So it's finally 2013 and you've said your final goodbye to the sun for the next four months. You’re pissed off that CVS doesn’t carry your brand of flu medicine (and Lord knows you’ll need it with the second coming of snowpocalypse climbin' in yo windows, snatchin' yo people up). Well, we’re here to help. Why not hop on the Shop-N-Ride shuttle to the nearest Target or Jewel and pick up your medication there? I bet you’ve always wanted to learn how to belly dance. There’s an app for that. And by app, I mean class in the basement of Norris that nobody knew existed until right now. You’re welcome. Here’s a list of the most underutilized things on campus that you don’t want to miss out on.
Shop-N-Ride
Jealous of your floormates’ super high-tech smartphone, 47-inch plasma TV, Xbox 360 and GameCube? Hop on the Shop-N-Ride, go to Best Buy and one-up them. The Shop-N-Ride shuttle heads to Target, Best Buy, OfficeMax, Jewel and the Lincolnwood Town Center every Sunday from noon to 5:10, stopping at all the usual places along Sheridan. The best part? It’s free with your WildCARD. Jewel is 1.1 miles away – you don’t want to deal with that during this demon of a season. Give your feet a break.
Chicago Express
Just last weekend, my friends and I took the El downtown to shop at Topshop, which is located on Michigan Avenue. I’m guessing – and this is an approximation – that our particular El train was moving around negative 37 miles per hour with stops every three seconds. If you do the math correctly, you’d know it took around two hours to get from South Campus to the store's interior. And it cost $2.25. Why not hop on a 12:05 Chicago Express shuttle right by the Arch, be on Michigan Avenue by 12:38 and spend that $2.25 on half an earring from Topshop (yeah, it's expensive). It runs almost every Saturday and stops at four different locations in downtown Chicago.
And remember: FREE.
Norris Mini Courses
At the beginning of every quarter, Norris offers around 30 Mini Courses, for no credit, costing anywhere from $10 to $107. So instead of spending your Thursday nights on Reddit, you could be ballroom dancing or learning how to appreciate fine wines (added bonus: tasting encouraged). They’re only once a week, take place at night and are open to the public, so you might meet real live non-college students! They also offer language, painting, drawing, guitar and yoga on a regular basis. So seriously, that person you’ve had your eye on for a while? Use these courses to impress them with your perfect downward (or upward)-facing dog.
The Writing Place
As fascinating as I’m sure your paper on “The History of Stalinism” is, your friends don’t want to read it. They have their own papers and math problems and projects to do. Solution: The Writing Place. They are here to act as your stand-in editors. Located in the Main Library, Room 2304, they are also open to helping graduates, staff and faculty. Yeah, your professors go to these people too. They’re legit. Their website has a lot of helpful tips about questions to ask that make the most of your time, how to make an appointment and general writing advice.
ARTica
In five months here, I have discovered we have engineers, music majors, theater kids, undecided, identity-confused Weinberg kids and even misunderstood artists. We have an art museum on campus as well as an art studio. ARTica is the art studio located in the basement of Norris that includes a darkroom for photographers (I’m talking to you, non-Instagrammers of Evanston), sewing machines, arts and crafts, lamination, painting, ceramics and other artsy things.
"I really like the music there, they were jammin' some Beyoncé. I would totally go back if I had more free time," said Communication freshman Hannah Verdon. "They have a lot of interesting pottery projects going on."
Several of the Norris mini-courses are taught here (look how I’m integrating two of the things on this list!) including Beginning Ceramics, Watercolor Painting and Darkroom Photography. And if you’re cheap – and you’re in college, we know you’re cheap – you can make a “Love Mug” for only $7 (For that special someone you captivated with those mad ballroom dancing skills).