Acorns. Photo from Insert Photographer Here on Flickr Creative Commons.

Protecting yourself from the acorn attacks

By Kaitlyn Knepp | October 18, 2011

Picture this: It’s a beautiful Fall afternoon in Chapel Hill. You’ve just finished your final midterm and now you decide to take a walk through the quad and admire the clear, Carolina blue skies and the Fall foliage. You happen to pass underneath a tree, when BAM, something hits you on the head. The culprit? An acorn. More and more unsuspecting students fall victim to these acorn attacks every day. Luckily, there are some safety precautions you can take to protect yourself from an acorn attack.

Courtesy of ungana on Flickr Creative Commons.

Keepin' It Fresh: Newbie Navigation

By Sarah Brown | October 17, 2011

The UNC Campus is a decent-sized city by itself. And we freshman are stranded. Even those who have cars can’t bring them. The vast majority of us live on South Campus and have a good mile to cover between the dorm and class on a daily basis. So how do the newbies navigate?

Photo courtesy of triangle tarheel on Flickr Creative Commons.

Parents' Weekend 2011

By Colleen Ni | October 16, 2011

Amidst roommate squabbles, mornings enhanced with shots of espresso and frustratingly intricate science labs, Parents’ Weekend was a break that helped new students put into perspective what the Carolina experience is about.

Aaj Ka Dhamaka

By Neal Smith | October 13, 2011

If you like dance, and you like Anoop, then you’ll love Aaj Ka Dhamaka. This annual intercollegiate dance competition held at UNC showcases the best in South Asian dance.

Photo courtesy of cnolan011 on Flickr Creative Commons.

Your body will thank you... later

By Amelia Fisher | October 13, 2011

With a motto like that, it is hard not to be intimidated by CrossFit, a workout designed originally for military special operation units, champion athletes, and police academy training. Focusing on exercises working every muscle in your body and performing them at high intensity levels, the 20 to 30 minute combined cardio and strength workouts are exhausting — but extremely gratifying.

Author’s picture of a quipu from a Lima archaeology museum.

From the Archives: Quipu

By Katie Gutt | October 13, 2011

What exactly is a quipu, you ask? Well, a quipu is a creation that was used in Peru and throughout the Andean region during the Incan rule. Quipus consist of a woolen base string from which multiple other strings are attached. The strings that hang off the base are usually different colors and are knotted in various places. So what was this strange mess of cords doing in a display case at Wilson Library?

Isabella Bartolucci

Recipe of the week: bacon, egg, and cheese frittata

By Isabella Bartolucci | October 12, 2011

Yes, I know that many of you readers out there have probably never heard of a frittata. It sound a little intimidating, right? Well, you’re wrong. Our good friends at Wikipedia say that a frittata is an egg-based dish similar to an omelet or quiche, enriched with additional ingredients such as meats, cheeses, vegetables, or pasta. Basically it’s baked eggs with some other stuff thrown in, not intimidating at all! Learn how to make your own frittata!

Abi Christoph

Student of the Week: Allie Weller

By Abi Christoph | October 12, 2011

Name: Allie Weller Class: 2012 Hometown: Washington Major: International Studies Minors: Portuguese, French Senior Allie Weller’s love of travel has taken her across the world. She’s backpacked through South America, climbed the Brazilian giant Pedra da Gávea, splashed in Iguazu Falls in Argentina and explored the Machu Picchu ruins in Peru. When Weller graduates, she said she hopes to join the Peace Corps in Latin America. But Weller’s adventures aren’t limited to foreign countries. After forgetting her passport for a trip to Mexico, Allie decided to change her plans and tour the southeastern U.S. She did the River Walk in San Antonio, drank hurricanes in New Orleans and ate peaches in Georgia. She recently biked from Chapel Hill to Rockingham, a distance of 92 miles, to visit her grandmother — “for the fun of it.”

Club of the Week

By Amelia Fisher | October 11, 2011

Hospitals are dreary, unwelcoming places, filled with sniffling noses and sickness, but UNC’s art therapy organization, ArtHeels, aims to bring brightness into a patient’s day with both visual and performing art.

Halloween on Franklin St. Photo from slazebni on Flickr Creative Commons.

Some #winning Halloween costume ideas

By Kaitlyn Knepp | October 11, 2011

Fall break is next week, and do you know what that means? Halloween is right around the corner! Whether you’re heading home or staying in the Hill, Fall break is the perfect time to start piecing together your costume before you head out to Franklin. If you don’t have a costume yet, don’t fret. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Courtesy of Erunion on Flickr Creative Commons.

Productive procrastination?

By Sarah Brown | October 9, 2011

Procrastination is arguably the world’s most popular occupation. It has ridiculously high employment, particularly among those aged 15-25. Click through and learn how to procrastinate — and still get things done.

Photo courtesy of magandafille on Flickr Creative Commons.

The top 5 October events at UNC

By Neal Smith | October 7, 2011

Ok, so it’s not a hundred degrees out every day, the mosquitoes are quickly vanishing, and basketball season is just a few short weeks away. Check out a few of the fun things that typically go on this month on campus, and you’ll understand why Carolina loves the fall so much.

By-The-Numbers: La Biblioteca

By Zeke Saber | October 6, 2011

When I was a young tot, I was given some intriguing advice by then-Student Body President Hogan Medlin. He said to us incoming freshmen, “I want you all to be Yes-People!” But saying yes means saying yes to the library, too…

When the quad seems too mainstream, get your reading done here

By Zeke Saber | October 6, 2011

If you are going for a liberal arts degree here at UNC, chances are you’re going to be saddled with a heavy load of reading requirements. However, sometimes reading what is required can become dull. When you reach that point where an injection of energy becomes necessary in order to get through the banal, a change of scenery often does the trick. But, Pit Talk readers, simply moving from the library to the quad is a path too well-known by the mass for you. Thus, I present to you the top five places to read for class when the quad seems too mainstream.

Photo courtesy of Digitalnative on Flickr Creative Commons.

Get some exercise and help a good cause

By Tirrill Moore | October 6, 2011

If you have been in the Pit at all this week, you’ve probably noticed the stationary bikes or heard pop music blaring from the nearby tent. For the second year in a row, Bike to Uganda has taken over the Pit. Bike to Uganda is an event sponsored by UNC’s Building Tomorrow. To show their support and raise awareness for educational needs in Uganda, participants ride a stationary bike for 30 minutes.

Photo courtesy of MebS09 on Flickr Creative Commons.

The Four "H's" of Cold Healing

By Katie Gutt | October 6, 2011

It’s about that time of the year, and it seems like everyone’s getting sick. So, whether you’re the sick one, or you’re trying to protect yourself from your roommate’s sniffles, I’ve got some college-applicable remedies to help alleviate the symptoms. Click through to check out the tips!

Katie’s finished sheet fort in her Ruffin dorm room.

Kaitlyn Knepp

DIY: Build a sheet fort

By Kaitlyn Knepp | October 4, 2011

For many of us, this week (and every week until Fall break) marks the start of midterms. With stress at a high point after studying all of those chemistry terms, it’s time to take a moment to relax. What better way to do that than build an awesome sheet fort? This childhood staple can be an escape from the pages of your textbook. It’s fun, easy and best of all completely free. What you’ll need: sheets, rubber bands/string/clips, pillows, blankets and some chairs.

Photo courtesy of framboise on Flickr Creative Commons.

Keepin' it Fresh: What's in a cookie?

By Sarah Brown | October 3, 2011

I swore to myself those dining hall cookies were going to get old. But here I am, entering week seven of my first semester at UNC, and they have yet to lose any of their delicious luster. I don’t get it. Yes, cookies are generally infused with a sugary sweetness that is hard for many to resist. Don’t tell me you’ve never craved one of these delectable varieties. But after nearly a month and a half, shouldn’t those cookies have lost at least some of their alluring qualities?

Isabella Bartolucci

Recipe of the week: peanut butter pretzel bites

By Isabella Bartolucci | October 3, 2011

We can all gives thanks to StumbleUpon, our favorite thing to do when bored, for this week’s recipe. I was stumbling during some down time between classes last week and this recipe popped up. It looked delicious — but more importantly it seemed perfect for cooking in a dorm. You don’t need an oven or a stovetop, just what you could find in your room. It’s safe to say that even the self-proclaimed “worst cooks in college” could easily manage to whip these up. To make peanut butter pretzel bites you will need: 1 cup creamy peanut butter 3 tablespoons softened butter 3 tablespoons softened cream cheese (if you can’t find any it’s fine) 1/2 cup powdered sugar (maybe a little more) 3/4 cup brown sugar (maybe a little more) small pretzels chocolate chips (semi-sweet or white chocolate)

This day in UNC history: October 1

By Neal Smith | October 2, 2011

On October 1, 1856, Benjamin S. Hedrick, a chemistry professor, became the only faculty member in the history of the university to be dismissed because of his political beliefs. Hedrick openly supported Republican candidate John C. Fremont for the presidency of the United States. He was subsequently attacked in the Raleigh press, causing substantial scandal and embarrassment to the University.

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