I’ve always been a thrifty individual. I live for second hand stores, love when someone compliments something I’ve bought on sale, and can’t get enough of the useless junk handed out at events. Currently a sophomore at UC Riverside, I have come to discover some useful resources our campus and city provide specifically for UC Riverside students. The list below shows the six services every Highlander should start taking advantage of this school year…and did I mention they are all 100% FREE?
1. Take a walk with the Campus Safety Escort Service.
Being an underclassmen, it’s sometimes difficult getting the schedule of my choice, meaning I get stuck with the 7 pm discussion slots that nobody wants. This wouldn’t be too big of an issue, except for the fact that we’re all way too familiar with the emails UCPD sends out on a much more regular basis this school year. This is where the Campus Safety Escort Service comes into play. The CSES is an organization that ensures the safety of staff, students, and faculty members by walking them to their destination. Getting an escort is simple, you can pick up any of the red phones on campus, go to a dispatcher desk located at the HUB or Rivera Library, or if you see an escort on campus you can simply wave them down. Something as simple as having a person walking with you can prevent crimes from being committed against students.
2. Save yourself the stress and print your paper for free.
We’ve all had those kinds of days. You’ve just spent the last 6 hours writing a paper, are jacked up on sugar and caffeine, and class starts in twenty minutes. And it’s as if there is an evil printer fairy that knows we’re in a rush, tired, and generally annoyed with the sound of our own breathing, because one of the following problems happens: you’re out of ink, there’s a paper jam, or worst of all, you can’t seem to find a piece of paper anywhere! Relax. The computer labs in Olmsted, Watkins, and Sproul Hall all offer thirty free pages of printing per quarter to every registered student. All you have to do is walk in, log onto a computer, plug in your USB, and press print. It’s as easy as that. These thirty pages do not roll over onto the next quarter but are automatically renewed. So before pulling your hair out the next time your printer has difficulties, just stop by one of these three buildings and print your assignment for free.
3. Climb the UCR Rock Wall!
It’s a weekday and you can’t handle watching that episode of “How I Met Your Mother” for the millionth time again. Class starts at 8 am tomorrow so partying is out of the question, you’re too broke to cough up the cash for a movie, and so what is there left to do? Next time you’re bored check your calendar, or every Tuesday and Thursday, 6 to 8 pm, the UCR Rock Wall is free to students. No experience is necessary and they provide all the gear and assistance you might need. So round up a group of friends next Tuesday or Thursday night and go make some fun memories while burning a few calories along the way!
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4. Visit the Academic Resource Center.
We all tell ourselves that this quarter will bring better grades. We try our hardest the first two weeks of school and then something happens. We start procrastinating, stop showing up to class, and essentially check out. Luckily, the Academic Resource Center is there to help students with services such as tutoring, computer labs, and workshops aimed at helping us succeed academically. Tutoring comes in two forms; you can either drop in for help or make an appointment. The type of tutoring varies by what subject you need help with. Also, the next time you’re running around the Rivera looking for a free computer just walk across campus to the ACR computer lab because there has never been a time when I’ve had to fight to the bone for a computer there.
5. Catch a ride with the UCR Taxi.
While I don’t condone drinking to the point where you can’t drive, it happens. Sometimes our designated drivers just don’t keep their promises or we ourselves just don’t want to be left out of the fun. UCR students are lucky enough to have a service that saves us from the danger of getting home with an intoxicated driver or coughing up the cash for an expensive cab ride. The UCR Taxi is a free service to students with a valid UCR ID. This Safe Ride Program picks you up anywhere within the city limits of Riverside and offers a one way trip to your destination or back on campus.
6. Burn a few calories at the Student Recreation Center.