Blog

Spring Break is upon us, and if you’re so far plan-less, it’s understandable to worry about filling all those hours that are usually occupied by studying. If you’re running low on ideas or tight on money, here’s a short list that can hopefully inspire you to use your break to the fullest.

Road trip

You don’t need a plane ticket to go somewhere cool. In fact, the drive can be half of the fun for some trips. Go to places you always wanted to go, this don’t have to be far away.

Visit a festival or concert

During spring break every city offers probably more than you expect. From the smell of sweet blossoms at our world-famous Azalea Festival to Pleasure Island’s tasty Chowder Cook-off, Wilmington and their beach towns bring a spring break of tastes, sights and sounds.

Go hiking

Just because you aren’t going to a famous spring break location doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy somewhere else. You can exercise and see some pretty beautiful sights, and maybe you’ll even get to Instagram it — it’s a win-win-win.

Movie marathon

You are not searching for hiking or that kind of exercise? Call a bunch of your closest friends and let everyone bring their favorite movie and, since you won’t have school the next morning, stay up all night watching them! Make sure you make loads of popcorn and maybe it’s an idea to create a nice setting.

Last but not least, our favorite one, take some thing to relax! School is a major stressor for so many of us and that can have some really bad effects on your mind and your body. So, go to a spa, read your favorite book or go home and let your parents take care of you.

With this options, staying at home is not so bad at all! We would love to hear what you all are doing and if you have any additions to our list.

– Pauline, Addison & Sloane

We have finally made it to the moment we have all been waiting for. For one week, gone are the stresses of exams, projects, homework, and dreaded 8ams. We have made it halfway through the semester to…SPRING BREAK!  

While we know that you are all excited for whatever extravagant vacation plans you have, it is important to remember a few safety tips. From cruising in the Caribbean, to surfing along the Pacific Coast, or even wandering through Europe, these few tips will be a great way to have a wonderful and safe SB2016.

1. If you are traveling abroad, it is important to be aware of any travel alerts and warning. It is strongly recommended that anyone traveling outside of the country enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). This will allow the embassy to send you information regarding the country you are visiting in the event of an emergency and provide various security announcements as well.  You can enroll here. 
2. Make copies of your passport and do not to keep all your identification and money in one place. This includes I.D., passport, and all forms of money. In the event that it is lost or stolen, you want to be sure that you have a back up. Make sure you carry a copy of your passport with you when are out and not the original.
3. Try not to go out alone. This is especially important at night. Get one of your travel  buddies and have them accompany you wherever you go.
4. Be aware of the laws and regulations of the city or country you are in. As Dr. Olsen would say, “Come back rested, not arrested.” 
5. As always, be aware of your surroundings and observant of people. Recognize when someone is hovering too much or probing for information.

Finally, the most important thing is to HAVE FUN. This is an exciting time in the semester. It is a time for us to take a deep breath and relax. Make sure to check out this  FBI brochure for more safety tips. Have a great spring break.

-Madeline, Sydney S., Sydney W., Tiersa

https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/go/checklist.html

https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/investigate/counterintelligence/student-travel-brochure-pdf

If you are currently a young adult, then you probably have at least some familiarity with the Nickelodeon of 90’s. It was the only channel on TV that aired shows such as Hey Arnold, Angry Beavers, Rugrats, and CatDog, shows that are now looked back upon through the rose colored glasses of nostalgia. These shows have held up as timeless classics in the eyes of those who once watched as children, and last year on October 12^th, 2015, Nickelodeon realized how much demand they still had. Thus The Splat, a block from 10 p.m. through 6 a.m. in Teen Nick’s schedule, was introduced to deliver Nickelodeon classics every night.

While some of these old Nick favorites can be found on streaming services, such as Hulu or Netflix, The Splat provides the full package. In an attempt to capture as much of the 90’s as possible, The Splat frequently airs old commercials and short animations to create the most realistic 90’s TV feel. It is the goal of The Splat to recreate as much of the past as possible.

While they are attempting to recreate the past, however, The Splat successfully utilizes advertising tools that simply did not exist in the 90’s. The splat incorporates popular forms of social media into their programming and encourages as much viewer feedback through social media as possible. For instance, they allow for live tweets during shows, they allow fans to post their favorite TV moments on Facebook, and they encourage fans to vote for which episodes will be airing on following nights. A set of Nickelodeon Emojis was even released to be shared amongst friends. All this can be accessed and viewed at their website where they also have nightly schedules and feature additional content.

The wave of 90’s Nick nostalgia was even picked up on by the Charlotte Hornets as they hosted their own “Nickelodeon Night” on March 1^st. During the course of the night, events around the stadium showcased 90’s Nick nostalgia as the Hornet’s social media accounts posted old cartoon references. They even played a live version of the the old hit game show “Double Dare” during halftime. It is events such as these that show the power nostalgia can have and the excitement it can bring in the form of advertising campaigns.

Its that time of year again when the applied learning efforts and opportunities are highlighted at UNCW! One of our favorite things about our school is the “hands on” applied learning opportunities that are at every students disposal. Now, UNCW offers a day dedicated to enhancing YOUR future.

            Today, March 2, ETEAL Exploration Day tables will be in Morton, Leutze, Cameron, Dobo, Osprey, Teaching Lab and McNeill for those of you who are interested in learning more about what UNCW has to offer. From 11 a.m to 3 p.m these tables will be offering insight from projects that have been going on for an extended amount of time as well as potential upcoming applied learning opportunities.

            Not only is there information to gain from ETEAL’s Exploration Day, but there are also chances to win prizes and free goodies. Don’t miss out on this great chance to gain knowledge and unlimited amounts of experiences to be had!

            To learn more about the event and ETEAL make sure to check out all of their social media outlets that keep you up to date!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1568023006857346/

Twitter: ‪@UNCWETEAL

Instagram: @UNCWETEAL

-Addison, Sloane, & Pauline