WRIU

90.3 WRIU serves up some pretty mean dishes of tunes to rock or chill out to. They are URI’s radio station that usually has a pretty good set list going throughout the day. Sunday nights are good times for anyone who likes reggae sets, and any afternoon show has great amounts of tunes ranging from alternative to rock to classic rock and so forth. New to the station is the ability to listen to the radio over the Internet. So, anytime you want to listen to WRIU, you can do so at this link:

Basketball

One of the number one things to do here at URI is to go and see a basketball game. Our basketball team is probably the most entertaining and has the best record as far as teams go at this school. This year, in all games they played including the playoffs, they managed to be 23-11. They did not make it into the sweet sixteen, but again this year we were very close. Star players include Kaheim Seawright and Jimmy Baron. Jimmy Baron’s father is the coach of the team and definitely one of the reasons why Jimmy is such a good basketball player.
The games are usually very exciting as Jimmy can nail three point shots in any situation. Also, Kaheim can pass pretty much any defender while Keith Cothran backs up the team with a large amount of points each game. It’s really too bad that we did not make it to the bracket this year since Jimmy is graduating. Either way, I hope we can plunge forwards as we may get some good prospective athletes next year.

Surfing

Not for the weak at heart, a wintry windy swell-producing day catches many students’ eyes in the first light of day. On a nice, big and clean wave day, it is very tough to go to class. The event of waves coming into your region is pretty exciting as it makes you feel like you are part of something much, much bigger than yourself.

Many students at URI take part surfing here in Rhode Island as we have a phenomenal coastline to do so. We are exposed to open ocean from the Southwest all the way to the East for any sort of waves that are produced either coming up from southern states on the east coast or from storms that have produced waves from out in the middle of the ocean. Popular surf spots include: Narragansett Beach, Matunuck Beach, Pt. Judith and Scarborough Beach. Students need to cough up a lot of dough to keep warm in these conditions however. Wetsuits, boots and gloves can cost up to $400, and surfboards can range from $200- $2,000 for a top of the line board. URI has a surf club which meets frequently in the memorial union. Also, the surf club runs competitions that take place on Narragansett Beach as well as competitions that run as far away as second beach in Newport.

Formal Action

Chances are if you’re a URI student, you have heard Formal Action play at a party, club, or even the coffee house on campus. This band is comprised of 3 URI students who rock out to songs such as Sublime covers, Radiohead tunes, and even Bob Marley sets. About three weeks ago, they played at the coffee house located in memorial union and put on a really good show. I have seen them at a few parties and I would definitely go see them again. They can play mostly anything you ask them to, and they even have a few of their own songs that rock as well.

Winter Sports

Skiing powdery fun days is not hard to do for students in the Northeast. Colleges around New England have many readily accessible slopes. It is not uncommon to see Rhode Island plates or even a Rhode Island University sticker on the back of vehicles parked at the slopes. Many students commit their weekends in the winter and pay a hefty seasons pass rate to get to ski or ride. Recently on campus, there was a rail jam that highlighted some student’s abilities to grind rails. Braving the cold and snow up north is definitely a great way to spend part of winter and it sure beats a winter less adventurous stuck in a cold and rainy Rhode Island!

Spring Football!

Last Saturday, April 25, the spring football scrimmage was held at Meade Stadium. The teams were Rhody V. Rhody! White vs. Blue. Each team was comprised of a mix of players, however the majority of the upperclassmen were on the blue team. This game was not your average football game, as the scrimmage was comprised of four specific ground rules. The game will last for four twelve-minute quarters, each series will begin on the 35-yard line after the opposing team scores, each team is allowed one trick play per quarter, and finally, the quarterback cannot be tackled. This conservative style game lead to a large influx of scoring as the game ended after an overtime battle with the blue team coming out on top 20-14. Highlights of the game included the white team tying the game at 14 with 51 seconds remaining in regulation, and the blocked extra point attempt at the end of the game. Lets hope that our new head coach, Joe Trainer can get the team back on track since our Rhody Rams have not had a winning season in a good couple of years.

The Burger Shack

New to URI this semester, The Burger Shack is located in the corner of the emporium that leads out to the church parking lot. More specifically, it is next to Rhode Island Books. This burger themed restaurant is refreshing to the emporium, as it does not have any quality places to grab a burger and fries. We do not have any fast-food style restaurants, which is nice to see on campus, so the burger shack will have to do as a burger lovers restaurant. Burgers range from red meat to chicken and they even a vegetarian burger. The fries at the shack are pretty good and do not taste like your everyday fry. It’s too bad that this restaurant like many others on campus is not open until late night, being until two o’clock. If so, they would have a lot of business!

Beach Days!

Students who brave the cold and rainy Rhode Island winters find themselves to be rewarded at the end of the semester when the warm weather FINALLY comes. In the past week, temperatures have risen to above seventy degrees and many students have gladly let go of their books to spend time at the beach. Popular beaches include: Narragansett Beach, Scarborough Beach, Matunuck Beach, and East Matunuck Beach. Many articles of clothing show that students of URI are present. Popular activities for students at the beach include frisbee, baseball, and tossing around a lacrosse ball. Alcoholic beverages are not allowed at many of these beaches, however a few beach-goers sneak away a beer or two in the surrender of the sun and surf.

Cumby's

Cumberland farms seems to be the local 7-11 version of a convenience mart on campus and around Rhode Island. Here on campus we have one located at the entrance of the emporium across from Dunkin’ Donuts. You can find anything that is on the list for a grab and go treat and can even find some quick items like school supplies or a carton of eggs. The staff is always friendly and will usually let you sneak by if your total purchase comes to $3.50 and you only have $3.25. If you can find a Cumberland farms that sells gasoline you will be pretty happy as well. Gas at Cumby’s is typically 10-15 cents cheaper per gallon than most gas stations, and in this economy, it’s well worth a smile.

Abusing the 4-way stop sign on Upper College road

From what I can remember at driving school four years ago, it is proper and the legal way to stop at a four way stop sign. The order of vehicles passing the stop sign should follow a counter-clockwise pattern following the first car to arrive at the sign. Somehow it never seems to work that way on Upper College road at the 4-way stop sign located where Campus Avenue crosses Upper College road and turns into Briar Lane. I pass through that stop sign every single time I arrive and am leaving campus. The majority of the time, I have seen cars get cutoff, pedestrians almost being run over, and students who drive with attitude flooring their cars after slightly tapping the breaks at the stop sign. I’m not trying to say I’m the perfect driver, but this is not rocket science here! Stop at the stop sign, wait for the car to the left of you to cross through the intersection, and then it’s your turn!

Premium Parking Spots

It is not uncommon to find many early morning URI students who find the best parking spots on campus. Many of these spots such as the church parking lot, the parking lot next to the emporium and the lot located behind the fine arts center fill up before ten o’clock. It is a constant struggle to find parking with so many commuter students battling for spots all day. However, you can always find a spot in the Ryan center parking lot if you are committed to walking at least five minutes more while an increasing slope tries to tell you not to go to class!

The Quad

On any sunny moderately warm day students can be seen lounging in the quad between classes. Perhaps reading a book, throwing a frisbee or football, listening to music, talking with friends, or even taking a nap. Especially in the warm early days of the fall semester, or late spring, many students will use URI's green space as well as they can. Some days there are Greek Life activities, and some days there can be tables set up in the quad to display information on clubs and teams. Any dose of fresh breath outside of classrooms in the shining sun is a good way for students to relax. The vitamin D they are absorbing from the sun is good for defending immune systems and enjoying a nice day is tremendous for reliving stress. It does not matter how you spend time on the quad as long as it is a stress free environment for you and those around you. The URI web page even has two cameras in the quad in case you would like to check the weather or check out what is going on outside, here's the site: http://www.uri.edu/home/about/livevideo_quad_east.html.

Skateboarding Through Campus

Watch out URI campus. Early spring starts the skateboarding season again as snow and rain come to a stop and streets dry out throughout the campus. As walking across campus can be up to a fifteen minute hike up and down hills and cutting through grass paths, skating is not a bad idea for a vehicle on campus. In fact it is a lot of fun as skaters are often seen coming down Ranger, Lippit, and West Alumni Avenue. Not even to mention cutting across the quad and all spread out through campus with car to classroom access much faster than walking. It's common to see more long board skateboards on campus as we have large and long hills to propel skaters bombing downhill. However there has been a lot of short board skateboards that are more for tricks than cruising around, but can be used for both. A skate shop on campus would be pretty good to have for URI as so many students are forced to order parts online or take a trip into Narragansett to Gansett Juice or Warm Winds skate and surf shops.

If you attend URI, like tex-mex style food, then this is the place to go. Items on the menu include burritos, tacos, quesidillas, rice and bean plates, and a delicious blend of hot sauces to your liking at every table. Caliente also has affordable pricing for college kids looking to grab a quick bite. The restaurant is located in the Kingston Emporium directly across from the Rhode Island Book Company. Unfortunately, they do not have the needs necessary to deliver unless you live on-campus. There is even a fun challenge at this tex-mex establishment. It's called the mad-dog challenge and you need to finish two wicked hot burritos in the fastest time to get your face on the picture boards hanging from the wall. My personal favorites here include the pipeline burrito as well as the king ranch burrito. These burritos come in an XXL size and are absolutely delicious. Caliente receives a four and a half out of five for the quality, ambiance, and affordable pricing of their restaurant compared to other restaurants on campus. The owners of Caliente have just opened up a restaurant called the The Burger Shack located in the Kingston Emporium as well. The restaurant is located on the opposite side of caliente tucked away in the corner next to the employees parking lot. Caliente can be reached at 401-284-2816.

Coffee!

A staple in every college student's fridge or pantry. Coffee is know to fuel many of us through our day's. The jolt from coffee can aid in attending and staying awake in morning, afternoon and night classes. Many URI students attend hot spots such as: Dunkin' Donuts, Bagelz, Starbucks, Tim Horton's, and local coffee shops and houses to keep the buzz going. You can often see this author at Bagelz, and Tim Hortons across the area. Caffeine habits can start easily in college and can continue for the rest of someone's life. So these businesses have focused on college campuses and have captured a market full of ready and willing participants who will come back for more. A caffeine habit can turn into a mild addiction for college students. We have all seen said person wide eyed and brimming with energy perhaps too much energy. Just like the image to the left looks. Coffee is not the only source of caffeine for college students, tea, energy drinks and now sodas can give a much need boost of energy. Going out to coffee as a social function such as friend meeting friend or simply as a way of getting to know somebody are things that college students do also as a pastime. It is enjoyable to have a buzz through the day that keeps you moving. Sharing that buzz with friends is also another way that relationships keep intact.