Rice Bell Tower

"But there's no bell..."

I've heard several freshmen on my wing say that throughout the semester, and I don't blame them. Since our bell tower hasn't been ringing until just a couple of weeks ago, there was absolutely no way to tell that it was a bell tower at all. The freshmen are right- there's no real bell inside our tower, but it's one of the main icons of our campus all the same.

Our electronic "bell" chimes four times an hour, just like a grandfather clock. Every day at 10:50 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. it plays hymns- my favorite part! You can hear it from anywhere on campus, and its familiar tones will always keep you on time.

The only drawback is when you're just a minute or two late for class, and suddenly the chimes seem a little more urgent... but that doesn't happen to you because you're never late, right? =)

Registration

Registration. The very word can strike fear into the hearts of students everywhere. You have to juggle everything left in the semester while trying to figure out the next one. You have to brave the catalog and make a four-year-plan.

What do you do?

That's right. Tower is your best friend for registering for classes. It can be a little tough to use at first, but once you get the hang of it, you'll be a registration champion. I'll walk you through some of the basics.

1. Make sure you have your RAC (Registration Access Code) sheet in front of you. You can pick this up from your advisor after you've cleared your classes with him/her.
2. Log in to MyTaylor.
3. See the navigation bar that says, "Welcome [Your Name]" on the left side? On the right side of that bar, there are six icons: e-mail, calendar, courses, tower, finaid, and groups. Click on "tower."
4. So now you're in Tower, right? Click on "Student Services." Here, you can view your transcripts, grades, and any holds against registration you might have (if you have any outstanding fees, for instance, you can't register until you get that taken care of).
5. Click on "Registration."
6. Now go to "Add or Drop Classes." It's best to have your list of classes to take already laid out before you do this part. If you don't, you can either look them up under "Look-up Classes" or use the Course Catalog on the main Taylor site to find them.
7. Select the appropriate term and click "Submit."
8. Enter your 8-digit Alternate PIN, found on your RAC sheet, then click submit.
9. Input your class CRN numbers and click "Add to Classes."
10. Once you're finished, it should show you a list of the classes you're registered to take for that semester. You can view a more detailed version of your schedule, including room number where your class is, by going back to the Registration page and clicking "Student Detail Schedule." The other option, "Student Schedule," will show you a calendar of your daily schedule for the semester.

Good luck, and happy registering!

Silent Night

Silent Night, December 2009

If you look at this photo closely, you might be wondering a couple of things. Why do some people have crazy hats? Why is everyone crowding the sideline on this side? Why is there a row of shirtless guys?

I can't really answer the last question, because I have no idea why they're shirtless. I'm assuming it's because they're from Sammy. But this photo shows Silent Night, one of the most famous Taylorisms. Thanks to an article that showed up on ESPN.com, this particular tradition has gotten some national attention.

For Silent Night, most of the student population dresses in their pajamas (and a few in other, more bizarre outfits) and crowds into the home side of the gym for the most well-attended basketball game of the season. We shuffle in and take our places quietly, with no talking even as the game begins. It's so quiet you can hear every squeak of the players' shoes. When our team scores its tenth point, pandemonium breaks out. Continuous cheering erupts for the rest of the game.

When the basketball game finishes, everyone heads to the DC for the Habecker Holipalooza, where our university's president and first lady read us a Christmas story--also in their pajamas. There is Christmas karaoke, a gingerbread house contest, Christmas-themed games, and plenty of desserts and treats for all.

This year's Silent Night is on Friday, December 9. I'd highly recommend going; it's a good time and a very unique experience!

If you want to read the article about Silent Night and watch the video contained in it, you can find them both here.

The Loop

The Loop sign

Wherever you are on campus, you're close to the Loop. Vayhinger Loop circles most of Taylor's buildings, and it's the source of a few particular Taylor traditions, including...

Walking the Loop

If a girl and a guy do this, people like to think that means a DTR is happening. This is not always the case, so don't assume! Walking the Loop is a good way to have a conversation without being interrupted, and while getting exercise at the same time. On warmer days, you might see a lot of people doing this.

A Night on the Loop

During Parents' Weekend, Taylor hosts a dinner and dessert fellowship time for students and their parents. Last year, it was a three-part event:

1. Taste of Taylor- Food in Hodson Dining Commons, with music and art, as well as "multiple entree stations" in the lower part of the DC
2. Art, Music, and Dessert on the Loop- Just what it sounds like: dessert stations in the Galleria and by the Sammy statues, with art and music by students and faculty on display
3. Evening of Praise- Worship time for parents and students, with student bands leading the songs

Running the Loop

At all times of the day, you're likely to find someone running or jogging the Loop. Since it's about a mile around, it's perfect for it. Sometimes, you might even find someone walking their dog or pushing their child in a stroller. The more hardcore runners will even run the Loop in very cold weather--and they're the only ones, to be sure!

Pick-A-Dates (Updated on Nov. 28)

Photo from Flickr, by Striatic

Oh, Pick-A-Dates. They're the source of much excitement and Taylor activity on weekends. Just in case you don't know what they are, allow me to explain.

Pick-A-Dates are Taylor's particular brand of finding something to do in this town in the middle of a cornfield. A wing will typically put on one or two Pick-A-Dates per semester, and each one is different. Usually, you pick your own date of the opposite gender, someone you might not know well but would enjoy getting to know better, but sometimes there are other criteria involved (I heard a wing once did a Pick-A-Nate, so they could only ask someone with that name). Activities for Pick-A-Dates include bowling, skating, rock climbing, Broomball, and just about anything else that a large group can do together inexpensively. They're a handy way of combating boredom while meeting new people in a fun, no-pressure atmosphere.

Advice for the Pick-A-Date shy:

• Don't take them too seriously. They're meant to be fun ways to get to know more people, nothing more.
• If you don't know your date and you're worried about making conversation, bring a list of wacky questions to ask, like this one: "If you could be any kitchen appliance, what would you be and why?"
• If you don't want to pick your own date, ask your friends or your PA to pick one for you. That's the way it was done back in the day, and it's something that can easily be reinstated.

Really, just don't worry about it too much. If your wing has a Pick-A-Date, go! If you're asked on one, go! Even if you don't have the best time on one, try again. Trust me, you'll be glad you went.

Airband

It's that time of year. You've probably already heard a lot about Airband. Maybe you're even in it.

If you're on campus, it should be pretty obvious by now that Airband is a big deal. It's the only Taylor event that requires two shows on the same night. Everyone comes- even some professors and their families.

But what exactly is Airband, you might ask?

Basically, it's a glorified lip-syncing contest. But what makes it so much fun is the lengths that wings and floors and classes will go to put on a fantastic show. We're talking costumes, elaborate cardboard instruments, and fancy dancing. It's loud, it's crazy, and it's a LOT of fun.

Airband 2009 highlights from the 2010 edition of the Ilium

It costs $5 to get in, but it's completely worth it. There will be t-shirts for sale soon in the DC for $5 as well; if you're into getting a shirt to remember awesome times, I highly recommend getting one.

There will also be many student-produced commercials in between acts, and they'll be really entertaining- so don't tune out the minute the acts are over!

Get excited: Airband is less than a week away!

Printing

I know when you think about Taylorisms you probably don't think about printing, but it's one thing I wish I would have understood earlier in my college career. So here are some tips for printing like a pro at Taylor.

Let's face it: being in college means writing a lot of papers. Most professors will want you to turn in hard copies of your work. If you don't have a printer in your room, you have to either go ask someone who does or find a printer on campus.

Believe it or not, something as simple as printing a document can become complicated if you don't have all the information you need. Sure, you can go to the library and print your paper there, but there are a few insider tips that will help you in the long run.

Printing Account

For starters, did you know that every year you're given $5 on your printing account? A lot of Taylor's printers run on a system that automatically charges your account for the things you've printed- including the library and the ETC. But if you're smart, that $5 will easily get you through the semester. Always make sure you're printing in black and white, because color is way more expensive. If you do double-sided printing, it will save you approximately 1 cent per page. Also, it saves paper, which is always a good thing! It doesn't seem like much, but when you're printing off a hundred two-page papers, suddenly it makes a difference. (Don't worry, you won't really have to write quite that much. Not during your freshman year, anyway.)

Dealing with a Low Balance

Once your printing account balance gets to 20 cents or below, a warning will pop up any time you print something. If you don't go to the ETC and put more money on your account, it will drop below 0. If you see parenthesis around your balance, that means you're in the negative. Reach ($0.20) or more, and your account will be frozen until you pay up- no printing allowed at all. It's a pain to come to all the way to the library just to find you can't print anything off. So if you get in the negative, bring a buck or two to the ETC and ask the person at the counter to put it on your account.

Major-Specific Printers

Sometimes you don't have to use the library or ETC printers. Depending on your major, your department might have a printer for you to use for free for your major-related classes. Rupp has one for Media Communications majors, the Dungeon has one for Computer Science majors... those are the only two I know about for sure, but it would be worth a check with your department, especially if you're getting low on printing money.

Any questions?

Leave me a comment below and I'll answer them.