So you’ve decided to make a home for yourself at NIU. Wise decision.

Many unimaginable and amazing experiences await you. You are in the enviable position of having the most treasured times of your life lying ahead of you.

But you won’t experience half of them if you don’t allow yourself to spread your wings.

Think back to high school for a moment.

Aside from the abundance of caked-on makeup on girls and peach-fuzz on boys, there was a general mind-set that usually drove the students: Whoever you were, you never strayed far from that group of kids with whom you identified.

You were careful not to humiliate yourself. If you even thought about trying something new or hanging out with people who were different, most of the time, it was too risky a social gamble to attempt.

Congratulations, you are now free to drop the charade. Explore. Be free. Be whomever you wish to be.

If you see someone appearing lonely or lost, who might look a little different than you do, don’t hesitate to talk to them, or to lend them a helping hand.

That group you were thinking about joining but weren’t sure about? Join it.

The unassuming group of kids sitting at the table in the cafeteria? Take a chance and grab a seat next to them.

A wonderful idea is to make an effort to rub elbows with other people in your classes. Hey, a great excuse for picking up a phone number is the always-worthy cause of a much-needed study date for that big exam.

The key is to get yourself involved as much as possible. The beauty of the college experience is that you truly no longer need to agonize over how not to humiliate yourself or how to fit in. The ability to laugh at yourself can be an endearing quality.

You can repaint your image or reshape your identity, because you have been given a clean slate. This is an opportunity that must be taken advantage of.

Remember that no matter how lost, lonely, embarrassed or unsure you may feel, everyone else is going through or has gone through those same feelings. For all students who are newly embracing the NIU experience, humility is a common occurrence. Now is the time that perhaps the most essential character traits are developed.

If you don’t learn to laugh at yourself now, your transition will be that much more difficult in times ahead.

The most important advice that can be given to anyone making the transition to NIU is to relieve yourself of your inhibitions. Note that by this I do not mean experiment and free your mind, I simply mean be open to new people and new situations. Let yourself get involved in activities and events that before wouldn’t necessarily fit into "the cool thing to do."

The benefit of doing so may be gaining the most rewarding relationships and treasured memories of your entire college career.

So, you decided to come to NIU, eh? Good choice. However, I'm sure there are a few of you out there sitting around in your orientation groups wondering why the heck you decided to spend the next four (or five, or six) years of your life in DeKalb.

Well, let me fill you in on a few of the reasons why my friends and I decided to stick it out here.

Have you noticed the ducks on campus? They're hilarious. They waddle along Watson Creek and the East Lagoon looking like they own the place.

Honestly, I've never seen ducks more entertaining than the ones here at NIU. And many other people seem to think the same thing. Just the other day I saw a group of kids going nuts about the ducks. Ahh, ducks.

There's this thing called CornFest. If you're a country girl like me, you'll know where I'm coming from. This festival is great. There are tons of vendors lined up on Lincoln Highway; and yes, many of them do sell sweet corn.

Now, if you're from the city, you'll be able to relate to this, too. Just pretend you're at the Taste of Chicago. Granted, it's not nearly as big, but you can make it just as much fun with a little use of your imagination.

Altgeld Hall. It's a mystery to many students who go here; in fact, very few can claim that they ever have stepped foot inside of Altgeld. I hope that I will get to see the finished product of this castle before I graduate in the spring; however, I'm not holding my breath.

But you, as incoming freshmen, may get to accomplish this. I would hope that by the time you graduate the renovations will be complete.

I suppose there are some practical reasons why NIU is a good choice. One being its location to Chicago. As long as you have a car, there's no reason why being in DeKalb should hinder your visits to this magnificent city.

The city has a lot to offer, and you can use it even when you live a little more than an hour away.

It used to be that you had to leave DeKalb to find a decent place to shop. But, lo and behold, the shopping in the area has boomed over the last two years. When I started school here, there wasn't much more than Wal-Mart and Target.

Now there's Old Navy, Bath and Body Works, Pier One, Borders, Barnes and Noble and more still to come. It's crazy! But hey, at least you don't have to travel 40 minutes anymore to find a decent shirt for the bar.

And how about that Convocation Center and the new College of Business building, Barsema Hall? I've heard that those places draw people in. Here's to hoping that the Convo Center will bring in some big-name bands.

Who knows, maybe we'll see something come out of the Student Association's Big Time Entertainment committee ... or, better yet, from the Campus Activities Board. Let's all work together, guys (and gals). If the U of I can bring in big acts, so can we.

Unfortunately, I can't say very much about the nightlife in DeKalb. Once you're 21, you're free to do whatever you want. You can go to the bars and hang out there with your friends; however, until then, there's really not much to do. But I have faith in you; you made it this far in life, you'll find something to do on the weekends. Just don't go home!!!

Huskie athletics actually have been doing pretty well over the last couple of years. Coaches Joe Novak and Rob Judson really have turned the football and basketball teams around. If you stick around on weekends, like I just told you to, you'll see what I'm talking about.

There's a ton of stuff to get involved with on this campus. If you try hard enough, you will find a group of people you fit in with. If you want to get involved with politics, entertainment, religious groups or just about anything else you can imagine, you'll find your niche here at NIU. Don't be scared to join something. Just jump in and do it.

Now for a shameless plug: Have you checked out that rad student newspaper, the Northern Star? We bring you the news daily, and we try to keep you up to date on what's going on at NIU and in the city of DeKalb.

Also, you'll notice that there are tons of cool people working for the Star; who knows, maybe you can get involved here, too. Remember? I told you getting involved is a good thing.

Well, those are a few of the things that have kept us at NIU. There are so many other reasons to stick it out here, but I'll let you discover those.

Jaime Swanson

Welcome to NIU. Home of the Huskies, as well as umpteen choices of places to buy your meals.

Don't let the confusion set in just yet. There is an easy way to distinguish between Dining Dollars and Huskie Bucks.

While Dining Dollars are limited to the residence halls' dining services, Huskie Bucks are the alternative.

There are 30 establishments total, both on and off campus, at which Huskie Bucks are accepted.

Emerging in 1998 as merely a means for students to do their laundry, Kathe Shinham, associate vice president of Finance and Facilities, said Huskie Bucks have grown into a very beneficial and popular commodity among students.

"Before 1998, students had to buy tokens to do their laundry," Shinham said. "In 1998, we signed a contract with a new company which replaced all of the washers and dryers and furnished the laundry rooms with appropriate furniture. We also hooked up the machines with the OneCard, which was a big improvement and a lot easier than buying the tokens."

Shinham said it is well worth getting Huskie Bucks.

"It's like a debit card that students can use and eat without carrying cash," Shinham said.

Places that accept Huskie Bucks, besides the dining halls and laundry rooms, are the Annex, the Corner Store, the Trident, all of the establishments at the Holmes Student Center, McDonald's, Pita Pete's, the Hot Spot, Shelly's, Subway, Cuisine of India, Las Margaritas, Pagliai's Pizza and the Chesapeke Bagel Bakery.

Huskie Bucks also can be taken over the phone as well when students call in orders at these food establishments.

Staff members in the Office of the Ombudsman extend a warm welcome to new students and their families. This is an exciting time for you as you begin your studies at NIU, and we hope you enjoy the diverse cultural and educational experiences available to you in your new community.

You will find that NIU is a large and complex institution. Expectations for student responsibility are much higher than in high school. It is advisable that you become familiar with information provided in the Undergraduate Catalog, as well as the information and calendar deadlines listed in the Schedule of Classes booklet for each semester. It also is recommended that you communicate with your academic adviser on a regular basis.

Students and family members occasionally have questions about university policies or procedures and do not always know where to get help. If you need such information, contact the Office of the Ombudsman for assistance. It is one of many helpful resources available on campus, and the free services of the office are available to everyone.

Staff members in the office can offer confidential guidance and assistance if you feel a concern is not being adequately or appropriately addressed. They will listen to you and assess your situation, explain pertinent policies and procedures, identify your available options and help you to develop strategies that have proven effective in achieving resolution in similar situations. They also can direct you to individuals authorized to make policy exceptions in certain extenuating circumstances.

Typical issues brought to the attention of the ombudsman include class issues, grade appeals, disciplinary matters, housing or roommate concerns and interpersonal problems. Parents or other relatives of students are welcome to contact the office to explore strategies for addressing concerns or circumstances shared with them by a student. The sooner you contact the Office of the Ombudsman, the more options will be available for resolution of your concern.

The ombudsman is independent of the university's formal administrative structure and maintains an impartial and objective point of view toward the resolution of university concerns. The ombudsman does not advocate for individuals or impose solutions, but is an alternative campus source of information and advice for a fuller understanding of university policies and procedures. Should advocacy be desired, referrals can be made to others who serve in that role. The office does not provide legal advice, and communication with the Office of the Ombudsman does not constitute legal notice to the university.

We hope you enjoy the remainder of the summer and are looking forward to becoming a member of our community. Please do not hesitate to visit us at Holmes Student Center, Room 601, if you have any questions, or you can call us at 753-1414 for an appointment. During the summer, we are open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 the rest of the year). You also are encouraged to visit the office Web site at www.niu.edu/ombud for additional information.

Victor eRecruiting is an on-line job posting service provided for you free of charge by the NIU Career Planning and Placement Center.

Go to www.niu.edu/cppc, then click on the red Victor eRecruiting banner. Use your z-ID as your username and your birthdate as your password to access details about jobs that are available to you now or in the near future.

What kinds of jobs? All kinds!

•Part-time and/or temporary jobs for students who are looking for summer employment

•Volunteer opportunities for students who want to participate in a community improvement effort

•Full-time permanent jobs for upcoming graduates from all colleges and departments

•Jobs for alumni who have lost their jobs with downsizing companies or who are career-changers

Perhaps just as important as the actual job listings themselves are the counseling services available to NIU students. For example, do you know how to write a "good" resume? One that will really communicate your skills and interests in a way that is meaningful and compelling to potential employers?

And how about your interviewing skills? Do you feel confident that you could sit down with a recruiter and respond with clarity to questions about how your work experience and education have prepared you for the job for which you are applying? Transferable skills are important to most college graduates applying for jobs for which they have little direct experience. Can you identify your transferable skills and match them up with job requirements?

Identifying employers who are likely to have the job you are looking for is a big challenge. Will you know where to start so that you can save time, minimize rejection and narrow in on that part of the job market that will be most in need of your particular problem-solving skills?

There is a lot to think about as you approach graduation or consider job opportunities available to you while you're in school. Get some expert advice — call (815)753-1641 and make an appointment with a career counselor. Regardless of your career choice or job search questions, they can offer some practical, usable ideas that fit your particular situation.

Walk-in hours also are available if you just have a quick question or want someone to review your resume before you begin to apply for jobs. You are invited to stop in on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon between noon and 4 p.m.

Looking for more online help with your job search? At www.niu.edu/cppc, click on "Student Services." All of the information there will be useful to you, but start with "NIU Majors Information" and "Job Search Handouts." There is a ton of valuable information at these sites and you'll refer to them again and again, even after you graduate.

Good luck with your job search. Please give the Career Planning and Placement Center, Campus Life Building, Suite 220, an opportunity to help you with your job search plans.

T o the very distinguished freshman class and enthusiastic transfer students: "Welcome!" to NIU, the university of choice for today's demanding students. It is with great pleasure and humility that I write this that welcomes each of you to our grand university. It is important to know that you will be taught by an outstanding faculty and served by a highly competent administration and staff. Trust me when I say those of you who take full advantage of all this university has to offer, truly will have a successful first year and be on the right road to attaining a superb higher education. In light of those facts, I feel compelled to share a few words of wisdom with all of you on a subject near and dear to me: student discipline. As at any college or university, there are rules and standards of conduct that govern our behavior within the institution.

With this in mind, please be aware of the following:

•Acts of violence could get you expelled.

•Selling drugs could get you expelled.

•Public brawling could get you expelled.

•Sexual assault could get you expelled.

•Cheating in classes could get you expelled.

•Beating up your roommate could get you expelled.

•Stealing could get you expelled.

•Excessive and underage drinking could get you expelled.

It is my considered opinion that your parents and loved ones are very excited and proud of you attending NIU, so it is important that you do not disappoint them or yourself by being removed for disciplinary reasons. My mother often said "a hint to the wise is sufficient ..." the rest of that sentence is for those who learn in the school of hard knocks. Remember this: Your years here will be only as good as you allow them to be, and there will be numerous members of the faculty, administration and staff seeking to make them some of the best years of your life, so please allow them to do so. Student discipline also is an educational process, even when it does not make you feel good because of a violation you have committed.

I encourage all of you to visit our Web page on the University Judicial Office at Northern Illinois University and review the Student Judicial Code along with information regarding our outstanding mediation program. Again, welcome to your grand university!

College is different for everyone. Unlike high school, you have more of a say in what occurs. You, not a superintendent, decide what classes you will take and when you will take them. College is an experience you make, while high school is an experience made for you.

College, in other words, is what you make of it. You can be the type of person who parties throughout college, leaving it in a drunken stupor as you are shown the door halfway through. Or, you can be the type who just stays in your room all of the time. You only leave for classes, and maybe to go out and eat. Finally, you can be the type who finds the balance between the two.

I assure you, the balance exists. There is a middle ground between having a social life and not doing anything at all, while completing school on time and being able to look back on your college years without regret. How, you may ask?

As I sit here, eating my grilled cheese sandwich, I am struggling to think of the words to describe it. I suppose the best thing to do here is to give you some of the advice that has been given to me.

First, college does not have cliques like high school. There is no popular group, nor is there a group of geeks. There are just people. And really, you can fit in anywhere that you're comfortable. The rejection that exists in high school just doesn't seem to find a place in college. People are just people. No need to be someone you're not, or never were meant to be.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, college is the time for new beginnings. Do whatever it takes for you to have your new beginning. But don't lose sight of who you truly are. College has a funny way of bringing out the phony side of people and exposing it a like scarlet letter on your NIU sweatshirt. No need to change who or what you are. The sooner you begin to appreciate who you are, the sooner you can really enjoy your college years.

Second, unless you really want to have memories of your residence hall walls, get out and do something! There are many advantages of getting involved. First and foremost is getting to know people. And there are many organizations and clubs to that you can be involved in. For example, the Campus Activities Board has 17 different committees, ranging from concerts to corporate relations for students to become part of. (Sorry about my shameless plug, but I am the president of the organization.) CAB is where I first became involved, and it has been my home ever since. It also has been the springboard for many other opportunities.

Another advantage to becoming involved is it gives a pleasant distraction. When you're bogged down with projects and papers, sometimes going out to a meeting or an event helps clear the brain. When you come back, you'll be more energized and ready to work.

There are many other advantages to being involved, but a final advantage is that it teaches you about yourself. You learn a lot about yourself when you are faced with a challenge. You learn about how much a cause can mean to you once you become part of it. You also develop a better sense of communication (which is more like a workplace than in high school), organization, time management and critical thinking. You learn how to separate friendship from partnership, and maybe even how to be objective and ethical.

The third piece of advice I can give is to try something new. Your electives are a good opportunity to learn something new. For example, I took a geology class. I actually learned a lot, and most of it has stuck with me. Sure, my friends make fun of me when I can identify rocks just by their look and luster. But I don't care, because it was something different I tried. I promise you, if you try something new, you'll get something from it. Give new things a try, and you will have no regrets.

The last piece of advice I can give you is the best advice my parents ever have given me. Two years ago, as we were getting ready to say our goodbyes, my mom and dad looked at me and told me, "Hey, you've made it this far and we're proud of you. But why not go all the way? And, if you ever get scared, call us. We promise we won't change the phone number on you."

While I can't promise you your parents won't change your phone number on you (just kidding), I can promise you that they will always be there. And whether or not you'd like to admit it, there will be some scary times in college -- whether it's caused by the hanging onto a D by the tips of your finger nails, or the anxiety of simply being in a new place without anyone else to turn to. They will always be there -- no matter how much they may embarrass you during move-in.

So, in closing, I would just like to welcome you to NIU, and I hope you have your home here, just as I have. See you in the fall!

By now, you are no doubt tired of people telling you to make the most of your college years because they will be the best years of your life. However, if you can tolerate one more piece of advice, let me suggest that you listen to those people.

The endeavor which you are about to undertake here at Northern Illinois University offers the potential for more learning and more personal growth than you may have experienced in all of your life until now. Notice, however, that I say potential, for it is up to you to decide what you will make of it.

You join a long line of NIU students, numbering more than 150,000 and stretching back more than 100 years, each of whom came to this campus facing many of the same questions you are sorting out, each trying to map out a course for their future.

For all of them, NIU provided a solid foundation on which they could build their lives, and some used that foundation to help them attain spectacular heights.

U.S. Rep. Dennis Hastert built upon his NIU education degree to become the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Paul Sereno, a biological sciences major, used his NIU degree to launch a career that has seen him become one of the most prominent paleontologists of his generation.

Art grad Dan Castellaneta went on to become the voice of Homer Simpson. Theater Arts major Joan Allen has won three Academy Award nominations.

The names of those NIU alumni might be the most recognizable to you, but if you are from Chicagoland you have been surrounded and influenced by Northern graduates all of your life.

Our College of Education can claim as graduates more than 16,000 teachers currently working in Illinois and one quarter of the state's school administrators. One third of the city managers working in the state graduated from our world-renowned public administration program; our business graduates are recruited heavily by the leading accounting firms, banks and corporations. Our College of Law counts as alumni nearly 30 sitting judges.

The success stories go on and on, and each story began at the crossroads where you now find yourself. How your own story will be written will be shaped by the choices you make now, so I urge you to consider those decisions carefully and to challenge yourself at each step along the way. Rather than merely completing your requirements, seek out challenges, expose yourself to new ideas and learn how to think for yourself.

You have my pledge that the university, all of its faculty and staff, will do everything within their power to help make your experience here at NIU happy and productive.

Your time here at NIU can indeed be the best time of your life, but ultimately, the quality and the value of that experience will be up to you.

Roommates.

Even the word can cause problems if new students aren't used to living with someone.

Keith Kruchten, administrative vice president-elect of the Residence Hall Association, said the best way to handle living with a new roommate in tight corridors is to try to get to know one another.

"I highly recommend going to the events of New Student Welcome Days, and especially the RHA Block Party," Kruchten said. "Because this way not only are you doing something together, but it affords the opportunity to meet other new students on campus."

With every new living situation, Kruchten said that problems will occur. He said the best way to work through these situations is to talk about them in order to prevent further differences.

"Conflicts will occur, and the best way to solve them is to keep the lines of communication open," Kruchten said. "Too often, when problems arise, roommates stop talking to each other, and this just leads to more problems and the whole problem snowballs into something huge, when it started out small."

Freshman Lauren Mangold said communication is the key when dealing with a new living situation.

"You have to talk to your roommate about problems that can occur," Mangold said. "You also have to be considerate of the other person."

For Mangold, just going to dinner with her roommate helped her not only get to know her roommate better, but it also gave them an opportunity to spend time together outside of their residence hall.

"Always be considerate of each other's space and don't ever live with someone that you are really close with or even think you can be close with," Mangold suggests. "It will turn out bad."

Krista Hehl, a freshman pre-physical therapy major, also said communication is the key to a successful living situation.

"Be patient with each other," Hehl said. "You have to be more understanding toward people. I always had my own room and was not use to sharing it. At first it was kind of weird just talking on the phone with someone else in the room, but you get used to it."

Although there has been much debate regarding roommates living with someone they know, Kruchten said living with someone you don't know offers opportunity to meet new people.

"Getting a random roommate is a gamble, but almost always a good one," Kruchten said. "By living with someone you don't know, it opens you up to a new culture, a new way of thinking, a new ‘style' so to speak. College is about new experiences and living with someone you have never met before; it is one of the best growing exercises I can imagine."

Alex Underwood, president of the Residence Hall Association, agreed.

"Go out together, meet new people together, have fun together," he said. "The quickest way to bond is to have shared experiences."

Well come on in a sit a spell. Ya'll gonna git a rare opportunity to learn somethin' useful.

You will be able to hear the straight poop about De-town and Northern from someone who has lived in the area all of his natural life, me.

As you can tell by the byline that my name is Nick and, yes, I am Swedish. That doesn't really have to do with anything except that there are a lot of Swedes and Swedbergs in the area. This fact isn't important for this column though.

What matters is that you are new to NIU and need a guide to the tri-city (DeKalb, Sycamore and Cortland) area. Welcome to your Townie's Guide to the Lesser Metropolitan Area.

Eat

This is my favorite subject to talk about. If the type is smudged, it's probably because I am drooling on the paper.

Despite the apparent lack of any good restaurants, there are a few chic dining spots in the area.

If your tastes run on the expensive side, there are options for you. Restaurants like Johnny's Charhouse, 1950 DeKalb Avenue No. A, and La Za Za Trattoria, 2496 DeKalb Avenue, are some of the more expensive and classier joints.

However, if you are the typical college student - like me - you are poor. We have the standard fare of fast food restaurants and greasy spoons available for your dining pleasure. There also are the standard pizza places, like Papa John's, Dominos and Pizza Hut.

Some of the more unique pizzerias in DeKalb include Pagliai's and Pizza Villa, with its famous spinning clown doll. That thing still gives me the creeps every time I see it.

For all of you insomniacs and late-night partiers, DeKalb has two options for a sit-down restaurant meal. The Junction, 816 W. Lincoln Highway, offers the standard greasy spoon fare, but closes for a couple hours each night.

Around The Clock, 1039 W. Hillcrest Drive, on the other hand, is open 24 hours a day, no reservation required.

On the subject of restaurants, a buddy of mine raised an interesting question one day. He wondered whether I was a Lukolos or a Tom & Jerry's man. Both are similar restaurants that serve delicious carbo-loaded food.

Since I'm from around here, I prefer Tom & Jerry's and its famous gyros. Lukolos is not without its charms, though.

Drink

A staple of many college students' nightlife is the bars, and NIU is no exception. Each bar has a different personality.

Molly's Eatery and Drinkery, 1022 W. Lincoln Highway, is the quintessential meat market. Everyone I talk to says that is the place where all the pretty ladies go. And where the ladies are, so follow the men.

Fatty's, located downtown, is a bit more laid back but gets just as crowded as any bar on Tuesdays. Fatty's offers 40 cent drafts where others offer 50 cent drafts on Tuesdays.

Having recently turned 21, I only have begun going to the bars. They are fun every once in a while, but the prices are so expensive, you could easily drop a mint.

Be Merry

The key to having a good time, whether at the bars or anywhere else, is the people you surround yourself with.

Parties are fun, if you invite the right people. I have had the fortunate experience of partying with different sorts of people.

The first are my friends from back in high school. These friends, along with others from my hometown, prefer the laid-back good time. They like to play guitars and sing songs. They'd like nothing better than sit around a bonfire and drink beer till the wee hours of the night.

The other are the people I have met here at college. They are from all sorts of different places: the suburbs, down south, the big city, etc. The majority of them are from the bigger cities to the east and prefer the big parties with loud house music.

Some people I have met don't like to do either. They prefer to go to the movies or just hang out with their friends in their residence hall rooms and apartments.

I enjoy doing all of those options with people. The thing that you will figure out is what you prefer to do. You then will find people who have similar tastes. Now is the time to find out what you like and what you are like.

Nick Swedberg