#nikoledebell

By Nikole DeBell

On a typical Sunday evening my boyfriend’s mom and I sat together and scrolled infinitely through Pinterest looking at cool nail designs. We came across this really cool looking manicure that looked as if it had little bubbles on the nails (3D). We both began searching all over the internent to find this cool polish and how to accomplish it. Well needless to say, we found it and of course it also came with a price-tag of $25.

A brand called Ciate (a European brand) sells their “caviar” manicure sets for $25 at Sephora or Nordstrom. The manicure set comes with a regular polish and then the caviar bottle.

(photo credit:http://craftynell.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Ciat%C3%A9-Caviar-Manicure.jpg)

Even on E-bay these sets are selling for at least $25 or limited edition sets selling for prices reaching $90!

We actually considered buying a set for a second there because it was undeniably cool. But then we scrolled though the reviews. Almost every single review we read said it’s really pretty and a cool idea, but doesn’t last long. We figured, if it doesn’t last, it’s probably not worth the $25. So we just kept looking on Pinterest.

Well, while my good friend Madeline and I were out for dinner yesterday we decided our night wouldn’t be complete without a late night run to the Wal-Mart makeup section. Madeline wanted some new makeup brushes and I was just browsing. As we where leaving we stopped to look at the nail polish. What did I see? THE NAIL CAVIAR! For only $5.49. Yes I said it, 5 times cheaper then the Ciate brand, and right there at Wal-Mart. The brand at Wal-Mart is called Nail Rock. I thought, if the expensive brand’s reviews said it doesn’t last, what is the worst this brand can be. If it doesn’t last it still is the exact same as the expensive brand minus the expensive name.

(Photo credit: Nikole DeBell)

Frantically I explained to Madeline my story of wanting this exact stuff a few nights ago, and how I couldn’t believe it was there. They had three color options at Wal-Mart.

1. A green polish with a multicolor caviar

2. A silver polish with a gold and white caviar

3. A bronze polish with a black and gold caviar

I have yet to try this funky manicure out because I want to surprise my boyfriend's mom with it tonight! I decided to get the black and gold caviar set which is like the color we where looking at on that Sunday night. Madeline picked up the white and gold set and it looks amazing as an accent finger manicure.

(Photo Credit: Madeline Young)

1. Watch Re-Runs of One Tree Hill on Soap Network (Weekdays from 11-3 and weekends from 8-10). This show is seriously addicting and you will not be able to stop watching until they stop playing it. 

2. https://www.stumbleupon.com/ a free website dedicated to finding random websites to waste your time. 

3. Realize your hungry, then stand at the fridge for (x) amount of time until you decide what you should eat. Then realize that wasn't what you wanted and your still hungry. Repeat cycle. 

4. Organize your closet by color and category. Depending on how much of a shopaholic you are this could take up a pretty large chunk of your day. 

5. Look up vacations online that your never going to actually go on because lets face it, we are all broke college kids. 

photo credit: Madeline Apperson

1. What is your dream job?

My dream job would most definitely be to teach english abroad (specifically to children). I have always wanted to travel the world and make a difference in some one's life.  So when I put all that together...teaching abroad is my solution.

2. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?

Ideally, I would love to live in multiple countries.  But if I had to pick one, I would choose Spain.  Spain seems to be rich with culture and history.  Not to mention I'd love to meet up with my mom's best friend who was born and raised there.

3.What do you do on your free time?

Well school keeps me pretty tied up so I don't get much free time.  When I do have some spare time I love spending it with my twin sister and my boyfriend.  There is never a dull moment between the two of them.  Oh and when I actually have money...I enjoy going thrift store shopping...or listening to DMB. (I don't get out much).

4. What are you looking forward to in the future?

For my future, I am just excited to see what happens.  I hate surprises so I might not be able to wait that long.  I will probably hit up a psychic.

5. If you could meet anyone in history who would it be and why?

Imagine looking around an elementary or high school teachers desk. What are some objects you might expect to see? Pens, paper, test,-handgun?

Photo Credit: AP Press Images.

With the recent devastation the Sandy Hook shooting brought to the United States many people are calling out for teachers to be armed. According to Gulf News online- in Chicago one school district is already allowing janitors to carry weapons in school. Texas schools have already allowed teachers to conceal weapons in the classroom and hoping to get more funding for training. 

According to NBC news--"NBC News reviewed the firearms and education laws in all 50 states and found that 18 of them allow adults to have a loaded gun on school grounds, usually as long as they have written permission."

These 18 states include:

Alabama

California

Connecticut 

Hawaii 

Idaho 

Iowa

Kentucky 

Massachusetts 

Montana

Mississippi

New Hampshire

New York

New Jersey 

Oregon

Rhode Island

Texas

Utah

Wyoming 

I however find this completely ridiculous. Allowing janitors and teachers to bring weapons to school is just enabling people to think that guns are okay. What if a student was able to somehow steal the teachers weapon and cause another massacre? If students can steal guns from their parents at home what is stopping them from finding away to steal one that is already present in the school. 

This also could put unneeded pressure on to a teacher that is there to protect the children yes, but also teach. Teachers get Masters degrees to educate children, not carry around a weapon. 

James DeBell is a high school gym teacher at Dansville High School. He would not feel comfortable bringing a gun to his work environment. 

"I'd rather there be school police, let teachers teach and trained officials be in the halls in uniforms. 

His colleague Greg McMaster, also a teacher in the Dansville School District agrees.

How do others feel about this?

http://www.polleverywhere.com/multiple_choice_polls/LTE4ODM5OTMzODM

People are taking to Twitter to express opinions about the proposal.

Tyler Chadwick (@tylerchadwick)-Listening to some atrocious proposal to arm teachers with guns. Hey America, more guns is not the answer. (https://twitter.com/tylerchadwick/status/290843027398873088)

Ross Griffith (@Ross917griffith)-Even my daughter says she would not trust teachers with guns. She said she has no problem with Police being there (https://twitter.com/Ross917Griffith/status/290637072639877121)

http://www.polleverywhere.com/multiple_choice_polls/LTk1MTE5ODEzMA

I believe that students should be safe in school yes. But I do not believe that teachers having weapons is the answer. I feel teachers should be trained in how to protect students when these horrific events do occur, but guns should be concealed by trained professionals. Police officers, school security- those types of people should be carrying guns around children. 

Struggles of a Student Athlete

By: Nikole DeBell

 College students are always busy with schoolwork, jobs, and maintaining a social life. But what if you add an athletic commitment to the mixture? Student athletes have to find a way into their already busy college schedules to have practice, games, and tournaments. Does this mean that one of the other aspects of college life has to suffer?

 Twin sisters Madeline and Mallory Apperson are student athletes at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Although they are both on the women’s basketball team together, they somewhat disagree about the struggles of being a student athlete.

 “I wouldn’t say its harder being a student athlete,” said Madeline, “there are people involved in other after school activities and hard majors who may have struggles too.”

Looking at her sister with a concerned face Mallory chimed in, “ It is definitely harder, you automatically have to commit three hours a day to practice, and that is just practice.”

 The sisters also disagreed on if there is more pressure to get good grades as a student athlete. There is a minimum GPA student athletes must obtain which is a 2.0. To Mallory, a 2.0 seems extremely obtainable and not a high standard.

 “I think there is less pressure on grades being a student athlete,” said Mallory, “people expect you to not be giving 100 percent.”

 Madeline disagreed.

 “Student athletes GPA is generally higher than the student bodies GPA,” said Madeline “I would assume this is because we are required to meet a certain GPA to play.”

 The sisters both stated that they use to resource of the Wallace Library to their advantage.

 “I go to the library right up until I have to leave for practice,” said Madeline “Then I go right back after practice because it is open late.”

 Mallory had another way of accomplishing homework.

 “I do my homework on the bus, or hotel rooms, I try to get as much done in advanced so that I don’t have to worry about it,” said Mallory.

 Along with finding time to do homework, the sisters also have to miss a lot of class for basketball travel. This puts added pressure onto the student athletes because no they need to take more time to get that work they missed. Madeline has to leave at least one class early a week.  However it was Mallory who missed the most class time.

 “This quarter I have missed half my classes, for two courses,” said Mallory.

 The subject the sisters agreed most on about student athletes was what the most difficult part is. The social aspect. Athletics can open you up to a new group of friends, your team, but it can also take you away from those who already where your friends.

 “So many times I wish I could go out and do things with my friends and not have to worry about practice or games, but you do need to worry about it,” said Madeline.

 They also stated that it takes the option of having a job away. They both agreed that while in season, basketball is their job. “What the media portrays as a college experience,” said Mallory “we don’t have and that is the worst part.”