Fall Fever In Bloomington

The leaves are falling at Indiana University so don't miss out.  The best thing about Bloomington is the fall season.  People from all over come to bask in its beauty.

Yes, the trees are becoming bare but the beauty of the leaves makes it all worth it.  The reds, oranges, and browns all seem to give the campus a warm feel.   When you're walking to class pay attention to the crunch of the leaves, the blow of the wind, and the colors on the trees.

Before the winter comes, enjoy the campus at one of the best times of year.  Let our campus inspire you to give it your all during these last weeks!

Enjoy Movies, Music, and More

Did you survive midterms week? Congrats! We did it!!! And if you didn't then hang in there, okay? The bright side is that you still have finals. And the dark side is that you still have finals. I highly suggest you take this week easy and enjoy some of the benefits of residence hall life!

The first thing I did after my midterms was relax. I normally relax in front of my computer, watching a movie from my residence hall library. Most of the residence halls have a movie, music, and more (MMM) library. You can rent movies, music, magazines, board games, video games and more at no charge!

 The MMM locations even have your favorite shows. Do you like "Glee"? They've got it! Are you a fan of "30 Rock"? They've got it! They have almost every series you can think of, and if they don't have it you can request for it to be ordered.

Another good way to recuperate from the midterm grind is to break out the art supplies. There is always some fun activity going on for the major holidays. It's October; why not grab some construction paper and decorate some ghosts for Halloween? Research does show that arts and crafts is a stress relieving activity.

Finally, keep in mind that if you rent items from the MMM five different times you will get a free candy bar. What more could you ask for? 
Whenever you feel the need to break free, check out the residence hall libraries!

Residence Halls are the Best Places to Study

Unfortunately, it's already midterms!  If you're like me and have six exams, a book review, and a blanket to weave then life this week will be busier than normal.  Afterward will be a test of your time management skills and emotional strength.

The best places to study are the residence halls.  The library is great for getting books, but too often it is overcrowded. Even if you don't stay at your own residence hall, all of them have something to offer.  Study areas at the residence halls are rarely crowded, since most people study at the library. So, studying elsewhere has its advantages.

The best eateries are located by the residence halls. So if you find yourself up at 3:27 a.m., stop at Pizza Express or Village Pantry. Or if you get really desperate, the vending machines are always close by.

The IMU Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

Did you know Hispanic Heritage Month starts on September 15 and ends October 15?  Well, many people dont know this.  It's very important that we celebrate more than our own culture.

The Indiana Memorial UnionGallery is showcasing a Latina artist named Bertha E. Gutierrez.  The title of her work is called "My Fire." Her paintings depict what life is like being an immigrant in the United States.  She uses bold vibrant colors that help illustrate the hardships she goes through being Latina.

Please take the time out to do an activity or learn something new in spirit of Hispanic Heritage Month.  Most Resident Halls feature information on the different Indiana University has several event s going on so I encourage you to check the main website for future events.

The Manhattan Shorts arent Short on Entertainment

This week Bloomington had the chance to host the Manhattan Short Film Festival.  The short films will be shown in 203 cities and across six continents.  The festival is in its 12th year and many winners have gone on to win oscars.  The Manhattan shorts consist of 10 films from across the world that will be screened by over 100,000 people.

The winner will be decided by the viewers.  At the end of the festival you fill out a voting card that will be tallied with votes form all over the world.

I thought the films were interesting.  I had never been to a film festival before and didn't know what to expect.  I thought they were going to be these weird French films with the word "fin" at the ending scene. Yes, some were odd but most of them left me wanting more.  I could really see some turned into full length movies.  It was fun seeing films from all over the world.  Good luck to all the contestants!