Caught Black Handed: Race and Priviledge in the Justice System by RA Christian Brancato

8 Ways to Manage Roommate Conflicts by RA Sonam Patel

1. Communicate

Open communication is key. Get to know your roommate(s) and their likes and dislikes. Don't intentionally do things that will irate them and if something is bothering you, speak up before it results in further issues. 

2. Respect Boundaries

                                    

Lay down ground rules and stick to them. Discuss cleaning, sleeping, noise and guest with your roommate(s) and follow through with what was agreed upon. 

 
3. Don't be a Borrower

As tempting as it may be to use your roommate's food, cleaning supplies, hair tools, kitchen appliances, etc., while they are not around, if they didn't give you permission, don't. If it's not yours, keep your hands off it to avoid conflicts.

    4. Don't be Nasty

                                               

Clean up after yourself and your guests. You wouldn't want to live in a dirty apartment and neither does your roommate(s).

 

     5. Be Willing to Compromise

Living in a shared space with people who may have different habits means not everything is going to be your way. It's okay to be firm with issues that really matter to you, but be willing to hear your roommate(s) side and come to a compromise that satisfies everyone.

6. Be Willing to Try New Things

If you're living with someone with whom you think you have nothing in common, try showing interest in some of the things they like to do and vice versa. Be open to change as college is meant for learning and growing.

     7.  Make Yourself at Home, but Don't Get Too Comfortable

Be courteous towards your roommate(s) even if you've become good friends. Still ask before borrowing, be polite, and have manner. Don't just assume it's okay now that you're friends

8. Have an open mind

Don’t be quick to judge your roommate(s) or their guest because they have different opinions, interests, or views than you. You don’t always have to agree with them, but at least respect their standpoint.

Race & Privilege: Economics by RA Mashaunda Johnson

Physical Wellness: The Beauty of a Massage by RA Alexis

            According to the University of California, physical wellness is “the ability to maintain a healthy quality of life that allows us to get through our daily activities without undue fatigue or physical stress.” That doesn’t seem to be asking for too much. They aren’t claiming physical wellness means being able to run for 5 miles without stopping- they are more or less suggesting that we should be able to walk up a flight of stairs without huffing and puffing.

            You probably already know the basics to being physically well, like drinking a lot of water and walking as much as possible. I want to tell you about some things that you probably have not considered before that can actually change your life.

            The first thing I want to urge you to try is getting a massage. Sometimes, a massage is one of those things that you didn’t realize you needed. Have you ever just melted when you had a friend play with your hair unexpectedly? Mayo Clinic says “Studies of the benefits of massage demonstrate that it is an effective treatment for reducing stress, pain and muscle tension.” Massages are not just for sore muscles. In Chinese medicine, it is believed that there are pressure points all along the body (especially in the ears and on the feet) that correlate to different organs in the body. For example, if you had asthma, a good pressure point to be triggered on your feet is towards the center of your foot, right below your toes. Many massage therapists know and use these pressure points to help relieve their clients of pain that they didn’t even know could be fixed through massage! Did you know face massages are a great way to relieve allergy symptoms? Although massages run about $1 a minute, they are totally worth the money, and as soon as you’re done, you’ll wonder why you didn’t go sooner.

            Speaking of pressure points, another way to stay physically well is through acupuncture. I can tell you from my own personal experience that I thought acupuncture was pseudo-science, but after just one session I could immediately feel the results. I was having severe pain in my knee that nothing seemed to be able to heal. I eventually gave in at the recommendation of my doctor and visited an acupuncturist.  My acupuncturist put some needles around my knee and then some in my ear, and then left them in for about fifteen minutes. I’ll never forget how much one needle in my ear was throbbing. When I mentioned it to him, he pointed to the ear pressure point chart he had hanging on the wall. The location of that needle was allegedly the spot that correlated to knees. That was enough for me to go back a few more times. By the time I finished going to him, my knee pain was non-existent. If you have any kind of pain in your body that a stretch can’t seem to fix, definitely consider giving acupuncture a go. Those little needles can really access those hard-to-reach areas. If you are hesitant to go because you are afraid of needles, believe me when I say that the needles are so small and thin that you will barely notice them going in or out of your skin. At most, the pain feels similar to a mosquito bite.

            For affordable massages and acupuncture, look online for nearby massage and acupuncture schools. Oftentimes, they have clinics where third year students and up practice on real clients for a steeply discounted price. Not to worry though- they are supervised by highly trained professionals. If being a guinea pig isn’t really your thing, remember- if there is one thing you shouldn’t worry about spending money on, it's your health. Challenge yourself to step out of your comfort zone and try acupuncture or a massage soon!

If The World Were 100 People by RA Alexis

What is Gentrification? by RA Scott Wilson

Affirmative Action by RA Sonam Patel