The Current | Vol. 32 Issue 1

February 6, 2 018 | nsucurrent.nova.edu 19 May 25 2021 | nsu current.nova edu Life style Flor Ann Mireles Copy Editor Explore the nature around NSU The great outdoors are considered great for a reason. Whether you enjoy the outdoors or just need a place to sit and relax, there are tons of nature spots in and around NSU to explore and enjoy. NSU’s own backyard Healing & Medicinal Garden Located behind the Parker building and just west of the Alvin Sherman Library, NSU’s Healing & Medicinal Garden is a great place to take a break between classes and not have to venture off campus. Created by the NSU College of Pharmacy, this garden is home to a 66- foot therapeutic stone-studded pathway called the Reflexology Pathway, which is based on the ancient Eastern study of healing oneself through the stimulation of various pressure points on the feet. The Healing & Medicinal Garden is also home to an array of plants, all of which have medicinal qualities. There’s also a gazebo and some outdoor seating for you to journal, do homework or do some reading. Off-campus parks Tree Tops Park 3900 SW 100th Ave Davie, FL 33328 A short drive from NSU on Nob Hill is Tree Tops Park, a large park perfect for spending the afternoon at. With more than 140 acres of ancient live oaks, tropical hammocks and wetlands, this park has nature trails, playgrounds, an equestrian center and even an observation tower. If you’re looking for parks with wildlife, Tree Tops is also home to an abundance of turtles, which you can spot in the decked marshes. It is a great place to have a picnic, do seasonal paddle boating, explore nature and relax or hang out with friends. One of the best parts of Tree Tops Park is that it has free admission on weekdays, making it a go-to spot to explore before or after your classes. If you’ve got a busy schedule and can only make time to check out Tree Tops on the weekend, don’t worry. Weekend admission is only $1.50 per person. Vista View Park 4001 SW 142nd Ave Davie, FL 33330 A little further down Griffin Road, you will find Vista View Park, a good spot to catch beautiful sunsets. Once being a garbage dump, View View Park is now a beautiful park with hills that stand at 65 feet above sea level. The park’s hilltops are the highest man-made elevation in Broward county and give you a perfect view of Davie. With over 270 acres of land to explore, Vista View Park is great for going on runs and exercising, having picnics or dates and even flying kites, drones or model airplanes. Regardless of how you spend your time here, you’re sure to have a good time while being only a little ways from campus. Like Tree Tops Park, Vista View Park is another affordable spot to spend some time in nature with free admission on weekdays and $1.50 admission per person on weekends. Topeekeegee Yugnee Park 3300 N Park Rd Hollywood, FL 33021 Named after the Seminole term for “meeting or gathering place,” Topeekeegee Yugnee Park, or T.Y. Park, may be a bit further from campus, but is a great place to spend an afternoon with friends and family outdoors. This park is great for anyone who enjoys walking around, picnicking or even playing sports. Expanding over 138 acres, T. Y. Park is home to Castaway Island, a swimming lagoon, as well as a campground, two water playgrounds and shelters and gazebos. Here, you can also find a large shaded playground, basketball and tennis courts, a fishing pier and a scenic lake water fountain. The park has a good mix of developed and undeveloped areas that allow attendees to get the best of both worlds: family park vibes and commodities and undisturbed nature spots -- and like the previously mentioned off-campus parks, admission is free on weekdays and $1.50 per person on weekends. With the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing orders in place, please remember to be a Smart Shark and follow CDC guidelines as well as obey park rules and regulations to contain the spread of COVID-19. If you have questions or concerns, see the CDC website as well as the Broward County Parks website for the parks aforementioned. Rick Esner News Editor Reading off the clock After a long day of classes, often the last thing you want to do in the evening is read more. However, it is important to read for leisure, not only for your enjoyment, but for mental stimulation and to give your brain a rest from the loads of technology we use in day-to-day life. The last thing you should do is read about more schoolwork. Instead, try and find something that gives you joy and piques your interest. Here are some book suggestions for college minds who just need to debrief after a long day. “Educated” by Tara Westover While technically my first read- through of this book was for a class, this novel is my newest top recommendation for everyone. The book is a memoir that follows Westover’s childhood growing up in a survivalist family in the mountains of Idaho. This book will have you sitting on the edge of your seat, saying “No way this actually happened.” The sheer amount of time that I have spent thinking about this novel and even comparing it to my own family, which is inevitable for most readers, is phenomenal. The less you know going in, the better. Poetry My next recommendation would be to read poetry. Whether it be in book form, through a journal or just online, you can find good poetry everywhere. Poems are artful expressions of stories that can provide deep insight without hurting your brain after a long day. My personal favorite collection is “Where the Sidewalk Ends” by Shel Silverstein, despite the childish themes. These poems are great for all ages and can provide a great outlet to destress in troubling times. I would also recommend checking out “Perspective (and other poems)” by Flor Ana Mireles, an alumna of NSU and The Current’s team. “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” by Mark Haddon This is another novel that I would highly recommend, and as a mystery fanatic, this book sure does scratch that itch. This 2003 novel follows the first- person perspective of a 15-year-old English boy with behavioral difficulties. The novel does a great job at making the book not about disabilities, but instead keeps focus on the mystery with a main character who just so happens to be neurodivergent. This is still a great example of the neurodivergent community in media despite being published over a decade ago. It also has plenty of subtle and entertaining quirks throughout the book to keep readers on their toes. Even if you are not a huge mystery sleuth, the characters’ personalities are sure to keep you engaged. Books that fit your hobbies My final suggestion is to find a book that fits your hobbies. As a busy student, hobbies are often put aside in order to make room for academics. Reading a book about your favorite hobby before bed is a great way to keep up with things that interest you without taking too much time out of your day. These books can range from a variety of topics. Recently, I have been reading books on U.S history as I miss the subject from high school. I even found a copy of Henry David Thoreau’s “Walden and Civil Disobedience,” which is a hefty book to get through, but interesting in my eyes nonetheless. Rick Esner News Editor Don’t break the bank: Know your student discounts As college students, we love a good deal. With the expenses we need to deal with on a daily basis, discounts are a great way to satisfy our needs and not make our wallets cry. Here are a few of the discounts offered to NSU students. BurgerFi The BurgerFi in Tower Shoppes offers a 15% discount to NSU students. This restaurant offers a wide variety of burgers — from the classic hamburgers and cheeseburgers to breakfast-themed burgers and even vegetarian and vegan options, you’re sure to find something that satisfies your taste buds. For more information, contact them at 954-900- 5203 or visit their Davie location at 1902 South University Drive. Empire Beauty School The Empire Beauty School in Lauderhill offers a 20% discount to students on all services. Empire Beauty School is a cosmetology training program that offers full salon services by students in training. For more information, contact at 954-376-3285, visit their Lauderhill location at 4806 North University Drive or check out their website at http://www. empire.edu/cosmetology-schools/florida. Runners Depot Runners Depot offers 15% off discounts on vitamins and supplements, in addition to $10 off shoes (not including those already on clearance). For more information, contact them at 954-474- 4704 or visit their location at 2233 South University Drive in Promenade Plaza. Shin Ju Japanese Buffet Shin Ju is a Japanese buffet that serves sushi, hibachi and a wide variety of other dishes. With their SharkCard, students will get 15% off their meal. For more information, contact them at 954- 472-3666 or visit their location in Davie at 3305 South University Drive across the street from the Health Professions Division Building. Ye Olde Falcon Pub Ye Olde Falcon Pub is an English pub and restaurant that is known for its fish and chips. They offer a 15% discount to students with their SharkCards. This restaurant’s outdoor seating is also pet- friendly in case you are eager to see and interact with some animals. For more information, contact them at 954-424- 0300 or visit their location at 2867 South University Drive. For more places that offer Sharks discounts, check out vendors’ individual websites, online reviews or simply ask them upon your arrival. With permission to print from Rick Esner