Jenna Lo Castro

A hometown team in a home away from home

If you're into professional basketball then you're well-aware of the fact that the Cleveland Cavs are in the playoffs. You probably also know that tickets for a playoff game are nearly impossible to come by at this point. They're either all sold out or owned by people with season tix. Well, where there's a will, there's a way. Two days ago, I attended game two of the series down at the good ol' Quickens Loan Arena (AKA the Q). The tickets were sold to me and three of my friends by a kid who has season tickets but was unable to go to the game. Granted, the seats were in the nosebleed section of the arena (but more affectionately deemed, "Loudville" by frequent game attendees) I can assure you that there's not a bad seat in the house, especially during the playoffs.

Before the game started, we hung out at Panini's down by the arena. Panini's is a pretty cool place to go, but Pittsburghers I MUST warn you: The place serves up this sandwich that is a complete knockoff of a Primanti Bros. sandwich. Don't be fooled--it sucks horribly. However, I would suggest their pizza. It's a thin-crust delight.

Not only did the Cavs win, but everyone there got a free "Rise Up" T-shirt a rally towel and a FREE chalupa from Taco Bell because the Cavs scored over 100 points. It was by far, one of the most exhilirating and fun nights of the semester. 

Summer chances

Granted it’s only April, any many of you reading this still have a good two months of school left, I for one, do not! With less than four weeks to go (including finals), gearing up for last-of-the-year exams are being balanced with long days relaxing on the Quad and making trips out to malls for cute summer clothes. If you think the end of the school year marks a break in the action in college, you may want to think again. For most students, going to class is merely replaced with eight-hour workdays or summer class.

This summer, I’ll be staying up at Carroll (Yes, I will deeply miss Pittsburgh) to work. Some of you may think, “Ugh, why would you want to stay up at school any longer?” For me and many more students, the answer is a simple one: Carroll is home, of course. I am so excited to be working for the University. Not only are the jobs fun, but they pay well and you get to work with peers and make new friends.

What’s more, Carroll does a great job of working with you so that you still can have a summer, hang out with friends or go on vacation. And if there weren’t any students like us, potential undergraduates like you would have a pretty crappy experience when you came to visit.

But not all students stay on campus. While most go home, others take advantage of what Carroll has to offer. Some get ahead in their major and take summer classes, others study abroad in places like Rome and London, and others get internships in places like Washington D.C. and New York City.

If it’s one thing you learn from college, it’s about taking chances and branching out from what you’re used to. While going back home and hanging out with your old friends can be fun and relaxing, new opportunities will inevitable arise for you in these four years. My advice would be to reach out and grab something exciting.

Spring is springing

So we’ve finally reached the home stretch. Easter marked the last break of the school year and now March, April and part of May are showing no mercy. I hope you had a pleasant holiday—I know I did. Aside from stuffing my face with lamb and lasagna (yeah, not everyone eats ham, contrary to popular belief) I was able to bask in the remaining days of serenity. But now, Carroll is gearing up to whip all undergrads back into shape. Try not to cringe as I share some of the most horrifying upcoming events on campus.

The T-Pain concert

The midnight Pancake Breakfast

Relay for Life

Whirly ball (and lots of it)

Nutrition Fair

The Clothesline project

Lots of cool and interesting speakers

Rally for Darfur (featuring sweet rock bands and musicians)

Etc.etc.

And those are just a few of what’s to come in a couple of weeks. I know, I know. Sometimes it’s hard being part of this community (insert sarcasm) but I’m really looking  forward to the spring months. Aside from the treacherous downpours that plague the Cleveland area, there truly is a lot to look forward to. And may I add this is a great time of year to visit the campus if you haven’t done so already. And don’t worry about your straight hair—we offer an array of wonderful umbrellas to keep you dry.

Restaurant Week 2008

This past weekend, the city of Cleveland produced an event that helped place them back in the competition of "cities that I think are majorly sweet." The first annual Cleveland Restaurant Week took place and had a glorious showing which made my belly wholesomely content.

Most major U.S. cities like New York, Chicago and Los Angeles typically this type of event so I think it's really cool that Cleveland decided to join the rankings. Basically what happens is top notch restaurants in the city sign up and offer patrons the chance to enjoy a three-course meal for a ridiculously low price. After perusing the participating establishments, I chose the covnented "Lola" on E. 4th Street. Now if you're down with the Food Network  and watch "Iron Chef" you might have heard about a guy named Michael Symon. This man is the head chef at Lola is quite amazing. Granted, I would never be able to afford this restaurant on a regular basis, Restaurant Week gave me, a poor college kid, the opportunity to taste amazing food.

My guest and I feasted on blue cheese and tomato soup (which I can assure you was a lot more tantilzing on the taste buds that what it sounds like), tuna with kalamata olives (kind of susi-esque) and Hanger Steak which was prepared in ways I did not know even existed. So between the atmopshere of this gorgeous establishment, the fine cuisine and some good company I'll be the first to say that my experience went over quite well and I would recommend anyone to sign up next year for the ordeal. And to get reservations early--as I'm quite sure the success it had this year will only be bigger next year. 

great professors

Being in my third year here at Carroll, I've come across my share of professors--the good, the bad and the ugly. My freshman comp. professor actually accounted for one of my most memorably horrific educational experiences. Though I choose not to name this fellow, I will say that he managed to make me cry at least twice, rethink my minor about  a dozen times, and broke my confidence down more times than I could keep track of. But not all of JCU professors are this demoralizing.

Take Dr. Richard Hendrickson for example. Dr. H., (as he is more affectionately known), is a professor of journalism and teaches a handful of stimulating classes to communication students. As a comm major myself, I've actually had Dr. H. on more than one occasion. Much of the topics he professes about concerns everyday moral/ethical affairs. But because Dr. H. has had such a long and extensive background in the field of journalism, he's able to teach the old with the new.  The reason why I love having class with him is because he's easy to talk to and easy to learn from. The guy flatout knows that he's doing and is able to keep up with the industry after several decades. He's one of the reasons why I really enjoy pursuing a communications major at Carroll.