It was a disco of a different sort. Montevallo studednts got to let loose and have a dance party of a different kind at the UPC event Silent Disco.
The event had all the excitement and fun of a Disco, but with a bit of a twist.
Headphones used for Silent Disco
When they arrived at the event students could trade their student ID for a set of special two channel headphones that allowed them to listen to either of two specially prepared playlists.
As students enjoyed the event a DJ with two special turn tables set up to send the two distinct channels to the specialized headphones.
DJ sending music to Custom Headphones
The event was held at UM's Anna Irving Hall to boogie down in an all new way. UPC's Hunter Huie explained the fun of the event saying that one of the most fun parts of the event was "knowing who you could, and COULDNT dance with."
Whether you enjoyed yourself daning, or just enjoyed watching, it was a fun time for all students to come and dance through the stress of college.
What does The Bible, Harry Potter, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and Les Miserables have in common? For one they are all books, and very popular among their audience. Secondly they are on the list of banned books. What makes a book banned? Why are their banned books? How do people feel about banned books.
University of Montevallo student worker Conner Marullo has his own opinion on the subject. "
“I don’t believe any books should ever be
banned. It kind of defeats the purpose of actually having a book, and everyone
should be able to make their own decisions about things. Instead of making
decisions for everyone else.”
The purpose of Banned Books Week seems to focus on showing that books shouldn't be allowed to be banned and to show that one has the right to read anything, no matter the content, to express intellectual as well as personal liberty. Carmichael Library Director Cathy Lowe explains that this event isn't just isolated to the University of Montevallo.
"This
is celebrated across the nation all public libraries, academic libraries school
libraries all try to do something to try to celebrate banned book week”
Banned Books Week At Carmichael Library
Banned Books week will end this Friday, but hopefully it will inspire some people to think for themselves and to promote freedom to read anything without those freedoms being taken away.
On Tuesday September 16, 2014 the University of Montevallo's PanHellenic held their Bid day, also know as Squeal Day.
Phi Mu Walking to Palmer
At 5 p.m. that afternoon people started to crowed around Main Quad and Palmer so they could see all of the sorority girls walk down the brick chanting and hoping they get the girls they have been prefing.
The sororities (Phi Mu, Alpha Delta Pi, Chi Omega, Delta Gamma, and Alpha Gamma Delta) lined up side by side waiting for their Pi Chi's and new sisters to join them.
Many people like UM Student Dylan Drake went out to watch the girls fall as they ran to their sisters. Others like UM Student Stacy Daniels went out to support the sororities in getting new sisters.
As the girls were waiting to go to their new sorority the Pi Chi's gave the girls a chance to guess which sorority they belonged to.
Pi Chi's reunited with their sisters
After all of the Pi Chi's were finally reunited with all of their sisters it was then time for the new girls to open their bids.
As they ran to their new sisters the crowd began to surround them and started taking pictures and congratulating them on finding their new home away from home. Even though it rained before hand it did not stop these girls from going to their new sisters.
For more information on sorority bid day and how to join visit the Montevallo PanHellenic webpage.
The Animal Birmingham League of Birmingham hosted its 6th annual 5K past weekend. Paws for the Cause was organized to help raise funds for the Shelby Humane Society. The event took place on a beautiful Saturday morning at Veteran's Park in Hoover.
Kids enjoyed face painting
This fun family event had something to offer for everyone. Various vendors like Jazzy J Designs and CahaBone set up tents and helped with promoting the event.
Kids enjoyed playing with dogs and even got a chance to get their faces painted. There was plenty of food and fun for everyone.
Approximately 200 people participated in the 5K-1 mile fun run. Some runners were joined by their furry pals while others were there simply to support the cause. A member if ALB Inga Clum said "all the money goes to Shelby Humane Society and it will be marked for spay and neuter."
ALB staff and volunteers
The Animal League of Birmingham is an organization that raises funds for non-profit rescues and shelters in Birmingham and the surrounding area who support health, welfare and general well-being of animals in need.
For more information regarding adoptions or if you would like to become a volunteer, please visit Shelby Humane Society.
University of Montevallo's PanHellenic sororities celebrated their sorority recruitment day, better known as "Bid Day".
The chants and cheers of Phi Mu, Alpha Delta Pi, Chi Omega, Delta Gamma, and Alpha Gamma Delta definitely caused and uproar on campus.
Spectators had no choice but to get in on the action and check out all of the excitement and hype of the event.
Along with spectators, their were many parents present to support their daughters as they awaited to open their bids, yellow envelopes, that showed which sorority they would now call their
home.
UM website/Greek Life
The excitement grew as the time drew near to reveal the bids. Alpha Delta Pi soror, Emmie Long, described it at the best kind of chaos imaginable. That it definitely was. The event consisted of catchy cheers and chants, decorative signs, and umbrellas.
Yes umbrellas! It had been drizzling on and off all day, so many umbrellas mad their debut at this event. Though the sky was cloudy it managed not to rain on their parade. Alpha Delta Pi soror, Jennifer Payne, says the rain made it a different experience, but it was still so exciting. Indeed it was.
The cloudy sky and drizzling rain showed no signs of the slowing the excitement of this even down. Bid Day ended the PanHellenic sororities accepted their new sisters with open arms. It was definitely an event to remember.
The University of Montevallo is supporting it’s diverse campus by making Safe Zone an official University Committee.
Safe Zone was a program created by faculty members in 2011; the idea came about after some teachers saw similar programs at other universities, committee chair, Dr. Rickel said.
Dr. Rickel, Safe Zone Committee Chair
The program provides visibility and support for the LGBTQ community on campus through trainings and Safe Zone stickers.
While Safe Zone started as a “pet project”, Rickel says it has grown through the hard work of many faculty over the years, allowing them to be established as a university committee.
“It’s great, because it provides us more stability and more permanence on campus,” said Dr. Rickel.
Safe Zone recently did a training on September 15th, student Virginia Hutchinson says there was a good turnout of faculty and students alike.
Safe Zone Flyer
“I have a lot of friends that are a part of the LGBTQ community, I have friends that go to Montevallo in that community, I have friends at the University of Alabama. I know a lot of people that have faced a lot of discrimination because of their sexual or gender identity. I think it is just a really important issue that we all focus on, equality for all people regardless of what they identify as,” said Hutchinson.
Safe Zone trainings are completely voluntary for faculty and students, but required for RA’s. All who attend a training are given a sticker to display, if they choose to do so. Safe Zone stickers indicate a person is safe to talk to.
Safe Zone hopes to have more trainings this year as well as conduct a campus climate survey to see where their efforts are needed most. Check out Safe Zone's website to find out more about trainings and their activity on campus.
The day to day stresses of being a college student can steadily wear away at anyone. So what is one to do when the usual relief doesn't work?
Head on down to Montevallo's game room, located behind the stage of downstairs Farmer. Many students flock to the game room on a daily basis in order to have a good time and wind down after a long day of classes.
Montevallo's game room
Students such as Jimmy Holifield who both attend school as well as work are more than happy to spend their downtime "hanging out with friends, enjoying the different games, and just having fun".
However, it isn't always just for the fun that people will go. Adam Pettway regularly goes to the game room as a way to calm down after making his way through a hefty workload, stating that "sometimes it can be a bit much". He further adds that he enjoys going to the game room as it is a place to "...chill... where he doesn't really have to worry about anything".
Yes, i do believe it is that time again, the time for intramural sports. Students have had 3 weeks of getting back into school mode and all work no play and now the time has come to relax.
Practice formations on the field
On Tuesday, September 15, 2014 the first intramural sport of the year, flag football began. 20 teams signed up to play including female and male.
There was a wide variety of teams from the students who know one another and want to play, to the sororities and fraternities and even some of the actual University of Montevallo sports teams.
Students find a great source of cardio and fitness through intramural's and even find them to be a great way to take there minds off of college and a great way to relax and relieve stress.
Paul Mahaffey
"It's a great way to have some fun when i'm not in class" says Paul Mahaffey, a junior student at the University of Montevallo.
This years intramural sports is destined for a competitive season and prolonged games.
Thursday Night at the University of Montevallo,
students were drinking and having a good time in Farmer Hall with the help of
live music from Steve Means, an artist who has been featured a few times on
MTV.
UPC, the University Program Council, provided mocktails to
the student body. What is a mocktail? It’s a cocktail without the alcohol.
A
few of the UPC representatives bartended, offering a variety of drinks to mix
like tea, lemonade, sprite, cherry juice, and orange juice.
crowd enjoying music
UPC hosts several events throughout the year for students to
get into the campus spirit and actually stay on campus during the weekend.
According to UPC Representative Hunter Huie, a junior, UPC has planned “big
weekend blowouts” to keep students at Montevallo during the weekends.
The first “weekend blowout” is an International Food Fair,
several other organizations have already volunteered to provide various food to
showcase. There is will even be an African Tribal Dance team soon.
The goal for UPC is to give students the college campus life
like other universities. And so far, students are impressed with their efforts.
Freshman, Tiara Williams said, “[The mocktails] it’s pretty good. I like [the
food] a lot”
What really attracted the students to Farmer was the music
according to junior transfer student, Donnie, “He was very good. He had like a
mixer of like Rock, and Indie, and like Pop, so it’s really cool.”
During the event, students were able to sign the pledge to
not drink and drive. Which the whole purpose of Mocktails was to provide
students a safe and different way to have a good time.
On Monday, September 8th, 2014, Einstein Bros. Bagels joined the Montevallo campus to add a little bit of flavor to the student's daily diet.
After "Starbucks" was replaced with the new Sushi Bar "Sushi with Gusto", it was time for Montevallo to find a new source for students to get that early morning cup of coffee before class. Einstein Bros Bagels provides that cup of coffee, but it has a lot more to offer than just regular or decaf.
Einstein Bros. Bagels fills the void that Starbucks left.
But how much more can "Einstein Bros. Bagels" offer? Einstein Bros Bagels serves Artisan flatbread sandwiches, breakfast sandwiches, and fresh bagels made every day!
Students were a bit flustered when Starbucks had first shut down, but after a visit to the new establishment, there was a sigh of relief knowing that Einstein Bros. was there to pick up the slack.
"It gives us greater variety than what we had before, and it's something different for students to come in, get breakfast, and grab a bagel. I like the idea of that." said Timothy McMillan, a senior student at the University of Montevallo.
The Einstein Bros. Logo
Einstein Bros Bagels is located on campus in Farmer Hall, across from the University Post Office. Store hours are from 7am-7pm.
There's a new emblem on the side of those coffee cups, and the colors are no longer green and white.
Montevallo has left the aroma of fresh coffee in the morning in the hands of two brothers. So far, the aroma could not be any sweeter.
As the University of Montevallo expands food options by increasing where flex dollars may be spent, Einstein Bros Bagels has been added to the campus.
The restaurant spent the first two weeks of school training and preparing for it's grand opening on Monday, September 8th.
Just before their soft opening on Friday, September 5th employees had a few last minute touch ups such as stocking the shelves, preparing smoothie samples, and hanging menus.
When the doors opened up for business, the room was filled with students and faculty who were excited to see what was on the menu.
Einstein Bros Bagels
Stacy Daniels, a student at Montevallo, is excited about the new addition to the campus, "It gives students more variety about food options," Daniels said. "Just the fact that they have breakfast sandwiches, and smoothies, and coffee, and pastries…"
Falcon Foods' addition of Einstein Bros Bagels can be found across the hall from the University's Post Office, where the bookstore was previously located. Store hours are Monday-Friday, 7am-7pm.
After saying goodbye to Starbucks, the University of Montevallo welcomes a new
place to eat on campus, Sushi with Gusto.
Sushi with Gusto
Having a new food place
on campus provides a new variety of food choices to students. The convenience
of Sushi with Gusto allows students to grab and go allowing more time for
studying, class time and other activities.
Students are excited
about having a sushi place on campus.
"I'm excited that
we have a sushi place on the University of Montevallo's campus" stated
Montevallo student, Rebecca Hendrix.
Menu
Sushi with Gusto has a variety of
different menu items including spring rolls, vegetable rolls, smoked salmon
phil rolls, seaweed salad and other tasty dishes.
Sushi with Gusto is located in Farmer Hall beside Moe's.
