Moving Out, Moving On

It is now that time again when final exams are looming over our heads and the smell of sweet freedom is in the air as we prepare to say goodbye to yet another school year. The only thing that is really on our minds of course is the moment after our last exam when we finally get to pack up the moving van and begin our treks back home. For many people this could be a daunting task, however, if you have the proper organization and planning skills it will go rather quickly and seem effortless. Here are a few tips to make moving out of your residence hall a little bit easier:  

1) Plan Ahead

             If you decide whether or not you want to stick around Bloomington and find a semi-inexpensive sublet, there are plenty for the taking and can be found through any concise google search. Not staying in Bloomington but need your belongings stored? No problem! There are several college student friendly companies around town that offer moving and storage for the summer and do not charge and arm and a leg. Such businesses as Guys & Dollies, Soft Touch Moving and All American Storage specialize in all your moving needs and deal exclusively with IU students. Lastly, if you are definitely going back home for summer you should schedule a time with your parents when you believe residence hall traffic will be at a minimum. 

2) Reduce, Reuse, Recycle:

    Sift through your belongings and make piles of which things should go to Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc. and which should be tossed into recycle bins. If you saved your moving in boxes like a good eco-friendly student then you can simply reuse them to move out, thus saving some trees in the process. And if you’re an avid online shopper, hopefully you saved all those seemingly annoying air filled bags that filled out that grossly oversized box that your orders came in, as they are quite handy when trying to figure out hose you’re going to get picture frames and TVs home for the summer. Although, if the temptation was too great and you succumbed to stabbing them with scissors just to make noise, use some shirts and/or bath towels instead.

3) Organize

            Now that you have your summer planned and you have sifted through your belongings, you should be at the stage of organizing. Suitcases, boxes and other storage containers are all helpful when moving, but make sure they are sturdy or else you could have potential problems later on. Finding the best way to package a mixed assortment of items is never easy, but my advice is to try and keep similar/complimentary items together. For example, if you have a TV, you most likely have a remote, power cable, coax cable and various other cables that go along with it… Keep all of those things together, you’ll lose your mind a few weeks later when you don’t have a remote to change the channel because you decided to back it in a box labeled “Miscellaneous Stuff.”

I would imagine by now the wheels are turning and you’ll figure out some other creative ways to package all of your treasures for a safe journey home, but don’t forget to keep things that you use often and together in the same box!

Griffy Lake Activities

As the final weeks of the semester come and go, everyone is counting down the days until they officially done with class and freed from hours of homework, studying, and anxiously waiting to take their finals. Although, everyone needs a change of pace to get away from the rigors of school work, and what better way to do than go out on the water on a warm, spring afternoon. 

At just $6 an hour to rent a small boat, kayak or canoe, it’s an inexpensive way to burn off some energy, explore the outdoors, and give your mind a rest from studying.

The Griffy Lake Boat House is open from April to October on the weekends and May to September all week. No prior boating, kayaking or canoeing experience is necessary to enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of nature at Griffy Lake.

Annual RSO Fashion Show

As yet another school year nears the end, special events are happening all over campus. This weekend’s signature event was the Retail Sales Organization’s (RSO) fashion show at the Indiana Memorial Union. The show featured works from aspiring designers studying Apparel Merchandizing and Fashion Design at IU. 

For those not familiar with the workings of a real life fashion show, like me, the event was very easy to understand and enjoy. Models donned various works from the participating designers and walked the U-shaped runway for everyone in the audience to see. And with a full house anxiously awaiting the models to appear one after another, the atmosphere nearly had me convinced that I was in New York watching a high profile show with world renowned designers.

Unaware of the true levels of dedicated talent and creativity that goes into making fashionable clothing, the annual RSO fashion show has convinced me that clothing does not magically appear on the rack at a clothing store. Seeing the enthusiasm and attention to detail present in the production of the clothing and the event, one can only appreciate the work that these students have done throughout the year. And the best part of it all, the annual RSO fashion show is an energy filled experience that anyone can come and enjoy regardless of their interest in fashion, and admission is free.

Kirkwood Observatory Open House

For many students at IU, the Spring season offers a forgotten opportunity to break out of their dorm rooms, take a break from studying, and explore campus. Although it can be somewhat brisk at night during the Spring semester, many exciting weekly activities are happening all across campus this time of year. One very rare and exciting opportunity that most students do not hear about is the weekly open house at the Kirkwood Observatory. Assuming the sky is clear, the Astronomy Department opens the Historic Kirkwood Observatory to the public every Wednesday evening from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. 

The Open House is a great time for anyone interested in star gazing, the solar system, or massive telescopes to stop in and ask questions and even peer through the historic 110 year old telescope. And while some may think that their limited Astrological knowledge may leave them clueless or helpless, the passionate faculty, staff and students of the Astronomy Department are always encouraging guests to ask questions.

Between the unique atmosphere offered by the historic building and the large telescope housed beneath the rotating dome, and the talkative nature of the friendly staff, the Kirkwood Observatory is well worth the trip across campus. 

To see if the Observatory will be open on a particular Wednesday, simply visit the Astronomy website,  http://www.astro.indiana.edu/, to see the current status of an Open House event.