Eating at college can be costly, to both your wallet and your waistline. If this is a problem you all too well understand, read a few of the points our writers here at G&B have come up with to help you decide on whether you should go 'Meal Plan' or 'No Plan.'

Tired of spending countless hours underground in T-Coop, surrounded by books and that annoying girl who clearly doesn’t understand the meaning of “quiet floor”? Claim a new study space. Check out these secret spots to kick your studying into gear and, dare we say it, enjoyable?

Burgers, pizza, sandwiches–after a while, it all tastes a little bland. We’ve covered some new territory for those of you brave enough to break away from your typical routine and try something different.

Save & Splurge: Culture in Columbia

According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, on any given night, 672,000 people are homeless in the United States. To most, this is just a number. It doesn’t have a frail body, sad eyes, a growling stomach or cold, bare feet. One USC student, however, has seen the reality of this statistic.

It’s like something out of a futuristic society. A new local business venture has put the power of knowing where law enforcement is hiding into the hands of the people—a backwards “big brother.” The brainchild of USC student Alex Waelde, DrinkingTicket, has quickly grown into more than just a crowd pleaser to many Gamecocks; It has become a weekend necessity.

South Carolina’s Midlands grapples with a low literate population, an issue so great that over 150,000 adults in the region cannot read and comprehend the newspaper.

If you’re new to USC, or unfamiliar with the off-campus living situation, you’ll soon learn that pickings can be slim if you haven’t reserved an apartment six months in advance. Don’t panic yet! Check out these interesting living quarters before you consider a cardboard box.

After their friends’ wave of appeals for them to start a band, Kelsey Lopezdevictoria, a fourth-year psychology major, and Randy Moore, a second-year social work student, met last spring and, after getting to know each other, gave it a shot. 

If you’ve drooled over a foreign exchange student with a hot accent or dreamed of backpacking through Europe, but you aren’t confident that you can make those things happen, acting cultured will convince people (like your parents and mysterious Latin eye-candy) that you’re worth their time and money. Thanks to globalization and modern technology, appearing more cultured than you really are is easy as…una, due, tre!