Author: Brooks Barnard

Spring Break: Safety first

Brooks Barnard Community , , ,

BOSTON — Class is no longer in session, the beaches are packed, and a week of rest and relaxation is in order. It’s Spring Break time again, one of the most anticipated holidays of the year.

This year, however, the focus shifts from pleasure to safety. Since the turn of the century, safety measures have become noticeably more ineffective than in the past, and changes must occur.

Whether due to the terror attacks of September 11th, the insurgency in foreign countries, political instability, or the disappearance of Natalie Holloway, parents have more than just a few drinks to worry about this Spring Break. The biggest concern about Spring Break this year is safety. Continue reading →

Boston real estate: Dorm, apartment, or commute?

Brooks Barnard Community , , , , ,

BOSTON — Students studying at Boston colleges are finding it increasingly difficult to find decent and affordable living situations. One of the main issues for the men and women at Suffolk University is that their school is located in the affluent Beacon Hill area, which provides very few inexpensive options.Nathan R. Miller Residence HallScholars may be asking themselves, well where do I live now? Suffolk has two dorms: 150 Tremont St. and Nathan R. Miller Hall. The newly added 10 West ‘student apartments’ were built to accommodate more students, however the three dorms can only accommodate a small portion of the school.

This leaves the rest of the campus population relying on finding an apartment or commuting from a neighboring city.

Although convenient, even the dorms are marked at high prices. A double/triple room costs $5,560 a semester and a single room costs $6,310 a semester. Suffolk’s dorms are rated as the second most expensive dorms in the country. Continue reading →

Ruthie Alcaide provides ‘Unity Week’ clarity

Brooks Barnard Entertainment , , , , ,

BOSTON — Most know Ruthie Alcaide from MTV’s Real World: Hawaii as the binge drinking, trouble-making Filipino, but most are unaware of the woman behind the televised persona.

Alcaide, 21, is currently on MTV’s College Road Trip, sharing her experiences behind the scenes on the Real World to teach young adults about the entertainment industry, prejudice, drug/alcohol awareness, diversity, sexuality, and racism. As part of this tour, Alcaide visited Suffolk University on Tuesday, March 25 and gave a presentation, “Discussing Diversity with Ruthie” to support the university’s ‘Unity Week.’ Nearly 30 students came to the Donahue Café to hear her speak. Continue reading →

Radical transformation

Brooks Barnard Features, Health & Science , , , , ,

BOSTON — Most college students live in fear of the dreaded ‘freshman 15’; however, during my sophomore year of college, I experienced the opposite with my ‘sophomore 110’.

RT1 The most popular unhealthy college activities include excessive drinking, late night junk food, pizzas, fast food, and ‘café runs.’ Despite the common misconceptions about gaining weight in college, there are ways to avoid temptations and maintain, and even create, a healthy lifestyle.

The majority of college students experience anxiety over exams, all-night drinking binges, and trepidation about classes, but I experienced euphoria in a form I had never known before. In my first month of sophomore year, I weighed in at 260.5 pounds. By second semester, I had transformed my life by dropping 110 pounds in a mere five months. Continue reading →

Randall Preston: Karmic Juggernaut prodigy

Brooks Barnard Entertainment , ,

BOSTON — Randall ‘Randy’ Preston is known for being a quirky and laid-back guitarist, but his relaxed persona does not match his wild lifestyle.

Preston’s friends describe him as an original and down-to-earth guy with a huge heart. “Randy has always been eccentric. He marches to his own drum, but everyone loves him for being just like that.

“He’s unique, and in today’s world, that’s special,” said close friend, Samantha Boyd. Born in Wall, New Jersey, the 19-year-old prodigy has big dreams for his future. His dreams are not stinted by his staggering height of 5’4. Continue reading →