Here at The State Press, our staff represents a wide array of religious beliefs. While we don't all subscribe to the Catholic religion, we do like the idea of Lent. Here are the top ten things that students can try giving up for 40 days.
1. Facebook -- The hours that could be spent studying or working just fly by when you're on Facebook. It starts innocently enough when you "poke" a friend or two, and before you know it, you're stalking that guy who sat next to you in the second grade. Give it a break. If you get desperate, there's always MySpace.
2. Online shopping -- Between Amazon and eBay, we've spent copious amounts of dollars on items that we really don't need. Because $2 Law and Order episodes on iTunes have become the bane of our existence, we've considered putting a Breathalyzer-like test on our computers to prevent unwise purchases.
3. Panda Express -- Now that we have delicious orange chicken minutes away from campus, we can't stop coming up with excuses to make a food run. We can give up our tasty new obsession -- but what would we do without the prophetic advice of fortune cookies?
4. Girl Scout cookies - They're only here once a year, and with delicious Tagalongs and Samoas sold on campus, we can't help wanting to stock up on boxes for our freezer to last us until Girl Scout season next year.
5. Starbucks -- So expensive, so delicious. How are we supposed to make it through classes without our daily caffeine and sugar high? That green Starbucks siren just won't stop calling us.
6. Daily Show/The Colbert Report -- We spend our days in the basement fact-checking and investigating. We can't help it if we need some fake news as a break.
7. Alcohol, in all its glorious forms -- Just imagine how much fun you could have if everyone at your party stayed sober for a change. All sorts of intellectual conversation and witty banter could ensue. Plus, there's always hookah.
8. iPods -- Without your favorite white ear buds, you could actually try talking to people while walking through campus. And remember that thing you used to listen to in the car called the radio? That couldn't hurt to try out for a change.
9. Rain -- Oh wait, Arizona already gave up rain. And to think -- we had forgotten we lived in a desert.
10. Cell phones -- Remember that blissfully silent era before ringing cell phones started interrupting your life? If you leave your cell at home, remember to bring a pocketful of quarters, so you can use one of the three pay phones located on campus.
