Of a resolution

The end of winter break means thousands of students making the long (or not so long) journey back to campus to start fresh in yet another wonderful, knowledge-filled semester at good old IU.\nSome come back eagerly, some wearily and many return having hid their dismal report cards from their parents (made infinitely easier by the fact that grades are now delivered via e-mail).\nA good majority come back with the best of intentions: It's a new year, a new semester and a time to get better grades. Realistically, a lot of people fail in that regard. \nSo, in our never-ending quest to inform and aid the student body, the IDS editorial board has decided to give you a few pointers on how to succeed in the oft unfulfilled New Year's resolution to do better in school. \nLet's start with textbooks. They are required for class. However, students mistake the meaning of the word "required" as meaning that all they have to do is make the trip to TIS College Bookstore, hunt down their books in the rat race while avoiding any potential stampedes and charge them to their parents' credit cards. \nNot quite how it works. You need to put in more effort than that. What's the point of rooting out the least used-looking copy of your used textbook if you're not actually going open it? \nTake it one step at time. We know it can be scary. One day take the book off the shelf. The next day try opening it. The third day see if you can actually bring yourself to read. You'll be a pro in no time! \nNext is the minor issue of sleep cycles and classes. Try not to stay up until 5 a.m. on Facebook stalking the out-of-your-league girl from Spanish class. Try not to stay up until 5 a.m. playing "Halo." Go to sleep, wake up and go to class. Look at it this way: If you don't go to class, you're basically paying money for a professor to give you a C, D or F. For those of you who roll out of bed and come to class as is, we're sure your educator appreciates seeing your happy face early in the morning. But your peers don't enjoy smelling you. If you get comfortable enough with the whole waking up thing, please shower. \nThe fact that 107 students were issued citations for various offenses during last semester's Welcome Week points to a minor (cough) issue with IU students and alcohol. We were particularly amused by the guy found "asleep" wearing only his boxers in the Institute for Social Research. We hope you're reading this, trashed-in-your-underwear guy!\nBy all means, party. You're in college; it would be almost blasphemous if you didn't. However, if you party to the point that you're found passed out in your underwear in various University buildings, then you have a problem that might hinder your academic success. Just maybe. \nAnd with that, good luck this semester!