Stay Warm & Have Fun- FOR CHEAP!

Before the parks defrost and the street fairs come back to town, we still have a month or so left of winter, when the most appealing entertainment options happen inside. You might assume that having fun at an indoor venue in New York City would be too expensive for a student budget, but if you take advantage of the right discounts and locations, you can experience world-class entertainment for a lot less money – and stay warm!

Go to the Opera … for $20!:

The Metropolitan Opera offers rush tickets for only $20 for shows on Monday through Thursday. If you head to the box office 2 hours prior to performances, you can receive this discount, and experience some of the finest live music in the world! Upcoming performances for this season include ‘La Fille de Regiment’, ‘Attila’, ‘La Boheme’, and ‘Il Barbiere di Siviglia’.

Please be advised that this discount is not available for galas, special events, and opening nights of new performances.

Visit a museum for next to nothing!

Visiting a museum is a fun and educational way to fill an entire day. As a full-time student of The New School, you can go to the Museum of Modern Art for free! Other museums, such as the American Museum of Natural History, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art have suggested admission prices of around $15-$20, but you are allowed to pay whatever you can afford. Keep an eye out for many, many other places (such as the Bronx Zoo, Brooklyn Botanical Garden, and Guggenheim Museum) that offer special times and days when admission is free or heavily discounted.

Take a yoga class!

If jogging in the cold isn’t your idea of a fun winter workout, you can still stay energized without having to pay for a gym membership. Most yoga studios in the city offer discounts to students, and several places, including Yoga to the People, even offer ‘pay what you can’ classes.

Break away from Starbucks!

Most New Yorkers spend a good portion of their income buying beverages and snacks from Starbucks, and ignore other delicious and affordable alternatives. Why not escape from the cold and find a new place to drink coffee and hang out with friends? Make a trip to Bis.Co. Latte on 47^th and 10^th, where you can order hot chocolate by the bowl, and try over 30 different flavors of handmade biscotti, including chunky chocolate espresso almond, banana walnut, and multigrain peanut butter & strawberry jam.

For other fun and affordable NYC activities, go to theskint.com, and discover daily events!

Help for Haiti is just beginning at William Street

The tragedy in Haiti is receiving less media coverage than it did a month ago, the devastation is far from being settled. The William Street residents and staff know that and have set three major goals for the semester to help raise funds for relief.

In January, William Street students and staff met to discuss how they could make a difference and help the people of Haiti. The discussion turned into a series of fundraising events that will take place throughout the semester with all proceeds going to Doctors Without Borders.

The first event is the Valentine's Day candygrams that will be sold and distributed for Valentine's Day (and the totals are in and they've raised over $200!), the second will be a silent auction of donated student work and the third is a proposed 5K fun run/walk in collaboration with the Office of Recreation and Intramural sports (more info to come).

A huge thanks goes out the RAs responsible for making this Program of the Month Happen! Emily Markley, Iskander Ahmed and Jackie Delsandro all lead the way with a great amount of help from the residents of William Street. Keep an eye in William Street and your hall for more events to support this great cause.

Want to know how you can get involved in planing a fundraising event in your hall? Talk to any Res. Life staff member in your hall or look for the green logo (above) on flyers around the building. This indicates that proceeds from that event will go to benefit Haiti relief efforts.

Thanks William Street residents and staff and congratulations on receiving Program of The Month!

Get back into the swing....

So you've gotten through your first weeks of class and you're back to that point where you're already swamped and you have no idea how you're going to survive the semester. No fear, we've got you covered in the academic realm. It's the perfect time to take 20 minutes and outline your academic goals for the semester... stick to them and you'll feel the stress of the semester melt away (if only this would work for the snow.... )

1. SET GOALS This works for more than just your classes, but since that's what you're here for let's work on those first. This site provides you with everything you need to learn the How's and Why's to Goal setting. SMART goals and the easiest to achieve.

2. Consider your resources- Now that you've set your goals and you have direction for the semester, consider who can help and support you. Speak with your professors when you're uncertain about things or when you need a little extra motivation. Check out the University Calendar to see when events might be taking place that will give you that extra edge and make sure to make an appointment at the Writing Center to make sure that your next essay or paper is perfect.

3. Feeling Stressed? Not to worry, the pros at Student Health Services can lend a listening ear or point you in the right direction when it comes to your needs in that area of health and Wellness. Also check out a pilates, yoga or tai chi class sponsored by the Office of Recreation and Intramural sports.