In Defense of the Coffee Bean

adelle-labrecqueBY ADELLE LaBRECQUE
Staff Writer, UAS Whalesong

As I sit here quietly – almost bitterly – completely, utterly sleep deprived and eyes nearly shut, I take great comfort in the familiar scent of a lightly roasted breakfast blend brewing in the coffee pot. Indeed, as many overtired and overworked coffee lovers can relate, this seemingly invincible bean has the ability to release the shackles of our early morning sourness, and simultaneously provide us with the boost of energy necessary to become the kinder human beings we truly are—after that first cup, of course. Continue reading “In Defense of the Coffee Bean”

Mornings: Awful, but Good for You

Alexa CherryBY ALEXA CHERRY
For the UAS Whalesong

I think it is safe to suggest that you as a reader are aware that “bedtime” is not necessarily a thing that happens among college students. At least, not in the way where it is the same every night, and it’s certainly not something pressed upon you by external sources (i.e., parents). And I am definitely a night owl over being an early bird any day of the week – which is why I decided to write an article on the subject of getting up early. It’s for my fellow night owls out there, who feel far more at ease staying up until 4 AM than you do getting up at 4 AM – which is only healthy, and natural, and the way that it should be, but is not always the most effective way to get things done. Continue reading “Mornings: Awful, but Good for You”

Student Government Update

BY CALLIE CONERTON
For the UAS Whalesong
Hello fellow students! Hope midterms didn’t wipe you out! We have been actively trying to reach out to the student population and we have started Monday Morning Coffee with Student Government. We would love for you to come our office and tell us what is on your mind, whether it is something that is bugging you about your classes or an idea that you have that could make our campus a better place for all of us students, we want your ideas! This will be every Monday from 10:30 to 1 pm and we will have fresh coffee and yummy snacks! Continue reading “Student Government Update”

Hot Bean Water: The Grind pt. II

BY ALEXA CHERRY
For the UAS Whalesong
Brace yourselves: it’s time to talk about coffee some more. I know we discussed some of the different methods of making coffee last issue, but something I wanted to discuss but didn’t get to was the different types of coffee you can make or order. I’ve been ordering coffee for years now, and even I am still not certain what the difference is between a latte and a mocha – so, for both your edification and my own, I have chosen to compile a small guide to the average café coffee menu. Now neither of us will have to worry that the barista is secretly judging us. Continue reading “Hot Bean Water: The Grind pt. II”

Student Government Update

BY DAVID RUSSELL-JENSEN
For the UAS Whalesong
UAS Student Government met for our annual retreat the last weekend of September – in a nutshell it was a fun-filled and let’s-get-down-to-business meeting, where we discussed our goals for Student Government, our goals for ourselves, and we worked on editing our Constitution. The Constitution will take a little more time to work through at an upcoming planned special meeting, but we are all on board for keeping the most important people up to date with everything we do – the student body. Be sure to like us on Facebook at University of Alaska SE Student Government, and check out our portal on the UAS website (uas.alaska.edu/juneau/activities/student_gov) or by just googling UAS Student Government. Continue reading “Student Government Update”

The Grind

BY ALEXA CHERRY
For the UAS Whalesong
Not the Juneau-based chain specifically, but yes, this article is going to be about coffee. Coffee comes in many different flavors, and there are many different styles of making coffee. I am here to give you some information about this ever-essential part of college. If you prefer to drink tea, stick around. I can convert you yet. Continue reading “The Grind”

Who’s a Good Student?

BY ALEXA CHERRY
For the UAS Whalesong
You are! You’re a good student. However, while paying attention in class and turning in your homework on time are important parts of college, your grades aren’t the only thing you need to keep an eye on. College is like adulthood with training wheels, and therefore it’s also an important time for you to keep an eye on yourself. Just like how everyone has different learning styles – visual, auditory, etc. – everyone also has different ways of dealing with stress, and we’re heading into a stressful time here at UAS. It largely depends on what your major program is, I think, but at least for me I find midterms to be more harrowing than finals. It doesn’t help that on top of whatever we’re all trying to get done for school and work, we also have to deal with basic Alaska problems: the weather’s getting colder, sometimes the rain seems like it will never stop (that’s more a Juneau problem than a universal Alaska one, though), and every day we lose whole minutes of sunlight. That’s a lot of stuff all going on at once, making it hard to pinpoint exactly why you’re so stressed, or exhausted, or moody, or experiencing any number of other feelings or behaviors. Continue reading “Who’s a Good Student?”

Goodness Gracious, Flambéed Bananas!

BY ALEXA CHERRY

A couple of weeks ago, I was taken by none other than the lovely editor of this paper to go check out a “new” restaurant in town. The reason I put “new” in quotes is because the restaurant isn’t new, as such. Rather than being a completely new company, in a completely new establishment, they’re a new take on an old idea. The restaurant I’m speaking of, as you’ve probably guessed, is (or rather, was) the Waffle Co. However, the previous owners sold it and the new owners wanted to go for a more comprehensive menu schematic, as well as a new look overall. So they got a new menu, name, and paint job. I got to go check it out on Feb. 11, the day GonZo officially opened for business as a supposedly “new and improved” establishment.

Continue reading “Goodness Gracious, Flambéed Bananas!”

Philosophical Traditions: The Golden Mean

BY DANIEL PISCOYA

There is a fine line between too much coffee and too little. I’m pretty sure most college students know this.

On one hand, too little coffee can mean lethargy, sleepiness, or inattention. When you’re as addicted to coffee as most college students, it can even mean a headache. All of these would contribute to an overall difficult time paying attention to class and homework—it could even mean falling asleep again, which we do not want.

On the other hand, too much coffee can mean an excess of energy and restlessness in both mind and body. When I, for example, drink more than two cups of coffee on an empty stomach, my hands start to shake. This can contribute to a kind of restless energy and problems concentrating. This wouldn’t be conducive to paying attention in class, either!

This is where our old (old, old) friend Aristotle has our backs.

Continue reading “Philosophical Traditions: The Golden Mean”