[AUDIO included] Once you're accepted into college, socialization is crucial to surviving those all-nighters and long drawn-out lectures. Some students join intramurals and some join clubs, but have you ever considered joining a sorority or fraternity? Many people think of those who belong to the Greek system as the rich, preppy Caucasian students who get drunk and party on a day-to-day basis. Reporters Lizzy Warner and Deborah Ladd decided to see if the stereotypes were really true: Was a sorority just a bunch of well-kept blonde girls? Did a fraternity mainly consist of tall muscular jocks?

"It’s only my sophomore year," writes Sindha Agha, "and I am not going to shoot for an Ivy League school (just because I’m not that attracted to any of them), but I’m already going through a preliminary phase of passive-yet-nail-biting-ridden anxiety." It's a feeling most Uni students can identify with.

Fifty-three of Uni's 64 seniors — about 83 percent — have been named 2008 Illinois State Scholars by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. The program recognizes seniors for outstanding academic achievement. Only about 10 percent of seniors around the state receive the honor.

Uni's two snow days have created a need to change the school calendar to meet the state law of a 180-day school year. Director/Principal Steve Epperson will meet with the school's executive committee on Wednesday to discuss the options. If another snow day occurs, the school calendar will have to extend into June for the current subfreshmen through juniors.

On Valentine's Day the senior class will sponsor an all-school movie night in place of the previously scheduled dance. The 1993 Mel Brooks comedy “Robin Hood: Men in Tights” will play in Uni Gym beginning at 7 p.m., and the entire movie night is estimated to end around 10. Admission and snacks will be free.

Seniors Shara Esbenshade and Chris Nixon were among the area students honored Friday at a luncheon sponsored by the local chapters of the Daughters and Sons of the American Revolution. They were recognized for their achievements inside and outside the classroom.