Rowan University is getting a new program on campus that will enable students to leave campus for a small cost.

Zipcar, an international car-rental service, has arrived on campus for students to reserve either a black Nissan Sentra or a red Ford Focus for hours at a time. Interested students must register for their own Zipcard in order to unlock the vehicle, and then sign-up for a scheduled time to drive the car.

The service should be a logical alternative to public transportation and the various expenses that come with having a vehicle on campus.

The Zipcar arriving on campus is not only beneficial to students and faculty who need a car, but also to the environment.

If the service catches on, there will be fewer vehicles on the road, keeping the campus safer and the air cleaner.

With Zipcar, resident drivers dissatisfied by Rowan’s expensive parking pass ($200 next year) and congested lots now have an alternative to bringing their own vehicles to campus.

Rowan students are also available to drive the cars at 18 years-old, rather than rental car dealetrs, where you have to be 25 years-old.

Students who wish to apply must be 21 or over and have a valid license. From there, they must complete an online application and pay a registration fee of $25. After a quick driver record check, applicants will receive their Zipcard within three days to a week.

Once a Zipcard is acquired, students who would like to reserve a Zipcar simply need to schedule a time either online or over the phone. Once they’re locked into an allotted time, the reserved car will only open with their Zipcard.

Drivers are charged $7 an hour – includes gas and insurance, and the vehicles can be driven up to 180 miles per day. Members can reserve their car months in advance.

Obviously, with a rental service such as this, there are some concerns that follow.

One concern is with the responsibility of the students. Safe Walk cars often weren’t treated with much respect. Members have to not only consider the fact that other people will be using the car after them, but how they will drive in an insured car that’s not theirs. However, deductibles may apply if the driver gets in an accident.

Theoretically, a member could schedule a time for the car, and then hand their card off to a friend to operate the vehicle. It’s unclear if the vehicles will be supervised, so what’s stopping a registered driver from handing their card off to dozens of his friends?

Also, with only two vehicles on campus, scheduling may become a nightmare for potential drivers. Hopes to take the cars out for a grocery store run may be spurned by heavy scheduling conflicts from other members.

Still, Zipcar has found success at various other universities, so hopefully Rowan benefits just as much with the service.

1. Watch your serving sizes to make sure you don’t over eat. Going into a buffet-style cafeteria, you can eat as much as you want. You get caught up in talking to your friends and three chicken patties later you have consumed enough calories for the whole day.

2. Watch what time you are eating. Some experts say you shouldn’t eat after a certain time at night, like 7 p.m. Don’t make any unhealthy midnight snacks that you will regret in the morning.

3. Make time for exercise. Our gym has fitness classes at all different times of the day. Find one that fits in your schedule, even if it means waking up an hour early.

4. Get enough sleep. Lack of sleep also effects your weight. Eight hours is ideal, but try to get no less than six.

5. Cut back on your alcohol intake. I know a lot of you feel like drinking as much as you can in college is a right of passage, but remember that alcohol has more calories than you think. And of course they have the worst kind: empty calories.

6. Be organized. Organization of your homework and classes will help keep your stress level low, which also effects your weight.

7. Drink water throughout the day. Water flushes out toxins in your system and keeps you hydrated. Keep a water bottle in your book bag. Try to drink before and during meals to fill you up faster.

Over winter break I did some research. There are many theories circulating about how to keep your clothing from fading. I realized black clothes are not the only problem- our white clothes are also picking up colors from other shades in the washer, and our brights and colors are bleeding in the rinse cycle.

Here are some tricks I learned to keep the color of your clothes lasting longer:

Dark/Blacks – Turn your black jeans or other dark garments inside out and set the washer on the cold cycle. There are some special detergents that prevent blacks from fading, but they can be a little expensive, such as Woolite Extra Dark, which is about $13 in stores. However, my grandmother taught me a trick many years ago. She would use a cap full of vinegar into the cold wash cycle along with regular detergent. The vinegar prevents the colors from fading and helps keep them vivid.

Whites – It is important to wash whites separately to prevent colors mixing. I am not a fan of bleach; I feel that it is a harsh chemical and I find that it irritates my skin after I wash my clothes with it. I found a better solution. After sorting your clothes, add your whites to the washer on a hot or warm cycle. Along with your regular detergent, add ½ cup of lemon juice to the rinse cycle. The lemon juice will lightly bleach the clothing. When the cycle is complete, be sure to hang-dry the whites on a clothesline.

Brights/Colors – When tackling the brights from your laundry basket, it is important to separate brights from pastels. Wash new brights on their own for the first few cycles, when the dye is most likely to bleed. Always turn the clothes inside out. Choose the shortest cycle and use a regular detergent on a warm or cold cycle.

Delicates – I like to wash all my delicates separately. Delicates include anything with lace, beading, sequins or any other garment with lots of detail. Always turn the item inside out; this will prevent direct damage to the detail of the clothing. I measure the temperature of the wash cycle based on how dirty the item is. If I spilled food or a drink on it, then I would choose a warm cycle. If I wore it all day and it just needs to be washed, then I would go with the cold cycle. Never put your delicates in the dryer because it will most likely ruin the item; your best bet is to hang-dry them.

These are just some of the tricks I have learned over the years to help further the life of my clothes. It is important to properly treat and launder your clothes to avoid repeatedly having to buy the basics for your wardrobe. Do you have a great laundry tip that I missed? Tell me by writing to willis46@students.rowan.edu.

Think about your daily routine. How often do you wash? How long are your showers? An easy way to go green everyday is by taking shorter showers, and this does not have to be a great change, just try cutting your shower back a minute each night to reach the seven to 10 minute average.  Moreover, when taking those shorter showers try making the water a few degrees cooler. This will help reduce the energy needed to heat the water.

The same principle applies to washing your clothes. Heating water uses about 90 percent of the energy used in washing clothes. Therefore, using cold water can cut back the energy cost of heating water and significantly reduce energy waste. Clothes come just as clean because cold water holds colors in fabrics, whereas warm water can set-in stains. Most importantly, you will make a positive impact on the environment.

There are many other ways we keep ourselves clean, which include brushing our teeth, shaving, and washing our hands. We were all taught to shut the water off when brushing our teeth as kids, but this also applies to washing our hands as well as shaving. Washing our hands is a 4-step process: wet hands, lather, rinse, and dry; it is during the third step, which we can turn off the faucet and save a lot of water. Also with shaving, for both men and women, by turning off the faucet we each can save about 100 gallons of water.

All of these tidbits of information are simple ways to reduce energy, save water, and go green without greatly altering our everyday routines. Try each tip one day at a time and we can all be eco-friendly without even realizing it.

Do you have any suggestions about easy ways to go green? Share your thoughts; email me at marchi41@students.rowan.edu.

There are questions concerning the state of faculty and whether they will stay at Rowan or transfer, or whether they will still have a job. The situation with the law school also raises questions. Will the staff increase, decrease or change all together?

Many are also concerned with rising tuition prices as a result of becoming a research institution.

We’ve been waiting for answers to all of these questions and many more, but the final report doesn’t seem to satisfy any of our curiosities so how can we decide how to feel about it all?

The only real answer we have is one that the committee actually points out in its recommendation: change is good.

The committee argues that the “status quo does not create the environment necessary to satisfy the region’s best interest.”

Those who have been around this school for its transformation from Glassboro State to Rowan University have told stories about the campus-wide resistance to that change at the time. And look at us today. Because some individuals were brave and wise enough to welcome that change in an apprehensive community, we have grown to be a university with six colleges and over 11,000 students enrolled.

That is not to say that all change is necessarily good. This is not a journey to embark on quickly and.

The committee recognizes that the goal they have set forth is not an easily attainable one, but they believe in our ability to realize our full potential and after careful research, they have decided that this merger is the best way to do it.

Change, this change, could be good as long as we continue to stay involved in the process and ask those making the big decisions the big questions. And making sure we finally get those answers so that we can prepare and make this transition as smooth and successful as possible, if it definitely comes to fruition.

The committee believes that with the “proper resources, leadership and support from the State government, success is possible and that the prize is worth the effort of all concerned.”

If a committee investigating and researching this project by order of the governor himself believes in us and our ability to reach our full potential, shouldn’t we at least consider the idea?

Start by hanging more clothing items in your closet rather than folded in a dresser. I find it is easier to find outfits if they are hung at eye level instead of tucked away. Get slim-line hangers and sort by item or color. I arrange my closet by item, I keep dresses with each other, tank tops, pants and so on. If I’m running late and trying to find my pleated blouse, I know exactly where to look. The same goes for shoes. By having a simple shoe rack on the floor of your closet, your kicks are easily accessible and less cluttered looking.

Save some time in your morning routine and pick out your outfit the night before. Choose everything from your clothes, shoes and even accessories. By doing this, you will be able to set your alarm 10 to 20 minutes later each morning. Also, check the weather each night as well, so you can leave out your umbrella or a jacket. All of these planning tips will save you time each morning.

It feels great to remove outdated items from your closet. Take a good look at everything in your closet and dresser, and ask yourself  “When was the last time I wore this?” or “When will I where it next?” If the item has not been worn in over a year, it is time to let it go and make room for new trends. If you could use some extra cash, try to sell the clothes to stores like Buffalo Exchange, Plato’s Closet and other thrift stores. What ever they do not accept, donate. Look for organizations that are looking for used clothes or the bins in parking lots, both of which will go to someone in need, which will fulfill your volunteer work resolution as well.

If you are looking to spruce up your closet, right now is the best time to do so. Stores are having great sales in January and February. Stores are trying to make room for spring and summer collections so, it is the ideal time to score some designer items that were over budget during the holiday season. So go on a hunt for the one dream item you’ve been dreaming of all season. It may be accessible now!

Think of this new year and new semester as a fresh start. Take these tools of advice to improve not only your closet and wardrobe, but improve your life. If you start to organize your closet, it may inspire you to sort your desk or finally tackle your junk draw. Resolutions have to start somewhere, so why not start with your closet?

There is a common misconception that “going green” entails becoming a nature loving, vegan, tree-hugger. Although there is nothing wrong with that, “going green” should not be regarded as a radical lifestyle change or a social act, but rather, a change in how we look at life. For example, using reusable canvas bags is a great way to reduce plastic waste, but why are we doing it? Is it because the store offers a discount for using them, or because we want others to see us being green, or do we use reusable bags because we understand that petroleum used to make plastic bags is a nonrenewable resource in short supply? “Going green” exist beyond the commercial and social aspects and is an overall mentality that we can live fulfilling lives with respect for the environment.

Each article of this column will focus on a specific aspect of college life and introduce new and innovative ways to “go green” with the least amount of labor, stress or routine change. Some of these topics are no brainers, like recycling, and there are others that you may not have heard of before, like stocking your refrigerator. I hope to provide insight into the many ways a college student can improve the environment without a dramatic lifestyle change. Some areas of focus will include, but are not limited to, studying habits, cooking and cleaning methods,  and transportation while on campus as well as off campus.

By simply shifting the way we look at the world, we can respect and protect the environment without drastically altering our way of life. Keep reading each week for more insight on how easy it is being green!

Chili is a type of stew that can be made with beans, turkey or ground beef. There are tons of different variations of chili with a variance of ingredients, but this recipe is offering a vegetarian option. Chili is great for college students because you can make a lot of it at one time.  You can also freeze chili and save it for a dinner later in the week or share the leftovers with your friends and neighbors down the hall!

Another reason this particular chili recipe is perfect for busy students to make is because it only takes about 25 minutes. Many chili recipes require a Crock-Pot or take hours to prepare, but this simple recipe won’t take time out of your busy schedule.

And don’t worry carnivores, just because this chili is vegetarian doesn’t mean meat eaters won’t like it.

Since this chili is vegetarian, all the ingredients are healthy and it is only 265 calories per serving.

Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:
- An 8 oz onion (peeled and chopped)
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp vegetable oil
- 3 14.5oz cans of black beans (rinsed and drained)
- 1 14.5 oz can of diced tomatoes
- 1/4 cup reduced fat sour cream
- 1/2 cup of water
- 1/2 cup of shredded cheese
- 2 tbsp of chili seasoning
- Salt
- Optional: Corn bread for dipping

Process:

1. Cook onions and garlic powder in vegetable oil on medium heat in a pan. Stir for 8 minutes or until the onions are brown.

 2. Add beans, tomatoes, chili seasoning and water. Bring the pan to a boil and then reduce the heat. Stir occasionally. Let it simmer for about 15 minutes.

 3. Sprinkle in some more chili seasoning to taste and stir and add some salt.

 4. Put chili into your bowls. Add a dollop of sour cream on top and sprinkle with shredded cheese. Use the cornbread to dip into your chili.

This chili recipe makes about six servings and it only costs about $2 per serving.

Go red. Of course red is always in style for the holiday season but we are seeing new shades which are fun and alluring, such as crimson, scarlet and cranberry. These festive red colors will be sure to make you stand out at any holiday festivity.

Bare your shoulders. New dresses hitting stores are one-shouldered or tube tops. My favorite type of dress is the one-shoulder because it is very flattering. Many people consider this type of dress to be a summer look, but it is a great transition into the fall. Don’t want to expose so much skin? Just add tights and a long sleeve shirt under any dress. This is also a great concept for your summer dresses, and a real money saver, too. Want an even more dramatic neckline? Try wearing your hair up with your asymmetrical dress.

Sparkle on. Sequins, glitter and metallics are big for any holiday party. I would go for the metallic tank with solid pants or all sequined shorts with a blank blouse and tights. Glitter dresses are a great option too. But don’t go overboard with the shine; you do not want to be confused with the Times Square New Year’s ball.

Great Lengths. Anything from maxi skirts to full-length gowns are in this season. I think a full-length dress is the perfect piece to accessorize with. Adding chunky necklaces and bold bracelets will have you standing out. There are just so many ways to jazz up the full-length dress, and it’s flattering, too. Could this be goodbye to the LBD?

Classic cocktail. Ahh, the fun and flirty cocktail dress no wonder it never went out of style.  My personal favorite is the retro look with black and white polka dots. If you’re worried about being chilly this winter in your holiday dress, try wrapping a large scarf around your shoulders or even adding a cropped jacket before hitting this year’s party.

I hope you all shine this holiday season. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all.

See you next year!