Tag Archives: campus life

Arts, Campus Life and Issues, Feature, News, Style

ROOTS – LET YOUR INNER VOICE BE HEARD

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Featured Image: The official Roots club logo. (Courtesy of Nosakhere Williams, Roots president)

Alicia Taylor |

ST. CROIX – This year, UVI students sought to enhance student creativity in a way that would allow students to exhort their feelings in a positive manner.  Thus is how UVI’s new poetry club, Roots, was formed.

Roots, originally named University Poetry, is aimed to allow students to root themselves into multiple attributes that characterize poetry such as strength, tranquility, compassion and freedom.

“We want to give college students the chance to express themselves through lyrics and poetry,” said Nosakhere Williams, a sophomore Information Systems and Technology major and the founder of Roots. “We want students to engage and interact with our community while allowing students to gain knowledge over various types of poetry.”

Roots Poetry has been involved in a variety of events including UVI’s Day of Remembrance for Murdered Victims, International Day of Peace and Taboo. Continue reading ROOTS – LET YOUR INNER VOICE BE HEARD →

Campus Life and Issues

Safety and Security Measures at UVI

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Karine Cox |

ST.CROIX- The University of the Virgin Islands has implemented new safety and security measures such as the electronic gate and parking plan to improve the day-to-day operations on campus.

The safety and security of UVI students, faculty and staff is a fundamental concern. The Security Department on the UVI campus works around the clock to ensure the safety of everyone.

“When it comes to security, we have to take it as priority. It means the safety of people and buildings so we have to make sure the people who come here are safe whether they come by vehicle or foot,” Security office, Leonard Nero said.

However, Cheddi Rogers, a male residential student, expressed his views on the safety measures on campus.

“I feel safe to an extent, it’s not 100 percent safe because it is an open campus,” Rogers said. “As far as the gates and swipe cards, I feel that the campus is so small all of this is not necessary, someone could still get on campus easily.”

Surveillance cameras and emergency phones have been installed around the campus as a safety measure; however, in 2013, the installation of the electronic gate and parking plan came into effect as another safety measure on campus.

The electronic gate is of one UVI’s recent projects. The operation hours of the gate are from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Mondays to Fridays and 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Saturday, Sundays and holidays. The electronic gate helps control, grant access and keep track of who goes in and out of the campus. Upon entry into the campus, everyone is required press the button to call the Security Department and then give their name, license plate number or student ID if they are a student or the reason for entry onto the campus. There have been reports about the gate in terms of lack of privacy and giving fake names or license plate numbers.

“I won’t say the gate ridiculous, it kind of makes sense, for instance when someone is coming to me and I don’t know, security won’t let them in unless I call them and let them know someone is coming to me,” Rogers said.

The parking plan is another safety measure. It serves as a means for improved parking safety on campus, effective utilization of parking spaces and to keep a record and distinguish between faculty, students and visitors.

“It is knowing who park where, we might not know where a particular student park but if it’s a student we know he or she is supposed to be parked in a student parking lot,” Nero said.

Every faculty and student on campus is required to register his or her vehicle online via Ban Web. After completion of this, faculty and students may obtain a sticker for his or her vehicle in the Security Department on campus.

In addition to all these measure being put in place, the UV I Security Department restricts the use, selling or possession of marijuana, alcohol and other drugs. The UVI campus is a drug and alcohol free campus. UVI also has a hotline with VIPD, therefore in case of an emergency they call 911.

The safety of everyone at UVI is of importance to the UVI Security Department.

Campus Life and Issues

Top 5 Take out joints for UVI students

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KIANA JOHN-BAPTISTE |

ST.THOMAS–Let’s face it cafeteria food does not always satisfy one’s hunger. Often, students would rather go out, or have food delivered to their room.

“Sometimes I do not feel like eating the café food and going off campus is easy, so why not.” Gabrielle Joseph, a 19-year-old sophomore at the University of the Virgin Islands said.

Here is a list of the top five places to eat under $10 on St. Thomas, for UVI students:

1. Burger Maxx–Conveniently placed on the waterfront, Burger Maxx is your go-to place for burgers, wings, fries and sandwiches. Their hours are perfect for a hungry college student. On weekdays, they open from 11a.m. to midnight. On Fridays, they are open from 11 a.m. to 5 a.m. Saturdays, their doors open at 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. Their business hours on Sundays are from 6 p.m. and 12 a.m. They also have a lunch special: ½ pound burger with fries and a beverage for only $10. Although it may take a while for your order to be ready, customers are able to relax in their air conditioned store front, or outside under the cabana. To avoid long lines and waiting times, call in your order!

2. Domino’s–Located less than five minutes away from campus in Nisky Center, Domino’s is the favorite of many students. This establishment serves pizza, sandwiches, and wings. The hours are Mondays through Thursdays: 10 a.m.to 11 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to midnight and on Sundays, 11a.m. to 10 p.m. This is the most convenient and simple way to get food. They deliver for only $2.50 extra. One thing that may deter students from buying is that the order has to be over $17, including the delivery fee

Burger Maxx ½ burger with seasoned fries Taken by: Kiana John-Baptiste
Burger Maxx ½ burger with seasoned fries
Taken by: Kiana John-Baptiste

3. Subway- This popular food chain is located right next to Domino’s and is the healthiest choice out of all of them. Subway has a special for everyday; a six inch sub with a drink for $5. There also is the popular $5 foot long. Their hours are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturdays 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and Sundays 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The sandwiches are very filling and cost effective. There are very few negative comments on this fast-food chain.

4. Wendy’s- Located about 15 minutes from campus, in the Havensight area, is the Wendy’s restaurant. This American fast food chain sells sandwiches, fries and frosty’s. Their hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. from Sunday through Thursdays and on Fridays and Sundays, the open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. The drive-thru is always opened an hour later in respect to the restaurant times. The meals here may be a little pricey.

5. McDonald’s- There are two locations that are easily accessible for UVI students: One is about 10 minutes away in Frenchtown, and the other about 20 minutes away in Lockhart Gardens. McDonald’s has a $4.75 special combo for each day of the week. They often rearrange them to prevent the customers from becoming bored with their choices. This is the cheapest option that students have. The hours are Sunday through Thursday 6 a.m. until 11p.m. and on Fridays and Saturdays, they are open until midnight. Although this option is not the healthiest, it can be filling; just do not visit it too often!

News, Sports

It’s Volleyball Season at UVI

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It’s Volleyball Season at UVI

Denae Fleming|

ST.CROIX – Students at the University of the Virgin Islands took part in the co-ed intramurals volleyball game Monday night behind the campus cafeteria just south of the campus dorms.

Student Teams Taking part in the Intramural Volleyball League
Student Teams Taking part in the Intramural Volleyball League

The university’s intramurals volleyball league played for the second time Monday night around 9 p.m. on the basketball court with teams “Stop Playing” against “We Would Hit It.”

The volleyball season officially kicked off last week on Thursday night and usually starts each year in September.

“Coach Bruce Ray has been doing most of the intramurals as far as putting the sport together and organizing the schedule here at the university and this year we started early,” Roderick Moorehead Jr. one of the coaches for the volleyball teams, said.

While enjoying the game with the rest of the audience Moorehead also said, “One of the main purposes for this weekly activity is to inspire campus life. It’s always great when you have students who have the interest to play.”

The league plays every Monday and Thursday at 9 p.m. with a second game following immediately after.

“If you want to take part in the sport you have to be somewhat serious. You can come and just play for fun but there should be a level serious interest in joining the teams,” Makeem Perinon said.

IMAG2946
Student Teams Taking part in the Intramural Volleyball League

Perinon is a part of the Virgin Islands Juniors National Volleyball team and is also a sophomore studying criminal justice. He heard about the student activity at the University and became immediately interested. He decided to take part and started his own team called Go Hard for the intramural league.

The game is free to the public. It gives students on campus an opportunity to leave the dorms and enjoy a moment of interaction with other students on and off court.