Why it's Better to Live On!

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National statistics show that students who live on campus do better academically than those who do not.

And did you know that students living on campus…Are more likely to return to college the following year

· Are more likely to persist at college until they graduate

· Have a higher degree of satisfaction with their college experience

· Participate in more extracurricular activities on campus

· Have more interpersonal, informal interaction with faculty and peers

IT'S TRUE ! When you live on Campus:

• You have art studios and TV and study lounges downstairs
• You have a choice of five Special Interest Communities
• You have a security officer at your door 24/7 for safety
• You have laundry facilities right downstairs
• You have a better sense of connection to your community
• You have one convenient bill for everything
• You have staff available 24/7 to support you
• You get a new roommate if yours moves out
• You have an easier time making friends
• You are close to your classes
• You have leadership opportunities right in your hall
• You have free high-speed internet and cable
• You have free events and program in your hall…most of which provide free food!

Consider how all of these positively impact your experience and what it would be like if you didn't have these things!

So... go to MyNewSchool and apply for Housing Today!

Applications are Due April 1st.

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.

I Cannot Go To School Today

by Shel Silverstein

"I cannot go to school today"
Said little Peggy Ann McKay.
"I have the measles and the mumps,
A gash, a rash and purple bumps.

My mouth is wet, my throat is dry.
I'm going blind in my right eye.
My tonsils are as big as rocks,
I've counted sixteen chicken pox.

And there's one more - that's seventeen,
And don't you think my face looks green?
My leg is cut, my eyes are blue,
It might be the instamatic flu.

I cough and sneeze and gasp and choke,
I'm sure that my left leg is broke.
My hip hurts when I move my chin,
My belly button's caving in.

My back is wrenched, my ankle's sprained,
My 'pendix pains each time it rains.
My toes are cold, my toes are numb,
I have a sliver in my thumb.

My neck is stiff, my voice is weak,
I hardly whisper when I speak.
My tongue is filling up my mouth,
I think my hair is falling out.

My elbow's bent, my spine ain't straight,
My temperature is one-o-eight.
My brain is shrunk, I cannot hear,
There's a hole inside my ear.

I have a hangnail, and my heart is ...

What?

What's that? What's that you say?
You say today is .............. Saturday?

G'bye, I'm going out to play!"

It's winter break...no more classes, no more finals, no more papers...at least for a while!

Everyone in New School Student Housing and Residence Life wishes you Happy Holidays and hopes you enjoy the Winter Break. In the spirit of Penny Ann McKay...make sure to go out and play today!