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LOOK INSIDE:

Crimson Nights

What is UPC?

The SLC Scoop

Cool Classes

theYour Guide to

Campus Enlightenment!

Summer 2010

Copyright Union Programming Council, 2010

Brought to you by the Union Programming Council

What is The GurU?Every month, the UPC Publications Board publishes the lat-est edition of The GurU, the magazine for your campus life. The GurU is a free publication available to all U of U stu-dents that can be found at over 15 different locations across campus.

Written with you, the average student, in mind. The GurU is a lifestyle publication geared specifically towards University of Utah students. We strive to inform students of the latest happenings on campus, such as Crimson Nights, and up-coming events in the local area. From Greek Row to Rice Eccles Stadium, we know the coolest places on campus. Here at the Publications Board, our aim is to make life easier for students by providing valuable insight into the college ex-perience. With a calendar of upcoming events at the U and in Salt Lake, The GurU will always keep you in the loop.

The GurU is here to help you on your journey to enjoy all things U. Enjoy.

What is UPC?UPC is a family of seven student directors who have been selected through an extensive board interviewing process, resume review, and presentation. Their mission is to plan, organize, and develop activities on campus with the help of dozens of associate directors and hundreds of volunteers. These student directors lead the following UPC boards:

- Crimson Nights - Community Service - Arts & Special Events - Marketing - Publications - Development

As thousands of students commute to the University of Utah daily and over six thousand more live on campus, finding a place to call home is crucial to fulfilling students’ academic and experiential education.

The Union Programming Council (UPC) and A. Ray Olpin Union provide a home away from home. Through the Union, all demographics on campus are provided a safe environ-ment in which they have the opportunity to take the next step in paving a bright future: applying knowledge learned in the classroom in order to improve community, campus, and oneself. By participating in such programs and opportunities students advance their ability to lead, organize, self manage, value differences, collaborate, and become enlightened citizens who have gained experience and excel in the workforce.

UPC2

The GurU StaffKelsey Price

Grant Herron

Charlie Burnett

Editor-in-Chiefk.price@union.utah.edu

Designerg.herron@union.utah.edu

Writerc.burnett@union.utah.edu

Want to get involved with the GurU? We’re currently look-ing for writers, and graphic designers to join our team. Stop in at the UPC office in the Union Building, or email Kelsey Price at k.price@union.utah.edu for details.

Funding provided by the Publications Council and the Union Administration.

UPC serves as the heart of the Union, inviting every student to come participate, serve, and learn while enhancing their educational experience. Through these shared experiences and lifelong connections the heart of any real sense of cam-pus community comes to life.

However, what sets each Night apart from the others is its theme. The theme is first pains-takingly chosen by the Crimson Nights board. Then the party’s activities, decorations and design style are determined. For example, the last Crimson Night of spring 2010 featured a “Survivor”-style jungle theme, with one of the main attractions being a petting/holding zoo of exotic reptiles and giant bugs. Ever wrapped an 8-foot-long, 3-inch-thick snake around your shoulders? Well, I have. And let me tell you, it’s awesome. Partygoers are encouraged to dress according to the theme so they can heighten the atmosphere and the fun. The most pointed example of this is the Black Pumpkin Affair, the Crimson Nights celebration that takes place close to Halloween.

Crimson Nights take place twice each semester. Admission into the event (as well as participation in all UPC activities) is free for students with a valid U Card. Visitor policies vary between Nights, but typically you can bring a friend if they have a valid ID from another college and pay a mar-ginal entrance fee. The very first Crimson Night this year is Friday, Aug. 27, from 9 p.m to 2 a.m. So grab a group of friends and come prepared for a night of fun and food at the U’s biggest late-night party!

What would you do if you found out that the biggest late-night campus party in the nation took place right here at the University of Utah? The idea makes me squeal in excitement, and when a college student is excited about something other than a touchdown, it’s something gigantic. That big something is Crimson Nights.

The Union Programming Council (UPC) is dedicated to planning events and activities that celebrate diversity and unity in campus life. Crimson Nights is UPC’s biggest and most intensive project…so much, in fact, that an entire board is dedicated to putting it together! The event, which started in 2003, began humbly but soon grew into a phenomenon unmatched by campuses across the country. On average, more than 3,500 students at-tend Crimson Nights, with the first party of the year pushing 4,000.

So what exactly goes on at the University’s prime shindig? Well, each Crimson Night is a little different. Some popular aspects are recur-ring, including a DJ and dance floor, free food (How could we expect people to come if we didn’t offer that?) and a makeshift casino set up in the cafeteria of the A. Ray Olpin Union building.

UPC 3

Campus Life4

Let’s be honest. When it comes to school sports, football is king here. So how do show your red and white colors? By joining the Mighty Utah Student Section, of course. Affec-tionately known as The MUSS, the rowdy group is ranked as one of the top college fan sections in the country! Not only does joining the biggest student group on campus give you priority seating at games, but you get free stuff ranging from Utah logo swag and free home game tailgates. The cost to join is $35. Seats go fast!

Sign up today at alumni.utah.edu/muss.

Think of any college movie you can: Ani-mal House, Real Genius, Old School. In the movies, college is one giant party full of blondes, Greeks and misfits. Now, throw those preconceived notions of college out the window. Although we’d never dis-agree with the old cliché, “Your college years are the best years of your life,” your college experience is ultimately determined by you. In order to help you make the most of your col-lege journey, we’ve found some of the best places to go, things to do and events to

If you’re looking to pledge, Greek Row has been a part of campus for over 100 years. Located just off 100 South and above University St, Greek Row is home to a total of 11 fraternities and sororities, with over 900 members. Greek life offers formals, intramurals, philanthropy opportunities and more. LDS Student Association also offers its own ver-sion of Greek life, with 29 chapters boasting over 1,000 members. To sign up for Fall Recruitment visit greeks.utah.edu. Fall Recruitment kicks off at the annual block party on August 27.

There’s no need to leave campus to get your concert fix. Each fall, the Associated Stu-dents of the University of Utah (ASUU) bring the next big band to you at the annual Red-fest. Previous acts have included Jack’s Mannequin, Slighty Stoopid and GirlTalk. Best of all, this concert is usually free or under $10 to all students with valid student ID. Mark your calendars for this year’s Redfest on Friday, September 17 at 6:30 p.m.

What is a poor college student to do when it comes to food? Look no further than right below President’s Circle for some of the hippest and cheapest eats near campus. On Tuesdays, B&D Burgers (222 S. 1300 E.) offers the signature burger for just a dollar with the purchase of a side or drink. Big Ed’s (210 University St.) is the ultimate hole-in-the-wall joint that offers delicious breakfast any day at any time. And of course, no U student is a true Ute until they’ve eaten at The Pie Pizzeria’s original basement location (1320 E. 200 S.)

For the Music Lover

For the Sports Fan

For the Spendthrift

For Your Inner Greek God/Goddess

Making the Most of the

see. From President’s Circle to the Union, a little bit of something can be found for ev-eryone at the U. After careful consideration

(and space limitations), The GurU staff compiled the best student groups and events on campus for students to consider this upcoming year. We recommend checking out the following to make your college experience memo-rable. So whether you are sporting hipster glasses, a football jersey, or a debate

team hoodie, we’ve got the best of the U right here!

Student Life 5

Eventually, it happens to the best of us. We’re sitting there, staring at the CIS class schedule page, saying to ourselves “18 credits isn’t that bad.” Such a mindset, we learned, will get you into trouble. It is easy to overload yourself by taking too many classes. Taking 12.0 credits and a 3.8 GPA will always be better than try-ing to cram 18.0 credits into your schedule. With too many classes, you can’t balance the work-load and could easily wind up with a 1.7 GPA. As a rule, allow for two hours of study outside of class for every credit hour per week (i.e. 12 credits = 24 hours of studying).

#1 - Don’t overload your schedule

Each professor teaches a course dif-ferently, and truth be told, some teach better than others. When selecting your classes you can click the “View Course Feedback” button that will show student feedback on the profes-sor from the past semester. You can also visit independent websites like www.ratemyprofessors.com or www. professorperformance.com for more rants ant raves about professors.

#2 - Know Your Professors

“Get a counselor’s help in under-standing the general system of credit hours and class requirements. I’ve picked up and dropped a lot of class-es because I didn’t know what was going on.”

- Steven Hale, Junior

Insider Tips on Choosing Classes

Another school year is upon us and with it comes parties, Crimson Nights, football tailgates, and…oh yeah, class. Here at The GurU, we know the frustration you are likely experiencing as you attempt to navigate CIS to register for classes. With our vast knowledge and insight, we have the best tips and tricks for creating your ideal class schedule.

Take at least one class per semester that you truly want to take, not one that you need to take for gen ed or major requirements. This can be something fun like an indoor rock climbing class, or something you’ve always wanted to learn more about like modern India. Such class will not only give you a mental break, but it will likely boost your GPA and help you earn some extra credit hours.

#5 - Take a Class For You

If you’re undecided or even if you think you are decided, take your general education classes early so you can be done with them. Nothing is more obnoxious then missing one gen ed class before you can graduate. Gen eds can help you find a major, if you haven’t already. And even if you think you are sure of what you’re going to study, keep in mind that people change majors all the time, Gen eds are a good way to cir-cumvent piling up 30 credits of chemistry as a freshmen be-fore you switch to an English major.

#4 - Get Your Generals Done

If you’re a night owl, don’t even think about that 6:30 a.m. aerobics class. Chances are, midway through the semester you’ll find yourself wanting to sleep in through class rather than actually go. If you have a short attention span, avoid classes that are taught in larger chunks of time, or you’ll struggle to sit all the way through class. If you always work out in the early afternoon, schedule your classes around that. Choose a schedule you know that you can keep to for the whole semester.

#3 - Set Up a Schedule That Works for You“Make sure you take a class you en-joy…my major has a lot of require-ments and it’s great when I get a chance to earn credits but still “relax.” Find an interesting class that you don’t have to take, but want to.” - Elan Bartholomew, Sophomore, 18

A large percentage of University students come from out of state, entering this valley full of Jell-O and funeral potatoes without know-ing what to expect. At the risk of sounding like a cheesy tourism plug, SLC has something for everyone, so you needn’t fear that you will be forced to spend your college experience in front of the TV.

Love the great outdoors? Well in the words of the first Utah settlers, “This is the right place!” You are just a stone throw away from a great number of recreational opportunities. The Wasatch Mountains house dozens of hiking trails of varying difficulties and lengths that you can access with just a short drive from campus. The trails near Red Butte Garden start right on campus! If you enjoy rock climbing, the cliffs dotting Big and Little Cottonwood canyons have routes for all skill levels. There are several indoor climbing gyms in the city as well. If you’re still not sure where to start, the U’s Outdoor Recre-ation Program provides equipment rental, field trips, and classes for just about any outdoor activ-ity you can think of.

City Life6

During the winter the mountains become a popular playground for university students, with world-famous ski/snowboard resorts like Alta and Snowbird offering the greatest snow on earth. Deep powder, winding trails and beautiful scenery are only a bus ride away. Season passes are much cheaper when you buy them way early, such as in September—so plan ahead!

If you’re more the type who considers window-shopping a sport, have no fear. There is great shopping just minutes from campus. A must see is the Gateway Mall in downtown Salt Lake. Chances are that if you can’t find what you’re looking for at Gateway, it doesn’t exist, as the Gateway features everything from apparel to sporting goods to books and electronics. As an added bonus, the Gateway is home to a number of restaurants as well as a movie theater.

Looking for some good music but a little short on cash? The Twilight Concert Series, present-ed by the Salt Lake City Arts Council, takes place at the easily accessible Pioneer Park downtown and (best of all) it’s totally free! This year, the popular event will feature big names like Modest Mouse, Girl Talk, Matisyahu and others. Expect a new concert every Thursday night throughout July and August, so check the tour schedule at slcgov.com/arts/twilight. Go ahead make plans with your special someone, and don’t worry too much about money be-cause it’s FREE (although, there will definitely be vendors present, so you might actually want to bring a couple bucks for glowsticks and fried dough and stuff). Have we mentioned that the concert is free?

And if everything we’ve described still doesn’t fill up your to-do list, remember that the University of Utah campus is always buzzing with activities, events and opportunities to get involved. Student groups are constantly putting on dances, art shows, parties, and other activities…and you can be a part of it! Whether you are looking to further your enjoyment of a particular hobby, learn skills pertinent to your chosen career field, or just party and dance, the U has something for you. Sports fans will not be disappointed either, as diverse U sports run year-round and always provide exciting entertainment. You, my friend, have a lot to get stoked about.

Calendar 7

Sports8/14 - Men’s Soccer v. SLCC @ 2pm8/27 - Volleyball v. UC-Davis @ 7pm8/31 - Volleyball v. UVU @ 7pm

9/2 - Football v. Pittsburg @ 6:30pm9/3 - Women’s Soccer v. Loyla Marymount @ 7:30pm9/5 - Women’s Soccer v. Saint Mary’s @ 1pm

Campus Events7/28 - LDSSA - Red Cross Blood Drive8/27 - Greeks - Block Party on Wolcott @ 6pm8/27 - UPC - Crimson Nights @ 9pm-2am8/28-9/2 - Greeks - Recruitment8/23-9/3 - UPC - Getting U Started

Arts & Special Events7/30-8/20 - The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn @ Sundance Summer Theatre8/6-7 - Sandy Balloon Festival @ Storm Mountain Park8/11-9/26 - The Lion King @ Capitol Theatre8/18-21 - Utah County Fair @ Spanish Fork Fairgrounds8/21 - Italian Street Fair @ 300 S 400 W8/21-10/10 - Oktoberfest @ Snowbird

Concerts7/19 - Kings of Leon @ USANA 8/7 - Vans Warped Tour @ Utah State Fairpark8/16 - The Scorpions @ USANA 8/17 - Dave Matthews Band @ USANA8/29 - Doobie Brothers @ Red Butte Gardens8/31 - John Mayer @ USANA

Want to stay in the know about activities, city events, sports, and every other facet of campus life? Look for the new issue of The GurU every month to get the lat-est scoop on events happening on and around campus.

Can You Name It?

Save the Date!Crimson Nights @ The Union

August 28th, 2010

9pm - 2am

Free w/Ucard, Guests $5 w/College ID

The GurU took this picture somewhere on cam-pus. Can you outsmart him, and figure out where it is?

The first person to correctly identify our picture gets a free hug from the UPC member of his or her choice! (And a free U t-shirt.)

Time’s-a-wastin’, Utes!

Email your answers to: k.price@union.utah.edu

Save the Date!Getting U Started @ The Union

August 23 - September 3, 2010

For class days and times, check out the University of Utah’s Catalog and Class Schedules on the main website or CIS under ESSF. Classes meet at the Student Union’s Crimson CommonsRecreation Area.

Classes can be taken for credit or noncredit. Non-students can also sign up for ESSF Bowling and Billiard classes. For more information, please contact Sylvia at 801-577-4618 orsylvia.�ater@union.utah.edu

Bowling and Billiard Classes!O�ered through the Exercise and Sport

Science Fitness Department