Campus Highlight: University of San Francisco Thanksgiving Food Drive

(Each Monday during the academic year, I feature a "Campus Highlight": a unique, interesting, and noteworthy student organization, program, or initiative that demonstrates the amazing things college students do each and every day across the country.)

I need to issue a disclaimer for this week's Campus Highlight: I used to work at the University of San Francisco and participated in their Thanksgiving Food Drive when I was there. That being said, while my experience at USF might have made me a little biased, it also provided me with a great insight into what a great event their Thanksgiving Food Drive is.

The drive aims to collect money from faculty, staff, students, and alumni to help provide "enough funds to buy food baskets for 130 families in the Western Addition neighborhood, near USF." (Storing food donations can get logistically complicated.) During a time when everyone on campus is busy preparing for the holiday themselves, the Thanksgiving Food Drive is a great way to give back to a neighboring community and a great reminder that, as stressed as you may be about, say, your paper, there's always time to give back to those who are less fortunate. The program does a great job, too, of bringing the entire community together for one cause; when I was a staff member there and volunteered, I drove my car while several students hopped out to deliver Thanksgiving dinners to several families on our delivery list. Talk about a community working together in all kinds of ways!

Keep up the great work, USF! You're doing a great job, with programs like these, to help change the world.

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A Word About Being in College and Being Politically Active

Given all the protests that are going on at college campuses across the country, I just wanted to take a moment and encourage students to be mindful about their political activism.

Do I support students being politically active, being strong members of their communities, and being agents for change? You bet I do. That kind of involvement and engagement was a large part of my own college experience. One thing I always want to encourage students to do, however, is to remember why they're in college in the first place. For many students, obtaining a college degree is a political act in and of itself. A degree provides access, training, education, knowledge, and awareness that can be used for a lifetime of advocacy.

I've seen too many students get so focused on certain movements or situations that they lose sight of their end goal: Graduation. So I say to all of you amazing students out there, championing for issues of social justice and change: Keep up the good work. And remember, too, to make sure to take care of yourself and your education along the way. After all, preserving your hard work and investment in your education is an important act, too, and one that should be nurtured.

(Need some help? Learn how to be politically active in college -- and still get your homework done.)

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Campus Highlight: MSU and UNC's Men's Basketball Teams

(Each Monday during the academic year, I feature a "Campus Highlight": a unique, interesting, and noteworthy student organization, program, or initiative that demonstrates the amazing things college students do each and every day across the country.)

Given the tragic story that emerged from Penn. State last week, I wanted to use this week's Campus Highlight to focus on the positive and admirable aspects that college athletics has to offer. In honor of Veterans Day, the Michigan State University and University of North Carolina men's basketball teams played each other in a unique setting on November 11: on board the USS Carl Vinson in California.

The game highlighted some of the best aspects of college athletics: Teamwork. Sportsmanship. Pride. Leadership. Community connections. Even showmanship. As riots broke out at Penn. State, the hardworking men and women of the USS Carl Vinson prepared their ship for a major event. And the student athletes of MSU and UNC got ready to put on a great game. Thanks!

A very special thank you and acknowledgment, then, to the MSU and UNC men's basketball players. Even though the national spotlight was somewhere else, you played a great game and showed how awesome students can be in the amazing things they do every day.

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10 Ways to Spend Thanksgiving on Campus

Some college students can't go home over Thanksgiving break. Others don't want to. Regardless of your reason, spending Thanksgiving at school doesn't have to be a bummer. These 10 ways to spend Thanksgiving on campus can help turn a potentially lame weekend into a fantastic one.

10 Ways to Spend Thanksgiving on Campus

1. Catch up on sleep. Your roommate is probably gone. The residence halls are quiet. There aren't any classes. Make the most of the peace and quiet and catch up on some long-overdue zzzzzs!

2. Relax in the quiet. Once you're caught up on sleep, take some time to enjoy the quiet. And if you're really feeling wild, go read something just for pleasure in a place that usually serves as a homework study spot.

3. Catch up on laundry. Okay, fair enough, this isn't sexy or exciting. But how awesome will it feel to have all your clothes clean, put away, and ready to go once the weekend concludes? Added bonus: You probably won't have to wait for a washer or dryer since most people have left campus.

4. Meet new people. Chances are that there are not that many people on campus over Thanksgiving break. So try talking to someone new you see in the dining hall or even in your residence hall.

5. Clean your room. Similar to laundry, it sounds like a lame way to spend your break. But you do have four free days and a messy room. Cleaning your room? Lame. Having a clean room? Awesome. And, since no one else is really around, feel free to crank your music up and rock out while picking up.

6. Get ahead on your homework. Take a look at the next few weeks in your classes and what's due at the end of the semester: It's probably not pretty. Do what you can to get ahead so that the time between Thanksgiving and the end of the semester doesn't turn into four weeks of torture.

7. Book your holiday/vacation plans home. If you can't make it home for Thanksgiving, maybe you can make it home for the winter holidays. And if you don't want to go home, now can be a great time to make alternative arrangements.

8. Do something creative and fun. Many college students are so overloaded with homework and other responsibilities that they don't have time to be creative. Paint a new painting for your room, make something out of clay, or even begin making holiday gifts with some of the time you'll have on your hands over the long Thanksgiving weekend.

9. Volunteer. True, you may not be super happy with being on campus over Thanksgiving. But at least you have shelter, access to food, and a community to support you. Consider giving back by volunteering on Thanksgiving.

10. Leave campus for a day. When's the last time you left campus and hung out at a museum? Went to the beach? Went skiing? Went hiking? Went to a movie or did some shopping? Get yourself off campus and enjoy the break, both physical and mental, from the daily grind of campus life.

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Picking a College Meal Plan

c 2008 Kelci Lynn licensed to About.com, Inc.

You've read through all the new material about your school. You know who your roommate is; you know what day you're moving in; you may have even thought about what to pack. But one thing that seems super confusing is the campus meal plan. How on earth do you figure out which one is best for you?

Difficulty: Easy

Time Required: Minimal

Here's How:

1. Research What Plans Your School Offers

   College meal plans usually take one of several forms. You may get a certain number of "meals" per semester, meaning you can enter the dining hall a pre-set number of times and eat to your heart's content. You may have something similar to a debit account, where you are charged based on what you purchase. Each time you eat, your account is debited until your balance reaches zero. Your school may also offer a combination plan (some debit, some meal credits).

2. Think About Your Eating Habits

   Be honest with yourself about your eating habits. If you are always up late, don't approach your meal plan thinking that you are suddenly going to wake up early every day and eat a healthy breakfast. Also, realize that things are going to change when you're at school. You might be up late with friends and want to order pizza at 3:00 a.m. You may have an 8:00 a.m. lab class, making breakfasts nearly impossible. By knowing your eating habits, you can adjust how you approach your meal plan as you adjust to life on campus (especially if you're trying to avoid the infamous "Freshman 15.")

3. Learn What the Start and End Dates of Your Plan Are

   Knowing the start and end dates of your plan is also important. For example, if you are given $2000 for the entire semester, using that for 12 weeks or 16 weeks makes a big difference as to how you budget. Additionally, you can check throughout the semester to see if you're on track. If the meals you've been buying your off-campus friends are really hurting your balance, offer to buy coffees instead. Or, if you have a little extra, treat your parents or friends when they come for a campus visit.

4. Find Out What the Dining Options Are on Your Campus

   Each college offers its own unique dining options. Some schools offer one main dining hall, with no outside vendors (such as Jamba Juice or Taco Bell). Some schools only offer outside vendors. Other schools have dining areas in each residence hall, and you will learn quickly which halls are more accommodating than others. Some schools, especially larger public ones, have relationships with nearby restaurants where you can use your dining plan off-campus (for that 3:00 a.m. pizza, perhaps!).

5. Look Into Handling Any Restrictions You May Have

   Most schools are also reasonably accommodating if you have eating restrictions, such as being lactose-intolerant or having religious restrictions. Learn as much as you can before you arrive on campus, but also relax and know that a lot of the smaller details will work themselves out when you arrive. Understanding the basics, though, will give you one less thing to worry about when you start classes.

6. Know What Your Options Are in Case You Need to Change After Arriving

   At least be aware of your options for changing your plan mid-semester. Most schools won't give you your unused money back, but they will let you add more money (or meal credits) later in the semester. If this is the case at your school, you may want to err on the smaller side if you're trying to decide between plans. Some schools will let you carry over unused funds or meal credits, too, which means that you won't lose any money if you don't use everything by the end of the semester. Know what your options are and try to plan accordingly.

7. Bon Appetit!

   Being informed of your own eating habits and preferences, and how those will work into what your school offers, will avoid much confusion later. Plan now so that you can focus on your academics -- and, perhaps, your cute 8:00 a.m. lab partner! -- instead of your meal plan as the semester gets into full swing.

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Where to Volunteer for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is often the time when college students reunite with their friends and families after being away (or at least busy) with school during the year. With the weekend free from classes, many college students volunteer during Thanksgiving and earn the double reward of giving back and returning to school with a little more perspective.

6 Places for College Students to Volunteer for Thanksgiving

1. A Homeless Shelter. Nearly every community has a homeless shelter that will need volunteers over the Thanksgiving weekend. You can prepare meals, serve meals, and even talk to guests.

2. A Domestic Violence or Women and Children's Shelter. Volunteering here can be a little tricky, since they may not take walk-in volunteers for safety reasons (some shelters need to keep their locations secret to protect their guests). But volunteering at a domestic violence or women and children's shelter can be incredibly rewarding.

3. A Church, Temple, Mosque, or Other Religious Location. Many religious institutions provide services, particularly around the holidays, for their members who are facing difficult times -- and even for community members in general. Keep in mind that you don't necessarily have to be a certain religion to volunteer at a religious location, either.

4. A Hospital. Who wants to spend Thanksgiving sick in a hospital? See if your local hospital takes volunteers. You can help distribute food to guests or even visit with someone who may not be able to spend the day at home with their family.

5. A Government Location (City Hall, etc.). Check with your local government to see what services they are providing for citizens who need a little help around Thanksgiving. And then see how you can help!

6. A College or Other School. Your own college might be providing meals or services for community members over the Thanksgiving weekend. You may even be able to help -- by delivering food baskets, for example -- before you head home yourself.

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Too Many Papers, Too Little Time

Mercy, it's that time of the semester: tons o' papers to write and not enough time to finish them all. (Well, to finish them and do other things, like ... sleep!)

Since your time is particularly precious over the next two weeks, I'll keep this snappy. Check out the links below for some extra tips to make your paper-writing marathon a little easier:

• How to Make a College Paper Longer
• What Actually Counts as Plagiarism Anyway?
• Citation Help for College Papers
• How to Ask for an Extension on a College Paper

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