When you hear about the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) you probably think about the sports powerhouses that are consistently winning championships. What you probably don’t think about are the student leaders at these universities and how they’re making a difference on their campuses. On February 18th, student leaders from all 12 ACC schools met in Atlanta to share how they’re impacting their institutions and using their leadership skills to create change through social entrepreneurship.

The conference, hosted by Georgia Tech, focused on the theme of social entrepreneurship. Students leaders were divided into teams and each assigned a different social issue (education, health, hunger, refugees, etc.) with the challenge to create a business model for a social entrepreneurship. They learned about social entrepreneurship from the Chief Operations Officer of Better World Books, Jamie Bardin. Bardin served as the keynote speaker and spoke about how Better World Books was created and founded with the goal of doing good around the world and making a profit. Attendees also visited Medshare and The Global Soap Project, nonprofits local to Atlanta, in order to learn more about how simple ideas can have a major global impact. Students used knowledge from these sessions to create their business models pertaining to their social issues. At the end of the conference, the groups each presented their business models and included how they can be taken back to their institutions and implemented by student organizations.

Students spent several hours developing their business models and this was reflected in their presentations. The business models developed were extremely thorough and each had elements that could be implemented right away. Twelve social issues were addressed by problems relevant both domestically and internationally. The models presented by the groups gave hope that these leaders will one day be leading worldwide change.

Students were also able to attend a variety of workshops that focused on everything from creating interesting presentations to methods for dealing with dysfunctional teams. They were able to further interact in these sessions providing an opportunity to share differences across campuses and develop skills that each student can take back to their organization. Students came from Student Governments, Residence Hall Associations, Greek Life organizations and many more and were selected by faculty to attend. The diversity of organizations being represented allowed for great conversation and ideas that could be taken back and applied at the various institutions.

The weekend was not all work though. Students’ partook in tours of Georgia Tech’s beautiful campus and activities at the Student Center including bowling and performances from a capella groups. Attendees also had the opportunity to explore the Georgia Aquarium after hours and enjoyed a dinner next to the Beluga whales.

As the conference came to a close on Sunday, students were anxious to return to their campuses, but sad to leave the friends they had made. However, they would not leave behind the great work they had accomplished. The ideas and plans developed would be taken back to the ACC colleges and universities. Students would also be going back having further developed their leadership skills. It was clear that these students were capable of great things and that these leaders may one day be changing the world.

The author, Niki Viradia (background), and Jeanna Young founded The Red and White Project at North Carolina State University.

It was June 6 at 9:15 p.m. when I received a concerned email from another university organization asking for a phone conference. As one of the founders of The Red and White Project, a charity-based organization from North Carolina State University, I was not expecting such a panicked and brooding response merely 23 minutes after sending an initial email. While most underclassmen spend their summers exploring foreign countries or trying to scrape together cash from a job, I have spent mine in class and sending out hundreds of emails, all of which to promote my organization and to enhance our upcoming event.

When The Red and White Project was dreamt up on the lawn of NC State on a lazy spring afternoon, the other co-founder, Jeanna Young, and I merely sought to promote the charity Care USA, which serves to help women in developing countries obtain the proper resources and aid to survive, through a concert featuring the prominent a cappella group, Penn Masala. As rising sophomores, we lacked the expertise in event planning and were extremely idealistic considering our organization had a non-existent budget.

When we engaged in our venture, we decided to reach out to a local South-Asian organization at our university as one of our first maneuvers. Optimistically and somewhat naively continuing our efforts, we notified the nearby universities’ related groups of our event, and 23 minutes later, we received that shocked and somewhat patronizing email. We were being told to cease and desist any furthering of our event.

Since we were a young organization, since we didn’t have 15 years of annual shows under our belt and since the other organization claimed that they saw Penn Masala first, they felt that they had the right to tell us to step down. We were being bullied in college. We were the nerdy little kids with glasses, and they were the cool older kids who jeered at us. The intimidation factor was so ominous that we actually were concerned for the safety of our event. We had no doubts in continuing our efforts, but we definitely had to rethink our strategy before proceeding.

While we knew that our organization lacked the size of our oppressor, we also knew that our relationship with Penn Masala, established through Tumblr out of sheer luck, could be used to our advantage. After a few more derisive phone calls and emails, the last of which was received on June 16, we began to disregard the jibes thrown at us from all tertiary parties. Although our executive board contained no one over the age of 19, we knew we had the ability to contend with more pronounced groups at the college level because we had the drive and the motivation to promote our organization, and we definitely did not see the need to be demoralized by “15 years of experience.”

When we first began The Red and White Project, we truly had no clue as to what we would be dealing with. We were dreamers. We credulously overlooked any politics involved in the process. In retrospect, perhaps it was our idealism that helped us get to where we are today.

As incoming freshmen and underclassmen, it is easy to be intimidated by the older students and the large campus, but it shouldn’t act as a deterrent in your future and place on campus. When the freshmen orientation leaders encouraged involvement in organizations and activities, they weren’t just getting paid to tell you so. Involvement for us meant resolving against the opposition to make the first goal of The Red and White Project a reality, which will happen this fall. Involvement for you could be to join a team or start a club — whatever it is, make sure that you take confidence in the fact that age truly is just a number and it should not stop you in pursuing your collegiate goals.

More information about The Red and White Project: http://theredandwhiteproject.tumblr.com

College libraries would like to provide access to scholarly texts through e-books, but due to fear of copyright infringement and revenue loss, university press publishing companies and e-book vendors have been hesitant.

Still, e-book lending from local public libraries is beginning to take off, despite the cold feet of commercial publishers.

In September, the Amazon Kindle began allowing 11,000 libraries to use their e-books.

For Salem Elzway, a history student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, reading academic e-books on his iPad saves him time and trips to the library while working on research papers.

Recently, Elzway has gained access to full e-books on his iPad using a university library service called MyiLibrary.

While searching for sources on the university library website, he found that some books are downloadable, others could only be viewed online and a portion of e-books only allow snippets and previews. This scenario is true for most university libraries, which work with multiple e-vendor aggregators such as ebrary, NetLibrary, EBL, Safari, Gale and more to provide students with the best e-books.

Elzway said he still prefers to hold and read a physical book, but e-books are much easier and convenient to manage on his iPad when he needs multiple sources for long paper.

“It is a portable resource that you can have with you at any time,” he said. “I would like to see the university library offer more downloadable e-books.”

Annette Day, head of connection management in libraries at North Carolina State University, said students are still getting used to reading books in a digital format, which can be hard on the eyes if not read on a tablet. She has noticed that students who read journal articles often print out the article after accessing it online. With e-books, Day said some publishers and aggregators are allowing customers to search and make notes within the electronic format.

Even though they offer different genres of books, both local and university librarians are pushing for expansive e-book libraries to cater to customer demand, Day said. In 2010, academic e-books were accessed more than 444,000 times at NCSU.

“The e-book in academic libraries is still in the early stages,” Day said. “The negotiation of how publishers can make money hasn’t caught up with technology.”

But it could takes years, maybe decades, before publishers allow the amount of access libraries would like to give the students, said David Hiscoe, spokesman for NCSU library.

According to Linda Di Biase, collection development librarian at the University of Washington, a lot of “publishers have entered the academic e-book market slowly because they have to create a new business plan to make the money they need to.”

Elzway would like book publishers to serve student demand for online and downloadable e-book access throughout library systems.

“The hesitancy of publishers to make e-books available is a testament that publishers need to get away from the profit-driven motive and focus on the providing a public service,” Elzway said. “There needs to be a change in the business model.”

University libraries have been working closely with publishers to allow student access to e-books. They have implemented several complex pricing models, including subject subscription packages and the latest pay-per-view option that allows universities to only pay for the books students view.

The University of Florida library, which takes advantage of the pay-per-view pricing model, plans to increase the number of available downloadable e-books in the coming year.

“E-books are going to become a very big part of the undergraduate experience in years to come,” said Diane Bruxvoort, associate dean for scholarly resources and research services at the University of Florida. “We are increasing content without filling up shelves.”

Deciding where to live while studying abroad can be stressful — should you live in an apartment, a dorm or with a family? (Photo by Stockbyte)

When preparing for a semester abroad, housing options may not be the first thing on the minds of students more occupied with thoughts of food, travel and culture, but it is a factor that can affect a students experience on a daily basis, and it can be one of the most gratifying aspects if it is given the exploration that it deserves.

One of the main reasons students neglect to fully consider the different housing options is that they may not know what options are available as alternatives to the one chosen for them by their program.

Each student studying abroad has three basic housing options: dormitory housing, home stay or apartment rental. Each provides students with a different experience, and individuals should consider the differences and weigh their options before they head over seas.

Dorm style housing is most common in countries like Australia and New Zealand where the college experience is most similar to that of the United States. University life in Europe is generally lacking the college campus feeling that is familiar to American students, so it is less common to find dormitory housing provided by European host universities. However, it is possible if travelers do their homework before hand.

For example, students studying abroad in Paris have the option of living at Cite International Universitaire de Paris, an international student housing campus that has been providing foreigners with single occupancy dorm and studio style living alternatives since the 1920s. It is made up of 40 different houses and hosts nearly 10,000 residents annually from over 140 different countries.

Living in a dorm abroad can provide a comfortable lifestyle for students who are used to having the freedom to come and go as they please, stay up as late as they’d like, and have guests at all hours.

However, issues with dorms abroad are similar to those at home. Dorm-dwellers can be plagued by bad roommates, noisy neighbors, and can fall victim to bad habits like skipping class, eating poorly and not sleeping enough.

Students living in non-English speaking countries will find that one of the biggest issues with dorm life is that, when they would otherwise be forced to speak the local language through interactions with a host family or community, they find it easier to speak English in conversation with other students, and therefore miss out on a key aspect of language immersion.

A better option for students looking to truly engage themselves in the language and culture is to live with a family native to their country. Home stays provide students with a first hand experience of daily life in another country. Home-cooked meals, host siblings and a family pet can create a comfortable living environment, which can often ease the occasional bout of homesickness.

Annie Chan, a junior currently studying in Paris, says that living with a host family has had a significant influence on her ability to learn the language, and it has also taught her valuable life lessons.

“It has opened me up to a different culture and forced me to grow up,” said Chan. “It’s really the best way to learn a language and experience another culture.”

However, living with a host family can have its downsides. Olivia Kim, a junior from North Carolina State University, found it difficult to adjust to the lack of freedom while living with a host.

“You miss a little more independence than if you live in an apartment,” said Kim. Students may find themselves missing out on the ease of meeting other students and participation in nightlife that are enjoyed by those who opt for dorms or apartments.

As a middle ground between dorm room and host family, apartment rentals are an attractive option for students looking for the amenities of home with the freedom of college.

Benjamin Ulrey, a junior from San Diego State, found living in his studio apartment to be a good mix of cultural immersion and a comfortable home life.

“As soon as you walk into a private building, it becomes a much more inviting atmosphere,” said Ulrey. “You get to know the local baker, you speak the language, even if it’s just saying ‘hello.’”

But with the independence of apartment life come the responsibility of apartment upkeep, and the increased privacy can be a barrier between students and their hosting community.

Aileen Roberts, a junior from the University of Connecticut, found renting a house in Brisbane, Australia to be difficult at times.

“It has occasionally made me feel excluded, like entering a huge university your freshman year and living by yourself,“ said Roberts. “Plus I have to worry about groceries, garbage nights, house cleaning and maintenance issues.”

And problems with repairs can be particularly difficult for students still learning the local language.

All potential for issues aside, the study abroad experience is undoubtedly one of the most rewarding opportunities available to college students. But before making a decision about housing, students should assess and prioritize factors like commitment to cultural immersion, importance of meeting the local community versus importance of meeting other students, as well as their dedication to the language, before deciding which option will provide them with the most enjoyable experience. No matter what decisions are made, a student’s time abroad will be one of the most educational, exciting and memorable experiences of their college career.

(By Thinkstock)

There is a reason that this picture of ducks is here.

If you have a weird last name, love candy and are left-handed, then your non-4.0 GPA might not matter much when it comes to scoring free college money.

Here are seven of the strangest, non-academic scholarships in existence.

1. Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship

It’s not so much a question of if the zombie apocalypse happens, but more of when it happens. And if you’re like me, you sometimes ponder escape strategies in a variety of situations. Well, why not get money for that?

ScholarshipExperts.com is offering college students a $1,000 scholarship for writing the best zombie-escape plan. In the essay, you must answer where you would run in the event of a zombie outbreak at your school and what five items you would take to ensure survival. It must not exceed 250 words. The deadline is Nov. 30.

Even if you don’t intend to apply, I still suggest mapping out an escape plan or at least choosing a zombie-proof campus.

2. Stuck at Prom

If your inner-punk-rocker never died, then you’ll love this scholarship, since it asks you to rebel at what’s allegedly one of the most important events of your life: prom.

The Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest requires you and your date to accessorize those prom outfits with duct tape and wear it to the dance. The couple with the best outfit wins $5,000. Second place wins $3,000 and third place wins $2,000. The seven remaining runner-ups still score $500. Deadlines are in June each year.

I now regret my entire prom experience.

3. Zolp Scholarship

Before I tell you what this scholarship is about, I must warn you that they check your birth and confirmation certificates and that committing identity theft is frowned upon in our culture. With that being said, the Zolp Scholarship is a full-ride scholarship given to Catholic students at Loyola University in Chicago with the last name Zolp.

Surprisingly, there are several name-based scholarships out there, at schools ranging from North Carolina State University to Harvard. And if you don’t attend any of those schools and have the last name Van Valckenburg, then you too can land a scholarship.

4. Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest

It is how it sounds: A duck calling competition among high school seniors for scholarship money.

If you’ve ever been duck hunting, then you know that duck calling consists of blowing a duck-sounding instrument to draw ducks near. And that such competitions are judged by how well you use that instrument. This competition is no different.

This contest is in Arkansas in November, so hurry up and sharpen those duck calling skills. First place wins $2,000, second place $1,000, third place $750 and fourth place $500.

5. Frederick and Mary F. Beckley Scholarships

This scholarship is probably not for you. Unless of course you attend Juniata College in Pennsylvania, have above a 3.39 GPA and are left-handed.

And yes, they check for left-handed proof via the personal references you give them. Which I guess you could get your references to lie but then you’d have to pretend to be left-handed throughout your college years and that’d be annoying.

Oh, the hassle us right-handed folks go through.

6. Culinary Institute of America’s All-American Apple Pie Recipe contest

I would lose this one, since it’s based around baking pies and not eating them. But if you’re great at baking apple pies and want to attend the Culinary Institute of America, then submit your recipe and you can either win $25,000 (first place), $15,000 (second place), $10,000 (third place) or nothing (me and everyone else who loses).

Since there’s going to be trial and error as you perfect your culinary school pie skills, I’m available for testing all your pies. My contact information is not hard to find.

7. AACT John Kitt Memorial Scholarship

I’m addicted to candy but the only way I can prove it is to show you my bank statement. Can you prove your candy interest better than I can? Then you may be able to land a scholarship.

The American Association of Candy Technologists (AACT) awards a $5,000 scholarship to college students (sophomore, junior or senior) who have at least a 3.0 at an accredited college and are majoring in food science, chemistry, biology or a related field. And of course, you must have a demonstrated interest in confectionery technology (aka, candy making), such as research projects or work experience. Deadline is in mid-April.

There are hundreds of other non-traditional scholarships available including ones for tall people, bagpipe players, fire safety buffs, milk drinkers and knitters. Perhaps nowhere will your quirky and unique personality suit you better than when you go looking for money to pay for college.

(By Andrew Burton, Getty Images)

A man walks past a pile of donated water at a relief center set up in a parking lot on November 3, 2012 in the Midland Beach neighborhood of Staten Island borough of New York City.

After Hurricane Sandy nearly destroyed her home in Long Beach, N.Y., American University senior Jacqui Schlossberg decided to take action for disaster relief.

Schlossberg will host a fundraiser open to students and locals this evening at Z-Burger, a burger joint located in the Washington, D.C. neighborhood Tenleytown. The restaurant will donate 20% of the proceeds to the American Red Cross.

“I felt that I was the perfect person to put together this fundraiser, as I was one of the kids at AU who was really impacted by Sandy,” Schlossberg said. “My family lost most of their home, both cars and right now my dad is looking for alternative housing for my mom and my two cats.”

Schlossberg noted that while there are no specific financial goals, she hopes “people will come together to help out friends and peers.”

Like Schlossberg, students and colleges across the nation are working to assist in relief efforts following Hurricane Sandy.

The storm, which swept the Northeast last week, caused an estimated $50 billion in damages, USA TODAY reported. Some residents of New York and New Jersey are still without power as of Wednesday morning.

Several businesses, big and small, have also stepped up to aid those who have been left without power, heat and water, USA TODAY reported Sunday.

For example, fitness centers have allowed hurricane victims to use facility showers. Duracell brought charging stations for phones and devices to Battery Park, a public park in Manhattan, in addition to providing victims with free batteries for flashlights.

Meanwhile, colleges have been hosting fundraising events to raise money for relief organizations such as the Red Cross.

Experts like Keith Tidball, Cornell University’s Cooperative Extension disaster education program director, recommend donations of cash over items such as clothing or food.

“It’s very difficult to fly the right supplies to the right place at the right time,” Tidball said. “Cash donations go directly to where they’re needed most.”

North Carolina State University’s Center for Student Leadership, Ethics and Public Service has been fundraising since the hurricane struck last week, especially at the school’s homecoming events, said Mike Giancola, the school’s associate vice provost of student leadership and engagement.

“We had a series of high-profile events scheduled already, so we’re using those events to encourage the campus community to get involved and make donations,” Giancola said.

In many cases, though, students have taken their own initiative.

State University of New York (SUNY) Binghamton’s Habitat for Humanity chapter and the school’s Tau Alpha Upsilon fraternity will host an all-you-can-eat pancake fundraising event this evening. All proceeds will go toward Sandy relief efforts.

Over at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the American Red Cross Club has sponsored a fundraiser on campus throughout the week in addition to hosting a shelter simulation to teach students about staying overnight in a shelter during natural disasters, the club’s co-president and UI junior Kelsey Fitzpatrick said.

Still, donating blood is just as important as donating money, said Steven Cain, Purdue Extension Disaster Education Network homeland security project director.

“Donating blood is always needed,” he said. “The bottom line is, you don’t know whose life you’ll save by donating blood.”

While some schools are fundraising from far away, those schools that were greatly affected by the storm — particularly those in New York and New Jersey — have been assisting in disaster relief, too.

SUNY Maritime in Throggs Neck, N.Y., has served as a staging area for as many as 600 relief and recovery workers in the last week, providing them with food, shelter and safety, according to the school’s website.

And the City University of New York (CUNY) has created the CUNY Community Hurricane Sandy Relief Council, which aims to coordinate volunteer and funding activities to assist members of the CUNY community who have experienced personal losses or property damage, according to a CUNY statement.

Cain recommends that students visit the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) website, a coalition of U.S. disaster-relief organizations, to learn about how they can get more involved in disaster relief.

And Tidball noted that the little things, like wishing communities well through social media, are just as important.

“The sense that people aren’t forgetting about your plight, the sense that young people care, is one way that people really do make a difference,” Tidball said.

(By Brand X Pictures)

Serial dating — moving from one relationship to the next without taking time to be single — raises questions about dating habits for young adults.

If your sights are set on dating a member of One Direction, your chances have recently decreased. Harry Styles is officially off the market, thanks to Taylor Swift.

Ironically, the budding couple shares more in common than their space in the limelight. The Inquisitr has labeled both Swift and Styles as serial daters. This title, which is often used to describe people who move from one relationship to the next without taking time to be single, raises questions about normal dating habits for young adults.

Huffington Post blogger Julia Plevin expressed concern about college students who enter committed relationships before getting to know one another. She labeled this trend as “serial monogamy,” or a culture of jumping from meeting someone into dating exclusively. Instead, Plevin recommends being appreciative of the time that you spend single.

“At 21, I am still trying to figure out who I am and what kind of person I want to be with,” Plevin wrote. “In order to do this, I need to try out many different types of people and make mental pros and cons, and lists of characteristics until I find someone that is just my type and sweeps me off my feet. In other words, I, as well as other young people, should be dating lots of different people at once.”

Time reported that while sex occurs more commonly between committed couples than casual hookups on college campuses, not everyone is engaged in a culture of “serial monogamy.” Through a survey of almost 500 female college freshmen at the end of their first year, a recent study found that 68% of students surveyed had some form of sex while in a relationship, compared to 51% who did so with a non-significant-other.

For many college students, partaking in an informal hookup serves as a simple way to avoid the potential discomfort of dating.

According to North Carolina State University’s Abstract, a 2011 study found that women often have an expectation of judgment when it comes to dating, making the casualness of an isolated hookup more appealing than going on a date.

When presented with two scenarios in which a male and a female meet at a party, consensually hook up and go on a date a week later that ends in a kiss, the majority of students regarded the initial hookup as mutually desired and beneficial to both parties.

Gender took on a role, however, as researchers presented the date as initiated by the male in the first scenario, and then by the female in the second scenario. When viewing the date as instigated by the male, about half of the participants suggested that the female limited their physical contact in order to appear as “good dating material.”

On the other hand, when the female was said to have suggested the date, approximately half of the students called the date a “pity date” that the male attended out of obligation. These impressions highlight the pressure for women to feel a sense of approval on dates, a bias that participants were less prone toward when considering two students engaging in a casual hookup.

Kerry Cronin, a fellow at Boston College’s Center for Student Formation, believes that experiencing the ups and downs of dating is crucial to students’ development in college. Cronin values the experience of dating so much, in fact, that she assigns her students to ask someone out on a date — and failure to do so results in a failing grade for the class.

“The ebb and flow into the hookup scene is largely motivated by a desire for a connection, but it is a desire that is hampered by a lack of courage,” Cronin said in an interview with The Christian Century. “The difficult thing is having the simple courage to ask somebody if he or she would want to sit down for an hour and talk.”

To avoid the pitfalls of serial monogamy, Cronin recommends listening to your gut when a person is not right for you. If the date does not go well, let your feelings be known before you find yourself stuck in an unhappy relationship.

“If you are not interested in pursuing a relationship with someone, you need to find ways of letting it be known that you are not rejecting that individual as a person but just making an honest assessment of your feelings,” she said.

By Photodisc

It’s a challenge many college students face — attempting to cover tuition costs and the expenses that surround it on a minimum-wage salary.

Christin King, like many college students, is worried about keeping up her grades and squeezing in extracurricular activities while holding a job.

“I’m really stressing out,” she says. “I don’t know how I’m going to fit it all in.”

Her job, working in the campus library at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, pays minimum wage, she says. And though a portion of her college tuition is covered by financial aid, King will still graduate with a large amount of student-loan debt, she says.

“I’ve thought about working more to help pay for more tuition,” says the junior design studies major. “But it would be impossible. There’s not enough time.”

Even with the loans, financial-aid package and assistance from her parents, King says not having a job is not an option. She needs a car for some activities at school, and with that comes insurance payments and gas expenses.

“I also need to pay for food and other extra things. I need the money,” she says.

This is a challenge many college students face — attempting to cover tuition costs and the expenses that surround it on a minimum-wage salary. The federal minimum is currently $7.25 per hour, a rate that has stayed consistent since 2009.

If this rate was raised to the $9, as President Obama suggests, the burden placed on college students and college-age students, who make up 50% of the demographic working for this rate, would be lessened, some say.

Richard Wolff, an economist and a professor of the subject at University of Massachusetts Amherst, says this move would be an enormous help to students struggling with college costs.

“We live in a society where the American Dream cannot be achieved unless you work your rear end off and borrow like there is no tomorrow,” says Wolff. “Even then, it is nearly impossible.”

Wolff says that raising the minimum wage would help ease the pressure on working students by allowing them to work fewer hours and make a larger salary.

“The benefits are incalculable,” he says. “It would help so many students.”

For students in jobs that pay above the minimum, he believes society would see a ripple effect, and these pay rates would rise, as well.

“A lot of businesses like to be able to say they pay above the minimum,” he says. “For the prestige maybe, I don’t know. But if these rates go up, too, you’ll see many students making decent wages.”

If the rate increased, Wolff says he believes more students would be able to enroll in college, as financing it would be more achievable.

“Now, young people are forced to borrow wild amounts of money,” he says. “It’s an awful situation, and many young people want to avoid it, so they don’t go to school.”

The students who do borrow often suffer, Wolff says. Students working many hours don’t have enough time and energy to dedicate to academics at the end of the day, he adds.

King agrees.

“If students work full time, 40 to 50 hours a week, it puts such a strain on their work,” she says. “I’ve seen it with friends.”

The bump in pay would give these students a break, she says.

There is hope, for those who make it through the college years, says Cecilia Rouse, an economics professor at Princeton University.

“College students do tend to be lower-wage workers,” she says. “But college graduates are generally higher-wage workers.”

Hopefully, she joked, the students will eventually become the graduates.

Because of this, Rouse believes raising minimum wage would not make a huge impact on students.

“They will eventually start making higher wages, anyway,” she says.

Don’t let the library’s boring appearance keep you from using the best resource on campus. (By Surrahwall (Own work) via Wikimedia Commons)

Universities provide a package deal in which a Starbucks, Redbox, Internet café and Apple store coexist within one building — the library.

But its restrained and dull appearance sometimes turns students away from the immense pool of services that it offers. Don’t ignore the best resource on campus!

Here are seven reasons why your academic library is beneficial:

1. You can study at your own pace.
Need to study on your own? Need absolute silence? Need a few buddies and some motivational music? No problem!

The library contains the perfect blend of quiet spaces and group study stations. You can reserve a room for your Chemistry group the day before an exam or you can find an empty seat in one of hundreds of different chairs scattered throughout the building.

2. You can sample new tech and borrow what’s current.
The library keeps up with the latest technology, showcasing things like Chromebooks and 3D printers and allowing students to test them out. It also lends out digital cameras, tablets, laptops and video cameras that students may need to use during the semester. If you forgot your calculator at home, don’t worry — you can check one out.

3. You can watch movies for free. (Just return the DVD on time.)
DVDs and even video games are also available for check-out at the library. The best part is that there is no fee for doing so — unless you return it late. Depending on the policy, you can bring the movie back to your dorm room or watch it in the library. Now you don’t have to depend on Netflix Instant streaming for an impromptu movie night.

4. You don’t have to buy your own printer.
Printers are expensive, and ink even more so. And they always manage to malfunction right before a final paper is due. Skip the hassle and use the library printers. The cost amounts to pennies per page. Inexpensive scanning and copying services are also available.

5. You can find the textbooks you need for class.
Physical or electronic copies of your class textbooks — even the latest editions — are available for free at the library. Forget about buying a new copy from the bookstore. Borrowing a textbook during the semester will save you over a hundred dollars, which you can then repurpose for late-night pizza delivery.

6. You can ask for help outside the library.
Students and librarians can now communicate over multiple mediums. If you need a librarian’s assistance when you’re back in your room, send a text to the help line or call the library. If you’re on your computer, you can use the chat service. And old-fashioned face-to-face interaction with librarians in the library is still available as well.

7. You can study late at night.
If you need to stay up way past your bedtime to finish a paper or study for a final exam, the library is the best place to do so. The coffee shop sells food and your caffeine fix, the computers provide backup if your laptop crashes, the books assist you with research and the chairs offer comfort for your 15-minute power nap. Plus, you don’t have to deal with waking your sleeping roommate.

The library exists so you can learn and thrive while you’re in college. Course reserves and Interlibrary Loan services will give you access to resources for your classes. Information literacy teaches you how to find reliable sources. Requesting materials allows you to give your opinion on what books and databases the library should buy. Do not shy away from one of the best resources your university has to offer. Take full advantage of the library on campus.

We’re semifinalists for K50 startup showcase! Please follow our application at http://t.co/OoMdHOdWUr pic.twitter.com/Le5WCM5D9t

— Undercover Colors (@UndercoverColor) August 14, 2014

A nail polish that detects date rape drugs? That’s what four undergrad students studying materials science & engineering (MSE) at North Carolina State University have set out to make.

Their company, Undercover Colors, hopes to be “the first fashion company working to prevent sexual assault,” according to their Facebook page.

One of the co-founders of Undercover Colors, Ankesh Madan, told Higher Education Works in an interview, “We wanted to focus on preventive solutions, especially those that could be integrated into products that women already use. And so the idea of creating a nail polish that detects date rape drugs was born.”

The project is to create a clear-coated nail polish that changes color when in contact with the chemicals embedded in date-rape drugs such as Rohypnol, Xanax and GHB.

The company is engaging with the public and answering questions through their social media accounts. An Instagram follower had an intriguing question about how the product would work and this is how they responded:

Photo via Instagram @undercovercolors

The company also released a statement on their Facebook page behind the reasoning for their project:

“In the U.S., 18% of women will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime. That’s almost one out of every five women in our country. We may not know who they are, but these women are not faceless. They are our daughters, they are our girlfriends and they are our friends. While date rape drugs are often used to facilitate sexual assault, very little science exists for their detection. Our goal is to invent technologies that empower women to protect themselves from this heinous and quietly pervasive crime.”

The four students are attending summits and competitions like the K50 Competition put on by Kairos Society, which encourages young entrepreneurs “to focus on the meaningful businesses and innovations that will radically change the world for the better. Not only for our generation, but for the generations to come,” according to their website.

Date rape assault is especially prevalent around college campuses. According to Brown University’s website, “90% of all campus rapes occur when alcohol has been used by either the assailant or the victim.”

Even though the nail polish is an ongoing project and not currently on the market, they are trying to promote their product and the potential impact it can make.

It’s Friday! Have a fun and safe weekend. #nails #nailpolish #fashion #technology pic.twitter.com/6UAH7JxcRI

— Undercover Colors (@UndercoverColor) July 25, 2014

They have received the support of North Carolina State University by allowing the young scientists to conduct lab research at school. Madan also told Higher Education Works that even their main technical advisor, “Dr. Nathaniel Finney from the NCSU Chemistry Department, is a world-wide renewed expert on indicator development and has volunteered his time to help and advice us on prototype development.”

The project gained astounding support on the company’s social media accounts from a variety of people —  from parents, students and even teachers. Donations and more information can be found on their website.

Welcome back to the Quad Report, a weekly article roundup of stories you may have missed while you were spending eight hours moving into your air conditioning-free dorm and trying not to kill your parents for micromanaging the unpacking process.

Seriously, lay off the sock organizing, Mom.

1. We’re all about to get a little more grande around the stomach region.

Starbucks barista Laura Rodriguez serves up a drink while practicing inside a mobile truck on James Madison University campus in Harrisonburg, Va. (AP Photo/The Daily News-Record, Nikki Fox)

Hold the phone: Starbucks has started rolling out trucks on college campuses. Yes, you heard that right: Starbucks. In. A. Truck. And the lucky ducks at Arizona State University got to try out the latte-on-wheels first.

I wouldn’t be at all surprised if applications to ASU go up just because of this decision.

2. It’s called the “Netflix generation” for a reason.

“Yes, I will give up my lovely Netflix account for…Comcast,” said no college student ever. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Like a parent attempting to use poop emojis, Comcast is trying to get jiggy with college students by announcing it Xfinity on Campus program…despite young people showing a strong preference for everyone’s favorite place to binge-watch entertainment, Netflix.

“Yes, I will give up my lovely Netflix account for…Comcast,” said no college student ever.

3. Okay, this is just really, really awesome.

We’re semifinalists for K50 startup showcase! Please follow our application at http://t.co/OoMdHOdWUr pic.twitter.com/Le5WCM5D9t

— Undercover Colors (@UndercoverColor) August 14, 2014

Four students at North Carolina State University created nail polish that could potentially stop sexual assault by helping people who use it detect date rape drugs. One point for Gen Y.

4. Shocker of the week: A spandex bodysuit isn’t the best workout clothing option.

Please don’t go to the gym dressed like Paulie Bleeker. (AP, Fox Searchlight, Doane Gregory)

Want to avoid looking like Paulie Bleeker in the campus gym? Learn how to wear the right kind of gym clothes.

Because honestly, who can forget Juno’s line about pork swords?

The 3 Best Tweets of the Week: National Dog Day edition

Get ready for some cute tweets, because this past Tuesday marked National Dog Day aka one of the internet’s favorite holidays. Also, pop culture points to anyone who understands the last tweet.

CONFESSION: I let the dogs out. #NationalDogDay

— Nathan (@stockejock) August 26, 2014

#NationalDogDay … I don’t have one of my own, but posted one of my fav K9 photos in honour. Such wonderful animals! pic.twitter.com/dib6AQxBhP

— S Hack (@Hacky66) August 26, 2014

Happy #NationalDogDay pic.twitter.com/6tQRRtUR1U

— Alex Fitzpatrick (@AlexJamesFitz) August 26, 2014

What if you walked into your school library and found it completely devoid of books?

That’s what students at Florida Polytechnic University in Lakeland, Fla. found when the school’s brand new library opened its doors last week.

While you won’t find a single physical book in the building, the library does have an assortment of 135,000 electronic books available to students.

“Since we are a new university, we had the option to open totally digital,” says Dr. Kathryn Miller, director of libraries. “The digital resources are part of the university’s mission.”

That mission promises to make strides in STEM fields by preparing modern students to lead in innovative ways. And the best way to do this? Make everything digital.

“To me, it’s amazing,” says freshman Drew Davis, who’s studying electrical engineering with a concentration in control systems. “I think it’s a great step in the right direction.”

Still, other schools aren’t so sure.

“It’s a really bold move,” says David Hiscoe, director of communication strategy at North Carolina State University Libraries.

With its 3D printers and Book Bot system that can retrieve as many as two million volumes, NC State’s James B. Hunt Library prides itself on being technologically savvy. But Hiscoe says print books remain a necessity.

RELATED: New study suggests e-books could negatively affect how we comprehend what we read

“We loan out 12 million pieces of information a year, and 400,000 of those are print,” he says. “We never thought it was practical to do away with books entirely.”

Librarians at the University of Chicago agree. “Print has its role and digital has its role,” says interim library director Alice Schreyer. “Our philosophy is that both are very important and will continue to be.”

Even with access to e-books, many students still prefer real books. “It’s a different feeling reading something you can physically hold over just reading it online,” says University of Chicago sophomore Casey Kim.

While some schools may not be sold on the idea, FPU students seem to appreciate the efforts their school is making to pioneer the digital movement.

Freshman Logan Micher enjoys being able to save time by quickly finding information he needs when researching a topic. “When you get a print book you spend time reading to find what you need, but with digital, you can go straight in,” the mechanical and industrial engineering major says. “That this much information is available at our fingertips is something other libraries can’t provide.”

RELATED: 5 sites that can save you big money on textbooks 

In addition to the selection of electronic books already on hand, the university also features a patron-driven collection development plan, which allows students to select books that meet their class requirements. Once the book has been used twice, it’s automatically purchased by the library and added to the collection.

And another perk to the all-digital library? Convenience.

“When I get an assignment, the first place I’m going is the library, before I even do a Google search,” Micher says. “It’s all valid and I can have it in seconds.”

While most schools won’t be making the switch to digital anytime soon, FPU students are content with the school’s decision to go fully digital.

“I’m not surprised that they’ve done this,” Micher says. “It falls in line with the mission statement and everything going on at the university. It just makes sense.”

Sexual violence and messy roommates. Unpaid internships and underbutt shorts. Racial microaggressions and the Freshman 15.

College life is filled with an unending stream of serious issues, lighthearted frustrations, significant events and viral trends. The College Problems Podcast wades into this stream with a regular series of spirited chats attempting to make sense of it all, while also offering story ideas to student journalists and advice for undergrads on staying safe and sane.

The podcast is hosted by a pair of younger educators and digital media geeks who view the collegiate sphere through the lenses of journalism and personal safety.

Dan Reimold is an author, reporter, journalism professor and student media adviser who writes regularly about student life, higher education and college media, including the Campus Beat column for USA TODAY College.

Christina Gaudio is a veteran first responder, a former rape care community outreach coordinator and an adjunct professor of victimology.

In our previous episode, we addressed a trio of problems: the awkwardness of the first class sessions each semester, the increasingly lengthy and boring syllabi distributed during those classes and freshmen who need to be much more aware of their campus surroundings.

Expanding upon that discussion, we tackle two new problems in our current podcast segment.

1) Helicopter parents who are increasingly hovering over and intruding into college students’ lives.

A recent Washington Post report on “over-parenting” confirms, “The kids who have been raised by parents who watched their every move, checked their grades online hourly, advocated for them endlessly and kept them busy from event to activity to play date are tucked away in college. But that doesn’t mean their parents have let go. They make themselves known to schools, professors, counselors and advisers. And yes, college presidents.”

2) Date rape drugs which are making student partying and bar-hopping evermore dangerous.

As a USA TODAY report notes, the increasing ubiquity of these substances even spurred a quartet of North Carolina State University students to recently develop a nail polish prototype that “doubles as a way to prevent sexual assault.”

Click here to hear more or check out the YouTube clip below.

What college problems should be addressed in future podcast segments?

Google is bringing a different kind of library to college campuses.

For the next few weeks, Google will take its #ChromebookforCollege tour, where students will be able to rent a Chromebook free of charge from its Lending Library, first come, first served.

Lisa Callahan, a sophomore at Texas State University who rented a Chromebook from the library, says students are definitely excited about this “awesome opportunity” from Google.

The Chromebook Lending Library at Texas State University. (Photo courtesy Lisa Callahan)

“I think the Chromebook for College launch is brilliant,” she says. “It’s a great marketing tool to get the Chromebook into the hands of the type of people it’s made for: note takers and people who are on the go.”

Google is giving away t-shirts, $10 Google Play gift cards and yes, Chromebooks, as part of the marketing push.

Patrick Cines, a sophomore at Penn State University, was in line to rent a Chromebook, and when he opened one up, there was a slip of paper inside that said, “Surprise.”

He would be keeping that Chromebook.

“Word spread pretty quickly that they were giving away Chromebooks and that Google was on campus,” he says. “They had a pretty elaborate setup… it’s pretty impossible to miss them.”

Erik Garcia, a senior at Texas State, has been part of a team of students promoting the Google Lending Library on campus, saying he couldn’t pass on the opportunity to be involved with one of his favorite tech companies.

“So far, everyone that I have interacted with in the process of spreading the word about the event has shown an immense amount of excitement and intrigue about being able to test out Chromebooks for the week,” he says.

Cines says he thinks many students haven’t heard about Chromebooks, yet most students have a Gmail account or use Google Drive for their school work.

“It makes sense that Google is gearing their products toward college students,” he says.

So what is a Chromebook?

“Chromebooks are a new type of computer that helps students get things done faster and easier,” Lindsay Rumer of Chrome marketing said in a blog post. “They have the battery life you need to study all night and are light enough to slip easily into a bag or backpack.”

Currently, there are eight more campuses on Google’s tour schedule, including Texas A&M University and The George Washington University, which Google will visit next week. Auburn University, Arizona State University, University of Central Florida, North Carolina State University, University of California—Los Angeles and University of California—Santa Barbara round out the list.

“They take advantage of people not knowing what the organization is,” she said. “I think they’re built on lies.”

College can be stressful, from choosing what classes to take to what clubs to join. However, many college women are also questioning what options are available to them if faced with unplanned pregnancy.

Planned Parenthood, with more than 700 centers nationwide, is oftentimes a go-to source, providing services such as pregnancy tests, counseling, Pap tests, birth control, HIV/STD tests and abortions, according to their website.

In recent weeks, women in Texas briefly lost access to such centers due to a district court order that forced more than a dozen centers across the state to stop abortions, according to the Washington Post.

The order went to the U.S. Court of Appeals where the Supreme Court then ruled to protect women’s access to safe, legal abortions.

If successful, the order would have limited a woman’s right to choose what services she seeks, almost eliminating the option of abortion.

Offering abortions, pro-choice centers such as Planned Parenthood are one option available to students, another being pro-life centers such as Care Net, a Christ-centered organization working to prevent abortions, calling the procedure “violent,” on their website.

With similar appearances, some students struggle differentiating the two, at times causing confusing tension.

RELATED: For parents in college, it’s all about balance 

Roland Warren, Care Net’s president and CEO, believes opposition to their faith basis comes from organizations “threatened by compassionate help we offer,” claiming Planned Parenthood doesn’t “do compassion.”

However, Warren said their faith doesn’t make them any less “medical,” as each center abides by state laws and operates under direction of a licensed medical doctor.

“Our medical centers aren’t appearing to be medical ­– they are medical,” he said.

Care Net centers don’t perform or refer for abortion, Warren said.

University of Vermont sophomore Madison Marone disagrees. She feels such centers fail to properly advertise their Christian-base, “tricking” students who may be interested in abortion, into coming to them.

UVM senior Kali Player said she was fooled by Care Net’s free pregnancy tests when she first arrived at UVM.

“I saw free pregnancy tests and thought ‘better keep an eye out for that,’ but then I heard from students that they provide no alternative information,” she said. “They won’t refer you anywhere else, you’re on your own to figure out where else to go.”

“I’m sure they’ll give pregnancy tests as they say,” she said. ”But I feel they advertise as if they give lots of options. In reality they give two, neither involves abortion.”

Marone agrees that these faith-based centers “take advantage” of people who may not know about their religious affiliation.

“But Planned Parenthood, on the other hand is genuine and absolutely kind. It’s all about the individual. I trust them,” she said.

Marone is president of student group VOX: Voices for Planned Parenthood, which seeks to educate and advocate for reproductive justice. She’s seen firsthand “hostility” surrounding the differing views.

RELATED: Tufts daycare center sale shakes up both parents, students 

At UVM’s Activities Fest Sept. 3, Vox and Care Net both tabled, with Care Net distributing free sandals and business cards to students who answered health trivia, Marone said.

“It made them seem like a knowledgeable health care clinic,” she said. “This isn’t good for first-years who say ‘they gave me sandals, let me go there.’”

Marone gave students who left Care Net’s table sheets of Christian-based quotes and information from Care Net’s own website, to provide additional information “because sometimes it’s confusing,” she said.

Not all faith-based pregnancy centers are alike

To Wendy Banister, Care Net-affiliate Gateway is one of a kind.

“We’re not the place everyone thinks, we don’t have fetus pictures on the walls,” said Raleigh, North Carolina-based center’s executive director. “We’re a legitimate health center.”

Forty percent of Gateway ‘s clients are college students, from local schools such as Meredith College, North Carolina State University, William Peace College, St. Augustine’s College, Shaw University and Wake Technical College. A majority of falling in the 14 to 20 age range, Banister said.

Gateway provides free counseling, pregnancy tests, ultrasounds and HIV/STD tests. While the center doesn’t provide abortions they do give information on the procedure and its risks and refer clients to such centers, she said.

Under the Women’s Right To Know Act, state law requires that women receive abortion-related information prior to the procedure so they may “fully informed choice.” Similar legislation has been enacted in more than 20 states.

Banister said due to their “supportive” nature, Gateway hasn’t received backlash. They have even formed “good relations” with university health centers.

“We don’t go on campuses saying ‘choose life.’ We have no political agenda,” she said. “The health centers send girls to us because they know we’ll take care of them without manipulation. We don’t chase them down until they change their minds, we hug them and support their decision.”

Gary Freeman, Gateway’s fatherhood coordinator and campus community liaison, holds peer groups, tables at campus events and talks with University groups and athletic teams promoting “Biblical sexual health,” “integrity and responsibility,” specifically targeted at male students. Work that has been “widely accepted,” Banister said.

Banister attributes the success to Freeman’s status as a recent college graduate and former member of East Carolina University’s football team.

“I’ve witnessed, through teaching young men the option of sexual integrity and character, that they can be empowered to make good, sound decisions when it comes to their sexuality,” Freeman said.

RELATED: MTV’s ‘Virgin Territory’ sparks commonly taboo V-card discussion

Banister said the center has seen student-athletes, some fearing being kicked off teams or losing scholarships due to pregnancy. Gateway assures them this won’t be the case, she said. Under Title IX, it’s illegal for schools to do either.

Katelyn Losinger, now 27, faced the “sheer terror” of unplanned pregnancy her sophomore year at Pennsylvania State University.

“I didn’t want to drop out, I loved college. I felt trapped, like I had nowhere to go,” the mother of three said.

While abortion crossed Losinger’s mind, it was the “very last thing” she wanted. She sought help from the local faith-based Pregnancy Resource Clinic, which she called “the most amazing place.”

Losinger said she was told up front of their Christian affiliation and after given her options, Losinger and her boyfriend chose against abortion.

Thanks to her adviser and professors she excelled in school, making Dean’s List her final four semesters and graduated December 2009. However, she did encounter student negativity, which she said made her “feel dirty, diseased even.”

Though “tough,” Losinger feels she made the right choice.

“I can’t think of anything else in the world I’d rather be doing,” she said.

North Carolina has some of the best public and private colleges in the country. The state also offers everything from large universities to small colleges, which make finding the right fit easy for you.

Below is a ranking of the top 10 schools in North Carolina by College Factual. This ranking is out of 51 total North Carolina colleges.

Don’t live in North Carolina? You can find the best college in your state by visiting this page.

Editor’s Note: College Factual’s ranking methodology is highly focused on data related to outcomes, such as loan default rates, graduation rates and average starting salaries of graduates. You can read more about their methodology here.

1. Duke University: Durham

Duke University is a private research school that ranks among the top five schools in the country. The university boasts ten schools and colleges and is particularly known for its strong medical programs. Cross registration among these schools and colleges allows students to take classes in a variety of disciplines and gain a comprehensive education.

Along with excellent academic programs, students at the university have access to one of the top private research library systems through four branches located across the campus. The school is also home to many competitive sports teams. The university boasts low student to faculty ratio, high freshmen retention and graduation rates, all while being a reasonable cost for most students.

Among other things, Duke is famous for it’s rabid student basketball fans, who camp out for tickets in an area of the campus known as “Krzyzewskiville.” (USA TODAY file photo)

2. Wake Forest University: Winston Salem

Wake Forest University is a research university that is dedicated to offering students the personal attention of a small liberal arts school. The university offers small class sizes due and has a low student to faculty ratio which means students have the opportunity to work closely and collaboratively with professors, especially on research projects. Wake Forest also has an excellent freshman retention rate.

Overall, the university is considered a fair value for your money. The high annual net price provides students access to cutting edge research facilities along with an excellent education that prepares them for successful careers.

3. Davidson College: Davidson

Davidson College is a highly selective liberal arts institution. The school is focused on developing global leaders through classes in the arts, humanities, sciences and social sciences. Students work with faculty members to develop original research and help advance their chosen field. To supplement students’ education, Davidson offers the Dean Rusk International Studies Program, which gives students the opportunity to immerse themselves in over 200 study abroad programs. Students at Davidson follow the Honor Code that dates back to 1837. This code is a Davidson tradition and ensures that students are awarded freedoms that help create a relaxed and innovative learning environment.

Due to a strong education and affordable price, Davidson is considered a good value for your money.

4. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: Chapel Hill

Chartered in 1789, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has a long tradition of providing students with rigorous academic programs. The school offers 78 undergraduate programs along with master’s and doctorate programs.

UNC is considered one of the top schools in North Carolina because it challenges students and ensures they enter their career equipped with the required skills and knowledge to be successful. Small classes offer students the opportunity to collaborate with full-time faculty members on a variety of research projects. Thanks to a low price and top quality education, UNC Chapel Hill is the best value for your money.

5. Elon University: Elon

Elon University is a private school known for its engaged learning techniques. The university incorporates a traditional liberal arts education into a hands-on learning environment. Students are given an interdisciplinary education that helps them gain a holistic understanding of their given field. In addition to classroom learning, many students participate in internships and international study to round out their education at Elon. High freshman retention and graduation rates along with an earnings boost for graduates gives Elon a best value score from College Factual.

6. North Carolina State University at Raleigh: Raleigh

North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a research university that blends internships, co-ops and hands-on opportunities with classroom learning to provide students with an experiential education that prepares them for successful careers. Students are awarded the chance to get involved with research opportunities as part of their academic programs. NC State has 12 colleges that offer programs up to the Ph.D. level in all major academic disciplines.

The university has an impressive freshman retention rate and affordable annual price, making it the best value for your money.

7. University of North Carolina School of the Arts: Winston-Salem

The University of North Carolina School of the Arts is a public arts conservatory that prepares students for a life dedicated to the arts. The school has a very high standard of excellence when it comes to performers, making admission highly selective. Those who are accepted are awarded the opportunity to train with master teachers in their specific discipline. To supplement training, students at the university also take classes in humanities, math, literature and philosophy to ensure they are well rounded as an artist.

Graduates of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts go on to join prestigious groups, such as the American Ballet Theatre, perform on Broadway or in act in award winning shows.

8. Cabarrus College of Health Sciences: Concord

The Cabarrus College of Health Sciences is a specialized school located on the campus of Carolinas Medical Center-NorthEast. The College offers bachelor’s degrees in interdisciplinary health studies, medical imaging and nursing. Students have the opportunity to learn through traditional on-campus classes or in distance learning programs.

Cabarrus is well respected in the healthcare field and is highly selective when it comes to freshmen admissions. The college has a low student to faculty ratio, which gives students the opportunity to work closely with faculty members as they gain hands-on experience while training for a career in the medical field.

9. Meredith College: Raleigh

Meredith College is a liberal arts college that is dedicated to educating women since North Carolina Baptists chartered it in 1891. Today, the school offers more than 80 academic programs that are designed to provide students with a comprehensive education. To further help students succeed, Meredith helps students identify their strengths and reach their goals using a research-based assessment tool called StrongPoints.

With its low annual net cost and strong academic programs, Meredith College is the best value for your money.

10. Appalachian State University: Boone

As one of 16 universities in the University of North Carolina system, Appalachian State University rounds out the top ten colleges in North Carolina. This liberal arts research university is a highly selective school known for blending affordability with challenging academic programs. Students work with faculty members to perform research and take classes across multiple disciplines to prepare for a profession following graduation.

Appalachian’s mission is to develop global citizens who understand the importance of a sustainable future. The school is considered one of the most environmentally responsible schools in the country and consistently works towards maintaining that standing. Appalachian is also considered one of College Factual’s best value schools. The college boasts a high freshman retention rate and a low student to faculty ratio.

People gather at UNC-Chapel Hill’s “Pit” to mourn for Deah Shaddy Barakat, his wife Yusor Mohammed and her sister Razan Mohammed Abu-Salha in Chapel Hill, N.C., Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2015. (AP Photo/The News & Observer, Travis Long)

Thousands gathered for a candlelit vigil at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Wednesday night to commemorate the killings of three Muslim students.

The fatal shootings, which occurred Tuesday around 5 p.m., have been labeled a “hate crime” by the father of two of the victims and sparked speculation on Facebook and Twitter — much of it using the hashtag #muslimlivesmatter — that the killings were religiously motivated.

Speakers at Wednesday’s vigil chose not to focus on this speculation, but instead centered their remarks on the lives and legacies of Shaddy Barakat, 23; his wife, Yusor Mohammad, 21; and her sister, Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha, 19.

Students watch as a makeshift memorial is made during a vigil at the University of North Carolina following the murders of three students on February 11, 2015 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Brendan Smialowski, AFP)

“Our whole community is heartbroken, and there’s no escaping that,” says UNC Student Body President Andrew Powell. “The clear message is to not fight fire with fire and to not to be ignorant in the face of ignorance, but instead to rise above it, and to carry their legacies forward through our own actions.”

School administrators, members of the Chapel Hill community and UNC’s Muslim Student Association collaborated to organize the event — which over 5,700 people said they would attend on its Facebook page.

Volunteers reported handing out more than 1,000 candles, which were carried by only a fraction of those present.

“This campus really came together,” Powell says. “We’ve tried to do everything we can to honor our three heroes.”

A woman cries during a vigil as she watches photos projected on a screen of three people who were killed. (AP Photo/The News and Observer, Chuck Liddy)

Karthik Sundaram, a UNC sophomore who attended the vigil, describes the turnout as “powerful” — especially considering the speed with which it was organized.

“We don’t know a lot about the motivation of the murders, but regardless, their family and friends wanted us to be happy that they had been able to live, and live such great lives,” Sundaram says.

Barakat was in his second-year in the graduate school of dentistry at the University of North Carolina, and Mohammad, his wife, was planning to enroll there in the fall. Abu-Salha was a sophomore studying architecture at North Carolina State University.

They were long-time volunteers at the United Muslim Relief, and Barakat and his wife helped found UMR’s community chapter in the Triangle area, according to WNCN.

Speakers — including UNC Chancellor Carol Folt, friends, family and co-workers of the victims — concentrated on their ambition, loyalty and generosity.

“I promise all of you standing in the cold, these people were worth it,”(Stan Gilliand, epa)

“I promise all of you standing in the cold, these people were worth it,” says a close friend of Mohammad. “They would want you to know that life is short — do something with it, have an impact, continue their legacy.”

Sophomore Pooja Panduranga said that although heartbroken, the largest takeaway from the vigil was inspiration.

“I left tonight wanting to be just like Deah, Yusor, and Razan: caring, sweet, intelligent, selfless people who were dedicated to making the world a better place,” said Panduranga. “I was also inspired by the solidarity and immense support displayed today. We showed that everyone’s life truly matters and that the three victims deserved the highest honors.”

My Masculinity Helps, a 30-minute documentary focusing on the prevention of sexual violence — especially within the male African American community — was screened at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) this week. The film was made by Marc A. Grimmett, an Associate Professor of Counselor Education at North Carolina State University and David Hambridge, a North Carolina filmmaker.

Grimmett was in attendance and led a short discussion of the film after the screening.

The film’s website says the work “serves as a counter-narrative to often inaccurate and misleading portrayals of African American masculinity.”

Gimmett has made a film that has graphic moments — as sharing stores of sexual abuse can often be — but the message is strong, with many different dynamic layers throughout the film.

At its core My Masculinity Helps does a good job defining terms that form the foundation of the key messages: sexual assault, rape and consent.

These words are often censored from mainstream media, but they are clearly spelled out here. This is necessary for education and facilitating communication among anyone, especially men and boys who are sometimes left out of the general discussion around these issues.

Not only did the film and discussion feature stories of assault, but it went on to highlight what happened afterward. Grimmett did an excellent job reminding us that sexual assault doesn’t stop after the story is told. People who have experienced this trauma have to live with it forever.

A fascinating aspect is how others, especially close friends, react to their stories. Those reactions can often have the largest and most important impact.

The film emphasizes that being supportive, believing in the survivor and leading them to get the help they need is the best thing anyone can do.

The film — besides presenting stories by survivors of assault — features primarily African American men in situations of power, including professors or preachers that use their male privilege within that community for good.

Given recent events like the Mike Brown and Eric Garner cases, it seemed especially important to feature black men as mentors and instructors.

The scenes in My Masculinity Helps are not scripted interviews, but real life conversations in churches and in barbershops that highlight African American men that actively want to prevent sexual violence against women.

At just 30 minutes, the film touches on many other issues that get at the root causes of sexual assault and touches on gender roles, racism, violence, communication — and how they prevent sexual assault.

A screening of this film — which brings to light so many relevant, simmering issues – is an excellent way to facilitate discussion on the topic at any academic level.

For more on the film, the director, screenings and how to bring the film to your campus, visit the film’s website.

Before the start of the new school year, let’s take a look back on three of the biggest changes that have challenged the notion of a “traditional” college experience.

1. Housing: From Summer Camps to Vacation Resorts

In addition to lacking space and air conditioning, some past college students also lacked dorm rooms altogether. After World War II, enrollment increased at colleges around the country as former soldiers entered to study under the GI Bill. Without dorm rooms to accommodate the student body, some college campuses housed the former soldiers and their families in trailer parks. The community of 600 residents living in Trailwood trailer park at North Carolina State University shared only two bathhouses.

Past North Carolina State Student Housing at Trailwood (Photo courtesy of http://d.lib.ncsu.edu)

Current North Carolina State Student Housing at Bragaw Hall (Photo courtesy of housing.ncsu.edu)

Students on college campuses today not only have the luxury of personal dormitories and bathrooms that need not be shared but also some fantastic amenities.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.), for example, offers a giant ball pit on campus. High Point University provides students with access to a movie theater, ice cream truck and five-star restaurant.

Ball pit at M.I.T. (Photo courtesy of simmons.mit. edu)

The Extraordinaire Cinema at High Point University (Photo courtesy of www. highpoint.edu)

With housing accommodations and food choices like these, the image of the poor, starving college student is becoming a thing of the past.

2. Gender Segregation

Not only did the end of World War II bring an increase in male students, but there was an increase in female applicants during the war. The acceptance of women sometimes came with a strict set of rules. Some colleges did not allow females  in male dorm rooms for any reason and women were forced to obey a curfew.

Oberlin College was the first school to offer gender-neutral housing and 24-hour visiting. Over 100 college campuses seek to be more inclusive today by providing not only co-ed residence halls but gender neutral housing specifically. Also overcoming the gender binary, over 150 schools now offer gender neutral bathrooms.

November 20, 1970, issue of Life magazine. The article, “Co-ed Dorms: An Intimate Campus Revolution,” featured Oberlin’s decision to create gender neutral housing. (Photo courtesy of oberlin.edu)

3. Admissions

Top universities are more selective now than ever before. Whether you are beginning college in the fall as a freshman or returning as an upperclassman, you have reason to celebrate.

In less than thirty years, acceptance rates have decreased dramatically. Known for its incredibly low 7% current acceptance rate , Columbia University had an acceptance rate of 65% in 1988. Yale’s acceptance rate dropped from 17% to 7% and the University of Michigan’s acceptance rate dropped from 52% to 33%.

Even if some college campuses now resemble resorts, the admissions process is no cakewalk.

The journey to get to college and the experience you will have there differ dramatically from previous definitions of the “traditional” college experience.

A North Carolina State University student died after falling from a nine-story building on Monday. According to a statement from the university, an investigation is ongoing and there was no apparent foul play or threat to the campus.

The student —  identified by the student newspaper The Technician as sophomore engineering major Joseph Banks — fell from Dabney Hall, which houses chemistry, statistics and physics classes.

Vice Chancellor and Dean Mike Mullen shared a letter to the campus community on Tuesday, expressing his sorrows.

“During my time here at NC State I have repeatedly seen that when we experience the loss of a member of the Wolfpack, we come together and support each other. However, it is important that after time has passed and hearts and emotions begin to heal, we keep a piece of what we are feeling today as a reminder that we should always treat others with respect, dignity and care.”

On Monday night, NCSU students and faculty held a memorial vigil, which was attended by more than 450 students, according to Mullen. Students attended another vigil Tuesday night, hosted by NC State Student Government and the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

“We will be standing in solidarity and remembrance for our lost member of the Wolfpack,” NC State Student Government wrote on its Facebook page.

NC State student Ryan Gorman happened to be outside Dabney Hall on Monday afternoon when he witnessed the fall. As a result, he is lending himself as a resource for his grieving classmates.

Mullen wrote to the NC State community that students should make an active effort to be inclusive to their classmates.

“Today I ask that we begin making special efforts to include those that may feel excluded,” he wrote. “Talk to someone in class you may not otherwise have talked to before today. Go out of your way to say hello and to get to know people that are different than you are. But don’t let that behavior stop after today. Take care of yourself and look to take care of each other everyday. It is our responsibility to continue to be supportive and inclusive of all members of the Pack.”