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7 Inexpensive and Easy Ways to Decorate Your Dorm

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This article has been syndicated to Her Campus from Berry Stylish, an InfluenceHer Collective member. Read the full post here. 

Decorating on a budget can be difficult but with these super easy tips you can start the school year with the best dorm on your floor! Continue reading to learn tips on how to create the perfect dorm room and see the items I picked for this fun partnership with Bed Bath & Beyond.

  1. Decorate Your Bed with Nice Pillows
    This first tip might seem like a no-brainer but so many people forget the importance of amazing bedding. Remember, most dorms have boring white walls so if your pillows are also white the room will look uninteresting and flat. To create the perfect pillow arrangement try to have an odd number of pillows and feature 1 to 2 pillows with pretty patterns. For this room, I decided to display this one as the main focal point because it has a gorgeous gold floral print.

  2. Create Cute Quotes Instead of Buying Expensive Wall Art
    Buying wall art can be expensive so instead of breaking the bank try printing your own wall decor from amazing online quotes. Some of my favorite quotes to use are inspiring ones because they help me start the day on a positive note, but you can also use funny/unique ones to help add some personality to your dorm.

  3. Organize Your Closet
    Okay, so I know you might be a little confused with this one but trust me, a clean closet makes a HUGE difference in your room. One of the best ways to organize your closet is to color code it and use a hanging shoe organizer to keep things off the ground. Using this will optimize the living space in your dorm so you'll actually have room to add the things you like.

  4. Create a Floral Arrangement
    Plants instantly brighten a room and since dorms usually don't windows I suggest adding a beautiful floral arrangement to give your room life. In this room, I used fake flowers and a bold lamp (because I can't keep a plant living longer than a day, haha), but ideally, you'll want to use real flowers.

Read the full post here


10 Ways to Bond With Your Roommate

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Say what you will, but getting a new roommate is always nerve-wracking. As your move-in date gets closer and closer (and arrives), you start asking yourself a million questions: Will your roomie’s mess penetrate your personal space bubble? Are you going to be sexiled every weekend? Will your roommate be able to tolerate your less-than-normal sleeping habits? Most importantly, will the two of you become friends, or will the room be plagued with a perpetual awkward silence?

Unless you’re a lone wolf, you’ll definitely prefer the former. Easier said than done, right? Not necessarily. With our fun ways to bond with your new roomie, the two of you may become as close as Monica and Rachel.

monica and rachel friends

1. Volunteer together

After years of volunteering to beef up your college application, you made a riveting discovery: community service is fun. Honestly, is there anything better than helping out others? Not only will you get to bond with your roommate, but the two of you will also be giving back to your college community. Most universities have loads of community service opportunities, so check out your school’s calendar online! If your school doesn’t have a lot of options, be sure to look for activities in your college town. From cleaning up parks to helping at local homeless shelters, you and your roomie will have a slew of community service projects to choose from!

2. Start watching a new TV show together

finger food friends watching tv

As you probably know by now, college girls take their television shows very seriously. That hour (or 30 minutes) of lust, scandal, drama, and laughs is the perfect way to unwind after a rough day. With an array of new shows to choose from—not to mention the great gift of Netflix—starting a new TV show-watching tradition is a fun way to get to know your roommate. Between Modern Family’s hysterical one-liners and the gorgeous guys on Pretty Little Liars, the two of you will have plenty to talk about! Even if you don’t have a television in your room, the two of you can watch the drama of House of Cards play out on your computer. If you and your roomie have a few shows in common, have a viewing party each week—just don’t forget to get popcorn!

3. Create a bucket list for the year

Maybe you haven’t written an actual bucket list, but we both know that you have a plethora of things you want to accomplish this year. Sharing your mental bucket list with your roomie is a great way to break the ice. The two of you can write down your top 10 goals for the school year and post them on your fridge or door. For optimal bonding, make sure to support each other! If she wants to get with that lax bro from your floor, it’s time to become the best wing-woman ever. Don’t worry; she’ll accompany you on your quest to find the best frozen yogurt in your college’s town!

4. Decorate your dorm room together

It’s time to get creative! Catherine Sourbis from Tufts University made sure that she and her roommate added some necessary eye candy to their room. “We made a little project out of cutting out our favorite boys from a spare Brooks Brothers magazine,” says Catherine. “Two years later, those guys still hang on the wall in the apartment we share.” In the event hot male models aren’t your thing, adorn your room with fun decorations for each holiday. Paper ships for Columbus Day, anyone?

5. Acknowledge your mutual love for food

Deny it all you want, but you love talking about food. Breakfast, brunch, lunch, midday snacks, dinner, dessert, midnight snacks – you love it all! So why not break the ice with food? Sure, randomly talking about your favorite dishes may be a little awkward, so suggest that the two of you go grocery shopping. “If you’re in a dorm, shop at the student market,” says Jessica Salerno from Ohio University. You’ll stock up your fridge and learn whether your roomie likes red pepper hummus or not. Sounds like a win-win situation to us! Bonding over food doesn’t stop there, collegiettes – you can always keep it simple and have an epic meal at your dining hall. “Some of my favorite memories of my roommate last year were when we went to our school’s midnight breakfast together before finals in the winter and in the spring,” says Sydney Nolan from Macalester College. “We had a great time talking and recharging for finals over huge plates of hash browns.” If your school doesn’t have midnight breakfasts, head to the dining hall and dare each other to try those sketchy corndogs. Let’s be honest; you’ve always wanted to eat a corndog.

friends running together exercise staying fit

6. Take an exercise class together

Okay, all this talk about food is making you want to work out. Crazy, huh? Instead of hitting the gym alone, ask your roommate if she wants to sign up for an exercise class with you. Some colleges even offer gym classes for credit and, since you won’t have to worry about a water aerobics midterm, you’ll be killing two birds with one athletic stone. Having a mandatory class each week will allow you and your roomie to hang outside of your dorm every week. After hours of modern dance class, how could you not connect over that challenging combination or how the only boy in your class is actually an amazing dancer? From yoga to self-defense, check out your gym’s schedule to pick out the class that’s best for the two of you!

7. Explore!

You can ask as many icebreaker questions as you want; however, you won’t truly bond with your roommate until you leave the dorm and share a new experience. Whether you go to your school’s homecoming game together or voyage out to the nearest mall, the two of you will bond over the ah-dorable linebacker or that questionable lingerie store. Or embrace your college town’s history and take a trip to local landmarks! Unfortunately, one awesome expedition won’t make you best friends, so make sure you keep thinking of fun activities for the two of you to do together.

8. Pamper yourselves

Between the endless term papers and maintaining your rocking social life (woe is you), college can be very stressful. Sometimes, after a long day of classes, you just want someone to paint your nails and give you a nice back massage at the drying station – we don’t blame you! Going by yourself may give you that healthy dose of “me time,” but why not bring your roomie along? After all, most girls love talking about beauty products. If your first mani-pedi excursion is a success, make it a monthly tradition!

roommates LC and lo the hills

9. Burn CDs with your favorite songs

Unless you’re a music major or in a band, you may not sit around with your friends and talk about music that often—I just realized one of my closest friends and I love the same bands! It’s a shame because music is such an awesome way to bond. Instead of making awkward small talk about what musical genres you listen to, make each other playlists with your favorite songs. Whether you make a Spotify playlist or kick it old school and burn a CD, it’s always cool to hear new tunes. If the two of you love the same bands, make sure to take a road trip the next time one of your favorites is playing near your school. But what if you and your roomie don’t like the same music? Is it the end of the world? Absolutely not! The next time you hear a song that fits your roomie’s taste, send it her way. Trust us; she’ll love how considerate you are!

10. Play The Newlywed Game (roommate edition)

Remember when Monica and Rachel competed against Joey and Chandler in a not-so-friendly game of friendship trivia (don’t lie; you know you adore all these Friends references)? Give this idea a collegiette twist by going head-to-head with your neighbors to see who knows their roommate better. Not only will you receive a crash course in your roomie’s life, you can’t resist some healthy competition. To make this game interesting, set a wager! Free coffee for a week? You and your roommate can continue to bond over lattes once you win!

Though we can’t guarantee that you and your roomie will be a modern-day version of L.C. and Lo—because that was so long ago—we will tell you one thing: chances are your roommate wants to get to know you just as much as you want to get to know her. Even if the two of you don’t reach BFF status, you’ll feel a million times better once you’ve established a healthy roomie relationship.

Why I Was Not a Fan of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

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By Amy Finn

There’s nothing more magical to me than the world that J.K. Rowling created with her Harry Potter books. I loved Hogwarts and Hogsmeade and Quidditch and all those strange words that mean nothing to people who have not read the books or seen the movies. I’ve gone to midnight book releases and midnight premieres. There’s no other series of books that holds the same power over me, even now as an adult. I can track the timeline of my childhood with those volumes.

After the final movie, I said goodbye to those characters, to that world, coming to terms with the fact that all good things must come to the end. I mourned. Really and truly, I mourned the loss of that the Wizarding World and those characters. I wasn’t happy or at peace that Harry, Ron and Hermione would never go on another adventure, but I moved on, holding on to the fact that Hogwarts would be waiting for me whenever I wanted to return; those books are still as magical in their rereads as they were the first time through.

Rowling has come out with tidbits of information about the Wizarding World since the final installment of the book series. I like hearing these little facts and short stories about what’s happened since the final book; it’s like she’s a reporter keeping us informed of developments. It was reassuring to know that she was still thinking about the characters, about that world that she so deftly created.

But then things started growing bigger. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them stopped being a cute little companion book and morphed into a three-part movie event. I had a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that this was happening, that this was a way for Rowling to show us what the Wizarding World is like in America and not just a way to make more money. But I'm excited to see how the movies turn out. (My only hope is that they are better than The Hobbit.)

And then.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. A play. An eighth book. A new story about the trio. Something she promised she would never do.

I had to pause. Rowling had set up Pottermore, a website used to expand on the books and explore life after the books. Why come up with a new play, an eighth story, if not just to cash in, again, on the name Harry Potter? What is the point of this play? Why is this the only way the story can be told? As I’m living in Los Angeles, there’s a very small chance that I will ever see it. What I always loved about Harry Potter was the inclusiveness of the story. And now, it’s a very exclusive thing. There will be millions of Potterheads who will never see the play.

So, of course, they printed and bound the script and sold it for $29.99.

I bought it and read it the day it came out. (No, I didn’t go to the midnight release party. This did not feel worthy of that.)

When I finished the script, I sat back and went, “huh.” My friend asked me what I thought when I saw her at dinner that same evening. My response: “Let me digest it for a few days, and I’ll get back to you.” All the other Harry Potter books left me in a state of awe and wonder by the end of the reading. I knew how I felt the second I finished them.  

But this. This was much different. It wasn’t a book, but a script. Just dialogue. (Some of it bad, in my opinion.) It was Rowling’s story, but not her writing. There were none of her descriptions to transport us into her world. No real stage directions or even pictures of the set designs to help us get a foothold in the physical world. Even now, having read it, I still don’t feel like I know or understand the play. And it just felt...off.

(WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD.)

To begin with, it felt to me that it was just written to parade some of most beloved, deceased characters around one last time. Snape is in this play. The real Snape. It felt jarring to me that Rowling would resurrect him, especially since the man we all know as Snape—Alan Rickman—is dead now as well. We even have to watch Snape die again and that felt especially irreverent.

Dumbledore, or a painting of him, makes an appearance at one point. They have a heart-wrenching conversation in which Dumbledore tells Harry he loved him. It felt exhibitionist and like Rowling was reassuring us of something we never needed be reassured of. It was obvious to us all that Dumbledore and Harry saw each other and loved each other as father and son. There was no need for this interaction in the play.

Cedric Diggory plays a major role in the whole play, too. “The spare” is not spared anything in this script. He’s made to look like a fool, and he becomes evil and angry at one point as well. Was this really the only plot that the Rowling could think up? Cedric, for me and for many other Harry Potter fans, was the first shocking and jarring literary death that we had to endure as readers. To use him as a device in this half-assed work of fan fiction seemed, again, irreverent to me.

And despite being able to put three dead people in the script, we never see Teddy Lupin. One of the things I loved best about the seventh book was that Harry was Teddy Lupin’s godfather. I loved the idea of Harry being someone’s Sirius, and yet, there was not one mention of that relationship in the whole play. No mention of him by Albus or Ginny or even Ron. Teddy’s absence was palpable to me.

Scoripus and Albus’s relationship was tender and sweet, and probably the best part about the whole story. But why was there a question about them hugging? Why was that brought up not just once but three times? I liked that Draco and Harry’s sons were best friends and that Albus ended up in Slytherin. It added some great dynamics to an otherwise very flat story, but the whole “Do we hug?” bit read as forced and even a tad homophobic to me. Guys hug. It’s really okay.

Also, I hated Harry in this play. I know a few people that don’t like Harry in the books, but I always did. I liked his somewhat stupid mistakes, his dumb luck, and the fact that he never took Hermione Granger for granted. His humanity jumped off the page. In Cursed Child, though, I couldn’t stand him, and he didn’t read like the Harry I knew. No one who has gone through what Harry has, who has lost as many people as Harry has, would ever tell their child that he wishes he’d never been born. There’s no way Harry would ever say that to Albus, no matter how mad he got. That rang so false to me, and since it was the inciting incident for the events of the play, I really couldn’t suspend my disbelief enough to dig in and “believe” the story.

Finally, I really hated the ending when Harry is forced to witness to his parents murder (again). That just read as obscene and unnecessary. Harry is transfigured into Voldemort, stops Voldemort’s progeny and then has to watch Voldemort himself kill his parents. Why? Why was it necessary to put Harry, Albus, Hermione, Ron and Ginny through a hellish ordeal like that? What was revealed to us that we didn’t already know about the characters? In my opinion, nothing. There was definitely another way that Rowling could have shared the details of this play; she could have revealed Delphi a thousand other ways.

I won’t say don’t read it. I won’t say, even, that I hated it. This whole script and play felt really self-indulgent to me. Like Rowling was doing some mental masturbation and wanted to show us what her notebook has been filled with since she finished the final book. It was like Rowling was saying, “Look, look! Look what I can do.” Like she read some threads on a fan fic forum and decided that she could do it bigger and better, and since it’s her, we’d all have to accept it as canon.

The magic of Harry Potter is that it never really ended. The epilogue at the end of the seventh book gave us a glimpse into a future where Harry, Ron and Hermione were still together, still alive, and still being their badass selves. Our imagination allowed us to see the rest. What irks me the most about Cursed Child was how unnecessary it was. We already knew that those three would rise to whatever challenge came their way and defeat it, together.

I stayed with Harry until the very end. And now, I hope Rowling will let him rest.

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We Finally Know Who Becky With the Good Hair Is

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We have been dying to know who “Becky with the good hair” really is—and finally it has been revealed!

Beyoncé made reference to the mysterious woman in “Sorry,” a track from her latest album, Lemonade. Many have speculated that Becky alludes to someone Beyoncé’s husband Jay Z may have had an affair with. Multiple celebrities have been rumored to be the infamous Becky, with stars like Rachel Roy and Rita Ora at the center of the controversy following the song's release.

Now, one of the main songwriters who worked on “Sorry” has come forward to set the record straight—that Becky refers to no one person in particular. Songwriter Diana Gordon explained to Entertainment Weekly, “I laughed, like this is so silly. Where are we living? I was like, ‘What day in age from that lyric do you get all of this information? Is it really telling you all that much, accusing people?’”

It seems Beyoncé didn’t think the public would react the way they did to the Becky line. Gordon added, “I don’t think she expected it.”

We’re glad we know the true identity (or lack thereof) of the infamous Becky. Hopefully the rumors about the other woman in Jay Z’s alleged affair can end, and Queen B and her family can enjoy Lemonade’s success without all the drama! 

5 Tips for Organizing Your Finances Before the School Year Starts

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Before we know it, we’ll be (tragically) back in lecture halls and seminars, dutifully taking notes and gazing at new campus crushes. Between classes, social engagements and the return of your favorite fall TV shows, there’s no time to be worried about your budget, credit, loans or other money-managing matters.

To help you make the most of a new school year, we reached out to financial expert Kimberly Palmer, author of Generation Earn: The Young Professional’s Guide to Spending, Investing and Giving Back, as well as some financially-savvy collegiettes. Read on for tried-and-true advice for keeping your finances so well organized that you barely have to think about them at all!

1. Do your research

We know, we know. It’s summer, and the last thing you want to do is work! At some point in life, though, you will have to know about things like taxes, insurance, interest and credit, so becoming familiar with these topics now will only help you in the long run.

Talk to your parents, your local bank teller and even your friends, who likely have very helpful tips about avoiding financial missteps and suggestions for financial improvement. They’re going through the same things you are, so why not lean into them for advice?

There is also a plethora of information online about money management, in addition to books and other resources geared toward young people and their financial preparedness. Give these a try, and you’ll be well-versed in fiscal matters in no time!

  • FinancegirlThis website was started by Natalie Bacon, who graduated from law school with over $200,000 in student loan debt and realized she needed to make some serious changes. Her website is geared towards young women in particular and has pages that cover every financial topic imaginable, from side hustles to the envelope system.
  • Financially FearlessWritten by Alexa Von Tobel, this book breaks down the complexities of money management for the average young person. Via the “50/20/30” method, this book instructs you to spend 50 percent of your money on necessities, 20 percent on savings for the future and 30 percent on whatever you wish!
  • Debt-Free by 30: Practical Advice for the Young, Broke and Upwardly MobileThis quick read is chock-full of financial tips and tricks that you don’t need a business degree to comprehend. It was written by Jason Anthony and Karl Cluck, two young men in their 20s who found themselves deep in debt after graduating college with no idea how to turn their financial situation around. They basically did the work for you so that you can avoid the same risk.

Specific research should be done on your bank and any loans, insurance policies or credit cards that you might have. This way, you can learn about insurance rates, deductibles, minimum payments and repercussions for not following through on any of the stipulations of your financial arrangements.

Each person’s financial situation is different, so you will have to be more involved in the research. It may even entail talking to actual people (like your insurance agent, doctor or personal banker), but it’s all worth it!

Related: 9 Ways to Make Extra Money Before the End of the Summer

2. Go through your past budget

Unless you want to be an accountant, this is probably the least fun money-related task you could do. Going through your budget means facing the harsh reality of what are probably less-than-perfect spending habits. However, it also means becoming aware of where you can improve these habits.

Before you go back to school, review your spending from last year via your credit card and/or bank statements. Categorize your spending into groups like travel, school or entertainment, and split them up by month. Excel makes this kind of work really easy, and you can even jazz it up with fun colors and charts (which will hopefully make the whole process a little less painful!).

Sarah Silberstein, a senior at the University of Texas at Austin, says, “I averaged out my bills so I knew what I was spending…and tried to find places I could scale back.” Simply becoming more aware of your money and where it’s going is a great step in the right direction towards better money management.

3. Make a new plan (and stick to it!)

Incorporating a concrete financial plan into your routine is a great idea. For example, you might want to try keeping a weekly journal of where exactly your money is going and how much of it is going there. Apps like Mint make this even easier, and track your spending on credit or debit cards along with other finance accounts to give you a picture of your finances right on your phone—and even let you know when you’re getting near your spending limit.

Palmer recommends making “a simple list…of all of your expected costs and income” on Excel or even by hand so that you have a solid, clear idea of your resources. “Then you can make sure you are prepared to afford all of your expenses each month,” she says. And you can easily plan for any surprises from your budget!

If you’re a little swipe-happy and need to wean yourself off plastic, maybe you should give good ole cash a chance. Sarah suggests that it might be “easier to control spending when using cash” because it’s more difficult to go on a spending spree when you can actually see the cash pile decreasing (as opposed to a credit or debit card, which makes money seem very abstract and like it exists infinitely).

In addition to practicing beneficial new habits, see if you have some current tendencies that aren’t so wallet-friendly. Palmer says “you can probably scale back” things like coffee and takeout in favor of eating in and entertaining friends at home rather than spending money on a night out. Check out HC’s list of even more helpful financial habits that will save you stress, worry and money!

Related: 19 College Women Get Real About Money on Campus

4. Make sure loans and bills are taken care of

Darsheene Vital, a senior at Howard University, says to “always pay more than minimum for your bills,” which not only looks good to your creditor, but will also pay off in the long run (literally!) when your payments end earlier than anticipated and you don’t have to worry about even more fees because you missed a payment or came up short. Paying more than your minimum gives you a kind of financial insulation.

Palmer says that another important factor related to paying bills on time has to do with building good credit. If you aren’t careful about being timely with loan payments, “any lapses can have long-term repercussions, by hurting your credit score.” This would mean trouble in the future with loans for a car, a house or anything that the bank might need to see that you are responsible enough to be trusted with their money.

Doing the work of organizing loans and bills is very nitty gritty, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has compiled a guide for young adults to avoid financial pitfalls in this arena because banks and other loan providers are quick to scam those less financially aware out of money. This resource recommends staying in contact with your lenders and best practices for obtaining and managing student loans. 

If your parents are involved with your finances, get in touch with them before you go back to school. Ask them about the status of your payments on tuition bills, insurance policies and loans you may have cosigned with them. If you aren't aware of what bills and loans you are responsible for (or will be in the near future), check in with whomever is currently responsible so you can start to prepare.

Start your fall semester off on the right foot and try to pay off your cell phone, car or health (or any other) insurance, and maybe even the minimum payment on your debit or credit card! Having this weight off your shoulders will make for a great school year.

5. Consider investing

If you’ve done all of the above but want to do even more money managing, why not consider growing your assets? One option is to keep your money in a savings account, where it will grow at a given interest rate. You also have the option to invest your money in stocks and companies you think are growing. If you have some money left over from a summer job or internship, investing might appeal to you.

If you are not so willing to gamble but have a comfortable enough budget to do so, Palmer proposes placing “money in some kind of diversified fund.” This essentially means putting your money in an investment portfolio that spreads out your capital to many different potential sources of growth. A financial portfolio is just a given amount of money (generally called assets) and is designated to be grown through investing.

By using an investment portfolio, you decrease the risk of placing a big investment in one area that might not have the potential for a large return (and may even result in a loss). Palmer also adds, "You only want to do this if you have the flexibility to not use the money for several years." Don't want to put all your eggs in one basket!

“When you head into a new school year, a lot is changing, including your cash flows, so you want to be sure you stay on top of it,” adds Palmer. You’ll be happy that you did when you have three term papers due, an oral presentation, and a group project but no random alerts from your bank about unpaid bills to add to that mountain of anxiety!

Essentially, just be smart and don’t be afraid to ask questions about financial matters you don’t understand. It might seem like everyone around you knows what he or she is doing with regard to their money, but that totally isn’t the case. We’re all just faking it till we make it! One day, we will be Beyoncé waving a fan made of hundreds without a financial care in the world.  

15 Times Pokémon GO Almost Ended a Relationship

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If you're reading this headline and groaning because it already sounds too familiar, chances are you don't need to keep reading because you're already in the throes of Pokémon GO ruining your relationship. If not, read on, and prepare yourself—you never know if it'll happen to you!

1. When your SO downloaded the game

2. When you had soon this revelation

15. When you're both equally obsessed

21 Signs You Are The Srattiest of Srat Stars

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Greek is life. For you, being in a sorority is more than just oversized t-shirts and posed sister pics. You go above and beyond when it comes to being srat, because going Greek isn’t a hobby—it’s a lifestyle. So if you find yourself saying “ditto” to the items on this list, then congratulations; you’re a srat star!

1. When you meet someone new you introduce yourself and your sorority all in one breath...

...they're equally as important.

2. Most of your best friends are also your sisters...

...and you have a TON of them.

3. You have one (or two) tutus in your closet…

4. ...and maybe a few flower crowns...

...bid day necessities.

5. You wear more sorority t-shirts than actual clothing...

...and they're all a size XL.

6. Monograms. Monograms on everything.

..."Hi, can I get this monogrammed?"

7. You spend plenty of Saturdays volunteering with your sorority’s philanthropy...

...because giving back is great, and with sisters it's even better.

8. You know every sorority's chant by heart...

...and you randomly sing them all the time.

9. You immediately text in your sorority GroupMe when you have an outfit emergency...

...or boy emergency, or homework emergency...or pretty much anything.

10. At least one third of your instas have something to do with Greek life...

...pics or it didn't happen.

11. You have a countdown for recruitment week...

...COME ON IN!

12. You have letters on everything. Even backpacks and water bottles can’t escape...

...there will never be confusion over which sorority you're in.

13. You immediately drop into a sorority squat for any group picture...

…work pics? Yes, those too.

14. You never say no to a challenge…

...you want to win every Greek week event? No problem.

15. You like to take pictures of your back

...no one ever blinks when it's being taken.

16. You throw what you know whether you’re asked to or not...

...1, 2, 3, POSE!

17. You can paint a sratty canvas in under ten minutes...

...and it will be a work of art.

18. You spend more on your little than your college tuition...

...and you don't regret it for a second.

19. You immediately perk up when you hear someone mention the word sorority...

...because you LOVE being Greek.

20. You are the ring-leader when it comes to going out...

...and everyone always has a good time.

21. You’ve lost count of how many times you’ve said “I LOVE my sisters”...

...because sisters are for life!

Here’s What Kind of Girlfriend You Are, Based on Your Zodiac Sign

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Whether you’ve been in one relationship or ten, you’ve probably noticed a few similarities between how you treat your SO. Or maybe you haven’t been in any and you want to understand what type of girlfriend you are. Well, wait no more! Her Campus has figured out exactly what kind of girlfriend you are based on your zodiac sign. 

Aries: The Spontaneous Type

If you are an Aries, it is highly likely that you are creative, adaptive and insightful. Because of this, you are probably an adventurous girlfriend. You are always ready to try new things and get creative with date nights. There is nothing that scares you in a relationship because you can easily adapt to every situation. Out of all of your friends, you are probably the one most likely to plan a spontaneous weekend getaway with your SO just to show them how much you care. To you, there is no plan that can't be changed to be made better.

Taurus: The Forever Type

As a Taurus woman, you are patient, reliable and extremely loving. Because of these traits, you make the perfect long-term girlfriend. When you are in a relationship, you put your whole heart and soul into it and it shows. When you make a promise, you always follow through. If you and your SO get into a fight, you make your point and then let it go. Erica Kent, a Taurus from New York University, says that she has been with her boyfriend for over three years and that it mainly has to do with the fact that "whenever we argue, we know how to let it go. I prove my point and then once it's done, it's done. There is no point in staying angry." There is no use holding grudges and to you, love is more important than winning.

Related: 5 Things No One Tells You About Falling in Love

Gemini: The Summer Love Type

Gemini women are known for being flexible, passionate and versatile. Because of this, you are the fall hard and fast kind of girlfriend. When you meet someone new, you automatically understand what you are feeling and you are not shy about it. Your passion comes through in wanting to create a life with your partner, even if you just met them. You have the ability to see the potential in everyone you meet. As well, no week is ever the same with you. Whether it’s changing up your date routine or weekend adventures, everything is constantly changing, which makes you incredibly fun to be around.

Cancer: The Always There Type

Cancer women are, more often than not, emotional, caring and imaginative. You are the kind of girlfriend that is extremely loving and supportive—no matter what. You have the ability to feel so deeply about your partner and you are always finding new ways to show your SO just how much you truly care. If your SO is having a hard day, you automatically cancel whatever plans you had to make time to help them feel better. You are the best friend and girlfriend all in one. 

Leo: The Big Heart, Big Personality Type

Leo women are generous, warmhearted and confident. Leos are always the go big or go home type of girlfriend. You love to be the center of attention, but you also always make sure that your partner feels fulfilled. You are the kind of girlfriend that other couples want to go on double dates with because of your over the top personality. There is never a dull moment with you. Marina Rabinowitz, a Leo from Cornell University, says, "When Valentine's day comes around, my SO knows that I am going all out. Part of it is to show her how much I love her, but secretly I just want her to tell all her friends how great I am." Typical Leo move. 

Virgo: The Rock Type

Virgo women are modest, reliable and practical. You are absolutely the stable type of girlfriend because of your love of everything practical. You always think through your words before you say them, making sure you never say anything that could hurt your partner. You almost always have a stable job and are smart in your financial choices, which makes your SO comfortable. As well, you know your worth but you would never make other people feel lesser than you. 

Related: How to Stay Independent While in a Relationship

Libra: The Role Model Type

Libra women are romantic, idealistic and peaceful. You are the kind of girlfriend that other girlfriends look up to. You are strong-willed and courageous, but you also never talk bad about anyone. Your SO loves how you stick with your ideals and values. You also know how to plan the perfect date night because you are great at understanding what your SO wants. Although you know what you want in life, you make sure to always take your partner's opinion into mind. 

Scorpio: The One of a Kind Type

Scorpio women are determined, powerful and magnetic. With this, you are the kind of girlfriend that is absolutely unforgettable. Whether it’s the amazing sex, or how intense you are, your SO is magnetically attracted to you. Your personality is strong and you push others to get to know themselves better. You treat your SO like they are the most important person in the world, every single day, while still staying true to who you are. The most famous Scorpio is Blair Waldorf and it makes complete sense as to why Chuck Bass can never get enough of her. She is strong and sexy, yet always loves with her entire heart.

Sagittarius: The Bubbly Type

Sagittarius women are incredibly optimistic, honest and intellectual. You are the bubbly girlfriend who makes life better when you are around. You make everyday an adventure with your SO, but you also know when it’s time to take some time for yourself. If you and your SO are having a disagreement, you always know at the end of the day, the most important thing is how much you both love each other and that no fight can change that.

Capricorn: The Classic Type

Capricorns are idealistic, ambitious and disciplined and that makes very traditional and classic girlfriends. You know your goals in life and through that, you inspire your SO every day. You are mature and your relationship is very serious as well. You are always looking toward the future and love to plan far in advance for trips and vacations. Hannah Jakobs, a Capricorn from the University of Florida, says that every relationship she goes into she thinks about forever right away. "I don't do it to scare my partner away, but I do it to make sure I could see a future with them. If I don't, I have to really think about what makes me attracted to this person."

Aquarius: The Girl Next Door Type

Aquarius women are friendly, loyal and independent. Because of this, you are the girl next door girlfriend. You know how to have fun and always make your SO feel special. People love your outgoing personality, but they know that no matter what, you are always loyal to your partner. You may be a flirt at times, but at the end of the day, you only have one love.

Pisces: The Lover Type

Pisces women are sensitive, selfless and compassionate. You have an old soul and appreciate the classics in every situation. Because of this, you know how to love like a queen and therefore prefer the term “lover” over girlfriend. Whether it’s finding time to lay in bed and read a book with your SO or enjoying the little moments like cooking dinner together, you live life to its fullest. You are incredibly empathetic and are always putting your SO first. You know how to love and you do it right. 

Whether you are a Taurus or a Virgo, there is no single sign that is a "better" girlfriend than the others. Everyone is different and therefore has different experiences that no one else can relate to. Just remember to love yourself and your partner has much as you can, and you will be the best type of girlfriend you can be, regardless of what month you were born.


9 Love Dos & Don’ts for Your First Week of College

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The first week of college is full of opportunities to meet new friends (and SOs!). You’re entering a social scene where you know few (if any) people, and that means the dating pool is a whole new ballgame. From the vast number of guys you’ll meet during orientation week or first week of classes, you’ll probably find a few who pique your interest. But before you go wild with the new selection of guys and girls at your disposal, beware of these love don’ts that many freshmen commit during their first few weeks at college, and remember these love do’s so you can make the most of your college dating experience!

DON’T Get too Serious About the First Person You Meet

You met a cute guy or girl! Now you’re wondering when he or she will text you back, what he’s doing this weekend, and if the two of you will end up dating… but hold up! While being open to a relationship is a good outlook to have, remember that you’re only one week into college. Is your new crush really that amazing, or are you attached to the idea of security and familiarity that comes with being in a relationship?

If you do feel a real connection, that’s great! Continue dating or hanging out (or whatever you want to call it), but Adam LoDolce, dating coach and Founder of Sexy Confidence, says that you shouldn’t close yourself off to other options too soon, even if you’ve hooked up. “You've just been introduced to a whole new world—you’ll limit yourself if you settle down too quickly,” he says. There are plenty of people on campus you haven’t met yet, and college is a time to develop and explore multiple relationships—not just the first one you establish.

If you realize that you’re only attracted to the idea of this guy, then tone it down. You can stay in touch and remain friends with him, but give yourself some distance and time to get to know other people. Even at smaller colleges, you’ll be meeting new people all the time, so don’t feel compelled to attach yourself to the first guy who catches your eye.

DO Say Yes to Actual Dates

Yes, real dating does exist in college! “When a guy you may be interested in asks you out on a date (like, actually asks, ‘Do you want to go out to dinner?’ or, ‘Can I take you on a date?’), say YES,” says Marni Battista, founder of Dating With Dignity. She recommends girls accept the gesture over more common dating techniques in college, such as the casual party invite (because, for all you know, the guy could have texted many girls the same thing). When a guy tries to get to know you on a personal level (outside the party scene), it shows genuine interest that likely goes beyond physical attraction.

However, be cautious and sensible when dating new people. “Make sure you know the guy you’ve agreed to go on a date with, and make sure the place you’re going is near other people and not too far from home,” Battista says.

DON’T Compare Your Love Life to Your New Friends’

Is your roommate staying home every night to talk to her boyfriend? Or are a group of your new, single friends on the hunt for flings? It can be tempting to seek an active love life if everyone else is, but remember that you’re responsible for shaping your own college experience, and you should do whatever is best for you.

“Peer pressure is the name of the game, so don’t fall for it and stand your ground,” says Battista. It’s perfectly fine to move at your own pace when dating or choose not to date at all. Socialize in a way that you are comfortable with, for your own reasons and on your own timeline. Incoming freshmen hail from all backgrounds, so don’t feel pressured to copy someone else’s lifestyle.

If you’re feeling down because your friends all had a crazier night than you during Welcome Week, Battista says, “Trust that the amount of regret and/or hangover you’ll be feeling tomorrow will be minimal compared to your friends.”

DO Set Clear Boundaries

The first week of college is unpredictable, but that doesn’t mean your hook-ups have to be. Don’t think you have to push the boundaries of what you’re comfortable with just because other people in college have more experience than you, or you think it’s “what everyone does in college.”

“People (especially men) are testing the boundaries of what they can get away with. Your job is to set your boundaries and establish a personal comfort zone with the other sex,” Battista says. So before you even put yourself in a hook-up situation, set your boundaries so you can clearly express them to a guy when you’re in the moment.

“If you don't want to go too far physically, let your guy know your limits in advance,” says Briana Morgan, a senior at Georgia College. In your normal state of mind, this sounds manageable. However, many college hook-ups begin at parties where alcohol is involved, and that affects how articulate you are. If you plan to drink, do so responsibly, because too much alcohol can also impair your judgment and compromise the boundaries you set earlier.

DON’T Expect a Relationship From a Random Hook-up

So you ended up going home with the hot guy or girl you were flirting with all night—score! But a few days have passed and he or she still hasn’t contacted you. What gives?

We hate to break it to you, but maybe your hook-up was just that: a hook-up.

The college dating scene is no stranger to miscommunication (and straight-up players), so prepare yourself mentally and emotionally if you do decide to hook up (being physically safe is a given). If the idea of a no-strings-attached hook-up doesn’t sit well with you, don’t hook up. Nothing can ruin your arrival at college like being depressed over a crush (we’ve been there!). The post-hook-up lull is distracting and can discourage you from putting yourself out there again to meet people who are actually worth your time.

Briana Morgan, a recent graduate of Georgia College, says, “If you're interested in more than just hooking up, make that clear from the beginning.” By being clear and upfront about your intentions, you’re saving yourself time, effort, and potential heartbreak.

DO Make Yourself Approachable

It’s kind of hard to get someone’s attention (let alone flirt!) if he or she is glued to his phone. You wouldn’t want someone to close himself or herself off like that, so return the favor and leave your phone in your purse when you’re in a social environment. If you’re always looking at your phone screen, you aren’t able to use one of the easiest ways to break the ice: eye contact! Without a distracting screen in front of you, you’re more likely to be aware of your surroundings and make a connection with someone. “If I could go back now and repeat orientation, I would make sure I wasn't on my phone texting all the time. It probably turned a lot of people off,” says Shira Kipnees, a senior at Franklin & Marshall.

Another way to make yourself approachable is to break free from your girl posse. A large group of girls can be intimidating to approach, so occasionally stray away to give that cute guy a chance to talk to you!

DON’T Cling to Your High School SO

In the first few weeks of college, a long-distance SO can be both a gift and a curse. On one hand, he or she acts as a source of security while you’re far away from friends and family. On the other, he or she can prevent you from seeking other opportunities to socialize. “One mistake that I learned from my freshman year was that I spent a good part of orientation texting my boyfriend or Skyping him or talking to him on the phone,” says Shira.

Even though you’re not pursuing other guys, a high school sweetheart can still limit you in areas outside of the dating world. Shira says even though she did make great friends when she started college, it took time because she was really shy. Instead of getting out of her comfort zone to make friends, she would turn to her SO.

Our best advice for balancing a long-distance relationship and college life is to accept that you will be uncomfortable when you don’t know many people yet—but you shouldn’t use this as a reason to retreat to your beau. In fact, embrace your independence! It means you’re making yourself available for new experiences and new friends. Sure, texting your boyfriend is a safer option, but do you really want your college experience to be the same as high school?

DO Make Some Platonic Friends

Remember that not every acquaintance has to be in the running to be your next SO. Learn to appreciate the company of people as they are, not based on a “boyfriend material” checklist. And, who knows—if it’s really meant to be, maybe a “friends first” situation can eventually turn into something more!

Caleb Frank, a senior at Kansas State University, says that guys look for a female friend who they can talk to and trust. “She needs to be somebody who is fun and energetic,” he says. He adds that it doesn’t hurt if the girl is willing to be a wingwoman for her guy friend. (Besides, isn’t that what all good friends do?)

The first year of college is a great time to establish those lasting friendships. Soniya Shah, a senior at Carnegie Mellon University, says, “Do take advantage of everyone being so friendly! This is a great time to meet as many people as you can, whether it's in the dining halls, at orientation activities or just around the dorms.” LoDolce suggests that you try and talk to at least five new people per day. The more people you meet, the better your chances at finding that go-to friend!

DON’T Put Dating Before Schoolwork

It’s easy to get carried away in the fun, new dating scene of college, but remember the main reason you’re at college: to get an education! It may seem like easy sailing at first when your classes haven’t really gotten difficult yet, you’re going to parties multiple times a week, and you’re meeting new guys, but as soon as your first exam or major assignment pops up, you’re going to wish you had adopted a better work/fun balance. It’s fine to enjoy yourself on the weekends—just make sure it is not cutting into your study time!

The first week of college is a scary and exciting time for all freshmen, so we hope these do’s and don’ts will make navigating the college dating scene easier. If you do find yourself in a dating disaster, know that it will eventually pass and that there will be plenty of other campus cuties to pursue. So best of luck on your search, collegiettes, and above all else: have fun and stay safe!

Ashley Graham Doesn't Care What You Think About Her Body

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Ashley Graham is known for her gorgeous curves and successful modeling career. But that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have to deal with her fair share of haters. Graham recently penned a brilliant essay for Lenny Letter, published on Cosmopolitan.com, shutting down body shamers

Despite her thick skin and experience in the modeling world, Graham reveals she has insecurities just like everyone else. Especially when it comes to sharing photos on social media. When she recently shared a photo of herself wearing a leather Balmain jacket (a brand that typically doesn’t cater to plus-size bodies), Graham admits that receiving negative backlash from haters was hard. Fans also seemed upset that Graham appeared slimmer than usual in the photo, although she contends she's actually gained weight in the last few years. Insta users left nasty comments such as “You don’t love the skin you’re in, you want to conform to Hollywood” and “You used to be a role model and I looked up to you.”

Graham is done with people policing other people's bodies. She powerfully writes, “To some, I'm too curvy. To others, I'm too tall, too busty, too loud, and, now, too small — too much, but at the same time not enough. When I post a photo from a 'good angle,' I receive criticism for looking smaller and selling out. When I post photos showing my cellulite, stretch marks, and rolls, I'm accused of promoting obesity. The cycle of body-shaming needs to end. I'm over it.”

Graham makes an important point. The media targets women’s bodies and sexualities regardless of their size, clothing or other factors. We can never seem to satisfy society’s ridiculous beauty standards. And that’s why we have to become accepting of everyone, regardless of our difference. You can read Graham’s full essay here

5 Ways to Maximize Space in Your Tiny Dorm Room

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The standard dorm room is enough for a stack of textbooks, a suitcase full of clothes and…not much else. But with a few tricks you can maximize space so you have more room for what really matters, like your vast shoe collection. We partnered withIKEA to give you the low-down on how to fit as much into your room as possible without clutter.

1. Raise your bed 

There’s a wealth of space beneath your bed, and the uber-affordable IKEA ANDFISKÅ bed risers will give you much-needed inches of space. This space is perfect for shoes, boxes of extra folded linens like sheets and textbooks.

2. Store loose paper

Keep your desk and bookshelves tidy with these sleek TJENA magazine files from IKEA. We know it’s tempting to create a pile of essays and tests on your desk, but it will look cluttered and busy after a few weeks. Store everything cleanly with these versatile files!

3. Contain your makeup 

It’s easy to scatter your makeup across your dresser or shoved in a desk drawer, but we promise there’s a better way. Store everything compactly with the IKEA PALLRA. Not only do we love the light blue pop of color, but these boxes will look minimalist-chic on your dresser or bedside table. 

4. Get more space out of your closet 

Whether you have a  closet or a wardrobe, the IKEA SKUBB is about to be your new best friend. Using a hanging clothes organizer is perfect for small space, especially when you have clothes that are better folded than hung.

5. Incorporate over-the-door storage

Every smart college student needs an over-the-door hanger for jackets and bags that so often end up in a clump on the floor. Make the IKEATJUSIG a must-have this fall.

 

With just a couple of clever items, you can seriously maximize space in your tiny new home! Want more organization tips? Be sure to check out IKEA

 

Obama Wrote an Essay in Glamour Magazine About Being a Feminist

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If you don't already consider yourself feminist, we’ve got a message that just might change your mind—and it’s coming straight from the Oval Office.

Today, Barack Obama published an essay on Glamour.com, discussing the importance of modern feminism. He highlights his experiences growing up without a dad, being married to Michelle and raising his two daughters, demonstrating the important relationships he's had with women in his life, and how they've shaped his views on feminism over the years.

“It is absolutely men’s responsibility to fight sexism too,” writes Obama. “As spouses and partners and boyfriends, we need to work hard and be deliberate about creating truly equal relationships.”

He goes on to praise feminist progress, while stressing that we are not even close to done: “We need to keep changing the attitude that raises our girls to be demure and our boys to be assertive, that criticizes our daughters for speaking out and our sons for shedding a tear.”

However, the timing of this article isn’t going over any of our heads. Just a few months before the 2016 election, Obama throws in a shout-out to Hillary, calling her nomination “a historic moment for America.”

But regardless of whether you're #WithHer or not, Obama thinks feminism should always be on your mind. Keep breaking those glass ceilings, ladies.

President Obama Calls on Republicans to Revoke Their Endorsements of Trump

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President Obama called on GOP leaders Tuesday to revoke their endorsement of the Republican Presidential Nominee, calling Donald Trump “unfit” for office.

According to USA Today, Obama stated, during a press conference with the Prime Minister of Singapore, that “I think the Republican nominee is unfit to serve as President. The notion that he would attack a Gold Star family that has made such extraordinary sacrifices on behalf of our country, the fact that he doesn’t appear to have basic knowledge around critical issues in Europe, in the Middle East, in Asia, means that he's woefully unprepared to do this job.”

Obama noted the recrimination from several GOP leaders after Trump’s attacks and ongoing feud with Khizr Khan, whose son was killed during the Iraq War in 2004 and criticized Trump in his Democratic National Convention speech.

“The question they have to ask themselves is: If you are repeatedly having to say in very strong terms that what he has said is unacceptable, why are you still endorsing him? What does this say about your party that this is your standard-bearer?” Obama said, according to The New York Times.

Obama further said that “[t]his isn’t a situation where you have an episodic gaffe. This is daily.” He stated that political leaders of the GOP need to rise up and say that they cannot support Trump, even if he is a member of the Republican Party. According to the Times, Obama said that since Republican leaders have yet to do so “makes some of these denunciations ring hollow.”

Many are finding Obama’s condemnation of Trump to be astonishing. Douglas Brinkley, a Presidential historian, told the Times that Obama’s criticizing of Trump is “a highly unusual and almost unprecedented moment.” According to the Times, the last time a sitting president criticized the other party’s candidate was when President Harry S. Truman mocked Dwight D. Eisenhower in the 1952 Presidential Election as not knowing “any more about politics than a pig knows about Sunday.”

Brinkley told the Times that this just shows how “radical and dangerous” Obama thinks Trump is.

According to USA Today, Obama mentioned his former Republican opponents, stating that “[he] was right and Mitt Romney and John McCain were wrong on certain policy issues, but I never thought that they couldn't do the job."

During the press conference, the Singaporean Prime Minister was asked about the future of diplomatic relations if Trump were to assume office. The Prime Minister stated he looked forward to working with whomever the Americans chose to be their President. "The Americans take pride in having a system with checks and balances," he said, according to USA Today. "So, it is not so easy to do things, but it is not so easy to completely mess things up. We admire that, and sometimes we depend upon that."

Obama remarked that the Prime Minister was correct, adding "The wisdom of our founders."

Research Shows Millennials Are Having Less Sex Than Previous Generations

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The Millennial generation has often been perceived as a group that's open to having a lot of sex—a bunch of young people who move between sexual partners as often as we change out our handbags. It appears that this might not necessarily be true after all.

According to a new study from the Archives of Sexual Behavior, sexual inactivity among millennials is becoming more common.

The Washington Post reports that younger millennials—those of us who were born in the 1990s—are “more than twice as likely to be sexually inactive in their early 20s as the previous generation was”, with even older millennials having more sexually active. Millennials are “more accepting of extramarital sex” than previous generations, but have had only an average of eight sexual partners compared to 11 for Baby Boomers and 10 for Generation X, according to a previous Postarticle.

While millennials are still having sex, it seems that more and more millennials are delaying it. It’s not a bad thing, though. According to the Post, experts say that this waiting and being “intentional” about your sexual partner can help to create lasting relationships in the long run. In addition, Stephanie Coontz, Director of Research at the Council on Contemporary Families, told the Post that this decrease could be due to the fact that more women are feeling “empowered to say no" to unwanted sex.

But overall, what's causing millennials to have less sex?

According to the experts, one reason is that it could be the result of millennials feeling the pressure to succeed in their careers, the Post reports. Helen Fisher, Chief Scientific Adviser to Match.com, told the Post that millennials are an “ambitious generation," worried that a relationship could potentially derail their career plans.

Another possible explanation could be that social lives have become more about the screen in front of individual rather than in-person contact. Millennials born in the mid-1990s or later were the first group to come of age when smartphones were the norm. Jean Twenge, a researcher who took part in these studies, told the Post that millennials were the ones to “[start] to communicate by screens more and by talking to their friends in person less.”

This in part has lead to another reason: the focus on appearance when it comes to swiping away at potential dates. When you're using photo-based dating apps, appearance can make all the difference in whether you ever end up meeting someone in person. Twenge told the Post that this focus on looks ends up "leaving out a large section of the population.” So that sucks—let's all remember not to judge every book by its cover!

Millennials are also being cautious about date rape. With college campuses implementing “Yes Means Yes” rules, which require the enthusiastic consent of all parties at each step of a sexual encounter, some people have decided to not engage in sexual activity at all out of fear of getting it wrong, the Post reports. Some millennials are also turned off from sexual activity because they're not into the hookup culture that's common on many campuses.

So millennials may not be having as much sex as other generations, and that’s okay. We’ll get to it when we’re ready.

A Campus Carry Law Went Into Effect in Texas On the Fiftieth Anniversary of the UT Sniper Attack

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Fifty years ago, American changed forever after an unprecedented mass shooting at the University of Texas. This week, Texas marked the anniversary with a new law that allows students to carry guns with them around campus.

At 11:48 a.m. on Aug. 1, 1966 Charles Whitman, a 25-year-old engineering student and Marine veteran, carried out the first “mass shooting” in American history, killing 14 people and wounding more than 30 others over a 96-minute spree. He shot using a sniper rifle from the observation deck of the UT Tower. On Monday, the fiftieth anniversary of the worst tragedy in UT Austin’s history, the university honored the memory of the victims by unveiling a new six-foot-tall red granite memorial near the tower, according toThe New York Times. They also started complying with state law allowing concealed carry inside university buildings.

The law was seen as a victory for gun rights proponents, who don't think guns should be restricted anywhere and believe students carrying guns could help keep campuses safer. However, opponents argue that putting more guns on campus will simply provide more opportunities for people to get shot. Meanwhile, some were unsure how to feel about the law going into effect on the anniversary of a horrific campus shooting.

“I’m glad that we aren’t letting the implementation of campus-carry mask the importance of that date,” UT Student Body President Kevin Helgren told the Times. “But I do think it was pretty insensitive of the Legislature to decide that Aug. 1 was when it would go in effect.”


Obama Shortens the Sentences of More Than 200 Federal Prisoners In A Single Day

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In what has been called“the largest batch of commutations on a single day in more than a century,” President Barack Obama shortened the terms of 214 presidential prisoners on Wednesday, 67 of whom had been serving life sentences.

This is different than pardoning the prisoners, according to the Wall Street Journal, because pardons fully “expunge” the offense from the person’s criminal record, and allows them to “vote, obtain gun licenses and apply for jobs without the burden of a criminal record.” When an individual is commuted, however, their sentence is merely shortened.

According to ABC, most of the inmates commuted by President Obama this week were male, and were serving extensive time for nonviolent drug charges or related crimes. For the most part, their imprisonments will end on Dec. 1 of this year.

This puts Obama’s total number of commutations at over 500, wrote the Wall Street Journal.

In an official White House blog post, Neil Eggleston wrote that, “All of the individuals receiving commutation today — incarcerated under outdated and unduly harsh sentencing laws — embody the president's belief that ‘America is a nation of second chances.’”

“That being said, our work is far from finished,” Eggleston continued. It is anticipated that many more inmates will be released before the end of Obama’s term early next year.

Ivanka Trump Calls Sexual Harassment 'Inexcusable' After Her Dad Says Otherwise

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Donald Trump has a history of making controversial statements, but after a recent interview led to accusations that he is sexist and unconcerned with sexual harassment, his daughter, Ivanka, has made it a point to set the record straight.

On Monday, the Republican candidate told USA Today that if Ivanka were being sexually harassed at work, he “would like to think she would find another career or find another company.”

This statement led to allegations that the presidential nominee would blame the victim in a harassment situation. He went on to try to cover his tracks:

“There may be a better alternative [to leaving the company], then there may not,” he said in a different interview. “If there’s not a better alternative, then you stay. But it could be there’s a better alternative where you’re taken care of better…I think it’s gotta be up to the individual.”

Hoping to clear up her father’s statements, Ivanka made her opinions clear in an interview on Tuesday:

“I think harassment in general, regardless [if] sexual or otherwise, is totally inexcusable,” she told FOX News. “And if it transpires, it needs to be reported and it needs to be dealt with on a company level.”

She also said that, regardless of what her father seems to mean, there is “a very strong HR team at the Trump Organization, who is equipped to deal with these issues if they arise.”

“And you hope you have a culture in which they don't arise,” she said. “But when they do, it needs to be dealt with swiftly.”

7 Ways to Start the School Year Stress-Free

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The days of summer are winding down, and before you know it, your life is going to be filled with professors, essays and quizzes. But before you start dreading the all-nighters you’re going to be pulling at the library, take a step back from your list of textbooks and start getting ready for the classroom with activities that won’t put you in a panic.   

1. Do your homework early.

We don’t mean start doing your calculus problems before you step foot in the classroom, but get yourself prepared! See if your professors have any materials online about what you need to succeed in their classroom.

Ingrid, a senior at Auburn University, says, “I like to read the syllabi before my first day of classes. That way I know exactly what to expect before I even walk through the door.”

Quickly scanning through a professor’s syllabus, classroom procedures or list of required materials will help you ask more constructive questions on the first day and might even help you decide whether or not the class is a good fit for you.

2. Make a bucket list for the school year.

Maybe you finally want to get your dream internship or be a fitness fiend and hit the gym four times a week for a month. Whatever your goals, checking items off your bucket list will keep you motivated throughout the school year. Make sure your bucket list is all about you and not about the classroom (even though that is important)! Accomplishing activities or pushing yourself to achieve health or career goals will leave you with a feeling of satisfaction that writing a 12-page paper can’t provide. You’ll feel less like a college zombie and more like a college boss.

If you’re worried about not sticking to your bucket list, get your BFF or roommates to collaborate on it and check your dreams off together!

3. Treat yo’ self.

Parks and Recreation had it right when it comes to spoiling yourself. Doing something nice for yourself, like a spa day or buying yourself a nice pair of shoes to hit the quad in, will be a reminder that you’re a person and not just a student.

Alexa, a junior at the University of South Carolina, says, “I think the best de-stressing activity is getting your nails done, which doesn’t have to be expensive! You can just get a nail polish change for like $8 and it’s still a treat.”

It doesn’t have to be expensive and it doesn’t have to be big, but it never hurt to do something strictly for yourself. Think about what you do on the weekends or when you have a day off. Do you go on a mini shopping spree? Do you get milkshakes with your friends? Do something that makes you happy before classes even start and the positivity will carry over into the semester. 

4. Get organized!

There’s no better way to start the school year than by buying every cute school supply Target has to offer—including your dream planner to write down everything, like your dog’s birthday.

Madeline, a senior at Oregon State University, says, “My recommendation is to get a planner, get your school supplies organized by class and map your route to classes beforehand.”

Set aside an hour or two to write down due dates from your syllabi in your planner and write out your schedule so you can visualize it. You may know the campus like the back of your hand, but when you planned out classes, you may not have realized you have 10 minutes to get from one end of campus to the other. Knowing little details about your schedule will leave you with fewer surprises on your first day back.

Related: 10 Ways to Calm Pre-College Nerves

5. Start a meditation program.

Unlock your inner chi and find a meditation program that fits your schedule. The queen of everything, Oprah, teamed up with Deepak Chopra to make the 21-Day Meditation Program to help get you out of the everyday repetition of life and help you see the world for all of the good it has to offer.

If you’re not up for the commitment, browse the App Store for a meditation program that fits your needs.

Meditation isn’t just for your yoga teacher. Juliana, a senior at Temple University, thinks it's essential and everyone should be doing it. “Mindfulness meditation grounds you and makes you become aware of what's currently in front you, so then you're able to put everything into perspective and move forward with a clearer mind,” she says.

Meditation is the perfect excuse for “me” time, giving you a chance to shut your electronics and the world off for a few minutes a day.  

6. Craft your troubles away.

We know you have a Pinterest board dedicated to all of the DIY projects you wish you had time to do! Pick one craft you have time for and can proudly showcase in your dorm or apartment.

Alex, a senior at Slippery Rock University, thinks crafting is the best way to spice up your apartment or dorm for the new school year. “I’m always looking for ways to switch my space up without spending a ton of money,” she says. “You can’t beat a canvas with an inspirational quote on it or a collage of your favorite pictures.”

A good way to add freshness, cuteness and oxygen to your pad is to build your own succulent garden. Try recreating this succulent paradise using mini mason jars to put your green thumb to work.

7. Get your girl gang together.

Kick it old school with your BFFs and have a sleepover full of matching pajama sets, sleeping bags and Mary-Kate and Ashley movies before you hit the books again. Or get together for a dinner party at one of your places.

“My high school friends and I always plan one night at the end of the summer to get together before we go back to school,” says Erin, a senior at Duquesne University. “We all call off of work, pick a nice place to eat and then get ice cream at our favorite place.”

When you’re with your besties, stress goes out the window because it’s time to focus on each other, your inside jokes and, of course, the gossip you forgot to share in the group message.

Don’t treat back-to-school season like an assignment. It should be a time for a fresh start and perspective on your school year. Start participating in stress-free activities before your first lecture of the year and those good habits will carry on into the school year. 

What to Watch on Netflix If You Loved 'One Tree Hill'

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If you loved One Tree Hill (and let's be honest, who didn't?), there are some other shows on Netflix you'd definitely be into, too. Whether you're in the mood to be immersed in the latest drama or laugh 'til you cry, these shows should do the trick.

1. Gossip Girl

A good looking group of friends who all date each other—not much different from One Tree Hill!

2. 90210

Although Beverly Hills is a lot different than Tree Hill, the drama and friendship are the same.

3. Gilmore Girls

Rory and Lorelai's relationship is just as cute as Lucas and Karen's.

4. Grey's Anatomy

Think One Tree Hill with a medical twist.

5. Friends

Picture the cast of OTH living together—you won't be able to stop laughing.

6. The Carrie Diaries

Set to take place before Sex and the City, The Carrie Diaries is pretty similar to One Tree Hill in terms of being about high school students.

7. New Girl

Just like Nathan starts over after his accident and Brooke starts over after she loses her company, Jess starts over after a bad breakup in New Girl.

8. Greek

If you loved the early seasons of OTH, you'll love watching the Greek crew grow up together and figure out what they want to do in life.

9. How I Met Your Mother

Just how Brooke really just wants to find love, Ted from HIMYM is the same way.

10. Orange Is the New Black

Picture the friendships and drama from One Tree HIll but set in an all-female prison—you're going to love this one.

No matter your mood, if you're an OTH fan you'll definitely love at lease one of these shows—just make sure your laptop charger is nearby.

24 Signs You and Your BFF Are Meant to Grow Old Together

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We all have that one friend. The one you get along better with her than anyone else. No one gets you like they do. They are your person. You have countless memories that you wouldn’t trade for the world and to this day you wonder why you weren’t born siblings. They're the first person you go to for advice, the one that knows all you secrets, and the only one you trust with your life. Here are 24 signs you and your bestie will be friends forever.  

1. No topic of conversation is off limits 

2. You inspire each other and each other's weirdness 

3. There's never a dull moment between the two of you 

4. You always make-up after a fight 

5. You have the best time even when doing absolutely nothing 

6. They know everything about your life and you know everything about theirs...like everything 

7. Neither of you ever hold back and are always honest 

8. The shittiest of circumstance become less shitty because of them 

9. You guys always have time for each other 

10. There's no judgment between the two of you

11. You grow together and never cease to surprise one another

12. You trust them and they trust you 

13.  You always make each other laugh 

14. They're like family 

15. You're equal in the friendship and keep each other grounded 

16. Saying you're comfortable around each other is an understatement 

17. They're the first person you want to tell everything to 

18. You share the same sense of humor 

19. You do nice things for each other just because 

20. You support each other 

21. You are constantly reminding each other how much you love one another 

22. You could be out of touch for the longest time and still bounce back the moment you meet each other like nothing ever happened

23. There are no boundaries

24. You already planned a future together 

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