method for dealing with the roommate from hell is to move out. This of course requires an option that may or may not be available, another place to move to. But when it comes to making the decision that you simply cannot get along with the person you have been assigned, you must understand the room is half his or hers. So if there is to be a separation and that separation is your choice, then you will be the one moving.

To be able to make such a request to your RA or HR, you must be able to communicate why your moving out is the needed solution. Their willingness to help you find new digs (if there are any available) will be predicated on your being able to explain the steps you have taken to try to make things work. If after discussing schedules and talking about basic personal needs, you still are not managing, then you might have some ammunition to request a change.

Just remember, the grass always tends to look a whole lot greener on your neighbor’s lawn. Be sure that roommate you are struggling with is beyond making it work – because, ultimately, you may not have really seen anything yet, you may be simply switching one set of issues for another.

Because, Hell is a truly relevant term.

J.D. Powers Airline Satisfaction Survey reveals industry leaders for budget-conscious students.

Are you one of those students who has chosen to attend school several hundred miles from home? If so, when it comes time for Thanksgiving and Christmas, you likely have to jump on a plane in order to get back home to share those special holidays with family.

While costly, purchasing an airplane ticket becomes a must because of the time constraints and the overall distance. But as you lay out significant hard-earned dollars to purchase that ticket, you will definitely have some simple expectations:

• you will be dealing with courteous people;
• those people will help you make your trip a positive experience;
• they will get you and your checked belongings to your destination reasonably close to on time.

The last thing you want to do is spend your holiday time sitting in an airport fuming as to why your airline is not on time or wondering why no one at the airline seems the least bit interested in the fact that your bag is missing or your connection is still somewhere overhead.

Air Travel Satisfaction Ratings

If you are one of those individuals who must fly to be able to make it home for special occassions then you will certainly want to check out the airline customer satisfaction ratings recently released by J.D. Power and Associates. According to Power, getting there is not half the fun.

Their 2009 North America Airline Satisfaction Study, measuring overall customer satisfaction in seven distinct categories, reveals that overall customer satisfaction with airlines has now declined three consecutive years and stands at a four-year low. The categories Power assesses in order of importance are:

• cost and fees;
• flight crew;
• in-flight services;
• aircraft;
• boarding/deplaning/baggage;
• check-in;
• reservation.

According to Powers, the overall decline in ratings comes from decreased passenger satisfaction with in-flight services, the flight crew and costs and fees.

That dissatisfaction comes despite the fact that the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reports the overall rate of on-time arrivals improved more than five percentage points from 2008 to 2009.

According to BTS the on-time rate now stands at 78 percent. That means, on average, four out of every five flights arrives on-time.

The Ratings

Power breaks the rankings into two segments: low-cost carriers and traditional-network carriers. The Power’s criteria for low-cost carriers are airlines that operate single-cabin aircraft offering typically lower fares. The criteria for traditional-network carriers are airlines that operate multi-cabin aircraft and utilize multiple airport hubs.

The best performers in low-cost category were JetBlue, Southwest, and WestJet. JetBlue led the way as the only carrier to receive an overall customer rating of 5 stars. Customers like the aircraft ( televisions and satellite radio access) and the inflight service (multiple food and drink options). Southwest Air earned 4 stars overall but rated a 5 in both reservations (easy online reservation site) and in costs and fees (low fares, no bag fees). WestJet also managed to receive 4 overall stars, offering positive check-in, boarding, deplaning and baggage experiences.

On the bottom, customers will definitely want to steer clear of Air Tran and Frontier, both earning but 2 stars on the 5 star rating scale. In other words, they may still be cheap but you definitely get what you pay for.

In the traditional category the top performers were Alaska Airlines, Continental and Delta. Both Alaska (great planes) and Continental (great prices) came away with 5 stars though the top overall nod went to Alaska. Delta earned 4 stars based on solid overall category scores. As for the bottom, Powers had both US Airways and United Airlines earning just 2 stars with neither their costs nor their services being terribly worthy of mention.

Flying Home for the Holidays

If you are one of those students who will be in need of a plane ticket come the holiday season, you will want to take the time to review the data. However, be advised that the Power ratings don’t seem to mention specific airports. My experience (and that of my family) has been that specific airports play a huge role.

For example, as a frequent flyer using many different airlines, my experience with Southwest and JetBlue has been excellent overall and Delta quite solid. However, Southwest has been great as long as I don’t go through Philadelphia. It must be noted that Philly just happens to be a US Airways hub.

Likewise, my experience and that of my family with Continental has always been sour despite the great prices. But every flight we have taken has utilized a connection through Newark, NJ. Simply stated, Continental has never been a positive experience for this traveler but I have never flown without connecting in Newark.

Ultimately, it is imperative that you talk to friends and family as well about their experiences with specific airlines and locales, then add in the Power survey results. It is important that you do your homework well, because when it is the holiday season, you will have that wanton desire to get home in a timely manner with your luggage at your side.

Most importantly, you will want to arrive there with your sense of humor intact.

Top honoree rejects recognition based on choice of Obama as graduation speaker.

It is not often that someone turns down a prestigious award from a college like Notre Dame.

But then again, it is equally unusual that the presence of a newly-elected, highly-popular president, would be the catalyst for rejecting such an honor.

But that is precisely what Harvard Law professor Mary Ann Glendon has done. Citing the school’s invitation to Barack Obama to deliver the 2009 commencement address and plan to award the president an honorary degree, Glendon has politely said thanks, but no thanks to the university.

Initial Acceptance

The issue centers upon the conflicting position of Catholics and the president on the issue of abortion.

In December, Glendon, a former ambassador to the Vatican and a consultant to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops had been selected to receive the 2009 Laetare Medal. Described by the university as the “most prestigious award given to Catholics” yearly, the medal recognizes those “whose genius has ennobled the arts and sciences, illustrated the ideals of the Church and enriched the heritage of humanity.”

Glendon, chosen as commencement speaker and given an honorary degree from Notre Dame in 1996, was at first pleased to learn of her selection last December. However, when she became aware that Obama was selected to receive an honorary doctorate and given the opportunity to give the commencement address, she found herself extremely dismayed.

From Critic to Absentee

Still, it appears that Glendon was set to attend, at least initially. Reports had the Harvard Law professor attending the ceremony and accepting her award so that she could take advantage of her opportunity to provide public remarks to criticize the president’s position.

But later, when it appeared that Notre Dame might utilize her presence at graduation as a step towards defending the school’s choice of Obama as commencement speaker, Glendon decided to reject the prestigious honor.

Directly citing the abortion issue, Glendon wrote in her university rejection letter that the choice demonstrated “disregard of the U.S. bishops’ express request of 2004 that Catholic institutions ‘should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles’ and that such persons ‘should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.’”

Moreover, in her letter to Rev. John I. Jenkins, Notre Dame’s president, she noted that the university appeared to be seeking to use her to balance off the more recent, unpopular selection of Obama.

She first cited one of the Notre Dame talking points regarding the matter:

“We think having the president come to Notre Dame, see our graduates, meet our leaders, and hear a talk from Mary Ann Glendon is a good thing for the president and for the causes we care about.”

Then soundly rejected the idea that commencement was a place for dissenting views to be aired. She wrote:

“A commencement, however, is supposed to be a joyous day for the graduates and their families. It is not the right place, nor is a brief acceptance speech the right vehicle, for engagement with the very serious problems raised by Notre Dame’s decision—in disregard of the settled position of the U.S. bishops—to honor a prominent and uncompromising opponent of the Church’s position on issues involving fundamental principles of justice.”

Tough Position for the President

Given Obama’s ability to see the large picture, the rejection by Glendon, a professor at the president’s alma mater, has to be upsetting to him personally. In addition, the fact that such a prestigious honor, awarded prior to his being chosen to speak, would be summarily rejected on account of his being selected definitely puts the president in a very difficult position.

It is perhaps too late for either Notre Dame or the president to rescind. Most notably, if he does preside at commencement as expected, Obama will need all of his rhetorical skills and speech writing talents to ensure his presence does not undermine the spirit of the day for those graduating.

Tips for Enjoying the Time Off this Holiday Season

Feeling uneasy about going home for a few weeks? You’re not alone.

Many students find it difficult to leave their day-to-day college routine and go back home for the holidays. There may not be any fun stuff to do in town or your college friends may all be in other cities.

Don’t get the wrong idea. We’re not saying that spending time with family is a bad experience, only that it can leave a student feeling homesick from their new home, college. Spending the whole time at the family house can be depressing compared to the exciting, fast-paced, and social college atmosphere.

Catch up with your family first. Tell them all the great things you’ve been doing while at school, then use these tips when you start feeling cramped inside the house:

1. Earn money: Work while you’re home on break. You have a set schedule, you’re out of the house and you earn money doing it. Here are some in-demand places to work:

• Bars, restaurants and caterers
• Bakeries and coffee shops
• Florists, garden centers and Christmas tree farms
• Ski resorts
• Boutiques and chain stores (pretty much all retail)
• Pet-sitting—you can work for yourself or for a business.

2. Volunteer locally or overseas: Why not help others with your spare time? Local and international short-term volunteer opportunities are available. These provide a win-win situation for you and for others in need. Consider these volunteer situations for the holidays:

• Take a spot with an international volunteer organization: participate in a short-term volunteer program outside the U.S.
• Hospital-visit with patients, especially children that are hospital bound for the holidays.
• Nursing home
• Animal shelter
• Mission or homeless shelter
• Meals on Wheels or Toys for Tots are in dire need of volunteers at Christmas
• Ask your church pastor, minister, preacher, rabbi, or priest for any volunteer opps available.

3. Hang out using your spare change: Relax, watch the time pass, and strike up conversations at some low to no-cost venues:

• Public library
• Bookstore (Barnes and Noble, Borders)
• The mall (window shopping only)
• Coffee shop
• Public park

4. Consider alternatives to going “home”: For some students, home is not an inviting place at all for a variety of reasons. Guess what? You’re an adult and can make your own choice about where you’re willing to spend your hard-earned time off. Here are some alternatives:

• Stay on campus and do your own thing.
• Stay with a favorite family relative if you have one—an aunt or grandparent, an independent sibling, a parent that lives outside the home.
• Go home for the holidays with a friend from school if you’ve been invited.