Chicago Business

Issue date: 10/26/06 Section: Humor and A&E

As midterm week begins, don't forget to pat yourself on the back for making it thus far! This week I address more complex logistics of GSB survival as the first years move from neophytes to freshmen. I know that some of you are still wandering the Winter Garden, and I'd love to address your concerns regarding life at the GSB or even American culture. Recruiting activities for the class of 2008 are beginning, and you shouldn't hesitate to ask etiquette questions.

Next week's column will focus on managing personal relationships. Readers are encouraged to submit questions or tips for successfully balancing school and life.

I look forward to your questions by email to SSultan@ChicagoGSB.edu or anonymously by letter in my mail folder.


My cell is always roaming in the HPC and web mail is already full! What's the best way to communicate while in the HPC?

-Betty Bee-Boo-Bow-Boo-Beep

A cell phone is a must for recruiting, but service is shaky in the Hyde Park Center. Apparently the building is made of kryptonite or some other impermeable substance. The Winter Garden has better service than most rooms so a lot of students check calls there. Of course that's annoying to the rest of us who try to socialize in the Winter Garden! Take the stairs to the second level and hang off the railing. It's much quieter there and of course one level closer to any potential satellites. If you're willing to change cellular service providers, ask second years for advice. I know a few people that actually receive calls in the classroom level. That can be the difference between an open interview slot and unemployment during recruiting weeks!

Anyone who has tried to attach a document in web mail will find that there are all sorts of problems. Additionally, it undergoes maintenance at random times throughout the school year. I suggest using a more robust email exchange. Outlook works well if you plan to lug your computer to school all the time, but who wants to carry it? Any email provider is better than web mail and many (Yahoo!, Gmail, Hotmail) offer free accounts. Set your web mail to be forwarded automatically and check your ChicagoGSB pop account from that email.

Leave papers for fellow students in their mail folders. Of course this requires that people check their mail folders. Professors use the folders to return papers and recruiters use it to market their firm so do check it often! (You don't want a recruiter to find a bluebook with a big "F" in there!)


In high school, my locker served as a meeting place for my friends Donna, Kelly, and Brandon. Now I hang out with my crew in the Winter Garden. So what's the locker for?

- Dylan

The locker is a great storage place for GSB necessities including mini-bar sized bottles of liquor and lots of snack-sized chips. Bottles of water are great to dump over your head when you start to snooze in lecture. Besides these obvious class break basics, you may want to keep useful career tools. First on the list is breath mints because no recruiter will chat it up with halitosis-guy nor will it get you a hook-up at LPF. Keep an outfit for corporate presentations (with shoes). For the ladies, store some extra pantyhose, hair products, make-up, and static-guard because the GSB gets really dry in winter. Lastly, have some condoms in your locker because you never know who you may bump into in the dressing room!

Readers,

What do you keep in your locker? I will publish the most unique responses next issue.


What is Halloween?

- Haunted by American Customs

For an official history of this popular American holiday, please refer to an encyclopedia. In brief, Halloween, or All Hallows' Eve, is a day of revelry. Nowadays, it is a largely celebrated secular holiday marked by pranks, dressing in costume, and passing out candy to children.

After-school on October 31, kids dressed in disguise go door-to-door asking "Trick-or-Treat?" and receiving candy. If you live in a residential neighborhood, including Hyde Park and Lakeview, consider yourself warned: buy candies to pass out to children! (Spiteful children may play a trick on you if you answer the door empty-handed!) Some adults dress in costume to answer the door, and it is actually quite fun to see all the creative costumes and the children's reactions.

While school children wear a disguise all day, it is not common for GSBers. Instead, we save the funny outfits and debauchery for the Belgium Halloween Party which occurs on Saturday, November 4th this year. You can expect normal party fun including dancing and drinking plus your fellow students dressed in wacky outfits.


Should I drink at company recruiting events?

-Lushy Lucy

Absolutely! Drink wherever you can! (Really, that's NOT vodka in my water bottle.) On a more serious note, you should make your own decision here. You will not be judged if you have a drink, but your behavior is being judged. So if you're five feet tall and ninety pounds when wet, avoid the bar entirely. The rest of you that can act responsibly and properly limit your behavior may step right up to the bar. (I also suggest leveraging TNDC and LPF events early to build your tolerance level in time for company happy hours.)


Who do you think will win the World Series? Who should I root for?

- Wannabe Sports Fan

First of all, your favorite columnist is a White Sox fan. Moreover, I attended a Cubs-Mets game this summer with the ChicagoGSB Alumni group and rooted for the visiting team. As of the writing of this article, it's all tied up with no clear dominant team. Back to the crux of the issue, anything can happen. Who would believe that the first Heisman trophy winner was from U of Chicago?

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools