I scream, you scream, we all scream for…Starbucks

Ahh there’s nothing better than that first sip of your Pumpkin Spice Latte on a chilly December morning. The problem? It took 30 minutes to get it. Now, I am a firm believer in being 5 minutes late to class if it means getting Starbucks, but it would be nice to fix this tiny inconvenience. Currently, USF has 3 Starbucks locations including the library, the bookstore, and the Juniper-Poplar residence hall (as shown on map below).

These locations are great! However, they are not very evenly dispersed around campus, and it seems as though the highest trafficked (the library) is not big enough. I would recommend putting a Starbucks near Greek or by the gym. I could even go for an expansion of the library location. Either way it is obvious that we college students love our coffee. So, if you want to keep us happy, keep us caffeinated!!

And here’s a funny video for all of my fellow Starbucks junkies. Enjoy 🙂

Do you even lift?

Whether you run on the treadmill, lift weights, play basketball, swim, or dance, we have all set foot on the sacred ground that is USF Recreation. I personally have nothing bad to say about the gym itself. Since its renovation, the workout equipment and facilities are more than a gym lover could want. If you haven’t seen the new rec center you should definitely check it out. Start here by watching this tour video:

So, what is the USF problem here? The problem is January 1st. At the beginning of each new year, the gym gets flooded with people. As a devoted gym goer, I know which times the gym won’t be crowded and plan accordingly, so as you can imagine it’s very frustrating to have to wait in line for equipment that you use ever day. Please do not misunderstand, I love motivated people who take action to improve their lives. I only ask one simple thing: Tell me when you’re going, so I can steer clear.

Who here is a gym rat like me? Also, comment below with your new years resolutions 🙂 I need ideas for mine!

P.S. If you like what you read here, follow me on Twitter @hayleysarap and check back next week to find out why I have a love-hate relationship with the one and only Starbucks Coffee Co.

HP

Something Old, Something New…

How much do we pay to attend college? Each year we dish out thousands of dollars to continue our education. I can’t help but feel that the University should invest more money in renovating some of the older buildings on campus. Not only are many buildings embarrassingly run-down and out-of-date, but one can obviously see which departments receive more funding. For example, cooper hall and CIS are worlds below the new athletic complex and the Patel Center. While I do understand that the nicer buildings are also the newer buildings, it seems unfair that USF would let some buildings fall to the wayside altogether. How many students would be interested in signing a petition/joining a movement to improve and renovate on-campus facilities? If you want to see change- do something! You can reach the USF facilities management via email at usfgroundsmainenance.org or by visiting the website http://usfweb2.usf.edu/Adminsvc/facilities/

VERSUS

Thank you for your participation,

HP

Get In Line

It’s 10:55 and you have a paper due in your next class at 11. You barely finished it the night before at 3 a.m. and now all that’s left to do is go to the library, print it, add a staple to the corner, and hold your breath for an A. But this is USF ladies and gentlemen, and if you plan on waiting in line to print your paper, I can assure you that you won’t be making it to class on time. Can someone please tell me why in a school of over 40,000 students, there seems to be maybe 10 printers accessible to students? Now, I know some of you may be tempted to say that this is ultimately my fault for not completing and printing out the paper earlier, but just in case you forgot…THIS IS COLLEGE. If you finished your paper any time before midnight the day before it was due, you clearly didn’t have enough fun this week!

And just in case you haven’t already synced the USF printers to your computer here is the link: http://www.usf.edu/it/class-prep/printing.aspx

HP

The Sunshine State is Cold!

Today, I saw a tweet that deserved a RT (retweet). It said “Welcome to USF, where it’s scorching hot outside and Antarctica inside”. I cannot stress how true this is. Anyone who has been to Florida knows that the Sunshine State is a fitting name. Year-round (minus a few days in the winter months), Florida is so hot you can’t imagine doing anything besides tanning beach-side. However, inside every building in Florida it seems to be FREEZING. Overcompensation much? How am I supposed to focus in school while I’m trying to fight hypothermia? Please inform me if this is solely a personal problem. What temperature do you guys keep your apartments/homes? Is there some reason for making it so cold? Personally, I would be happy if USF cranked the thermostat up a few degrees, and they would probably save money in the process!

Leave your comments! I Love hearing what you have to say:)

Greek Life 101

Hello again blog-lovers!

How many of you are affiliated with a Greek organization on campus? Sororities and fraternities are great opportunities to get involved in the community and make lifelong friendships in the process. I am proud to say that I am a member of a national organization called Zeta Tau Alpha. Greek life is considered a traditional part of most colleges and generally enhances the college experience. However, USF is a newer school and lacks some of the more “traditional” aspects seen at large schools like UF, FSU, and Ole Miss. Since going Greek at my school, I have come to the conclusion that USF is not fond of Greek organizations. We tend to receive less funding/support for housing, events, and recruitment than they do at other schools, and even other organizations within USF. We also have stricter rules governing our events and members. I want to change the University’s as well as the general public’s perception of fraternities and sororities. Yes, we are one big group of friends, and yes, we love to go out and have a good time. However, our organizations are centered around philanthropy and giving back to the community. Not to mention, they provide us with great opportunities for leadership, networking, and personal growth. I have attached some videos of sisterhood and community service that I hope will change your mind about Greek if you did have your doubts!

Thanks for listening,

HP

Where are we?

Welcome back!

Today I have a short geography lesson for you. USF is located in Tampa, it is on the west coast of Florida directly across from Orlando.

If you’re a student you know that most people assume that the University of SOUTH FLORIDA is actually in SOUTH FLORIDA. While, this is not an irrational assumption, it is still a wrong one. The University of Miami, FIU, FAU, and FGCU are all further south than us. Now, I know that it may seem as if my frustration is directed at those who inquire about why USF is not in South Florida, but perhaps it should be directed at the individuals who named the University in the first place. Here’s my question for you: At the time of its creation was USF the southern-most college in Florida? What other explanations are there for the confusion between name and location? Help me out fellow Bulls!

You can submit your answers below in the comment section:)

HP

USF Probs: 6th Edition

Hello again fellow USFers!

This blog is for Nicole. She shared with me her number one problem with USF, so here it is: USF has no traditions. I have to agree with her on this one. When I used to dream of college, I thought of some binding force that instantly gave every student school pride. At schools like Ole Miss they have huge sporting traditions such as tailgating together at “The Grove”. Perhaps our traditions are still developing because we are such a new school. However, it would be nice to see students with more pride, and the best way to do this is to bind them together through traditions and similar college experiences. So let’s make it happen bulls! Share your favorite USF memories on this website and tag @USFProbs. I will pick my favorites to reblog:)

Until next time,

HP

USF Probs: 5th Edition

Hello again,

So as this semester winds down, it is almost that time again to register for spring classes. If any of you have woken up at 6 am to wait for registration to open, then you probably know what I’m about to say. How frustrating is it to log in to register only to find that OASIS is bogged down by the large influx of website traffic?! First, let me just get something off of my chest…I hate technology. (Until a few months ago I was still using internet explorer until someone opened my eyes to the magnificent browser that is Google Chrome). Regardless, I can’t help but feel that a large university with over 40,000 students would prepare for this type of mass action on the server. I know that this is asking a lot, but we all know how competitive it can be to get a precious spot in certain classes. And let’s face it, if you don’t secure the teacher you want or get to take a class with your best friend, the rest of the year is ruined! That surely isn’t how USF wants us to start our new semester I hope.

So you might be wondering, “how can I prepare for registration day?” First, use Degreeworks to find out the classes you need. Second, write down all of the CRN numbers so you’re ready to type them in. And finally, don’t stress! I can promise you that yelling, hitting, and throwing your computer won’t make it go any faster; trust me I’ve tried. Below are the links for Degreeworks, the Add/Drop Credits page, as well as the search browser for classes. I hope registration day finds you well!

https://degreeworks.usf.edu/

https://usfonline.admin.usf.edu/pls/prod/bwskfreg.P_AltPin

http://www.registrar.usf.edu/ssearch/search.php

HP

USF Probs: 4th Edition

What’s every college student’s favorite way to celebrate game day? You guessed it- tailgating!! There’s only one problem: USF doesn’t have a football stadium. Instead, students must trek at least 30 minutes to the Buccaneers stadium to enjoy the live action. Not only would it be more convenient, but an on campus stadium would be much safer when it comes to drinking and driving, as well as crowd control. I have heard that football coaches and players complain about the number of fans who show up to football games. I can guarantee that student turn out would be drastically increased by building an on-campus USF stadium. I’m sure this is in the works, given that funding for athletics is usually a top priority at universities. Still, until then we are stuck enduring Dale Mabry traffic on game day; but I guess it’s worth it when you live for the green and gold!

Which schools do you think have the best tailgate setup on game day? Maybe USF can take a few pointers from them!

Don’t forget that you can get live Twitter updates on game day if you can’t make it to the game! Follow @USFFootball GO BULLS!

HP