Electric Daisy Carnival: From “Sin” to “Spin” City!

After 22 years as an organization, it’s only appropriate that Rock the Vote (RTV) keep track of what today’s youth are rockin’ out to, as well as what concerts are drawing in these young masses. Rock the Vote reaches young people by going to where they are. And really, there’s no better way to register youth to vote and engage them face-to-face than by going to shows with them.  Staying true to this notion, Rock the Vote and Electric Dance Music (EDM) giant Insomniac Productions have created Spin the Vote (STV): a national voter registration program for the ever-growing EDM community. Spin the Vote will register voters at Insomniac festivals and online in 2012.

The program has already hunkered down and registered tons of young voters at a slew of Insomniac shows such as, Nocturnal Wonderland in Austin and Electric Daisy Carnival New York. Not to mention the biggest dance party in America – Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) Las Vegas.

At EDC Las Vegas, Spin the Vote had an awesome army of volunteers who delved into the sea of sparkles and neon each night at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. With clipboards in hand, our Spin the Vote volunteers were ready to give every festival-goer a chance to vote in 2012.  By the time the last beat dropped, we had registered hundreds of EDM fans from Alaska to Alabama.

The Spin the Vote team at EDC Las Vegas

And don’t worry – our team also took part in the colorful chaos. They ripped, cut and fringed their Spin the Vote tees into EDC-worthy wear, rocked their own fun accessories, and added some of our booth’s special patriotic props – how can you pass up an Uncle Sam hat or a red, white and blue garter?!

Our hot yellow buttons were a huge hit with the crowd. They looked awesome under the black lights and were handed out at a fierce pace. As our head volunteer coordinator, Addison Larrow aka DJ Wild Yeti said: “There are Spin the Vote pins on pretty much every article of clothing I own right now.”

The Spin the Vote Lounge was the perfect place to meet up with friends, chill on comfy couches, and take in the amazing stream of flair flowing between the Cosmic Meadow and Neon Garden stages. We had a great view of Steve Aoki “crowd rafting” during super party boy Afrojack’s set on Friday night.

Speaking of Diplo, we caught up with him backstage where he had some powerful words for EDM fans and the importance of Spin the Vote. We also had an amazing chat with Swedish DJs Rebecca & Fiona. Plus, their buddy Kaskade dropped by to sign a poster (who wants it?!) and gave his own STV shout-out. We even brought Russian trance master Arty into the mix!

Want to party? Choose a political party by registering to vote, SpintheVote.org.

For everyone at EDC Las Vegas who went #HAM or #YOLO or whatever acronym you’re using these days, we hope you saw our lit-up STV truck, had a chance to check out the booth or had a nice chat with one of our trusty volunteers. If not, you can still register to vote online at SpintheVote.org. So, what are you waiting for? Give the EDM community a voice and fight for your right to dance!

We’ve got a ton more Spin the Vote events planned, so look out for updates. You can also check out Rock the Vote’s On the Road page for other volunteer opportunities. Yup, we are blowing this thing up, so don’t miss out. Hope to see you crazy kids at the next EDM throw down!

~Written by Spin the Vote coordinator Becca Frucht

posted by tamarabn
06.26.12
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The IT List: Bookstore Chic

Imagine our excitement upon discovering the article on Hercampus discussing a fabulous trend at Fordham University: Bookstore Chic. The article commented on everything from Free T-shirts to fashion forward clothes and accessories. We are beyond thrilled to share some of what this blogger included on her list of favorites as well as add in a tip or two of our own. Check it out for yourself!
1. Free T-Shirts: Nearly every college or university is more than happy to present students with an array of free collegiate shirts. Whether you wear them to the gym or out (perhaps after reading our Stylish Ways to Wear Your Favorite T-Shirt post?), no one will be questioning your school spirit. Paying for cool clothes is definitely last-season.
**BNC Tip: Have an exorbitant amount of T-shirts you just aren’t going to wear? Check out our DIY Dorm blog post and turn them into cute pillows for your dorm room!
2. Lounge Wear and Hoodies: Sneak a peak into any morning lecture and chances are a good portion of the students are sporting comfortable clothing or a collegiate hoodie. Logo-ed yoga pants let students feel extra comfy without looking sloppy. This look (pictured left) gets two-thumbs up from us!
3. Our Pick: Style for a Cause! Our trend tables are always bursting with attention-grabbing accessories. The best part, however, is that many of these accessories don’t just look great, they support a great cause! From beaded bracelets to cascading scarves, the most beautiful parts of these pieces are the stories behind them (Keep your eyes peeled in June when we spotlight all of our favorites!).
Get the full Bookstore Chic article here. How do you incorporate bookstore items into your style? Post a comment below and we’ll share it!
posted by tamarabn
05.08.12
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Finals Week Made Simple

Preparing for dreaded finals week is so stressful! Here are some tips to make the week easier for you.

  1. Put together study packets for all of your classes. These packets should include notes, decks posted by your professor and practice problems.
  2. Make a schedule to map out when you are going to study and what specifically you are going to work on. This will help you allocate your time between classes. I’ve found that whenever I make a study schedule I instantly feel less stressed. It helps me to know what I need to do and when I need to do it rather than just feeling like I need to do everything at once.
  3. If you are unclear about any material, visit your professor during his or her office hours. I have gone to my computer professor’s office hours so many times this semester! At first I thought he would be annoyed with me, but he actually said he appreciates that I’m so dedicated to doing well in his class.
  4. Be sure to take study breaks. If you study too long without taking breaks, it will be harder to focus. During my study breaks, I love to watch music videos on Youtube. Right now I’m obsessed with all of Adele’s videos!  Here’s one I particularly love: http://bit.ly/tybChW
  5. Take care of your body with exercise, a healthy diet and plenty of sleep. This will help you focus and also help you avoid getting sick. I try to walk briskly for at least 30 minutes a day (it helps clear my mind and get my heart rate up) and eat scrambled eggs and fruit for breakfast on test days.

Good luck and remember the end of the semester is almost here, so study hard now and then you will be able to relax and enjoy your break!

~ Guest Blogger Natalie B., Indiana University, Finals Week Hero

posted by tamarabn
12.20.11
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Best TV Shows For Your Study Break

You’ve been studying in the library for more than four hours now, expired your stash of peanut M&M’s and Baked Lays, and are desperate for a break.  Mobilizing out of the stacks and to your bed for a nap requires too many moves and takes up too much time.  Not to worry—here’s the perfect solution for you: the 20-minute TV show!  Throw your ear buds in your bag (with the rest of your study essentials) and you’ll be set for a long day at the library.

Here are some of the best 20-minute television shows:

  1. 2 Broke Girls: CBS’ new show, starring Kat Dennings and Beth Behrs, will keep you cracking up for the entire twenty-one minutes.  Two women in their 20’s work at a diner in Brooklyn, saving money to launch their goal of a cupcake business.  Dennings & Behrs engage in witty banter, pushing the limits of cable television.  Check it out…but don’t laugh too loud on the quiet floors.
  2. Modern Family: Reflecting on the lives of three absurd families, ABC’s TV show is one that cannot be missed.  You will laugh harder than ever before while watching the unique personalities of each family member.  The absurdities that come up seem nonstop!
  3. Parks & Recreation: Parks & Rec on NBC is a hidden gem.  Right before The Office (another must-see but not as good without Steve Carrell), this humorous comedy follows the Parks and Recreation Department of a small town in Indiana.  The unexpected location provides a hilarious twist to the show, giving viewers a taste of the American town.  Amy Poehler, Aziz Ansari, and Rashida Jones all star in the TV show, bringing you unlimited amounts of fun.

~ Guest Blogger Melanie B., Emory University, Future Movie Critic (watch out Roger Ebert!)

posted by tamarabn
12.19.11
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I’ll Be Home For the Holidays…Maybe!

Just like Buddy said from Elf, “First we’ll make snow angels for two hours, then we’ll go ice skating, then we’ll eat a whole roll of Tollhouse Cookie-Dough as fast as we can, and then we’ll snuggle.”

December is a time of gift giving, messy snowstorms, the infamous Santa Claus, scrumptious food, loving family, and holiday movie marathons on television. It may be ‘the most wonderful time of the year,’ however here at Mason, ‘it is the most stressful time of the year.’

Once Thanksgiving hits, Christmas music plays all over campus. Students, bundled up, try and weather the cold, trekking across campus to libraries to cram and study. Everyone waits until the last day of finals to celebrate and pack to go home. The famous quote, “home is where the heart is,” stood out to me, when I traveled home for the holidays my freshman year. Everyone has a story, but my story could win a Pulitzer prize.

My name may be Melissa, but my nickname is, “BAD LUCK.” On December 20th, I packed my winter clothes, wrapped last minute gifts, and lugged my suitcase down three flights of stairs with no elevator. Sounds fun right? Keep in mind, it just snowed a few days prior and the ground was a slippery sheet of ice. It was now 2:30pm and my bus home to New Jersey was at 5:00pm. I start walking out of my dorm with my suitcase and purse, and “BOOM.” I had suddenly slipped on black ice, got up, and started walking like no one else witnessed it.

I finally made it across campus to catch the Mason to Metro Shuttle, which was a zoo. Fairfax County, known for their horrendous traffic, never fails. Traffic was bumper-to-bumper all the way to the Metro and time was ticking away. TICK…TICK….TICK… I finally arrived an hour later. It was now, 3:45pm. I quickly bought my metro pass and ran to the Orange Line, which was backed up as well. What a surprise! I arrived at Union Station at 4:45pm and sprinted as fast as I could to the MegaBus with my huge suitcase trucking behind, and in my opinion, managed to make record timing. Boy do I wish someone had recorded that. Thankfully, I didn’t fall again! I walked further and took my first step on the hot and crowded bus at 4:59pm. Right there, was transportation at it’s finest. I arrived home at 9:30pm, exhausted, aggravated, and starving. HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ME!

The movie, “Planes, Train, and Automobiles,” sums up my entire ride home. Being a freshman, I was lost, confused, and oblivious to the world. I was finally stress-free from finals and research papers, but later faced the stress of transportation and other weather-mishaps. I was home for one month and got to visit friends, family, malls, Santa and his reindeer, elves, and Frosty. I truly believe the Grinch was watching my every move on my way home that day. Winter 2010 was a defining moment to the start of my college career. “Home is truly where the heart is.”

~Guest Blogger Melissa M, George Mason, Extreme Holiday Traveler

posted by tamarabn
12.19.11
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Spreading Holiday Cheer On a Budget

With the holiday season in full swing and the chilly weather upon us, it’s time to spread some cheer! As college students, we don’t have a whole lot of wiggle room in our budget for cheer spreading, so it’s vital we be as merry as possible for as little as possible.  Well don’t fear, fellow college students, I have you covered! This hot chocolate cheer pack is the ultimate holiday gift that every student can enjoy and it won’t cost you a fortune to make! It’s also a great study break and a warm treat!

All you need is:

1 Pack of Pizza Storage bags
2 Nestle Hot Chocolate Tins
2 bags Jet-Puffed Mini Marshmallows

 

This will cost you about $14.17 and will make 25 gifts (that’s just $0.56 per gift!)!

To Assemble:

Step 1: Pour the serving size listed on your hot chocolate container into one of the disposable bags.
Step 2: Put as many marshmallows as you want to fill the bag on top of the hot chocolate powder.
Step 3: Close the bag with ribbon and decorate how you please! We suggest snowflakes to celebrate the season! Then you’re done and ready to give some cheer!

~Guest Blogger Alyssa B., University of Delaware, Thrifty Gift Giver

posted by tamarabn
12.14.11
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Be Merry! Holiday Break Is In Sight

With things like Youtube, Facebook, and Twitter distracting the modern college student, it seems impossible that anything else can be devised to detract our attention from studying. Then, the holiday season comes along with all of its glorious food, shopping, and general sense of merriment…What a great distraction.

There’s nothing like the first snow of the year to distract you from your study sessions. Here in cold and desolate Binghamton, NY (yes there is more to New York than just New York City… shocking), it’s been unseasonably warm for most of this winter so far. I think the sun even peeked out a few times, and temps have hit the low 60’s in November. You’d think that people would be rejoicing because of this, but we yearn for the snow. So when it finally started snowing not too long ago, dancing, snowmen and the always-popular guy-laughing-and-writhing-in-pain-from-sliding-down-hills-on-lunch-trays were in mass abundance. Having to stare at a finance textbook for hours on end while the fluorescent lighting in the library flickers overhead is not an encouraging alternative.

So how does one study in the midst of all this? I’d like to share a few tips with you all to ensure you maintain your sanity during the never-ending era known as FINALS WEEK.

1.)   Plan out your study schedule

It can be a little overwhelming when you first plot out your finals week. Take it one step at a time. Figure out when are the best times to study for each of your finals and which finals are going to require the most amount of nose-in-the-book time.

2.)   Don’t go at it alone

I’m not someone who typically likes to study with other people. Maybe it’s because I like to talk or that I get distracted easily, but I generally prefer studying alone. However, it still helps me to study with other people occasionally, especially when it is in a subject area in which you are not proficient.  If your friend can explain a concept to you, he is mastering his knowledge and you gain a good understanding as well. #Winning.

3.)   Plan out your study breaks

I’m not talking about surfing Facebook or “texting your friends for a half hour breaks.” I’m talking about doodling or taking a walk outside breaks. When I go online for a break, I always start out with a half hour and it always extends just a little bit longer. And then a bit longer after that. And a bit longer (you know where I’m going with this). Learn to take some offline breaks that have an endpoint so you can feel refreshed when you start your work again.

Also, call your family up during a break. It can be nice to hear your mom or dad’s voice during a high stress time, such as finals week. In addition, it reminds you that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, which brings me to my final tip.

4.)   Incorporate the holidays into your life during finals week

An occasional reminder of all the joy of the holidays will help you see through the difficult time at the end of the semester. I personally love putting on A Charlie Brown Christmas when I get home at night from a day of studying in the library. Decorating your room, putting a festive background on your computer, or listening to holiday jingles while you take a break are other little ways to remind you of all of the happy times and good food that lie ahead during your winter break.

~Guest Blogger Ethan Z., Binghamton University, Festive Finals Multi-Tasker

posted by tamarabn
12.14.11
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Dish It: Easy Finals Snacks

Happy Snacking! Instead of reaching for the ice cream, chips and leftover Halloween candy (if you have any) take a brain break and make these healthy snack alternatives during finals. Your body and mind will thank you when you reach for the low-calorie, vitamin-infused kale chips instead of the fatty ones.

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posted by tamarabn
12.13.11
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Make It Personal This Holiday Season

I have the most fun each holiday season thinking of unique gift ideas for my friends and family. I do not like to give gifts that are made for the masses; instead I try to give something that is personalized. Below are some of my favorite gifts I have given in the past! Disclaimer: I am in no way artistic. I was able to do all of the below using stencils and some help from friends!

Cornhole Boards

I have a friend who is in love with the University of North Carolina and I was having a hard time thinking of the perfect gift for him. With some help from his wife, we came up with a very creative idea. I decided to build a set of cornhole boards (which are bags or beanbags for those not from Indiana) and paint them with the UNC logos. Here is a picture of the final product! He ended up loving the gift and uses the set all of the time.

Personalized Mug

I have given my fair share of coffee mugs stuffed with hot chocolate to unsuspecting friends. Last Christmas, I finally was fed up and I decided to think outside of the hot cocoa box. There is a local “paint your own pottery” shop in town and I went to check it out. I started to think about my friend’s favorite things and decided to paint him a Lutheran mug. After about 4 hours of painting and a few tears, I finished my masterpiece.

12 Days of Christmas

After having a girlfriend for more than 5 years, you start running out of good ideas for presents. I have done the typical jewelry, shopping spree, and even an iPhone. I decided to do something different for Christmas last year and it was one of the best gift ideas I have ever had. Instead of the traditional Christmas day present, I gave my girlfriend a present on each of the 12 days leading up to Christmas. She loved having a different gift every day and had fun trying to guess what the next gift would be. Here are just a few of the gifts I decided to give (I even tried to coordinate the gift with the days):

Day 12: A calendar with 12 months

Day 10: A $10 gift card to her favorite restaurant

Day 6: A 6 foot long blanket

Day 2: A date night for the 2 of us to a painting class

As you start thinking about what to get your friends and family this holiday season, start by thinking uniquely. A little bit of thought goes a long way when it comes to presents.

~ Guest Blogger Chris W., Ball State University, Best Gift Giver. Ever.

 

posted by tamarabn
12.12.11
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The WAZZU Way

How do you prepare for rest of semester following Thanksgiving Break? – The WAZZU way!

With looming group projects, multiple exams and dropping temperatures following Thanksgiving Break, it is difficult to allow yourself a true “break.” Thankfully my break had its great moments where I was able to spend quality time with my boyfriend, brother, sister, and extended family. However, I feel like the majority of my time was spent rewriting physiology notes, making management flashcards and cuddling under my heating blanket. I had two group projects on my mind, and I was worried how I would make it back to Washington State University safely in the event of snow and/or freezing rain.

Now I will share with you my attempt of being prepared for the rest of semester following Thanksgiving break. With an upcoming physiology exam I rewrote all of my notes to help myself prepare. This allowed me to accomplish some studying, however I was still interacting with all of my younger cousins running up and down the hallway. After I miraculously completed this task I moved on to review for my other exam: Management. The exam consists mostly of definitions, so flashcards were definitely the way to go.  I used this great site: quizlet.com. You type in the word and definition, and then the website will quiz you on the flashcards that you made, you can also share them with peers via facebook and twitter.

After my studying was complete, my mind started racing about my 2 group projects with deadlines approaching. One of my group projects is research and a 10 page paper for my technical writing class; the other is making an investment decision for my finance class. I remember that when I downloaded NOOKstudy that it came with 10 FREE sparkcharts. I will be using the sparkchart on “research, style, and usage” to help me and my group write a successful paper. My finance group project, consists of a team of 8 individuals. EIGHT! I’m sure you all know how difficult it is to have the schedules and sleeping patterns of 8 college students mesh. So, I formed a schedule planner on doodle.com.  It allows each member to input their schedule and shows us the times that all individuals can meet.

By this time I felt extremely accomplished as Thanksgiving break was coming to a close, then I remembered I had to drive 2 hours to get back to Pullman, on a 2 lane highway that doesn’t get plowed. I decided that purchasing studded tires would prepare me best. Luckily the snow won’t be coming until later this week but I am reassured by the fact that my studded tires won’t let me down.

I prepared for the rest of semester following Thanksgiving break by using all resources available to me, communicating with my group members, and studying prior to the night before my exam. How did you prepare for the rest of semester following Thanksgiving break?

 

posted by tamarabn
12.09.11
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