Now, we’re not saying you should engage in such shenanigans. If eating isn’t allowed in Main Stacks, imagine what the walkie talkie food police would say to … other activities? Would they try to break up the party or run in the other direction? We bet on the latter.

But apparently Jericho! members had ample opportunity and uninterrupted time to show us just how cozy studying can get in the hallowed halls of the Stacks. Think those moving shelves are only being used to hold books? Clearly you aren’t thinking as innovatively as other Berkeley students. And think those copiers only take paper? You might want to get a sanitary wipe before you plan on using ones in this library any time soon.

We figure there are two extreme reactions to the scenes presented: traumatized horror or incredulity at having your methods exposed. In any case, try to take this tidbit of entertainment as inspiration for new activities. Namely … music videos, of course! Try your hand at filmmaking. Or acting. Or singing! After all, that’s the real message of this piece. Thanks for the motivation, Jericho!

Don’t take this as inspiration to ask the circulation desk if they have any boy toys left to check out, though. They may not understand the creative influence behind the question. Or they might be out.

Image source: s. bennet under Creative Commons 

Contact Erum Khan at ekhan@dailycal.org or follow her on Twitter @erumjkhan.

The post What Jericho! does in Main Stacks appeared first on The Daily Californian.

This new curve is good news for all students — especially freshmen still calling themselves ‘pre-Haas’ — but it’s only going to be applied to classes starting this spring. Previous courses taken at Haas still fall under the old curves of 3.2 and 3.4. Being Berkeley kids, though, this simply isn’t enough. Revolution must be called for! Take action against The Man! Haas kids were so outraged at the fact that this policy is not being applied to previous semesters that they went so far as to create a Facebook event in protest.  We can picture the dean now, calling in all the troops and barring his doors now that the online world is in on the fight for curve equality.

The event was created as a forum to spread awareness of the change and get people to take action through means like letter-writing. They call for everything taken from fall 2011 — the last three semesters — to get that GPA boost, because that’s when a majority of those affected started at Haas. After all, with the competitive open business market ahead of them after graduation, we can imagine they’d want the highest GPA possible to up their job odds and not have to face the “Less than exemplary from one of the best business schools in the country?! For shame, we can’t hire you.” At least, that’s what we think business execs would say.

Do you empathize with the business kids? Wish your mean curve was higher? Or are you one of those English majors who don’t even know what it means for a class to have a curve? Whichever the case, keep an ear out for Haas friends complaining or rejoicing over the change! Thanks to the Clog, you can now chime in and sound extra smart about business-y current events. Not a bad way to spend a few study break minutes, if you ask us.

Contact Erum Khan at ekhan@dailycal.org or follow her on Twitter @erumjkhan.

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1. Be sure to watch out for food patrol in Moffitt. You know those people with the white plastic bags and walkie talkies? They’re out for your cookies and Red Bull! They’re usually pretty loud getting off the elevator to start their sweep for goodies, so stash ‘em before they have to confiscate. If you catch them in a good mood they may let you finish off your drink before tossing it, but to be on the safe side just keep everything gulpable and/or munchable out of sight.

2. Be strategic when ‘studying’ with friends. If you can all manage to sit around the same table without splitting into peals of giggles about that latest Facebook hack, by all means congregate to work. If you lack the willpower (as most of us do), finding a cubicle or some other secluded area to hunker down in for a couple of hours is probably a better strategy. Once you’ve gotten some solid work done, then you can take a social media break. Trust us, they’ll be much more satisfying. And you’ll get a lot less glares from people who don’t have headphones to tune you out with.

3. Pack provisions. If you’re planning on camping out for a while, bring a sweater if you’re sensitive to the cold (Moffitt and Main Stacks are freezing at night!) and money and food so that you don’t have to trek back and forth between the library and your dorm room or apartment.

We lied, there’s one more thing:

4. STAY SANE. The library does crazy things to your brain if you stay there for too long. You’ll start to forget what sleeping in a bed feels like and that when the sun goes down the day is supposed to end. We know we told you to pack stuff with you, but be sure to get some fresh air between hitting the books and acing those finals! It’ll all be worth it when summer rolls around … in less than a week!

Good luck everybody!

Contact Erum Khan at ekhan@dailycal.org or follow her on Twitter @erumjkhan.

The post How to: behave in the library during finals week appeared first on The Daily Californian.

1. Sunbathe. The skies have been gray for the past few days, but the forecast predicts some sun in the next two weeks. Bring your books out to Memorial Glade and soak up some vitamin D in between reviewing chapters. Rest your eyes and enjoy the sunlight with the grass beneath you and the bells of the Campanile ringing in the distance.

2. Play sardines outside. Hear us out on this one. Once you’ve had enough lounging around outside, get some friends together for a game of sardines! For those of you not familiar with sardines, it’s basically hide-and-seek backwards. One person hides, and everyone else looks for them. When someone discovers the “hider,” he or she hides alongside that person. This continues until one poor soul is out looking by themselves. This is especially fun after dark.

3. Play hide-and-seek in the library. Similar to our last idea, this is also tons of fun! Gather a group of friends and go to a library like Main Stacks or Moffitt with lots of shelves and places to hide behind. After that, you know the rules! You’ll have to be careful not to disturb fellow students in the library who aren’t taking a break, so make it a quiet game. We’re not trying to get you kicked out! But this is a good way to make the library look less terrible and gloomy. And think of all the possibilities with those moving shelves in Main Stacks! (Just don’t crush anyone. Please. Safety first.)

4. Conduct social experiments. Experiment with people on Sproul. Will people walk you with their umbrella if it’s raining and you have none? Lend you some paper? Let you use their phone? Stop and answer your questions about a class? See how nice people really are at this school. Or, if you have more faith in your theatrical skills, have a (loud) emotional breakdown in the middle of heavy foot traffic and see who stops to ask if you’re okay. You could even record yourself and make a YouTube video! After finals are over, of course. We at the Clog would love to see that.

5. Exercise. This might be the most boring and predictable of the lot, but it’s a legitimate option for those who still want to be productive during their time away from the books. Walk around campus. Jog. Do lunges across Memorial Glade. Find a secluded spot like the eucalyptus grove and do pushups and crunches. Use the beautiful outdoor space for something productive while taking time to unwind and let go of all that pent-up stress. Added bonus? You’ll be getting a head start on those summer abs.

Contact Erum Khan at ekhan@dailcal.org or follow her on Twitter @erumjkhan.

The post 5 things to do on campus besides studying appeared first on The Daily Californian.

1. Throwing all your notes out. Unless you think you’ll take more anthropology courses just for funsies next semester (even though you’re just taking this one to fulfill a breadth), you probably won’t be needing those scintillating notes anymore. Imagine tossing them into a bonfire! Scattering them through the halls of Dwinelle! Feeding them to your dog! It’ll surely be a cathartic way to kick off your summer.

2. Sleeping. College students’ bodies are forced to adapt to shots of 5-hour Energy and 10-minute naps between cram sessions. But once that last deceptively-named blue-but-actually-green book is turned in, you can say goodbye to pulling panic stricken all-nighters. When that time comes, you can revel in laying your head down on a real pillow instead of a textbook.

3. Eating like a normal human being. Did you know that there’s food that doesn’t come from the freezer with microwave instructions on the back? When you can actually venture outside into the real world again, you’ll be allowed the luxury of eating fresh food from the real world. And if you’re going home after finals, this could include home-cooked food not from Asian Ghetto. Who knew such sustenance existed?!

4. Hanging out in places other than Moffitt. You’ll be able to come out of that burrow you built yourself in the library, sifting through piles of paper, pens and books. There won’t be any need to mark your territory anymore — all students shall be free! Say goodbye to the days of saving and selling seats in Main Stacks and hello to tables, chairs and grassy knolls you don’t need to fight over to enjoy.

5. Watching guilt-free TV and movies. We know what streaming junkies you all are, whether it’s “Breaking Bad” or the latest movie on Instant Netflix. But guess what? Once school is officially over for the semester, you can settle for mindless television without pretending that you don’t see your books calling you from the corner of your desk. Bust out the popcorn and M&Ms, because there won’t be anything standing in your way! It’s going to be quite a summer in the cinemas, too. Look forward to “Iron Man 3,” “Man of Steel” and “Monsters University” (based on our very own campus)!

We know there’s still some time to go before you can enjoy all these festivities, but it’ll go by faster than you think. Survive this week, and then you’ll only have finals left. Then, you’ll be free to enjoy all the fun you can cram on your plate.

Image source: pennstatenews under Creative Commons 

Contact Erum Khan at ekhan@dailycal.org or follow her on Twitter @erumjkhan.

The post Five things to look forward to after finals appeared first on The Daily Californian.

You’re happy for your little bro/sis, of course. It might be their dream school! It’s got the exact program they want, or maybe it’s just far enough from home to be extra appealing. After all, they’ve probably seen how much fun you have going here and wouldn’t mind doing the same. If you’re graduating it probably won’t make a difference to you. They’ll just be following in your footsteps and becoming your legacy! But if you’ve still got a few semesters to go, will that kid from home bother you?

Think about it. Will you really be able to avoid them here? Sure, you’ll probably have different classes. And it’s not like you’ll have to see them 24/7, with the huge campus and student body and all that. But are you going to live together? Chances are your parents would prefer it to keep the baby bear safe. Will you introduce them to people? You’d probably look like a jerk if you didn’t. Would you mind if they hit if off with your group of friends and started hanging out with them? Uhhh … that’s pretty awkward.

But we’re not trying to get you down or say it’s a bad thing to have family here! In the long run, it’ll probably be really nice for both of you to have a little piece from home here with you. You’ll be able to continue mocking each other and stealing each other’s things even while at school. Back to basics. Homesickness? Chances are it’ll be close to nothing; your baby sib is here.

Just be sure to balance time spent with one another and time spent apart. Once you find that balance, we’re sure having your sibling here will be great. From all of us at the Clog, congratulations to our future Golden Bears! We can’t wait to meet you. But be prepared for incoming freshman jokes next fall!

Image source: ulianne under Creative Commons. 

Contact Erum Khan at ekhan@dailycal.org or follow her on Twitter @erumjkhan.

The post So your sibling got into Cal … appeared first on The Daily Californian.

The same resources can usually be used for both ends of the transaction: Spam all the Berkeley Facebook groups possible to let people know you are looking for a) a place to stay or b) people to fill your spot. Advertise location, price and timing. You’ve probably seen people do this already, but if you haven’t already, now would be a good time to join the fray. Craigslist is also a good place to advertise for sublets.

If there are no takers online, through Facebook or any other group forums you can find, try circulating through word of mouth. Friends always know friends who know friends who are looking for a place to stay, or vice versa. And if you find connections through people you know, it may be more comforting than finding a random stranger to live with. Who knows what goes on in some apartments …

If you’re advertising for subletters, be sure to check with your landlord on their policies before going ad-crazy. Some places don’t allow you to sublet, and most will probably need a credit check and guarantor (probably their parents, just like your cosigners) on whomever you find to sublet from you. Be sure to iron out all the details before advertising, too. Know how much the monthly rate is going to be and what that includes. Is electricity, water and internet part of the deal? Do you already have furniture in the apartment they can use? Let your subletter know! It’s all vital information to figure out beforehand.

If you’re subletting, a lot of the same stuff applies. Be sure to ask those questions before agreeing to anything. Know how much you’re willing to pay and what you want included. If you don’t want to sleep on a bare floor for three months during summer session and don’t want to shell out extra cash for fancy furniture, then be sure to find a place that’s already furnished. If you don’t want to pay extra for utilities, make sure the rent you pay includes them.

Some of this may seem like common sense, but you’d be surprised how much of this goes overlooked by eager students in the subletting game. We at the Clog want your summers to go by hassle-free, so sublet with care!

Image source: eraine under Creative Commons

Contact Erum Khan at ekhan@dailycal.org or follow her on Twitter @erumjkhan.

The post Housing for dummies, part 2 appeared first on The Daily Californian.

1. You know it’s not actually this sunny all the time and have learned to layer appropriately according to the city’s bipolar weather.

2. You’re used to the constant construction and don’t even bat an eye at the sight of cranes and dirt by the Campanile.

3. You’ve figured out shortcuts around Sproul to avoid fliering.

4. You’ve already gone through ASUC elections and know whether or not you want to vote/campaign/avoid people telling you to vote or campaign.

5. You realize that attendance for lectures that are webcast is more of a suggestion than a requirement.

6. You already know how to take BART.

7. You know to avoid Crossroads whenever possible.

8. You’ve survived Tele-BEARS so many times already that swearing at it during your registration appointment has become routine.

9. You already know doing the reading for each class all the time is impossible — unless you get no sleep and have no friends.

10. You already read the Daily Clog.

If you ever have doubts about whether you should have come here or feel sick of the place, just remember all the knowledge you’ve soaked up while living in a place like Berkeley. It’s stuff you’ll never forget. Just look at all the alumni parents coming back to show their kiddies around the school! They’re still Golden Bears at heart.

Image source: dp.hotography under Creative Commons 

Contact Erum Khan at ekhan@dailycal.org or follow her on Twitter @erumjkhan.

The post 10 reasons to be glad you already go to Cal appeared first on The Daily Californian.

This particular feature of Sproul — fondly named after Ludwig the dog we all hear about during CalSO tours — is usually just the home of flat, not-so-clean water. Occasionally it will act like a fountain and spout some water upwards a few inches, but that’s the most we’ve ever seen it do until yesterday’s unusual sighting. So what could be the cause of this frothy mystery? We at the Clog tried our hands at answering just that.

Maybe someone’s apartment ran out of water and they were forced to bathe themselves in the open air, bringing plenty of shower gel with them to froth up the pool and maintain a modicum of modesty. Maybe a chemistry student had a mishap and decided to dispose of the evidence as far away from Pimentel as they could. Or maybe someone just had some leftover soap they didn’t need. Or better yet, maybe this is what the fountain’s actual function as been all along.

We’re not entirely sure what was going on with that part of campus today, but we hope it shows up again sometime. The opportunity to pull out more rubber ducky jokes would definitely be worthwhile.

Contact Erum Khan at ekhan@dailycal.org or follow her on Twitter @erumjkhan

The post We spy: Bubbles in Ludwig’s Fountain on Sproul appeared first on The Daily Californian.

1. How neat is this person? You might have thought that desk chair piling up with books and clothing at your friend’s house was charming, but if you’re going to be roomies with him, you’ll have to put up with that clutter day in and day out. If you’re someone who likes keeping everything labeled and in its right place (including your label-maker), then maybe finding someone a little more like-minded would be better for your mental health.

2. Does she snore? If you’ve never spent the night with your friend or interrogated someone who has, the answer to this question is usually a mystery. But it is crucial! Unless you’re one of those heavy sleepers who knocks out even during blaring sirens and natural disasters, you’ll have a miserable time falling asleep with all that sound going off on the other side of the room. If you’re OK with sleeping with headphones at night, then be our guest and share that room. If not, find a polite way to decline.

3. How late does this person stay up? You’ve figured out by now what your sleep patterns look like at school. Have your potential roommates’ habits matched up with them so far? It can be a pain having to leave the room to study when your roommate wants to go lights out for the night, and it can also be a pain if you’re the sleepy one with a stubborn, procrastinating roomie who simply has to click away on his essay into the wee hours of the night. You don’t have to sync sleep cycles with anyone, but maybe not shacking up with a rooster when you’re a night owl would be smart.

4. How social is she? Want your place to be part-ay central next year? Make sure your roomie(s) want the same. Otherwise, there will be many dirty looks and blunt complaints to deal with after your rambunctious gatherings. If you think you’d be the complainer, find people who prefer low-key movie nights to frat-style evenings. Your eardrums will thank you later.

5. How reliable is he? This may seem like an obvious one, but it’s pretty crucial. You don’t just want someone whom you think it’ll be fun to live with, true as that may be for a little while. You want someone who pays the rent on time, sticks to the cleaning schedule and contributes to the place without constantly having to be nagged. Trust us, all these things add to a much better living experience than living with that one friend who’s totally fun to hang out with but never pays you back in time. Your wallet and sanity will thank us later!

Image source: mattradickal under Creative Commons 

Contact Erum Khan at ekhan@dailycal.org or follow her on twitter @erumjkhan.

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