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.