Staff suggests 25 things to do before graduation

By: Cigar Staff

Posted: 9/6/07

09/06/07 - During the summer, the Cigar staff put their heads together and came up with a list of things we think every University of Rhode Island student should do before graduation. This list is in no particular order and offers a starting point for those who are new to the university.

1. Join a student club. These clubs are here for your enjoyment and funded by your student fees, take advantage of them.

2. Get yourself featured in the Cigar. This is the best way to become a hero on campus and maybe meet someone special. Just don't get featured in the police reports.

3. Go to Kingston Pizza on Briar Lane after 1 a.m. Pizza always tastes better at odd hours.

4. Order from Pizza Pocket. Do this in the early hours of the morning when you are in a state where you will completely forget you ordered it.

5. Befriend a professor or two. These people are, after all, the ones handing out your grades. You might as well be on friendly terms with them.

6. Pull an all-nighter in the 24-hour room in the library. Strange things happen during the wee hours of the morning, but to find out what they are you'll need to try this suggestion yourself.

7. Participate in Oozeball. Muddy, sticky, dirty fun. Enough said.

8. Vote in Student Senate elections. These folks control almost $1 million in student money.

9. Participate in hallway soccer. Strictly against HRL rules but only if you get caught.

10. Introduce yourself to President Robert L. Carothers. He's a nice guy. Seriously.

11. Wait in line at Dunkin' Donuts. It might take 45 minutes and might be the start of a serious caffeine-addiction, but it's still a Rhody classic.

12. Lay on the Quad in your bathing suit. Yes, people will stare but it's a shorter walk to the Quad than the beach.

13. Go to the beach. Rhode Island isn't called the Ocean State for nothing.

14. Swim a few laps in the pool. Actually, the university's Tootell Aquatic Center has three pools for your enjoyment, including a wading pool, diving pool and lap pool.

15. Skip class at least once...just don't say we told you to.

16. Live in a residence hall. A university dorm is one of the very few places on Earth where you'll find a few hundred students squeezed together like sardines. It's just a great way to meet people.

17. After you have the student dorm experience, it's important that you eventually experience the wonder that is living "Down the Line." Bonnet Shores, Eastward Look, Matunuck - where the beach is just a couple of blocks away and you can bask in the glory of not having to put up with two other roommates being all up in your space.

18. Take a picture posing with Rhody the Ram. He's always in front of the Memorial Union. And to answer a question we overheard freshmen asking one another during First Night. No! That is NOT a sheep.

19. Befriend someone from another country. Ladies always love a cultured man - or men who appear cultured because of friendships forged with international exchange students. Either one.

20. Take an oddball class. Choose something in a completely different subject than your major. You might find you have the wrong major.

21. Go on a Ram Tour. Boston Red Sox games, Martha's Vineyard, Waterfire in Providence, ski/snowboard trip weekends and Six Flags Fright Fest are just some of the trips. It's cheap and it's fun.

22. Attend a Diversity Week event. Don't be an ignorant fool!

23. Study abroad. With no real responsibilities in your life, how can you pass up the opportunity to spend an entire semester in a foreign country?

24. Check out the URI squirrels. They'll come right up to you and look you in the eye. Totally weird.

25. Read the Cigar. It's the best paper on campus with amazing columns...like this one!