7 - 40 = 30
Making friends is a challenge for many
"Iknew it would be difficult." Holly Hearting, Wakeeny freshman, said. "Because in a small town you have a chance to be best friends with everybody, and I was. Coming here and having to start all over again and not knowing anybody ... it was really hard."
By Jenni Curry
Kansan Correspondent
Homes and familiar surroundings aren't all KU students leave behind when they go to college. Most leave behind lifelong friends.
Considering the small size of Hearting's high school, about 200 students, it isn't surprising that moving to KU has been difficult.
Missy Ricke has seen students like Hearting struggle.
Ricke, Topeka junior and a residence assistance for the past two years, said that although forming new friendships was difficult, making friends was an important part of college life.
And for many students, leaving behind those who have supported them and starting again is a challenge.
"If you go to class, don't wait for people to come to you. My best advice would be go to that class, smile at everybody, talk to everybody," said Ricke, who met one of her best friends in an elevator.
Ricke said most people had a hard time adjusting because they were trying to cope
with their new environment and an overwhelming sense of loneliness.
Francis Desalvo, director of Counseling and Psychological Services at Watkins Health Center, said friends are necessary in all parts of life, but he felt it was particularly important in college since students were missing their parents' support.
According to DeSalvo, students unable to form this necessary connection often feel as if they are alone in a crowd, and as if they are somehow isolated from the swarms of people around them. Consequently, that person can become depressed and develop a negative self-image.
"I think it's real important that they make at least one solid friend, one solid connection," DeSalvo said. "Although college is generally a time of independence, people also need some connection. They need somebody to be with to at least check out their feelings and typically get some support when things don't go well."
And Hearting would agree
DeSalvo said many factors could affect a person's ability to form lasting connections. Everything from background to lack of basic social skills can stunt a someone's social skills.
And hearing would agree. "I guess making friends is one of the hardest things about college," says Hearting. "It's right up there with making good grades."
Chances of Freshman 15 slim if students exercise, eat well
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By Will Baxter
Kansan Correspondent
Does the thought of gaining an extra 10 or 15 pounds have you worried? Have you noticed the arrow on the bathroom scale slowly moving up? Or is all this nonsense about the freshman fifteen just that — nonsense?
If you have a taste for beer, or the tuna casserole in the Oliver Hall cafeteria, you should be concerned about the freshman fifteen. You also should worry if your only exercise is going back for seconds in the residence hall cafeterias.
But don't panic. If you want to keep the weight off, all you need to do is make a conscious effort to regulate your lifestyle. This means preventing weight gain before it happens.
Ann Chapman, dietitian at Watkins Health Center, said she thought that many students did not diet and watch their weight until it was too late.
"I don't think many are concerned until it starts happening," she said.
Chapman said when students did make a decision to watch their weight, it was important that they not eliminate fet entirely from their diet.
"This practice is ineffective because it will likely leave the dieter hungry and craving more food due to the fact that fat takes longer to digest," she said.
Most beer has roughly twice as many calories per gram of fat than many of the foods that at Ekdahl Dining Commons in Lewis Hall, Chapman said. However, light beer is an intelligent choice, provided that you drink the same amount of it as you would regular beer, she said.
Though eating healthily is important one must not overlook the beer factor.
Tom Lervik, Mulvane freshman, said he had wondered about the possibility of adding a few extra pounds until he saw the University of Kansas's hills.
Matt Flannigan, Saint Mary's junior, said he gained 10 to 15 pounds his freshman year.
But eating and drinking responsibly is not the complete answer. Gaining weight because of lack of physical activity is possible.
"All you really need to do to stay in shape is go to class every day,"he said.
"I went from being physically active in high school to basically sitting around all the time studying," he said.
Frogpond CD Release Show 10:00 pm Show $5.00 Cover
Mercury Recording Artist Outhouse
$5.00 Cover
I Mother Earth with The Hazies/ Sandbox 9:00pm Show $5.00 Cover
THE MELYINS
3 One Hour Sets $10.00 Tickets
FUNK EXTRAVAGANZA SHAG $6.00 Tickets
Turquoise Sol Final Show $5.00 Tickets
Tonic with Fireside $5.00 Tickets
The Big Show
1
September 12, 1996 The Hill
The City Scene
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