Best of UNLV: Part 2

May 4, 2009 by The Rebel Yell 

To read Part 1 of the Best of UNLV click Here

BEST NEARBY COFFEE SHOP

Reader and Rebel Yell Pick: Starbucks in the Student Union

We know how you feel — you’re dead tired, you’ve been up all night working on that research project. You’re running to class but you’re dead tired so you decide to hit up the Starbucks in the Student Union, but then disaster strikes.

You finally get there and there’s a line from the cash register all the way to the staircase! Still, you know it’s the best spot for coffee on campus. So you go to class, hand in your paper, then come back to the Starbucks and wait it out… because it’s worth it.

Sure you have the option of going to the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf across the street or to the Book-n-Bean inside Lied Library, but do you really want to walk all that way — no, you definitely don’t.

But the reason you don’t want to walk to those places isn’t because it’s a far walk and would be the equivalent (time-wise) to just waiting it out in line. It’s because Starbucks makes delicious drinks we all love.

It’s because you know your baristas and they usually know you too. For as small as that Starbucks is — those baristas bang out those tall mocha lattes with two Splendas, caramel and an extra shot of espresso in no time.

The staff is kind and courteous and even when the line looks long, the wait hardly ever is.

- Sharief Ali

We would like to express our love for the Starbucks inside the Student Union with a haiku.

Starbucks is the best

No coffee can defeat them

Yay, hooray, Starbucks

— Sharief Ali

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BEST STUDY SPOT

 

Readers’ Pick: Lied Library

Ah, good old Lied Library. Where else on campus can one enjoy space, computers, pristine bathrooms and breath-taking views from the comfort of nap-inducing furniture?

In my four years on this campus, I have always found the library to be a sanctuary. The musky scent of finely aged books is comforting to me.

The versatility in study space and hang out space is perfect for our different needs. From study rooms, media viewing rooms, cell-phone free zones, cell-phone acceptable zones, restaurant style seating and desks for solo study endeavors, they’ve got it all.

The information and resources in the library are endless. E-reserves is simply a life saver. The library also carries a wide variety of films that can be watched in a private viewing room.

Although the library is fantastic, a sweater or some other covering is essential for extended study periods. The arctic climate can be overwhelming at times, especially in the summer.

I would like to personally thank the library staff for extending their hours at the end of each semester. Procrastination is a terrible, awful infliction. I have spent many a finals week logged into a computer on the upper floors, writing, until the 2 a.m. closing.

— Anisa Buttar

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BEST PLACE TO PARK

 

Readers’ Pick: Somewhere free

Duh, no kidding. Who wants to pay $125 dollars for a student annual-parking permit when you can take advantage of the system? What system — you ask? Well, I don’t know, but there’s no need to pay all that money when you have to walk a mile to get to the CBC.

Seriously, most students who buy UNLV parking permits end up parking in the Thomas and Mack, the parking garage or other designated spots around campus.

But when you arrive on campus just five minutes before class begins, let’s say 11:25 a.m., you end up parking on Tropicana Avenue and run your butt off to class, just to get there late.

Why bother? There are other ways — and many students know it. There are dozens of beautiful free parking spots!

One of the best spots is in the neighborhood behind Einstein Bros. Bagels. If you’re lucky you’ll find a spot right behind Beat The Bookstore. If you’re kind of lucky, then you’ll find a spot down the first cul-de-sac, hopefully not all the way at the end. If you’re terribly unlucky, then you have to make that first left after passing Beat The Bookstore, then park all the way down the street in a place we like to call BFE.

Still, the walk is probably about the same as the walk from any UNLV-designated parking spot, except that it’s free.

- Sharief Ali

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BEST MALL

 

Readers’ Pick: Fashion show

It’s hard to believe that there’s a shopping center on The Strip that gives students both the opportunity to max out their (or their parents’) credit card and scour the clearance racks.

At the Fashion Show, students can shop both designer boutiques and bargain bin specialty shops, without having to pay expensive tourist prices or shimmy past slot machines commonly found at malls inside casinos.

An all-age friendly atmosphere and diversity in inventory and price range is probably why students voted the Fashion Show for best mall. After shopping high-end labels like Coach and Louis Vuitton students can browse not-so-high end stores like Hot Topic and Everything But the Kitchen Sink. The Fashion Show also has fun places to socialize. Whether it’s for a date or a casual hangout, you can go to swanky places like Ra Sushi, Maggiano’s or laid-back spots like Teavana and Crazy Crepes.

- Maria Roncal

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BEST FRATERNITY

 

Readers’ Pick: Pi Kappa Alpha

So, you all voted Pike.

Pikes: long wooden shafts with a metal spearhead affixed, have been around since antiquity.

The armies of Philip II of Macedon, Alexander the Great’s father, were armed with pikes. Greek formations, in combination with the long weapon, proved to be formidable, but were eventually outclassed by superior Roman tactics.

Pikes saw a revival in the medieval era, commonly being used in a formation called the “schiltrom,” which amounted to an angry, pointy, circle of soldiers that you couldn’t get to unless you decided to invent guns for some reason.

Pikes are most famously portrayed in the film “Braveheart,” but are notoriously absent in its sequel, “The Patriot.”

In any case, UNLV’s Pikes have been a campus staple for 12 years now.

Famous Pikes in the media include longtime newscaster and TV personality Ted Koppel, country music singer Tim McGraw and SportsCenter reporter Scott Van Pelt.

— Jorge Labrador

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BEST SORORITY

 

Readers’ Pick: Alpha Delta Pi

The members of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority have just as fierce and dominant presence on campus as their mascot, Alphie the Lion.

Member and Best of UNLV Senator Sally Wong describes the members of ADPi as the most outgoing ladies she knows, adding that the sorority’s values are deeply rooted in maintaining their legacy, a strong sisterhood and Greek unity.

Recently, the members of ADPi participated in the Relay for Life, which according to Wong, comprised a majority of the board. Their collaboration with other student organizations and volunteers helped raise more than $21,000 for the American Cancer Society.

In addition to Relay for Life, ADPi raises funds for their philanthropy, The Ronald McDonald House, and holds canned food drives for them throughout the year.

Founded in 1851 by six women at Wesleyan Female College, ADPi was the first secret society for college women. It was founded for “the mental, moral, social and domestic improvement of its members.” And to this day, the members of ADPi have endorsed those values.

With their undying dedication to philanthropic causes and friendship, it goes without saying that the members of ADPi uphold their motto: We live for each other.

- Maria Roncal

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BEST BUILDING

 

Readers’ Pick: Student Union

The new Student Union opened its doors to students in July 2007 and quickly became the center of activity on campus. With a wide range of functional spaces and resources, most of UNLV’s students now find the building indispensable to their daily lives.

The SU has won design awards for it’s architecture and sustainability. Massive glass windows, sleek floor plans and clean, newer furnishings geared toward student interaction make the place not only efficient but great to look at as well. Plus, it has the best bathrooms.

Food, coffee, smoothies, shops, study rooms, lounges, meeting rooms, offices and a constant buzz of activity have also made the SU into UNLV’s social heart. The Student Union Theater hosts regular events and movies, the second floor Ballroom is constantly booked for award ceremonies, guest lecturers and even clearance sales. Meeting rooms are so heavily demanded that they require scheduling weeks in advance for use by student groups.

The building also houses a game room and an assortment of places to sit, nap, study, eat or work, depending on your inclination. Just outside, the Moyer Amphitheater provides a canopy of shade, tables with chairs and rows of grassy seating for those rare, mild Las Vegas days.

- Rob Ponte

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BEST CSUN SENATOR

 

Readers’ Pick: Sally Wong

The Rebel Yell is proud to recognize senior business representative Sally Wong for being voted the 2009 Best Senator and offers its best wishes on her engagement.

Wong identifies her connections with the leaders of student organizations as the secret to her successful tenure in office, but fellow business senator, Senate President Pro Tempore Rick Shukis, has a different take on it.

When asked last week about his colleague’s service in student government, fellow business senator and Senate President Pro Tempore Rick Shukis said, “The last two years I’ve really helped her out and everything she’s done is because of me.”

Shukis added, “She’s paying me back by taking me to her [sorority's] formal.”

Apparently the date was a success.

Wong has served in the CSUN Senate since fall of 2007. In this year’s Senate session, which has been especially focused on improving internal regulations, she has presented numerous legislative items to the Senate as chair of the Constitutional Revisions Committee.

But in her last meeting as a senator Monday, she presented the best agenda item ever.

Information item “N” read, “Sally Wong will give information to the Senate regarding her future goals to pursue future communication and interaction with Senate President Pro Tempore Rick Shukis in order to improve their current contingency.”

No sooner had the item been read than Shukis instructed all 25 members of the Senate to retrieve the “save the date” cards hidden under each of their tablecloths.

I think it’s time Wong comes to terms with the fact that their relationship is no longer a joke and start looking for a wedding dress.

- Haley Etchison

Rebel Yell Pick: Rick Shukis

Alright. We’ll admit it. Business Sen. Rick Shukis was not included as an option in the Best Senator category this year.

It could have been a simple mistake made because his name is listed in a different place on the CSUN agenda, or it could have been because Shukis has won this award twice in two years and we were tired of writing about him. We’ll let you decide.

Turns out Shukis’ fake-fiance won the readers’ choice instead, and that’s close enough to Shukis actually winning.

So, we get it. Lesson learned.. Everyone loves Shukis. We’re sorry we left him off the list. We hope selecting him as our pick for favorite senator will make it up to our loyal readers.

Actually, we don’t really mind Shukis. He’s no Adam Cronis, but apparently he held the door open for our news editor once. That’s better than how most people treat The Rebel Yell staff members.

Plus, Shukis has been a senator for three years, which means he became involved with student government fairly early into his college experience. That’s pretty impressive, considering it takes most students four years to realize they have an elected body of officials. His three winning elections (we won’t mention the loss to Cronis for student body president) mean he must be doing something right.

So, kudos to you, Rick Shukis.

- April Corbin

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BEST DORM ROOM

 

Readers’ Pick: Dayton Hall

Dayton Hall is one of the dorms named after an obscure Nevada town.

Actually, the housing complex is split up into north and south because the population of the two together would be greater than the population of the real Dayton, Nev. Apparently administrators were worried the two would be confused and students would start receiving other people’s mail.

But seriously. Dayton, Nev. has fewer than 10,000 people. Since UNLV has about 30,000, I think it’s nice that we saw fit to name our newest student housing buildings after our little Lyon County neighbor.

Maybe they’ll come down and visit one day.

We could house them all.

- Haley Etchison

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BEST PLACE TO BUY BOOKS

 

Readers’ Pick: RebelBooks

Feel like you’ve been used? You’re probably right.

They might charge $17 for a spiral notebook but you have to admit they have more used books than anywhere else.

At least you think they do. The truth is you’ve never been to another bookstore in your entire academic career because Omelet House is too delicious.

Every semester you spend $525 at books that you’ll give up after two chapters and appease your buyer’s remorse by having breakfast next door for $5.

If only those potato things could fill the hole in your pocket like they fill your tummy.

Are they fries or chips? …hash browns? It’s difficult to say.

See? The food is distracting. I haven’t thought about books for three sentences. It works, man.

What you must never allow to happen, though, is the fatal pre-book shopping omelet. You will regret it.

You’ll eat too much and head to RebelBooks feeling like you’ve expanded several feet.

With every poetry anthology you pick up you’ll feel heavier. (No? Poetry anthologies? Just me?) Not a good experience.

Learn now, you with many semesters of book buying left. You’ll make it through if the pancakes are in the future.

- Haley Etchison

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It can’t get much WORSE than this!

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WORST RESTROOM

 

Readers’ Pick: Beam Hall (BEH)

With 44% of the total votes cast, the restrooms at Frank and Estella Beam Hall won a commanding victory in the Filthiest Restroom category. While the pre-renovated FDH restrooms had the charm of childish drawings of private parts, dirty limericks, racial slurs and heated Sharpie debates, the restrooms at BEH have their own unique style of filth.

A thin layer of unknown black grime seems to linger on the floor, lower walls, sinks and toilets at all times. Stall walls actively decompose on a daily basis and as in the 1st floor men’s restroom are often completely missing, along with the toilets which they once housed. Stall design is also a problem with doors that open inward and brush against toilets, making the act of sitting down at a stall (and closing the door) practically impossible without some advanced balancing and maneuvering.

The restrooms also seem to be permanently low on supplies like toilet paper and paper towels and have bad fluorescent lighting, making everything look worse than it already is. The occurrence of clogged toilets is, for some reason, more frequent as well.

Unfortunately these restrooms are the only option for anyone in class at BEH. If its any consolation, however, the restrooms upstairs are slightly better. and the Stuudent Union is only a short walk away.

- Rob Ponte

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WORST PLACE TO PARK

 

Rebel Yell Pick: Metered parking… any metered parking

Just as Darth Vader says right when he thinks he’s frozen Luke Skywalker in carbonite, this is “All too easy.”

Most UNLV students may not realize it but they all suffer from some form of post-traumatic stress disorder caused by UNLV parking services. This means that the worst place to park at UNLV is anywhere with a parking meter.

Running late is just a fact of life. We know how it is — you’re running a few minutes late, you don’t have time to park where you normally do because it takes to long to trek to class, so you opt on trying to find an open spot in front of the Student Union with a parking meter.

But once you get there, you realize you only have two quarters, a dime, three nickels and four pennies. You realize then that you don’t have enough money to last the entirety of the class you’re headed to, but you risk it anyway.

You put in all your coinage, minus the pennies and scurry to class.

The entire time you’re in class, staring at that clock, you pray to the parking gods to have mercy on you. As soon as the teacher approaches the end of the lecture you sprint back to your car as if your life depended on it… which for most students it kind of does — who wants a $20 ticket that will become $40 12 hours after you get it? No one.

If you make it back to you car… most of the time there will be a little white envelope underneath your windshield wiper — 100 percent of the time, this will ruin your day. If there is no envelope, it completely makes your day.

What an emotional rollercoaster parking in metered spots can be.

- Sharief Ali

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WORST PLACE TO HIT ON SOMEONE

 

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Rebel Yell Pick: The Stairwell

You would think any place with dim lighting and a view of the city is bound to create some sort of romantic ambience. That is unless, you’re forced into a dimly lit, dusty stairwell with some scuzzy frat guy asking you—in his best Rico Suave voice—”So…you ever been down this stairwell?”

The reason why the Student Union stairwell is the worst place to get hit on can be summed up in one word: creepy. The same goes for the dude who lured you in there.

The stairwell isn’t exactly a hot spot for setting the mood, unless you intentionally plan to freak out the ladies.

Maybe it’s the isolation from the rest of the SU that makes the stairwell so creepy. Maybe it’s the eerie acoustics that add to its echo-y, horror movie vibe. Or maybe it’s those holes in the walls, sloppily covered up with electrical tape. Which probably resulted from someone having a Chris Brown moment or just someone who was super clumsy (and nerdy enough to be carrying around electrical tape).

The stairwell was made to be a fire escape, but that doesn’t mean it’s the place to go when things get heated. That would be the “family” restrooms.

- Maria Roncal

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WORST SECRET SOCIETY ON CAMPUS

 

Rebel Yell Pick: Ancient Order of the Scarlet & Gray

Secret societies are all the rage at certain colleges — one of the most famous being the “Skull and Bones Society” at Yale (yeah, some secret you’ve got there).

UNLV’s secret society is so secret that even The Rebel Yell has only recently come across it: The Ancient Order of the Scarlet & Gray Party.

This unholy society, in league with their reptilian overlords (who secretly control world political affairs) and 13 Atlantean kings (who created the swine flu outbreaks as part of their sinister plot to drive bigfoot herds extinct) have been pulling the strings behind UNLV affairs for decades.

They say members of The Order live like kings and have controlled countless conspiracies: The pyramids. The fall of Rome. Colonialism. Roswell. JFK. The rise of “Family Matters” and the subsequent fall of “The Sinbad Show.”

The Order is behind countless schemes at UNLV. Their methods for control are as ghastly as their ambitions.

You know who is responsible for the odor (nanomachine-laced mood depressants) outside of the library some mornings? The Order. Free scantrons (traceable by GPS)? The Order. The super-long line at Starbucks in the Student Union? The Order (to hoard the coffee). Parking tickets? The Order (to keep all the good spots).

Sustainability conferences (secretly a front for Martian mystics to infiltrate the finance sector)? The Order.

It’s all coming together… The Order may lurk in the shadows and use us like playthings, but we’re wise to them.

- Jorge Labrador

Readers’ Pick: See Best Fraternity and Best Sorority categories

 

To read Part 1 of the Best of UNLV click Here