Here comes the sun

By Maura Brannigan

5:11 p.m. May 31 2010

Photo by John Meguerian / North by Northwestern

Catchin’ a few rays doesn’t always mean cancer
You still need to be careful, but a bit of glow isn’t that bad.

Let’s face it — the sun gets a bad rap. Sunburns and skin cancer are just two of many dangers you face if you spend a lot of time soaking up rays. However, our minds and bodies still need sunlight to stay healthy.

“[Sunlight] helps a lot of skin diseases,” says Evanston dermatologist Mark D. Gendleman. He names several examples — psoriasis, eczema and acne. Artificial sunlight can sometimes act as a therapy for those conditions.

Sunlight is also necessary for the body to produce vitamin D, which helps the body absorb calcium, keeping bones strong. Few foods provide this important vitamin, though supplements and milk fortified with vitamin D can help.

A shortage of sunlight can even have negative effects on mood. “A lot of people are depressed during the winter when there’s less sunlight, and [they] cheer up in the spring,” says Dr. Gendleman. This condition, which is called seasonal affective disorder, is sometimes treated using a lamp that mimics the sun’s rays.

Now that winter’s over, we don’t need special equipment to enjoy the sun’s light. Remember, though, that the sun’s dangers are very real. Like most of life’s pleasures, sunlight is best enjoyed a little bit at a time.

-Miriam Mogilevsky

The 1972 classic single “School’s Out” by Alice Cooper describes the pure, unadulterated glory of summer. Unfortunately, now we’ve reached that age when a typical summer also includes long hours at a job or internship, despite Cooper’s anthem of summer independence.

But what happens if that business internship falls through, or your father’s company can’t even hire you for those three months? As much as it seems your life is over, don’t panic. Take a peek at these suggestions to create what could be the best, most fulfilling summer of your life.

Be a professional blogger. No, not one of those “what type of bagel I ate today” blogs. Instead, think about your favorite class or an activity you’d want to explore more. Dedicate your days to playing with that idea, then post the details for your loyal minions to read. If you’re diligent about it, chances are you’ll attract attention from future employers as well. Log on to Tumblr.com or Blogspot.com to get started, and search the “Ivy Sneakers,” “Vandy Right” and “The Arizona Desert Lamp” blogs for inspiration.

Pull a Wet Hot American Summer — minus the debauchery, of course. There’s a camp out there for every interest — be a counselor for one! Check for a debate or chemistry day camp near you, or volunteer at a special needs camp, like the one run by 2009 Dance Marathon’s beneficiary, Project Kindle (CampKindle.org) or Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times (CampRonaldMcDonald.org) for kids who have or have had cancer.

Travel. Every college student dreams of backpacking across Europe or hitchhiking down Route 69. Why not go for it? Spend the beginning of break planning and budgeting before you take off. Start at MyCollegeRoadTrip.com, a travel website written by college students exclusively for college students, to check out travel destinations, tips and interesting events happening between April and September.