Study Abroad Worth it?

Studying abroad is a great way to experience a new culture and lifestyle in a different country while furthering your education at the same time.

The dorms are holding a study abroad workshop on May 3, 2011 at 7:30pm-9:30pm in the Los Alamitos Lounge. This workshop will encourage students to take a big step and study somewhere outside the country. There will be participants, that have already experienced studying abroad, sharing their stories and adventures.

I would recommend studying abroad to any and everyone because it will change your life, said Dean Dutro, a junior at CSULB and a communications major, it is worth every penny because you will experience things you never imagined.

Studying abroad is a great way to diversify yourself and meet people around the world. According to the Open Doors Report, published annually by the Institute of International Education, studying abroad has been a progressively growing trend and there was approximately 260,327 students who studied abroad in the 2008/2009 academic year.

A study abroad banner.

Picture received from: http://law.hamline.edu/files/u1/StudyAbroad.jpg

Underage Drinking...

Underage drinking is inevitable especially in the dorm rooms of college universities, but the problem has been getting better over the years.

Most universities have been cracking down on on-campus drinking over the years. According to an article in the Press-Telegram, "CSULB was among the campuses with the biggest improvements. CSULB reported a 14.7 percent decline in binge drinking and a 5.8 percent drop in driving after drinking." Although there has been a massive decline in drinking on campus, it has not been completely eliminated. 


There are still students who drink on campus in the dormitories but they have to be careful of the strict authorities. One student who spoke with anonymity says she is a freshman in the College of Liberal Arts and loves to drink with her dorm mates while playing games but they never get out-of-hand. 


Drinking can be fun in the dorms but the potential consequences involved can be severe when the authorities find out. 

Alcoholic beverages that should not be consumed by minors.

Pictures taken by Jared Ames.

Channel 3 at CSULB

Watching movies, student produced shows, and group movie screenings is at the fingertips of CSULB students living in the dorms with a closed circuit television station, Channel 3.

According to the Channel 3 advisor, Chris San Paolo, the station used to be called Channel 2 and was revamped and renamed after complications with the broadcasting station they worked with. They now pay Swank Motion Pictures, Inc. an annual fee in order to broadcast a total of nine new movies per month.

Dorm residents vote at the beginning of each month on which new movies they want to be available to stream for free on Channel 3 for the following month. Channel 3 is staffed by volunteers and those who are interested in productions, broadcasting or as a hobby. This channel provides a great opportunity for those to expose their skills or gain knowledge in the field of broadcast and production.

Lester Montero watching Channel 3 from his computer.

Picture taken by Jared Ames.

Flag Football!

The dorms will be hosting a free flag football event on April 29, 2011 on the Alamitos lawn between 1pm and 3pm. There will be a total of two teams consisting of 15 players and will give them the chance to make their own team shirts during a pizza party the night prior to the game.

Students have the chance to sign-up as a team player, cheerleader, referee, or coach. The sign-ups are held in the dining hall and can be turned in there. According to Alexandra Castro, a freshman with an undeclared major, she was signed up by her friends without her consent but is very excited to play with the boys and make shirts.

The incentive to win the game is a flag football championship shirt and bragging rights throughout the dorms. Flag football is an intense sport with less contact than tackle but is still played at a competitive level.

A Flag Football Banner.

Picture received from: http://www.azsportsleague.com/flag_football/images/play%20flag%20football.gif

A picture of the flag football flier in the dorms.

Picture taken by Jared Ames.

To The Dining Hall!

The dormitory dining halls accommodate numerous students throughout the week, serving them a balanced variety of nutritious food.

The buffet-style eateries have been designed by an award-winning Executive Chef and Register Dietitian to create a variety of foods fit to accommodate those ranging from meat-lovers to vegans. The menu runs on a 4-week cycle making it easier to not get sick of eating the same thing day after day. Its friendly environment attracts residents and non-residents throughout the week.

Residence Dining Hall employee, Yajaira Toledo, a sophomore studying sociology, says that she enjoys working there because it has a relaxed environment as long as you are doing what you are supposed to. It does not appear to be a stressful job, but not every employee is happy.

A former employee who wants to remain anonymous says he did not like working at the dining halls because of their unethical food practices. He is a vegan and feels like they do not follow a ethical standard of food preparation or handling.

The dining halls are open Monday through Friday for breakfast, lunch and dinner and also provide brunch and dinner on the weekends.

Outside view of Residence Dining Hall.

Picture taken by Jared Ames.

Watch out For Sickness!

The change in weather usually brings about allergies and many people getting sick and living in a dormitory can make it that much easier to pass it on to others.

Living in such close quarters with large numbers of people, it can become a stomping ground for the spreading of infectious illnesses. According to an article by the Los Angeles Times, "Cram college students into close quarters -- the shared restrooms, the group dining, the TV lounges where a steamy bag of microwave popcorn becomes communal property -- and dorm living can suddenly become a daily exercise in dodging illness."


Luckily for registered students, CSULB's Student Health Services provides a highly trained and educated staff that conducts medical services, preventative health and health education programs. 


It is very important for those living on campus to be cautious because according to an article by The New York Times, "There are few living arrangements, doctors say with a shudder, that are more fraught with contamination possibilities than the college dorm."

 Outside view of CSULB's Student Health Services building.

Picture taken by Jared Ames.

Inside lobby of  CSULB's Student Health Services building.

Picture taken by Jared Ames.

RLC Has Its Pros

The Residential Learning Center is an off-campus housing facility belonging to California State University, Long Beach that can house up to approximately 560 students.

As stated by an article in the Grunion Gazette, "The CSULB Foundation purchased the property for $11.1 million in September 2007 from the company that leased the site to Brooks College, according to Brian Nowlin, associate executive director of the CSULB Foundation."


This dormitory is off-campus but there are pros that are considered preferable. RLC housing provides general education courses that can be taken in the facility without being transported to CSULB's main campus. Also, students have the luxury of not being stuck on campus all the time and have free shuttle rides to and from the main campus that run within minutes of each other from early morning until night. Some students prefer the RLC campus because of its perks.


"I would much rather live in the RLC housing than on campus because it was just  recently renovated and the layout is better," says freshman RLC resident, Ben Fleck, "It's nice because its easier to get to know everybody with the way it is setup."    


There are multi-purpose and study rooms, on-site academic advising, classrooms, and a dining hall in which the students are not limited to because they are allowed to use the dining halls on CSULB's main residence halls as well. This off-campus facility offers a small, friendly feel with the opportunities of a large university.

 Ben Fleck and his roommate in their dorm at RLC.

Picture taken by Jared Ames.

The front of the RLC dormitory.

Picture taken by Jared Ames.

On The Brink of Break!

Spring break is nearing the halls of the dorms and is getting ready to push many students back to their homes outside CSULB. Residents should take their essentials with them, but they are not required to move their belongings out during the duration of the break. Dorm residents have until 7p.m. to vacate their room on Mar. 25th 2011 before they undergo a fee. Residents with a meal plan will get one last lunch on the 25th before their departure.

However, the residents do have an option to stay in the dorms over the break. If they decide to remain in the dorms for the break before Wednesday, Mar. 23, it only costs them a fee of $45. But if they decide last minute to stay in the dorms and pay after Mar. 23, they have to pay an increased fee of $90.  Residents will not be allowed to move back into the dorms until Apr. 3 after 12 p.m., and their next meal does not resume until breakfast on Apr. 4.

Luggage being packed before moving out of the dorms for break.

Pictorial by Jared Ames

Beach Idol!

Long Beach Idol was holding auditions yesterday in the Los Alamitos Residence Hall for the upcoming event on April 20th, 2011. The event begins at 8pm and ends at 11pm and is free for all those who live in the dorms. The auditions took place yesterday and were being filmed to simulate one of the most watch television programs in America, American Idol. The event will also be recorded and both will be played on CSULB's closed circuit television station Channel 3.

The top contestants will be awarded with pizza parties and other great prizes, giving them an incentive to do their best and show off their singing skills. This is event is getting a lot of attention, "I can't wait to go to Beach Idol and see all of the talent, it should be a lot of fun," said Amy Fox, a resident in the Los Alamitos dormitory. The event will take place at CSULB's Residential Learning College, which is the only off-campus dormitory facility.

Room where Beach Idol auditions were taken place.

Pictorial by Jared Ames

Retrieved from http://www.facebook.com/pages/CSULB-Housing/123558104332969

Dorms,That Bad?

Outside Los Alamitos dormitory.

Pictorial by Jared Ames

Many amenities provided by the CSULB dorms can be viewed as convenient and desirable to those who are new to the college community.

There are 18 residence hall buildings that can welcome over 2,400 students, making it an easy way for them to meet people when entering a new environment. Also, common places are included inside for students to mingle and socialize throughout their suite when they are not in class.

The on-site dining halls provide a variety of food and the convenience of not having to prepare meals yourself. Although many students do not bring cars their first year or two, there is a car rental company, Zipcars, which rents cars to students by the hour. Additionally, there are on-site laundry rooms, bathroom facilities and vacuum cleaners that are provided for the students. Ryan O'Conner, a former dorm resident, said, “The dorms were a great experience because I got to meet a lot of new people and everything was so close and convenient.”