Category: Uncategorized

So You’re in a Triple: Rooming 101

Emily Pruitt / / Emily Pruitt, Uncategorized

Whenever I tell someone I’m in a triple, they all have the same reaction.  There face becomes contorted and they remark “ooh…how is that going?” like it’s a bad thing. However, living in a triple for me has been a great experience this past year.

When I first read my rooming assignment and saw that I was going to rooming with two other people when I had only asked for one, I was not pleased to say the least.  I considered everything that could go wrong: lack of space, being closer to one roommate than the other, and much more.  I thought it would be a disaster.  Turns out, I was pleasantly surprised.

For me, the rooming survey worked out great, I have two roommates Haley and Claire, and while we don’t always hang out that much outside of the room, we coexist great.  We really haven’t thought at all about anything this whole year.  They are more like my sisters than roommates, and it’s always great to run threw our days together at night. So if you’re worried about the rooming horror stories becoming a reality, I advise you not to sweat it, because while those things could happen, it’s usually pretty rare.

Also, living on the hall with a bunch of other freshman girls has made my freshman year here at Furman.  I think the bonding activities at the beginning of the year really helped us grow together as a family, something really unique to Furman that most schools don’t do.  My hall is full of amazing girls, and is home to some of my best friends.  We are all such a close knit group, and frequently will grab meals, watch movies, or just chill in a room together chatting for hours.  At the beginning of the year, our whole hall had a talent show.  Now that’s not something that happens everywhere you know.

All in all, my rooming experience has been great.  Just make sure to fill out your survey as truthfully as you can, and you will be a-okay.  Even if you do end up in a triple, they happen to be rather spacious, and that’s just two more best friends you’ll make. Try not to dwell on your rooming situation even doesn’t go very well, you don’t have to be best friends with them, all you gotta do is sleep at night and go on your separate things during the day.

This is an exciting time, get pumped for new friends and exciting experiences this upcoming year!

Why I took ANOTHER organic chemistry class

aagakidou / / Uncategorized

I promise I am not crazy. Yes, I am an optimist, but not way too optimistic to the point of delusion. No, I did not enjoy taking organic chemistry, and I wouldn’t call myself a masochist for taking yet another organic chemistry class. Here’s the thing: I am going to graduate school, and from the moment I set that as my goal (last summer) I realized that no one will take time out of their day wherever I end up to teach me elementary organic chemistry. I am owning up to my mistakes right now; I did not put nearly as much time as I needed to put towards studying for my organic chemistry class.

In fall 2014 I was starting my sophomore year, with a job as a FRAD* , starting my career as a Furman Admission Ambassador, and getting to help with organizing a TEDx conference from scratch for the first time. I made the terrible mistake of taking 2 hard classes, Organic Chem and Calculus II. I overestimated my ability to study and balance everything perfectly. Besides that, I was taking a class on Buddhism which I was 100% unfamiliar with, and a history class which I ended up loving, but at the time it was just another massive thing for me because for all I knew, history was my least favorite subject in school (you would hate it too if you had to memorize thousands of years of Greek history, politics, culture, and weird names since 1st grade). So yes, I did not study as much as I needed to for organic chemistry, and my foundation was weak solely because of my decisions and choices, and I didn’t realize how much help I could have gotten from Dr Springsteen who made himself available every day for us. I am so mad at sophomore fall Danai for being so irresponsible and not realizing the importance of this class. Because it was required for my major, I took another organic chemistry class (bio-organic) a year later, and it was so much harder for me because of my weak basis, and my lack of studying skills for organic chemistry. I found the lectures fascinating and I wanted to learn more about organic chemistry.

This past summer I went over my grade report with my advisor and we realized that my only weak grades were from my 2 organic classes, so like any other reasonable being, I decided to take an advanced organic class with Dr Goess (famous for being an amazing lecturer, but hard professor) in my senior spring semester. Two weeks ago I finished the class, and I feel so much more confident in my chemical knowledge. This class only lasted half the semester, and functioned like a graduate level class, so a lot of the teaching had to occur out of the classroom, and this time I knew how to do it. I knew how much time I had to put into it and I no longer saw the class as something intimidating, but rather something really endearing, that would help me get through graduate school. Of course, I do not feel like I know everything I am supposed to know about organic chemistry, but I’ve covered so many of the gaps in my knowledge, that I can now do the rest of the teaching at my own time. And I know that people called me crazy for taking another organic class, but just like Bio-organic, I never wanted to miss any lectures, and I felt like I was actually learning something important.

 

Besides all of this, I think that my advisor, Dr Wagenknecht, was also very confused but somehow also happy that I was taking this class. He told me that it speaks volumes about my character that I am willingly putting myself through another hard class in order to learn. And I don’t like to brag about this, but I don’t think many people would challenge themselves this much normally if they saw themselves almost failing similar classes twice. However, I do think that Furman has many students with a similar mindset as mine. You will find a lot of students that choose taking classes that are slightly easier for them, but you’ll find an equal amount of students that will willingly put themselves on the line, challenge their views and abilities, and take the “harder” classes.

 

PS: I am 99% sure that this decision of taking this class made my advisor’s recommendation letter a thousand times stronger and that’s the only reason I’m going to grad school, but I will never see that letter, so I guess I’ll never know. I can only guess (or Goess, LOL)…

 

*FRAD: freshman advisor, which is a position for sophomores or older students to work in housing and live in a freshman residence hall

Wait, Furman Students Plan T-Pain Concerts?

Chad Boltz / / Chad Boltz, Uncategorized

I have lived in the Greenville community for the past 10 years of my life. I grew up hearing about all the concerts that Furman has brought in the past few years. From Ed Sheeran to Drake, I could not believe the type of acts that Furman was bringing to the Greenville Area. I always thought that these acts were brought by hired Furman staff, but when I learned Furman students actually plan and bring these acts, I was stunned.

Furman has excellent programming boards on campus. Our Residential Life Council, Furman Creative Collaborative, and Student Alumni Council all bring great programming to our campus, but I have had the privilege of working with Furman University Student Activity Board. We are a group of 55 quirky individuals that all have a passion for event planning. We are split into five different committees:

1. Annual- Shockingly, this committee plans events that happen annually. They help plan our Homecoming festivities, conduct a campus-wide game of tag, and throw a giant bash on the last day of class (LDOC).

2. Off Campus- This committee does everything that does not occur on Furman’s campus. They have events like Harry Potter Yule Balls to having a swanky evening at a restaurant and a show at the Peace Center. My favorite Off-Campus event is a yearly trip to the Biltmore in December. Everyone dresses up really nice and there is great food and the Biltmore is so nicely decorated.

3. Concert- This committee plans concerts. Who would have thunk? They have brought artists like Sam Hunt, Moon Taxi, Borns, T-Pain, Waka Flocka Flame, and like I said before Drake and Ed Sheeran. They also hold a Battle of the Bands Competition.

4. Special- Any event that does not fall into the above three categories is conducted by the Special Committee. From Dodgeball Tournaments to Haunted Trails to DIY Bouquet Stations to Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre, this committee only limitation is their imagination. About once a year they bring a comedian to campus. We have seen Seth Myers, Keenan Thompson, Bo Burnham, and Zach Galifianakis.

5. Marketing- This group has a special place in my heart since I am the chair of this committee. This group is in charge of advertising the other committee’s events in unique and quirky ways. From dressing up in flashy costumes and creating a commercial to designing and creating stickers.

This board is just an event planning club, it is a family. My closest and best friends all come from this board. Not only have I had a pleasant experience within this group, but I have learned SOOOOO many important life skills.  Leading a committee has been a challenge, but so has been learning graphic design. This group continues to impress me more and more each year, and if you come to Furman I would encourage you to come to our events or even apply to be on the board!

Chillin by the Lake- a playlist by Kat Denney

Katherine Denney / / Uncategorized

It’s a Saturday, the sun is out, and you are chillin’ by the lake in your Eno. Here’s a laid back Indie playlist for when you’re hanging out (ha puns!)

  1. Monday Loop// Tomppabeats — To kick things off is a recommendation from my good pal Chriss! this is why he loves it:

2. Holocene // Bon Iver — the most chill indie musician out there, perfect for zoning out and staring at the swans.

3. Punks and Poets // Elliot Root — I recently discovered Elliot Root and freaking love him! He is also a good listen for late night drives and road trips.

4. Vacation // Florist — it’s peppy and perky but chill at the same time, the banjo really brings it all together in my opinion. Plus, I’m just a sucker for a good banjo.

5. Jarmin in the Dark// Young Monks — this song gives you good vibes and a perfect atmosphere for swinging in the breeze by the lake.

6. Sunday Candy // Donnie Trumpet, The Social Experiment, & Chance the Rapper — no good playlist is complete without Chance.

7. Someone New // Hozier — As you watch people and their dogs walk along the lake you will find yourself falling in love with every single dog which is kinda what Hozier is talking about in this song.

8. first day of my life// gnash & Goody Grace — cute, simple, and perfect for cuddling 😉

9. Secret // Flearoy — this one is kinda groovy and I dig it!

10. Washing Dishes // Jack Johnson — Jack Johnson is the love of my life and absolutely perfect for any time or place but especially fitting for your chill time.

11. Brazil // Declan Mckenna — this kid Declan is the cutest and his music is super catchy. Brazil, in particular, is fun but yet laid back, go check out some of his other stuff!

12. Flowers in Your Hair // The Lumineers — How could you not put the Lumineers on an indie chill playlist?! And yet again, the banjo just gets me every time!

13. Stay Alive // José González — I first heard this song on the soundtrack of “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” and instantly downloaded it. It makes you really motivated and inspired!

14. Who Says // John Mayer — Other than Jack Johnson, John Mayer is the love my life!

15. Shakey Ground // Freedom Fry — There is also a remix of this song which is fantastic if you want something with more beats but this is the chill Eno version.

16. A Summer Song // Conner Youngblood — A perfect blend between traditional indie style and a little bit of Hip Hop influences sprinkled in.

17. Woodlands // The Paper Kites — a recommendation from Anna!: 

18. Pale Blue Eyes // The Velvet Underground — and to wrap things up is yet another recommendation from Jared, our local expert of Indie Chill.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click here to listen to the full playlist on Spotify! Let us know what you think and if you have any songs you would’ve added!

It’s a HELLER of a good time!

Katherine Denney / / Uncategorized

It’s the best night of the year, it’s the Heller Exceptional Adult Dance!

Every year around valentine’s day the Furman campus comes together for a night of dancing and fun with the Greenville special needs community. You eat a lot of candy, do the cupid shuffle, and meet some of the happiest and most loving people in Greenville. Heller Service Corps organizes the dance and decorates the Younts Conference center with red, pink, and white. I helped make the balloon arch (Shoutout to my freshman reps!!).

I might be biased when I say that Heller Service Corps is the best student organization on campus, but I mean it’s true! Heller Service Corps is probably one of the only organizations on campus that have such an impact not only on the community but on the students as well. Heller is the largest student organization on campus and won a national award from The National Center for Voluntary Action. Every year around 1800 students are involved with Heller in some way. Heller works with over 50 philanthropy organizations that are under nine Heller divisions which include: Community Concerns, Crisis Centers, Children’s Education, Medical, Special Needs, Hispanic Community Engagement, Animal Interest, Sustainability, Children’s Recreation, and International. I go to an afterschool program called Frazee once a week. I get to play with little kiddos, teach them to read and give them a positive outlet to unwind from a long day of school. These kids brighten my day every week and I look forward to going. Without Heller, I would have never found this community outside of Furman’s campus and be exposed to the struggles that many of my kids face every day. Heller has also given me a community on campus. The people who make up Heller are dedicated to serving others and making a difference in the lives of the people around them and my Furman experience wouldn’t be the same without it.

Quarter-life Crisis? No Problem!

McKenzie Wynne / / Kenzie Wynne, Uncategorized

Life is interesting. I don’t really remember a time when college wasn’t at the forefront of all of my goals. My parents both graduated from UGA, so I grew up going to Georgia games in Athens, tailgating with pimento cheese sandwiches and seeing all of the giddy excitement in all of the college students. Even then, as a seven-year-old, it was a palpable excitement that I knew I had to be a part of. College was a topic my parents always loved to talk about, we always enjoyed dreaming together. When I discovered my passion for theatre, we were able to bring our dreams into a narrower, more specific focus. “Which schools have good theatre programs?” “where will you have the most opportunities to get on stage?” “Study abroad programs?” “What about a scholarship opportunity via an audition?” Throughout high school it was a lot of research until finally, my senior year, my decision was made and Furman was the place for me! And then I was in it! Doing college. Going to classes, getting cast in shows, rehearsals, studying abroad! It’s been a whirlwind and (as cliché as it may sound) a total dream come true. But now here I am, a second-semester senior…so close to the finish line, I feel like I can see it. However, instead of sprinting toward those last few strides, I find myself wanting to dig in my heels, or to take the slowest, most leisurely walk.

Maybe I’m the only one who’s felt this way, but I can’t shake the feeling of “well, what now?” for most of my life the end-goal has been my undergrad, and now that that’s coming to a close, I feel myself slipping into this weird, quarter-life, where-is-the-meaning-in-all-of-this crisis. So, in case you’re like me at all, and feeling anything like this, here’s what I’ve found:

1)Life doesn’t end after college ends. It goes on. We carry on.

2)My worth is not measured by a fancy piece of paper I will receive in May.

3)That great, big, adventure-filled anticipation that I felt days before coming to college exists in a lot of other things as well.

4)College has been some of the best times of my life, but that doesn’t mean that the good times have to end.

5)Embrace the valleys with the peaks.

 

Ok so maybe it all sounds a bit like mumbo-jumbo or like I’m speaking in inspirational bumper-stickers. Or maybe someone out there needed to read that and feel encouraged, or at least heartened because hey, if you’re freaking out at all, you’re not alone. Trust me. #FurmanfortheWynne

 

 

The Furman Weekend

Katherine Denney / / Uncategorized

Furman is amazing but sometimes you just have to get off campus. Here’s your weekend cheat sheet for all things Greenville!

Hiking!!!!!!!!!

If you can’t tell by the exclamation points this is my personal favorite. Almost every Saturday my best pals and I hit up the great outdoors for a little detox. If you’re a Din you have to do these hikes at least once in your four years here at Furman!

Jones’ Gap– If you’re looking for a more strenuous and adventurous Jone’s Gap is the place to go. (Quick Tip: this isn’t a loop trail, you walk in and walk out so be aware of that while you’re walking)

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Table Rock- it’s a great place to grab some friends and watch the sunset! Snag some cookies from the Dining Hall and take a quick road trip! (Fun fact: the DH cookies are vegan but are super yummy, I promise!)

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Paris Mountain- it’s the closest hike for Furman and it’s a great way to get off campus but not dedicate a whole day to the great outdoors. A quick drive and walk bring you to a lookout over Furman University!

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Quality Time with Quality People

 

Guys I just wanted to say sorry for lying to you earlier… because this is my favorite thing to do! Whether going to a Frat party or chilling in the dorms the weekend is a time to check out and spend time with the amazing people of Furman. Here are some of the fun times that I have had my first semester here at Furman!

Tacky Christmas Sweater party

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Bonfire:

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SNOW DAYYYYY!!!!

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Volunteer!

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Study

I know, I know, it’s not that exciting but sometimes it must be done. Explore the coffee shops of downtown Greenville or Travelers Rest and bring a friend along! If you’re addicted to caffeine and are a chronic procrastinator like me then check out my top three Coffee Shops:

Underground Coffee

Leopard Forest

Methodical Coffee

Tandem Creperie

Food!!!!!!!

Downtown Greenville is even more amazing if you aren’t studying! The food is top notch and even though the Dining Hall is above par in the grand scheme of Cafeteria food, I highly recommend taking some friends downtown. My go to restaurants are:

LemonGrass Thai (the curry is fantastic)

Sully’s (Get the Whole Grain Lane)

Trio’s (literally anything. It’s all fantastic)

Sidewall (ALWAYS GET THE BREADSTICKS!)

WhistleStop (Shrimp and Grits)

 

If you come to visit Furman and try any of these let me know! Take a pic and use my hashtag (#paladenney) or tag Furman Admission (@FUAdmission)! Go Dins!!!

What It Means to Be a Furman Legacy

Courtney Thomas / / Counselor Blog, Guest Blogs, Uncategorized

 

Legacy /’leg-uh-see’/ n. a student whose parent, grandparent, or sibling has attended Furman University.

If you looked in a Furman dictionary between words like “The Lib” (Duke Library) and “The PAC” (Physical Activities Center), you would find the above definition for “Legacy.” I am a proud Furman legacy of my mom, who graduated back in ’87.  In addition, my aunt was a member of the Class of ’90 and while this isn’t defined under legacy, Furman runs in the family. I’ve always been asked what it’s like to follow in my mom’s footsteps and if my Furman experience has been any different. Here are a few reasons why it’s awesome to be a Furman legacy and what many legacies can relate to as a Furman student!

You’ve had Furman (or a lot of purple) apparel since you were a young one.

⇐ To the left is my first purple outfit (stylish purple overalls) I wore to my first Paladin Football game. Since then, I’ve owned several Furman shirts and souvenirs. Because of this, people will assume you’re going to Furman since you own so much purple and Furman gear.

 Also, everyone in your family probably has a lot of Furman apparel. ⇒

No need to buy apparel for your family because most of them probably own a lot already! It was easy for me to get everyone in Furman apparel when I decided upon Furman.

 

Maybe your first official campus visit has not been your first time on campus.

It feels weird checking in to your campus tour when you’ve already been on campus before. Everything that an ambassador might share on the official tour, you might have heard before from your favorite alumnus. Even though you feel like you know campus, you still learn more from another student’s perspective.  

You have similar tastes.

Great minds think alike! You and your favorite alumnus must have similar tastes if you both chose the same school. You both were probably looking for a small, liberal arts college with excellent academics and a strong community.

You know about all the favorite Furman traditions before you even step foot on campus.

Laking, fountain hopping, kissing under the Bell Tower… yep, you’ve heard all of them before. You probably already know to stay away from the Bell Tower with your college sweetheart or be thankful your birthday is during the summer months.  While you might partake in some of these traditions with fellow students, you feel connected to your favorite alumnus because they’ve done it before you.   

Homecoming is a bit more meaningful.

⇐ Homecoming is a favorite Furman tradition for all students; however having an alumnus in the family makes the celebration a little bit more meaningful. Sometimes it’s hard to differentiate Homecoming with Family Weekend because you’re family will come to both. Homecoming literally means coming home for you and your favorite alumnus. Whether going to the festivities Friday night before the game or cheering on the Paladins in the big Homecoming football game, there are plenty of activities you can both attend and make Furman memories together.

 

 

You have the ability to see how Furman has changed and grown throughout the years.

I truly think this is one of the neatest aspects of having alumni in the family. While some Furman traditions don’t change over the years, there is still a lot of change happening on campus. Having alumni in the family from past years allows you to experience Furman throughout its changes. I will never forget my mom being shocked when she went into South Housing (the freshmen residential halls) for the first time, since it used to be the boy’s part of campus.

Whether you can relate to all of these or very few, there’s some sort of connection between Furman legacies. It just makes Furman a little bit more like home. Besides fellow legacies, I’ve also shared this special connection with my mom, which just adds to our bond. I love my favorite alumnus just as much as I love Furman. When people ask if I liked following in my mom’s footsteps, I always respond, “Yes, absolutely.” I am one proud legacy whose blood runs purple!

 

-Alex Doxey ’19

Study Away!

ehawthorne / / Counselor Blog, Uncategorized

 This guest blog was written by Christopher Razo, a current senior from Chicago, IL.

During my first three years at Furman, I have earned the opportunity to participate in two study away programs. The first program that I participated in was the “May by the Bay” San Francisco- May X, as a sophomore. The second program that I participated in was the “Washington Experience” semester away program during the spring of my junior year. Having the opportunity to interact and explore in person the adventures that we read about in the classroom is a reality at Furman and offered to any student for the standard tuition price!

Furman is a place full of bright minds and innovative thinkers, but having a chance to study away from Furman’s campus offers students the opportunity to go through a transformative learning experience. Whether a student chooses to spend a semester or a May term away, they will certainly encounter enriching academic experiences.

The May Experience is essentially an optional three week term following the spring semester that allows students to explore topics of interest, within in and outside of their majors, in two credit courses (typically without prerequisites) that are not offered during the academic year. When a student opts to study away from campus for the month of May in programs that explore topics such as the rhetoric of social activism in the San Francisco, religion and politics in Israel- Jordan, or food in Italy, the student has signed up to have an extravagant life experience. Having an opportunity to explore different destinations with amazing professors, is an example of engaged learning at its finest. The programs designed and led by Furman faculty ensures students that they will be receiving the rigorous Furman education while studying off-campus. My professor led the journey when we traveled along the Bay and met with famous activists from diverse groups. I had the chance of meeting NYU law professor Dr. Kenji Yoshino at Stanford, Dr. Clarence Jones at Stanford, David Harris in San Francisco, Chief Chris Magnus at the Richmond Police Department, United Farm Workers in Fresno, and survivors of the Japanese Internment camps in Fresno. Besides the academic opportunities, there is time for students to explore the city they are studying in. During my free time around the Bay area, I would tag along with my professor to small used bookstores in Eureka and Palo Alto and after one month I found myself interested in political commentaries and philosophy books more than ever.  

Seventy percent of Furman academic departments require students to fulfill an internship experience credit.  As a political science major I had three study away programs offered to me through the department. The programs were academic-internship focused semesters in Brussels, Edinburgh, and Washington D.C.  The spectacular aspect about the study away programs within the academic departments is that the professors have the opportunity to customize a curriculum and lead the academic journeys. It is often the case that Furman professors have gone on the same trip for twenty years and are well acquainted with the cities students live and study in. Spending spring ’16 in Washington D.C. gave me the opportunity to live, study and work in the city that contains every branch of government and every government organization that I study in the classroom at Furman’s campus. The unique experience allowed me to study campaigns and elections during the national residential primaries. As a citizen of the Washington D.C. political climate, I also partook in protests, organization meetings, and met with with Congressman Trey Gowdy (R-SC), and Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) two politicians I respect and follow regularly.

The greatest impact that I have had from my study away experiences in San Francisco and Washington D.C. was finding out how I want to incorporate the rigorous knowledge I am receiving at Furman into the political realm of our society as it stands today. I am a young Mexican-American from the south west side of Chicago. Growing up I found interest in political corruption and poor education systems because that what I was exposed to, and the corruption had affected my family’s personal life. As a young kid, it was easy for me realize these things early and I have been ambitious with my academic career at Furman to place myself in a position where I can return to the city of Chicago or to communities nation wide like the one I grew up in and be able to assist the young constituents who are effected by local school systems. Traveling with students of diverse political and social ideologies, and professors of great knowledge and experience has opened my mind to the billions of opportunities that exist for those who dare to chase their dreams. I had the chance of addressing the political issues that interest me the most through my media focused internship where I published articles, written while working along side political editors from TIME magazine, journalists from the Miami-Herald, and a former CIA agents.

I recommend studying away because between the ages 18-22, these are crucial years to the development of a person, their mind, body and soul. I believe that it is essential for a student of all backgrounds to use their college experience to explore perspectives on issues they find themselves interested in. A study away program may serve as a life changing experience in that through the program one may find their passion and or the place they would like to live out their career lives. The term could potentially create both professional and personal relationships with our professors who are both well connected and hold a lot of wisdom just waiting to be brought out by a vibrant and intellectual student, a Furman student.