It’s time to spring into second semester at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and if you’re looking for some advice, here’s a shower of suggestions. School is hard, winter is cold and moist socks are uncomfortable, but finding ways to freshen up your school year isn’t an impossible task.
Access to food
Grocery shopping on a budget is always a challenge, and keeping food sustainable is another goal on many people’s minds. The Open Seat Food Pantry provides students with meal boxes at East Campus Mall. Another resource for food is Badger Fare, which loads money onto students’ Wiscards to use for groceries if they are experiencing food insecurity.
If you’re searching for sustainability, check out Regent Market Co-op for fresh, locally grown products. Free on Monday nights? Slow Food UW prepares a “pay what you can” meal each week to connect the campus community with sustainable food from farmers around southern Wisconsin.
Fun activities in Madison
While winter is still in town, try ice skating at the Shell during Open Skate, available five days a week, or the scenic Edgewater Ice Rink. You could take a relaxing stroll through the capital or drill a hole in the ice and go swimming in Lake Mendota. Consider visiting the Chazen Museum of Art for some elevated views, and the Henry Vilas Zoo to say hello to a red panda or their baby orangutan.
The Winter Carnival is coming up, and the Wisconsin union is hosting a slew of free events for students, including guest speakers and film screenings. Speaking of films, the Wisconsin Union Directorate hosts movie nights weekly at Union South.
Balancing school, social life
If you’re three Bubblrs deep at 11 p.m. and don’t know where to go to finish that essay, Kwik Trip is open all night and has both table and countertop seating. Another late-night destination, the business library is regularly open until midnight.
For academic help, UW provides tutoring to students in several ways: “Drop-In” to GUTS for last-minute help on a tricky problem or make an appointment at the writing center.
And, to fill some free time, you could join a club! The student organization fair is Jan. 31 at the Kohl Center if you want to get a sampling of new social opportunities.
Shopping near campus
Fashion fanatics will love the Dig-And-Save, where you can pay-by-the-pound and find cheap clothes and furniture alike. Proper interview attire is available for free to students at the Career Closet where you can select four pieces a semester. This spring, you don’t have to walk around with wet shoes: locations around Madison like Burlington Coat factory sell discounted winter boots.
Although winter is long and cold, spring is almost here, and the hope for warmer weather and happy faces is growing every day.
