How to Navigate the Waters of Relationships and How your Roommate Fits In

Starting College is kind of crazy. Suddenly you are tossed into a very small space with 40 thousand people, and at least some of them you are bound to find attractive. No matter what your relationship status is, or will be, there is an essential conversation that every set of roommates need to have at the beginning of fall semester: what to do about possible significant others or romantic relations.

It is almost inevitable that you or your roommate will have some sort of romantic encounter during your first year of college. And to be clear, a romantic encounter could simply be having a guy/girl over to watch Netflix on a Friday afternoon! But no matter the extent of the encounter, it is important to remember you are in a shared space. You never know what might make your roommate feel uncomfortable or unhappy – and trust me an unhappy roommate is never fun!

The key is always communication, and doing so before any situation arises. Most dramatic roommate fallouts could be prevented if the roommates had discussed boundaries and comfort zones before any situation occurs. I know it might seem awkward to have this type of “talk” with your roommate the first week of school (you just met them like two days ago) but trust me they have thought about having the “talk” with you too. Simply just ask them what they feel comfortable with happening in the room, the best method to communicate who else might be in the room at a specific time, and whatever else the two of you might think of.

Once you have open communication with your roommate, relationships in dorms is pretty smooth sailing. Just always keep in mind that you are sharing a living space with someone and they have just as much a right to be there as you do. If you feel that your roommate is forgetting that fact, it is okay to express how you are feeling, but remember you are stuck with them for a year so positivity is always key. As long as you and your roommate remain respectful and open with each other you are sure to have an awesome first year!

By: Liz Trautman (Envoy Team C) 

Five Tips and Tricks for your First Semester with a Roommate

Most first year students haven’t had to live with a roommate. They have had their own room and personal space their whole life. Sharing a room with someone makes everything a little bit harder. You have new waters to navigate with every topic. But it can be done! These tips will make your first year with your roommate just a little easier!



First and foremost, talk to your roommate.

The best thing you can do before you meet your roommate is to get to know them a little. It will help to find out their likes and dislikes. You will learn about their personality but it will be easier to learn when you live with them. The talking shouldn’t stop when the semester starts. To prevent major arguments, both of you should talk about your expectations of each other and how you feel about different situations such as guests in the beginning.


Respect their side of the room and their belongings.

Since most people haven’t had to share a room before, it may be hard for them to adapt with only having half of a room to themselves. If you learn how to be respectful of your roommates’ belongings it will help to elevate some of the conflicts that can take place. It also helps to be conscience of when they have to get up early and need sleep. Then you will be less likely to wake them up the night before.


It is okay to disagree with them sometimes.

A fight is inevitable sometimes. You’re human, and aren’t perfect. Your roommate and yourself may only have a couple things in common. It is best to handle the disagreement in a mature way that will not cause any more problems. If you need help you can always ask an RA or someone you trust!


Don’t blow things out of proportion.

Every small issue you have is not something you should have a full-scale fight with them about. If something is bothering you about them, you should talk to them about it and not let it stew in your mind. Most likely your roommate will be happy you were honest and told them about it so you can build a better relationship with them.


You don’t have to be their best friend.

I know that you live with them and that makes it extremely easy to become best friends. It is also something that doesn’t have to happen. If you become best friends that is a bonus! For your first semester, it does make it easier having someone you can go to the dining hall and different events with. But after your first year it is more likely that you will grow apart and have different friend groups and that is okay! College is a place to find yourself!

These tips aren’t all encompassing in what you may have to deal with during your first year of having a roommate. It’s tough living with a roommate but I know you can tackle it! If you have any problems at all you can always talk to any of the leads, mentors or envoys in WEPO! College is the best years of your life, don’t let a roommate change that!

By: Rebecca Aloi (Mentor Team C)

Tips for Dealing with a Difficult Roommate

Everyone goes to college thinking that their roommate will be their best friend. I’m here to tell you that’s not always the case. If you and your roommate don’t get along, don’t stress out because you are not alone. My freshman roommate and I met on Facebook like a lot of other students at Penn State. I started looking for a roommate a little too late and ended up saying yes to the first person who asked to room with me. About a month into the school year I started to notice that our living styles didn’t exactly match, she was very messy, to the point where I couldn’t even see the floor on her side of the room. After a few more months, we started to get on each other’s nerves and several issues occurred. The best thing to do is discuss any problems that you might be having. I am not very good at confrontation and I would never want to hurt anyone’s feelings, so this was difficult for me, but after a lot of built up issues we finally confronted them. At this point, we were already past the point of solving our problems on our own. The next step would be to go to the RA. After talking with my roommate, I went and talked to the RA, but I was pretty sure that I wanted to move out. My RA was okay with this and gave me my options. The next day my roommate texted me that she was moving out, I was relieved that I wouldn’t have to move all my stuff. For the longest time I felt embarrassed that I had a roommate that moved out but eventually you realize that it’s not your fault or their fault, some people just aren’t meant to live together. I ended up getting a new roommate a few weeks later and we were much more compatible. Now I am living in an apartment with one of my best friends and I couldn’t imagine a better living situation. Although I had a rough start, everything always works out in the end.

By: Sarah Spengler (Mentor Team C) 

Overview of Each Dining Hall

You’ve made it through moving in, met thousands of new faces, finally figured out how to not get lost making your way from Forum to the HUB- now it’s time to tackle your biggest challenge yet: finding food.

I know what you’re thinking- no one ever looks forward to eating at a dining hall. But it doesn’t have to be that way! Penn State has tons of options that are sure to satisfy any craving you have throughout the school year.

Penn State has one dining hall per housing area- North, South, East, West, and Pollock. And just because you live in one complex doesn’t mean you can’t try all the food in every dining hall. Each dining hall has a buffet section, which is what you typically think of when you hear dining hall. It’s all you can eat and has tons of options to choose from, with special meals for any dietary restriction you might have.

In the next few blogs, you’ll learn the specifics about the dining halls, but here’s a quick cheat sheet to give you all the info on what each place has to offer:

South: I may be a little biased because this is my commons area, but South quite possibly has the best food options on campus. On one side, you have the standard buffet, with plenty of options for both carnivores and vegetarians, complete with Happy Valley ice cream (found in every dining hall). On the other side, you have a wonderful conglomeration of a la carte mini establishments. Here you can find paninis, salads, Italian food, Mongolian food, and burrito bars (just to name a few). It’s a great option when you’re in a rush and have to run to a meeting.

East: East is a little different from the other dining halls. It has a normal buffet, but it’s only open for dinner on the weekdays and brunch on the weekends. The rest of the dining hall is completely a la carte- that being said, it has the most to choose from. You could go here every day and still not try every combination of meals offered. They offer pizza, pasta, kosher meals, vegetarian meals, burritos, wings, burgers, omelets, coffee, grilled cheese- the list goes on and on. 

West: The cookies. Need I say more? The fresh, piping hot, gooey chocolate chip cookies are the most incredible thing you will ever taste in your life. Other than the cookies, West has a great buffet selection that has a little bit of everything. There’s also an a la carte place known as the West Wing, where you can buy quick things on the go, like paninis, wraps, and salads.

North: Disclaimer: I have actually never been to North. Not because its food is inferior, I just have a hard time walking more than seven minutes unless I have the West cookies as an incentive. But fear not! The food in North is just as good as anywhere you’ll find food on campus. North features the normal dining hall like the others, and similar to the other dining halls, offers some a la carte and personalization stations. Here, you can make your own pizza and pasta just the way you like it, or customize a sandwich or salad to your choosing.

Pollock: Pollock easily has the best buffet on campus. Located on the second floor of Pollock Commons, this buffet features all different kinds of food, featuring a special entree and dessert every night. If you don’t like the special, there’s always a standard mix of veggies, protein, and pasta suit your needs. Similarly to the other dining halls, if you’re on a tight time schedule, you can grab something to go in the Mix, located downstairs in the commons.


So don’t worry about not being able to find something to eat at one of the dining halls on campus- your biggest problem will be picking what to eat with so many options to choose from! Find your favorites, try new foods, and don’t be afraid to walk the extra couple of minutes to try a new dining hall- you may find your new favorite meal!

By: Sydney Hannah (Envoy Team B) 

Pros and Cons of Pollock Dining

If you live in Pollock or South, I have good (and not-so-good) news for you - you will probably spend a lot of time at Pollock Dining Hall your first year. I lived in Ritner Building my first year, which is right next door to Pollock Commons, and this was super convenient (who doesn’t love being so close to the food!). If you don't live right next door though, you might want to know why you would or wouldn't want to eat there, so here’s the best and worst about Pollock:


PRO: All you can eat for one flat rate

If you are a big eater or love having a lot of options, Pollock offers three meals a day with entree options, soup/salad bar, pizza and pasta, as well as a sub station and ice cream (available all 3 meals, though I recommend not partaking every time!) On the weekends, a brunch is offered with waffles and omelets made to order, which is probably when you get the most bang for your buck. Plus, for the most part, portion control is in your hands, not a servers.

CON: Quantity does not ensure quality

Depending on how often you go there, you start to pick up which entrees are the best to get, and which ones are the worst. It's a buffet set-up, so this is to be expected to some degree, but if you are easily bored or picky, you will be very tired of your options very fast. Quality is subjective, but due to the nature of a rotating student workforce, quality can vary from day to day on the pizza and other student entrusted items.

PRO: Special Menu days

This is honestly my favorite part of this dining hall - about once a month, Pollock hosts a themed dinner with special (read: higher quality, expensive, and seasonal ingredients) foods at the regular rate. These days often feature decorations and other attractions, like freebies and photo booths!

CON: Not as many special dietary options

The salad bar is great, but for any vegetarians out there the pickings past that can be slim. The occasional bean burger or tofu dish may come in handy, but don't expect much past that. Ever. If you are gluten free, there is a small section with pre-made foods to heat up on your own, but that really isn't fair considering there is a hot food buffet for everyone else.

PRO: Fun space

While the other all-you-care-to-eat spaces on campus feature similar offerings, none is quite as colorful as Pollock. There are a lot of different loosely themed seating areas; booths and long tables where you can listen to the radio and sit with your friends, or smaller high top tables in rooms (themed with music and superheroes) for a more quiet, intimate setting.

CON: Busy busy busy

During rush times directly before and after classes and 5-6 pm during dinner the line can be pretty long. If you are in a rush or are really starving, the wait could be a deal breaker. Also watch out for tours during lunch and brunch, when there will be a lot of confused parents milling around!

Just remember, no matter where you eat, meal time will probably also be relaxation time. Take the first few weeks to find out where you want to eat, it will be worth it!

By: Greta Gasswint (Mentor Team B) 

Pros and Cons of Redifer Commons

Craving a pizza or sushi but not in the mood for the whole buffet? You might want to trek over to South Food District. Grab some pizza or lasagna at Piatto Felice. Order a custom wrap or panini at In a Pickle. Load up on General Tso’s chicken at Hot Steel. Or, just hang out and find a study spot among the large variety of tables scattered throughout the area.



At South, you’ve got options.

South Dining Hall, or Redifer, sits right between Pollock and downtown. Instead of one big buffet, picture several little restaurants and a wide-open seating area. It’s mostly a-la-carte options with one, slightly smaller buffet area.

One of my favorite aspects of South is the coffee shop that sells bagels and avocado toast in the morning 😋 All the employees are friendly and energetic as they steam your latte or toast your bagel. Also, it’s generally quieter in the morning so its nice to study by some of the large windows toward the back.

The salad area, Urban Garden, is another favorite of mine. After you customize your salad, you watch as the meat or protein of your choice is cooked and seasoned. The fresh vegetables are delicious and it’s a quick grab when you’re on the go.

On the flip side, if you are interested in a lot of food, sometimes the buffet doesn’t have the variety of Pollock or West Dining Hall. If you want to eat a ton, it could be pretty expensive. Also, it’s not that convenient to walk all the way over to South when you’re rushing between classes on the other side of campus. South can be far from the usual engineering class locations.

But when you do have the time, DO stop by Redifer Commons for some delicious a-la-carte options.

Oh and (one shameless plug) if you’re interested in a job during the semester, each of the cafeterias are always hiring, have flexible hours, and realize your education is a priority.

By: Gracelyne Allred (Envoy Team B)

Pros and Cons of West Dining Hall

Hello!! My name is Julia, and if you don’t know me, I am a HUGE foodie. With that said, I definitely have ample experience at each dining hall on campus ☺ So, I am here to give you the pros and cons about my favorite dining hall on campus: West!

Before I begin, each dining hall has something special to offer, but West has a few offerings that surpass the others. Let’s begin with the pros. First, West cookies. There is nothing quite like West Dining Hall’s cookies. They are always warm, gooey, and have the perfect ratio of chocolate chips to dough. There really isn’t much more to say about them besides that you must try them (with a scoop of Creamery ice cream, of course). A second pro is that West has a taco bar open every day which has the best guac. Third, every Friday, West has my favorite chicken salad. I love toasting a flat bread sandwich and making a chicken salad sandwich…it’s delicious, satisfying, and healthy. Next, in my opinion, West has the best salad bar. This dining hall is the only one that has extra special toppings, from roasted brussel sprouts to yummy quinoa salads. Finally, if you do not have time for the full dining hall experience, West has a great made-to-order place which definitely comes in handy.

Now, onto the cons. I honestly cannot think of too many negatives, but there are a few. First, it is not air conditioned. This is not an issue most of the year, but during those few hot weeks in August, you may want to consider eating at another dining hall! Secondly, it does get crowded during prime eating times. However, this is true for all dining halls, so you just have to be patient. Lastly, from my experience, the fro-yo machine at West always seems to be down. However, this could very well be fixed by next year so don’t give up hope yet!

Well, that’s my summary of West dining hall. No matter what dining hall you go to, there are tons of great options, and I am sure there is something you will find and enjoy. Now go enjoy those warm, gooey, world-famous West cookies! ☺ 

By: Julia Sternberg (Mentor Team B) 

Residence Hall Meals/Snacks Tips & Tricks

Hi and welcome to the Penn State family! Finding snacks to keep in your room is a simple way to make college life much easier for yourself. There are many times when I couldn’t get to other sources of food, for instance, if dining halls were closed, I needed to get to my 8 am quickly, I wasn’t feeling well, or my bed was just way too comfortable to make the 3-minute walk over to Findlay Commons. Here’s a list of snacks or light meals to keep in your room as you start living on campus!


Granola Bars

First, substance. Eating a Special K cereal bar may satisfy your sweet tooth but may just end up enticing your appetite for a full meal. Try bringing something more substantial, like Clif Bars or granola bars with high protein. Also, bring multiple kinds! I made the mistake of bringing a huge box from Costco, and I can’t even look at that type of granola bar anymore without feeling a little sick.

Popcorn

Ask any of my friends from my floor what my favorite snack is and they’ll immediately say microwave popcorn. They’ll mainly remember because it made our entire floor smell like movie theatre butter, but what’s not to like? I found that popcorn was a great late-night snack because it’s not too unhealthy for you, and though it’s light, a bag of popcorn can fill you up while studying. It’s also great to share with friends!


Bananas

Occasionally, I would buy a bunch of bananas at the market in the commons and they would be a great snack before morning classes or to put in my backpack for later in the day. There are even free bananas in the buffet areas of dining halls – make sure to grab one on your way out! Bananas are a great source of nutrition and fruit is a vital part of your diet that may be lacking when you start eating at dining halls. Just make sure to eat them quickly, fruit doesn’t hold up too long in dorm rooms.


Trail Mix
This was always something my family and I would pack when we went hiking, and when you’re hiking from Thomas to Hammond, trail mix will be your friend too! Bring along a couple plastic sandwich bags and you’ll be all set to go. With several kinds of nuts, your hunger will be satisfied, and the M&Ms will satisfy your sweet tooth!


Ice Cream
Though we’re all trying to eat healthy, sometimes you just need a comfort food. For me, that was ice cream. If you’re coming home from a really difficult exam or just feel stressed out, it’s okay to treat yourself to some ice cream in your freezer or another treat you enjoy. Once your stomach is happy, you’ll be ready to get back out there and conquer the world!

By:  Kaitlyn Pigeon (Envoy Team A)

Hot Spots Downtown

Are you sick of dining hall food already and you aren’t even on campus yet? Well don’t you worry… There are plenty of options downtown that offer everything you could want.

First up the most important… dessert! ☺ One of my personal favorites that most people do not know about is the homemade gelato (and sorbet) stand in Sauly Boys! You can check this website for the flavors offered each day (they change since they are made in small batches). http://www.saulyboys.com/stellasgelato/

Another favorite is the classic Kiwi frozen yogurt. Located across Atherton Street, it is the perfect quick stop and refuel. You can fill your cup with however much you want and whatever toppings you want which allows the perfect taste on a hot or stressful day.

As State College continues to grow, more and more restaurants and stores are being added. One of the more recent additions is Momotaro. What is different compared to the rest of the ice cream shops downtown is Momotaro serves rolled ice cream (Yes the trend you see on social media).

Not only are there tons of ice cream options but the donut shops keep expanding too! Not only do you have the classic dunkin donuts but state college offers Duck Donuts, Peace Love and Little Donuts and also, most recently, happy buns. Happy Buns is essentially a donut cut in half with icecream in the center sprinkled with toppings… yes it is as amazing as it sounds.



Once you are sick of your dessert be sure to check downtown for real food too... ☺ Probably the most popular place downtown, consistently, is “The Waffle Shop”. If you can find transportation I personally think the ones off campus (the North Atherton location) is way better than the one downtown but it is still the perfect brunch place to go with friends!

A quick and popular lunch place is fiddlehead. It’s a make your own salad place similar to a salad works in your local mall. Downtown State College also offers your quick and classic Chipotle, Qdoba, 5guys, Noodles & Company, Subway etc.

Some popular local dinner spots include “The Corner Room”, “The Deli and Z bar”, “The Allen Street Grill”, “Baby’s Burgers”, “Cozy Thai”, “Mad Mex” and more! The Corner Room has been in business for almost 100 years (since 1926) and is great for comfort food. Baby’s Burgers & Shakes is a 1950s style diner and Mad Mex is a Mexican-spanish restaurant (hello guac!).


By: Rachel Sternberg (Mentor Team A)

All Things Food: Easy DIY Tailgating Recipes

Penn State is known for its excellent academic programs, but Penn State Football holds its own reputation as well. We are the number one student section in the country, which is no easy feat to accomplish, so be proud of becoming part of the legacy! Along with the legacy is of course tailgating before the game to hang out with friends and family before entering the stadium. I love going to tailgates because it’s a great way to destress and have fun after a long week of academics. If you’ve never been to a game before, you’ll be impressed by the number of people that come from all over to tailgate and fill all of the surrounding fields around the stadium– 107,000 to be exact.


Although getting to see visiting family and friends while spending time outside is nice, of course the best part of tailgating is the food! Be sure to go out before the game and fill up on all the homemade goodies parents bring. Food inside Beaver Stadium can be pricey, so enjoy some yummy treats before you go in. Games average 4 hours start to finish, depending on the opponent, so you won’t want to go in hungry. Here are a few of my favorite foods that you can bring to a tailgate potluck that are cheap and easy to make in a dorm:


Brownies – every residence hall area has access to a kitchen, so if you buy a disposable pan and mix you can make your own brownies to save money rather than buying them. A disposable pan makes it easy so you don’t have to worry about getting your pan back after the game. Every kitchen area is free to use, so don’t be afraid to cook your favorite food while you’re away from home!


Buffalo chicken dip – a tailgating classic with only a few ingredients. You can even buy canned chicken that is pre-marinated in hot sauce to make it even easier. Just combine your ingredients in a bowl then save it in your dorm fridge until game day. Use your microwave to melt cheese on top.


Fruit/veggies – every week, weather permitting, there’s a market downtown in State College with fresh produce (among other things like baked goods and flowers) from local farmers. Pick up some healthy snacks at the market, then all you need is a plate to chop up your produce and serve them at your tailgate. Don’t forget the veggie dip!


Chips and salsa/guac – an easy go to that you can pick up at the convenience store in the commons without having to make anything. Always buy more than you think you’ll need because they go fast!


By: Morgan McCormick (Mentor Team A)