Chelsey Hanig
For the Logos

A recent study suggests that students returning home for Thanksgiving may need to put forth extra efforts to attend classes in December.

The results of a study done to determine the adverse affect of Thanksgiving break on class attendance after classes resume, found that seven out of ten students who return home for the holiday either don't return to classes, or return with decreased productivity.

Carol Shantan, a wellness psychologist in Minneapolis who analyzed the study, suggests that emotions are behind the trend.

"When students attend college away from home their emotional well-being tends to deteriorate. Upon returning home for a brief period of time their esteem is lifted and they are less interested in attending college," Shantan said.

For the majority of NIACC students, the distance between home and college isn't a significant factor.

However, with only two weeks remaining after Thanksgiving break until the end of the semester, it can become easy for some to slough off and slide by.

"Students can use the positive effects of Thanksgiving and family, by applying themselves towards finals," Shantan said. "With an uplifted spirit the last few weeks can pass by quickly."

While family is important, so is an education. With only a few weeks left, students need to remember why they are attending college and what they hope to gain from it.

Also, while the option to attend college may be a personal choice, it is no longer figuratively free as is high school.

Elizabeth Helps
Staff Reporter

The bills for some college students seem to keep piling up with rent, tuition or car costs. However, for phone plans, it just got easier.

When looking for a phone carrier, there are several websites set up to find optimum service with the least cost.

On the site, www.consumer -action.org, comparisons of phone rates along with scam alerts are revealed.

For long distance coverage, www.thedigest.com offers discount long distance rates.

Another website, www.Smart ConsumerAdvantage.com offers a "Best Rate Calculator" that will calculate which rates are better in a certain area.

For cell phones, www. point.com offers a comparison of different carriers and will also locate service providers in one's area.

Locally, two of the cell phone providers include Midwest Wireless and U.S. Cellular. They offer many different rates and plans for long distance.

Opting to use a cell phone as opposed to a primary phone is becoming an increasingly popular mode for long distance calling.

Natalie Septer
For the Logos

Managing time, school and money can be hard for a college student.

Time and school are activities many students have had a lot of practice at, but money seems much more complicated to balance.

When it comes to managing money, there are many options out there to choose from.

There are checking accounts, savings accounts, credit cards and loans.

With each there are benefits and downfalls. It's hard to know which one is the right choice. "If people are looking at a liquid account, checking and savings are the way to go," Traci Rohrer, the store manager of Wells Fargo, said.

Savings accounts are very flexible when it comes to withdrawing for emergencies and availability.

Credit cards are hard to keep balanced and loans should be taken out for the appropriate reason.

Taking out loans helps people gain good credit. Since credit will follow a person throughout the individual's whole life, it is a good idea to get that started right away.

It's never a good idea to borrow money for the sake of just having money or for living expenses.

"If you're working and have money available to put aside don't borrow anything you don't have to," Donna Priede, of Mercy Family Credit Union, said.

At Wells Fargo, they offer the Wells Trade Account that is an online way to check money.

This is a hands-on approach to check out balances and has a share builder provided.

This allows college students to have easier access to their accounts.

Students should explore the various means of handling money and make appropriate choices.

Amber Johanson
For the Logos

Moving into student housing can be a huge adjustment for those moving away from home for their first time.

There are many things that are different than living at home, but the same as at home is that there are rules. One of the rules of student housing concerns having pets.

Only certain types of pets are permitted in the student housing.

"Pretty much anything in an acquarium is allowed," Catherine Fields, NIACC head resident, said.

According to the Student Housing Manual, the largest size of acquarium a student in the dorms can have is one, five-gallon tank.

Residents are only allowed to keep fish, turtles and other water-based animals, according to Fields.

No animals with fur are authorized including gerbils, hamsters, dogs, cats, rabbits etc. Animals with fur can impact other students' allergies and serves as the primary reason for that restriction.

In addition, animals are not permitted mostly because of the mess and smell of pets. They also add to the job of the maintenance staff.

If a student is found with an inappropriate animal in his or her room, the resident will be confronted with an individual conference. The student is then expected to get rid of the animal.

If the student does not go along with the rules, then the individual will be evicted.