Welcome back Hornets!

Hello Hornets! We hope you had a relaxing and fun-filled summer. We missed you!

As we get back into the school year groove, we believe its important to not only provide our audience with the most up-to-date news, but also provide them with the week’s headlines, upcoming events, and more in an easily digestible manner right at their finger tips. After your input, we have put together The Bulletin’s FIRST bi-weekly newsletter that will run when The Bulletin is not printing.

In addition to the latest headlines, we have included back-to-school essentials for every student in this week’s newsletter. Whether you’re a freshman or a senior, we hope you find something that makes your semester run a little smoother.

All the best,

The Bulletin Staff

This week’s headlines

Student Wellness Center to offer free STI testing

The Student Wellness Center will offer free STI screenings for the first time this school year. Read the full story here.

Roger D. and Carla B. Smith Intercultural Center approaching completion

The Roger D. and Carla B. Smith Intercultural Center, which has been in progress since August of 2021, is approaching completion and is set to open later this fall. Read the full story here.

New Year, New Parking: Navigating ESU’s new parking system

In years past, resident students of Emporia State faced an annual decision to pay for the basic gray parking that generally sat some distance from the residence halls or to shell out an extra wad of cash to buy a green parking pass and make the walk to their cars a little shorter. However, a brand new parking system has been codified in an effort to mitigate expenses for students and make campus parking more accessible to staff and guests. Here’s what you need to know:

• Registration of vehicles at Police and Safety is mandatory for all ESU students and staff, and everyone with a vehicle will receive one of three different-colored stickers—green, black, or gold. These stickers are completely free to students and staff and should be placed on vehicle bumpers and rear windows for easy detection by campus police.

• On-campus students with a green sticker should be parked in the designated green lots near the residence halls between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday to avoid being ticketed by Police and Safety.

• Students who live off-campus are given black and white stickers and are permitted to park anywhere other than spaces assigned to green, gold, service vehicle or accessible parking.

• ESU staff who are not assigned gold permits are given black and gold stickers and may park in any available space other than assigned parking lots (e.g. green, gold…). Only specific faculty with the approval of the university presidents are assigned gold stickers, and these spaces require a fee. 

• Accessible parking spaces are exclusively for vehicles that display an official disability permit.

• Dedicated special use spaces are placed near particular buildings, such as Police and Safety and Memorial Union, and are to be used only for those purposes. There is 30-minute parking by Plumb Hall, Memorial Union and residence halls, some of which are for loading and unloading.

Resource Roundup: Campus resources you should know about

College can be stressful- even more so when you don’t know where to go for what you need. Amid the daily hustle and bustle, homework, exams and a part-time job, you shouldn’t have to worry about where to find academic assistance, health and counseling services, food or any other support. Here are four campus resources you should know about this school year. 

Academic Center for Excellence and Success (ACES)

Located on the second floor of William Allen White Library, the Academic Center for Excellence and Success provides tutoring and other academic assistance to students in a variety of subject areas. 

Students can schedule an appointment online through the ACES Canvas page or by going to emporia.accudemia.net. Students can also meet with a tutor during the allotted walk-in times found on the ACES Hornet Site. 

Student Accessibility and Support Services (SASS)

Student Accessibility and Support Services helps students who self-disclose that they have a documented disability receive academic and housing accommodations to be successful at Emporia State. Documentation of a disability may look like a previous high school 504 Plan or IEP, official communication from a licensed professional or a specified diagnosis alongside accommodation recommendations.

The SASS office is located on the second floor of William Allen White Library in room 209K. Students can contact SASS by email at [email protected] or by phone at (620) 341-6637. 

Student Wellness Center 

The Student Wellness Center is ESU’s one-stop-shop for health and counseling needs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Located in Morse Hall, health and counseling services are provided at low or no cost to students. 

Students receive five free counseling sessions per semester, excluding the initial intake appointment, and will have $5 for each additional visit charged to their student account. Counseling services are by appointment and can be scheduled through the wellness portal in Hornet 365 or by phone. Students also have access to free immediate access appointments during the center’s operating hours. The TELUS app is also available to students and offers counseling services to students 24/7 at no cost.

A variety of health services are available to students and are billed to insurance. If insurance does not cover the total cost of the visit, students will not have to pay more than $10. The amount will be charged to their student account and does not account for any lab or pharmacy services. 

Corky’s Cupboard

Corky’s Cupboard fulfills students’ basic needs by providing non-perishable, fresh produce, refrigerated and frozen foods and toiletry items at no cost. Students can visit Corky’s Cupboard one time per week on Monday or Thursday between 12 p.m. and 7 p.m. with their Hornet ID card.

Corky’s Cupboard is located on the basement level of the Memorial Union in room 007.

Studying 101: Where to go!

Studying in your dorm room is not always ideal. Does it seem like your upstairs neighbors rearrange their entire room every single day? Maybe you would disturb your roommate with the sight of you banging your head against the desk when you get frustrated. Perhaps you get distracted by your electronics or your SUPER comfy twin XL bed. Or maybe you need to find a place to finish your homework before it is due in your next class. No need to worry; we have you covered with the best places to study on and off campus.

The Memorial Union

The Memorial Union is centrally located on campus, making it a great spot to get some work done. Grab a bite to eat from the Hornets Nest, The Hornet Express or Starbucks, and choose between the east lobby or the center lounge to sit. If you forgot to buy school supplies, check out the bookstore and purchase whatever you need. The second floor offers some quiet corners when events aren’t taking place. The Union is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends.

William Allen White Library

In the southwest corner of campus stands the William Allen White Library, which offers many amenities. With multiple designated study spaces, private study rooms available for reservation, tutoring and a large selection of books, you can’t go wrong with choosing to study there.

The Library Learning Commons offers access to computers, a SkyPrint printer, and a vending machine. The first and second floors as well as the learning commons are great for group study sessions and projects. Reservable study rooms are available on the first floor and must be reserved 24 hours in advance through the library information desk. The second floor is also home to the Academic Center for Excellence and Success (ACES) and its many student support services, including tutoring arranged through the ACES Academic Resources classroom on Canvas. The third and fourth floors are designated quiet spaces for individual study.

The WAW Library is open from Monday through Thursday from 7:45 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday from 7:45 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. They are closed on Saturdays. However, 24/7 access to the Learning Commons and first floor is available with a Hornet ID card.

Schallenkamp Learning Commons, Visser and Cremer Halls

Every residence hall and most academic buildings also offer lounges for collaboration and individual work. Notably, the Schallenkamp Learning Commons is open to all on-campus resident students with their Hornet ID card. The learning commons includes outdoor seating, music practice rooms, an art studio, a multi-use classroom and a study room. The lounge features board games, a ping pong table, and a pool table when you need a break.

The learning commons on the first floor of Cremer Hall and Visser Hall’s first floor atrium are open 24/7 to all students with Hornet ID access for those of us who like to study late at night.

Gravel City Roasters

There are plenty of spaces to get work done off campus as well.

Gravel City Roasters coffee shop, located at 715 Commercial St., has plenty of space to focus on schoolwork in a relaxing atmosphere. They have a wide selection of in-house roasted coffee drinks, coffee-free beverages, bakery items, and salads to enjoy while you study. The building also houses Trox Gallery and Gifts, where you might find the perfect notebook or writing utensil set for your work.

Gravel City Roasters opens at 7 a.m. and closes at 7 p.m. on weekdays. On Saturdays, they are open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Middle Ground Books

Just down the street from Gravel City, Middle Ground Books is also a great place to go when you need to step away from campus. Located at 606 Commercial St., they are a bookstore that has the perfect atmosphere to get you in the academic mood with various seating arrangements. They are complete with a cafe offering tea and coffee for a mid study sesh pick-me-up.

How to survive your freshman year

One senior’s advice on how to thrive during your first year at ESU

By Asher Lefto

The idea of college accompanies different expectations. Partying and drinking and all-night study sessions all seem part and parcel of the university experience, and leaving home is an exhilarating and terrifying experience for many. Whether they’re an intense study soldier with a full course load or an avid party-goer with high social aspirations, every student that comes to Emporia State finds that they need to make some kind of change. Even the most hardcore partier learns to buckle down for exams and the most disciplined undergraduate scholar learns to let loose. So as you learn about yourself and grow throughout this year, keep a few guiding principles in mind.

Tip 1: Engage with your campus community

Everybody has a niche here. Everybody has something that makes them light up, something that inspires them. Whether you’re fascinated by psychology, politics or health, talk to the people at the Center for Student Involvement in Memorial Union about their registered student organizations. If there is anything that Emporia students are passionate about that there isn’t already a community for, they will work with you to build one.

Maybe you want to pitch ideas for big campus events; the Union Activities Council would love to hear them. Maybe you have a sport that you’ve always played, or want to pick up; our intramural sports teams would be happy to have you. Meeting new people exposes you to new ideas, helps you practice essential social skills necessary to adult life and forges bonds that last a lifetime. 

Tip 2: Get to know people in your field

Shared passion is the ultimate icebreaker. When you’re curious about something, finding yourself in a room full of people curious about the same thing is extremely exciting. Talking to other students in class contributes to the sense that everyone has something to offer in class discussions, in presentations and in our respective fields as a whole. Creating a sense of community comes with numerous curricular benefits. Missing a day of class is not so daunting when you have a friend taking notes for you, and taking exams becomes less intimidating when you can study in the company of other knowledgeable students. Interacting with your professors can build relationships that could lead to letters of recommendation and a multitude of professional opportunities. 

Above all, building those relationships enriches your understanding of your chosen field. Chatting with friends about your thoughts of a shared class might open up new ways of thinking about the class material or the assignments that you might never have otherwise considered.

Tip 3: Be conscious of your money

It’s never too early to start considering what’s in your bank account. It isn’t hard to run out of dining dollars and swipes at the cafeteria, and fast food runs can add up. Developing and revising a plan for your money throughout your college career can help you develop positive money habits and maximize the amount of money you have. 

Take advantage of campus opportunities, like job fairs. Look into apps like Handshake for employment. Visit Career Services in the Memorial Union to enhance your resume and interview skills. Staying on top of your money will not only help you graduate with some change in your pocket, but it will provide you with useful habits that will repay you tenfold in the future.

Tip 4: Know where your fees are going

ESU campus offers a plethora of free or cheap opportunities to students that come from fees built into the price of admission. What’s the point of paying for something if you’re not going to use it? 

If you feel you could benefit from therapy, the Counseling Center offers five free sessions of talk therapy per semester, not including the intake session. After the initial free sessions, a session only costs $5 per visit. In addition to a gym with plenty of useful facilities, the Student Recreation Center offers free basketball, volleyball, and all kinds of fitness classes. Figuring out where your money goes when you get charged for it can yield significant benefits and help you thrive at ESU.

Tip 5: Health matters

For some, freshman year is a time of putting off studying until the morning of an exam or partying with your buddies from sunset to sunrise. But forming bad habits and putting your health at risk when you arrive at school can negatively impact your academic performance and set a dangerous precedent for future behavior. Luckily, we have a range of campus resources to help you stay healthy. 

The Student Wellness Center in Morse Hall offers health services that are available to students at a low price. Additionally, the wellness center houses counseling services, which offers a wide range of therapies, including forms of talk therapy, art therapy and biofeedback. Students struggling with food insecurity or a shortage of supplies can turn to Corky’s Cupboard in the basement of the Memorial Union. Corky’s Cupboard is fully stocked with non-perishable foods and a range of items like toiletries and feminine products that are free for students. Amidst all of the fun and excitement of your first year, always remember to take care of yourself first.