It has often been said that sugar, spice, and everything nice is the common formula required to cre­ate the perfect girl. Often executed in the form of pigtails, glitter, and all things pink, girls are also ex­pected to follow a special social set of rules, simply labeled “girl code”; the laws which have served as the inspiration behind several online blogs, publications and now a brand new television show on MTV called “Girl Code.”

In a recent article published in the Journal of Personality and So­cial Psychology, Bobbi Carothers and Harry Reis created a test in or­der to see whether men and women should be set in separate interest categories. The results showed that college men and women do, in fact, often have different hobbies. Ac­tivities such as boxing, construc­tion, playing golf, playing video­games and watching pornography were more interesting to guys. In contrast, taking a bath, talking on the phone, scrapbooking, watch­ing talk shows, and cosmetics were more interesting to girls.

It would appear then that the laws, and the several stereotypes that accompany them, have gained a mass following and power status amongst the female populous. So much media attention aids in fur­thering the two sexes, especially in the cases of relationship expec­tations, the notable difference in sports interests, and, of course, where and how their money is spent.

1.) Relationships and Icebergs

Usually women are the ones branded as overly emotional in relationships and come off as ex­pecting too much from their signif­icant others, whereas men are the calmer type with the lackadaisical attitude about most matters which often cause alarm in women.

Contrary to the common college belief, beach bodies do not just magically appear by going to the gym. A healthy diet is an impor­tant step in order to lose weight which is rather difficult to stick to when there are limited options for many college students. With the academic year almost over, there are only a few weeks left to lose those unwanted pounds for sum­mer.

It all begins with breakfast so put down the bagel. Start off your day with eggs, which are loaded with protein, giving you a jump start to your day. In fact, livestrong.com wrote that egg whites and egg yolks are essen­tial nutrients that allow your body to properly function. While the healthy option is to only eat the whites, egg yolk is filled with vi­tamin E and will keep you feeling full for a while.

If eggs are not your preference, yogurt is always a great alterna­tive, particularly Greek yogurt. Make sure to read the label for Greek yogurts because the nutri­tion varies from brand to brand. If you prefer regular yogurt over Greek, low-fat brands are your best option when trying to reduce your calorie intake. Greek yogurt contains protein and is an excel­lent source of calcium.

In your lunch menu, make sure to incorporate leafy green vegeta­bles for a quick way to flatten your stomach. In reality, it would be beneficial to include leafy greens at every meal. Romaine lettuce, spinach, and kale are low in calo­ries and full of fiber that offer vi­tamins and minerals and also will help reduce bloating.

Athletic trainer and adjunct professor, Nick Scaramazza said, “The biggest thing is cutting out processed foods and incorporat­ing natural foods. Foods high in fiber, low in fat, and with a low caloric intake are smart choices. More of limiting foods of high calories and high in carbohy­drates will assist in weight loss. Eating fruits and veggies which are high in fiber allows you to feel full more quickly.”

It is inherent that fruits and veg­etables are great options. In order to make them even healthier, try to buy organic. While pricey, they are grown with fewer chemi­cals and can be considered a bet­ter choice than most. One of the healthiest eating habits is to make vegetables the main focus of your meals.

Senior health and physical edu­cation major Cassie Campasano said, “Fruits and vegetables are an easy grab and go snack. Unfor­tunately, they are more expensive, but the health benefits outweigh the cost.”

As dinner rolls around, it would be wise to select lean cuts of meat to keep your cholesterol under control. Fitday.com claimed that seafood and white-meat poultry such as chicken or lean turkey are all great choices. Meat con­tains protein which is necessary to build muscle and distribute energy that your body needs to function.

To add more nutrients to your dinner, accompany the meat with a side such as sweet potatoes. A sweet potato is a root vegetable that consists of nutrients such as potas­sium, manganese and vitamin, ac­cording to nutritiondata.com.

In today’s society, women of­ten struggle with the need to look professional and the desire to stay young and trendy. The me­dia presents celebrities in a light where they are often risqué and inappropriately dressed. Young girls are following suit, and this is not setting a good example on how to look sophisticated and youthful.

With college women seeking jobs and looking forward to ca­reers, it is important that they look and feel the part. This means dressing conservatively, but still having a sense of style. Whoev­er said business attire is boring must have been narrow-minded because there are many ways you can make any outfit stand out.

Associate professor of com­munication Dr. Sherry Wien suggested that women, “invest in high quality classic clothes that last instead of cheap trendy clothes that look dated and worn out after a year.” She also noted that every company’s dress code is different and that it is essen­tial to find out how the company would like you to present your­self.

One way to look professional is by dressing up your look with a blazer. Since the warmer months are coming, stores are selling col­orful blazers that will make any outfit pop. Pairing the blazer with simple black slacks and a black or white blouse can make you look classy, yet fun. Finishing it off with a necklace and a pair of col­orful flats or sandals will tie it all together.

Kirsten Webb, junior commu­nication major, said, “Blazers re­ally dress up any outfit. When I go to an interview or a network­ing event, I wear a blazer with dress pants and a blouse; it’s easy, but still looks good.”

Blazers can also be used for ev­eryday fashion when worn with a sundress and flats.

Dress pants may seem to be outdated, but there are many dif­ferent styles that are fresh and trendy. Slacks with a skinny leg can be refined, yet still in style. High-waisted dress pants are also an option that can be worn with a simple shirt and blazer.

Flared bottomed pants are ide­al when paired with heels and a tighter shirt because they add length as well as sophistication. Sticking to colors such as black, navy and dark brown is classic, but you can also try bright col­ored pants with a neutral top for a new look.

Skirts are a tricky subject, as most of them are short and re­vealing. However, pencil skirts are an appropriate length, yet conform to the body in a tasteful way. If you want to wear a skirt, choose a loose blouse made of a chiffon material that you can tuck in. Wear a simple tank top un­derneath to keep the outfit classy and dress it up with accessories. Another option would be to fol­low the ever growing lace trend. Stores such as Urban Outfitters have fueled this lace fascination to not only skirts but shirts, shorts and even dresses. If you want to be even fancier, wear heels.

A nude colored heel is the best option because it is neutral and can be worn with anything. The skin-tone will also make your legs appear longer. If you begin to feel that your nude colored heel or your black and white outfit is becoming a tad dull, the addition of jewelry can change your look instantly.

Junior Spanish and education major, Jessica Dayton, said, “I love accessories. When I have field work at elementary schools, I am required to dress appropri­ately, but I still want to look my age. I dress up my outfits with jewelry to make me look dressy, yet still young.”

The one-sleeved look is in fash­ion, and this can be perfect for a dress or shirt. This style is con­servative enough for the work­place, but still chic for a night out after work is done. If you want to be modest, you can wear a jacket or blazer over the shirt or dress during the day and take it off at night.

Leggings are popular and comfortable, but some might be afraid that they are not dressy enough. However, this is not completely true. If you play up the leggings with an embellished tunic and heels, it can look ap­propriate for an office or inter­view as long as the shirt is long enough. You can also wear a belt to make the outfit more flatter­ing. Again, jewelry is useful when looking to dress up any outfit.

From the moment a stu­dent walks onto the campus of Monmouth University, he or she is bombarded with flyers, emails, and verbal advice that stress the importance of getting involved in student clubs and organizations. The overwhelming insistence can be a turn off for some students who simply want to go to class and be done with their day.

If there is one thing we have learned during the past four years, it is that the need to be in­volved not only on campus but within your major is too crucial to put in words. We can easily tell you that joining a club or or­ganization will give you more experience and knowledge into what you are already studying. However, there is a more exciting aspect of being a part of a group: you can travel the country.

As executive board members of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), we are grateful for the many op­portunities that we have had to travel to national conferences out of state. We have traveled to Orlando, Florida, San Francisco, California, and Albuquerque, New Mexico for PRSSA National events.

“Our chapter of PRSSA has given the University a more prominent presence on the na­tional level during the past few years, and that is something that improves our credibility and membership,” said Sheila McAl­lister, faculty advisor of PRSSA.

Not only did attending these events allow us to network with other students and professionals, but they also gave us incredible opportunities to sightsee other parts of the country; something that we would not have had the opportunity to do otherwise.

During the first week of April, we ventured cross-country to Al­buquerque, New Mexico for the PRSSA National Assembly, the first National Assembly at which MU has ever been represented. In addition to attending the as­sembly, where we voted on the upcoming PRSSA National Com­mittee and bylaws, we were able to explore what Albuquerque had to offer. Experiencing an entirely new culture was the most excit­ing part of being a part of this huge event. We were able to share our experience with many other students from around the country as well.