It’s no surprise for Yogurt Extreme owner Karen Humphreys to see the familiar faces of the University of Oregon’s Hillel group fill her store every Tuesday at 2:30 p.m.

“They come here every Tuesday … around 2 p.m. and people will come in and out,” Humphreys said. “I see a lot of familiar faces and also a couple of new faces and they seem like a bunch of great students. They’ve been coming here since last year.”

Oregon Hillel, a Jewish organization aimed at providing a Jewish community environment at the UO, hosts their weekly “Froyo and FaceTime” event to provide students the opportunity to enhance their college experience and meet new people.

Director of Student Engagement for the group, Amanda Weiss, started weekly meetings for Hillel last year during winter term at The Buzz, but later changed their location to Yogurt Extreme.

“We decided to move it from The Buzz to Yogurt Extreme because it was difficult to fit everyone in the cafe and we wanted more space,” Weiss said. “We wanted to meet in a more central place to campus and Yogurt Extreme was perfect. Plus the students love yogurt.”

For the students that attend the weekly meeting, many agree that being able to meet at least once a week to relax and catch up with friends they don’t normally see is the best part of the froyo and FaceTime experience.

“I love being able to hangout with my friends and enjoy free yogurt,” senior Becky Constantine said. “I joined Hillel my freshman year and ever since have been part of it. Since I’m graduating in the spring I’m sad to leave but I will stay in contact with every one my friends and the staff.”

Froyo and FaceTime has provided students with more than just yogurt and toppings, it has also built friendships and memories.

“I really enjoy coming in every week. It’s a nice way to get together and enjoy free yogurt,” sophomore Remi Nevins said. “I made most of my friends through Hillel because it’s a solid community and it feels like home and the people have made college that much better.”

For Weiss there’s nothing better than being able to bond with the students and watch them bond with one another while taking a small break from their busy student lives. The relaxing meetings represent more than just a weekly time to unwind with good friends, they epitomize the whole spirit of Oregon Hillel.

“Hillel is a great place to come and enjoy the events they put together and everyone is welcomed,” sophomore Terra Zicklin said. “It has really brought students together and created a community that they can be in. I really am grateful for Hillel.”

Eyes alert, his headphones dangling around his neck down the front of his blood-red jacket, he looks around his surroundings. His eyes show some fatigue but his smile tells otherwise. It’s a quarter to six on a Wednesday night and he walks across the street preparing to speak in front of a group of his peers. By the time he reaches the building he’s ready to commence the meeting with enthusiasm and leadership in his voice.

It’s been a long day, but University of Oregon senior Godwin Nwando is prepared to lead the general Black Student Union meeting no matter what. Members arrive and the meeting begins.

Nwando juggles various activities at the UO. In addition to being a co-director for the BSU, he’s also the Multi-Cultural Center programs coordinator, assistant administrator teacher assessor coach in ROTC, which requires him to record the grades into the gradebook, a cadet in the National Guard and full-time student.

“You could say I’m a busy guy,” Nwando said.

Originally from San Diego, Nwando chose to enroll at UO for its science program and football team. After graduating this spring with a human physiology degree, Nwando hopes to enroll in medical school and continue serving the organization that got him to UO in the first place: the National Guard.

“The National Guard has been able to make my education a possibility and it’s a great way to make college a reality for many without having to worry about student debt,” Nwando said.

Somehow between coordinating events with other unions, attending National Guard training during weekends and completing his medical terminology homework, Nwando finds time for normal college life. In his free time, he watches football, cheers for the Miami Heat, shoots hoops with his best friend Christopher Désert and hangs out with his girlfriend, junior Noelle Zarnegin.

“Godwin is a crazy basketball fan. He talks about it all the time and anyone can tell he’s really into it,” Désert said. “He’s really goofy and enjoys making people laugh and I couldn’t be more proud of my best friend who has come so far within the last four years. Anything Godwin sets his mind to he will accomplish it.”

Nwando attributes his current success at the UO to the close relationship with his mother.

“I need to highlight the importance of my mother who encouraged me to work hard and not think about distractions. But in college it’s a little difficult to follow through with that,” Nwando said. “My parents knew college was something for me and I look back at how far I have come and I couldn’t be more proud.”

Nwando plans to continue his training from the National Guard in order to improve his medical skills and become a doctor.

“I have a goal and I need to achieve it. I’m in no rush to get out of school,” he said. “I want to do ground work and gain experience so when I do get out to work the field I’m ready.”

As students begin to transition into winter term it’s time to start thinking about new housing options. Here are some suggestions to decide the perfect home for next year.

One great option that is always available to students are the residence halls. An option that will be available for current freshmen next year is the “Sophomore Living Experience” where sophomores and upper division students can live with other non-freshman students in the residence halls and relive the cycle of resident life. Students who chose to participate will be assigned to Barnhart Hall.

For junior Ashleigh Sturge, living on-campus provides an enjoyable experience and the chance to enjoy living in simplicity.

“The dorm application process is a lot easier than an application for an apartment,” Sturge said. “I like how I don’t have to worry about monthly expenses, buying groceries or trying to move furniture because it’s all provided for you. The dorms definitely provide a better social experience than apartments do.”

Resident Assistant and junior Annie Colleen O’Meara explains her experience as an RA as a memorable one and contrasts it with her not so enjoyable experience living off campus.

“Last year I lived in Stadium Park apartments and I had to take the bus to school everyday,” O’Meara said. “Being an RA has been great because I’m close to campus and location-wise it’s perfect. I don’t have to take the bus and I can even enjoy those extra five minutes to sleep in. You don’t get that same opportunity with apartments that aren’t close to campus.”

Applications for residence halls are currently open for the 2014-2015 academic year. Priority room access will be awarded to current residence hall dwellers until January 24.

If living on-campus is not for you, check out these apartment suggestions:

First is 13th and Olive which provides several amenities for students. These include: free parking, 24-hour clubhouse, fitness center, resort-style pool, computer lab, free tanning, study rooms and saunas. These apartments offer variety of leases whether they be individual leases or group leases.

“I signed my lease for 13th and Olive and I’m very excited but nervous as well as I am taking my next step towards being an adult,” sophomore Morgan Hegarty said.

Rooms range from two to four bedrooms and rates include: cable, internet, water, sewer, trash and the units are furnished. Roommates matching is also available. Students can email the management team Tyrel Hullum at thullum@capstonemail.com with any questions. Office hours are Mon. through Thurs. 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sat. and Sun. from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Another option is University House: Arena District apartments. These apartments are only two blocks from campus and provide individual leases for two or four bedroom plans.

Students will be able to enjoy free high-speed internet, free cable with HBO and premium channels, a large 42 inch flat screen TV with every apartment as well as washer and dryer. Utilities will include: water, sewer, trash and gas. Students can apply online for pre-leasing for Fall 2014-2015 or schedule a tour of the apartments.

Other apartments to consider are the Paradigm Properties which offer various apartment for students all ranging from location to number of bedrooms.

Additional properties include:

The Prefontaine located at 18th Avenue and University Street. Call 541-485-7776 for more details.

The Sonja located at 1836 Alder Street.

Indigo Place located at 889 E. 19th Ave.

Steelhead Townhouses located at 540 E. 14th Ave.

If you have numerous people you want to live with and apartments aren’t any option than check these houses that are up for rent.

It’s been three months since Cover Oregon‘s website launched on Oct. 1 to allow Oregonians to enroll for health insurance, but due to problems with the site, many University of Oregon students have had troubles signing up for coverage.

UO Health Insurance Coordinator Kellie Shelton has spoken with students who encounter problems with Cover Oregon and signing up for health care through the state.

“I’ve had a couple students who came in and were going to enroll in Cover Oregon but had issues with it and now are enrolling in our UO insurance,” Shelton said. “The only way I can see students benefiting from Cover Oregon is if they qualify for low income and aren’t claimed on their parents’ taxes.”

Students under the age of 26 are lawfully permitted to remain on their parents’ insurance plans, but anyone over 18 and not currently covered is required to insure themselves and eligible for Cover Oregon — regardless of whether they are from Oregon or another state. Due to website problems, many are enrolling through the paper application, but with paper applications arise numerous issues that employees of Cover Oregon face. From applications sent to the wrong address to handwriting errors paper applications seem to delay the process of enrollment even further.

The federal deadline for Oregonians to sign up for Cover Oregon is March 31, but with the insurance exchage site’s shortcomings, there’s fear that not all Oregonians will be able to enroll before that date. According to the Portland-area CBS affiliate KOIN, around 170,000 Oregonians have enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan thus far, but half a million Oregonians remain uninsured.

“Of our nearly 4,000 graduate students, about 30 percent are Oregon residents and, therefore, are potentially eligible for insurance through the Cover Oregon program,” Kimberly Espy, dean of the Graduate School and vice president for Research and Innovation, said. According to Espy, questions about Cover Oregon in recent weeks have spawned information sessions specifically about the program on campus for students who are confused by the new system.

There are concerns to whether the website will be fixed, but the main concern is why this problem wasn’t fixed earlier and why is it still an issue after three months.

According to Portland ABC affiliate KATU, Representative Patrick Sheehan emailed Gov. John Kitzhaber warning him about the problems that Cover Oregon’s site was facing and his concern with Chief Information Officer Carolyn Lawson, who was responsible for the site’s development. Kitzhaber explained the email came to his office but he didn’t see it, KATU reported. November of last year Lawson resigned for personal reasons.

When the site will work efficiently is still a mystery to Oregonians. Students and citizens are encouraged to call Cover Oregon’s main hotline with any questions or concerns at 1-855-268-3767.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is now open for students for the 2014-15 school year. The application opened Jan. 1 and students have until June 30, 2015 to apply. Students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible in order to take advantage of first-come, first-served financial aid.

According to the official FAFSA site, the application provides over $150 billion each year to students to help pay for higher education. The office of Federal Student Aid is able to provide students with grants, loans and work study programs. For a lot of students, FAFSA has made college a possibility.

“I personally think FAFSA is beneficial for students. It’s one of a couple reasons I can actually go to a university of my choice,” freshman Taylor Trujillo said. “If it wasn’t for FAFSA I would either be at a small community college tying to balance school and a job or I would just not be going to school.”

FAFSA distributes all available federal student aid funds to students attending more than 6,200 colleges and career schools.

To gain more aid, students can look into the U.S. federal government, private scholarships or head to the University of Oregon Financial Aid office. Students can also receive aid from numerous programs the federal government offers, including things like aid for serving in the military or being the spouse or child of a veteran, tax benefits for education, Education Award from the AmeriCorps and educational and training vouchers for foster youth.

In addition to determining eligibility for federal grants and loans, the FAFSA is also a critical step in acquiring aid from the UO.

“In order for any students to receive federal aid or any type of scholarship that is based on financial aid they need to file a FAFSA,” Financial Director Jim Brooks said. “Filing for FAFSA is free. All you need is the time and if you’re an Oregon resident you should do that soon because there are limited funds.”

Important deadlines to keep in mind in order to be eligible for in-state funding are Feb. 1 for the Oregon Opportunity Grant and March 1 for the Oregon Student Access Commission scholarship.

Contacting the financial aid office is another resource for students who might have questions or concerns or who want to know more about financial aid options.

For those who have not yet filed for FAFSA, further information regarding eligibility and options can be found on fafsa.ed.gov.

“I can’t stress how beneficial FAFSA can be because it lets students focus on education and attending a school of their choosing,” freshman Jose Meza said. “If FAFSA wasn’t an option for me I would be taking less courses during the year, working more hours and taking classes over summer. It does a lot.”

For many freshmen, the first term of college is both a challenging experience and a valuable one. Whether it is transitioning or learning to handle the work load, fall term is a way for students to adjust to college life. Now that freshmen have survived their first term of college, many are looking forward to winter term.

One dramatic change for freshmen is the adjustment of living away from home and becoming more independent. When living on campus, many freshmen also had to adjust to the idea of roommates and sharing a room with one or two other people. Part of freshman year is living in the residence halls, and for many, living on campus meant making a lot of good connections.

“Freshman year here at UO has been a great experience,” Madison Clayton said. ”Living in the dorms has been a great experience and my roommate and I get along just great.”

For freshman Christina Peil, living away from home was a helpful experience and she did not believe her transition to college was difficult.

“I like the part of living away and living without parents,” Peil said.

In order to help freshmen ease into transition, the UO offers Freshmen Interest Groups, known as FIGs, to bring students with similar interests together in common lecture courses. Rather than being overwhelmed with 200 unknown faces, freshmen are able to become familiar with 25 students from their FIG and learn to adapt to the college classroom.

Though FIGs are only offered fall term, many believe they served their purpose.

“I like the comfort of knowing the 25 people in the FIG and it will be interesting to not have it anymore. I will miss the FIG and the bonding experience,” freshman Susanna Jung said.

Similarly, Clayton believes the FIG was a good connections experience, but believes she will be fine without it.

“I thought the FIG was sort of helpful because I did make some good friends but there was in some cases extra work that I thought was unnecessary,” Clayton said.

By now a lot of freshmen know what college is like and are anxious to see what winter term has in store for them. For some, fall term provided motivation for getting better grades this term and aiming toward goals.

Jung, Peil and Clayton have all been inspired to get higher grades this term.

“I’m a little nervous because I’m taking a heavier load but my goal is to get a 3.5 GPA or higher,” Clayton said.

A bicyclist was hit by a car at approximately 7 p.m. on Monday night at the intersection of Hilyard Street and 18th Avenue.

The Eugene Police Department received the call at 7:11 p.m. and  arrived shortly after, according to Officer Trevor Hart. The victim, Ashleigh Fischer, a UO architecture graduate student, was conscious and breathing when police arrived at the scene and she was taken to the hospital.

The driver was 23-year-old William Campbell, who was turning north onto Hilyard on a green light when he hit the cyclist.

“(When I was turning) out of the corner of my eye I saw something too close to my car,” Campbell, a Lane Community College student, said.

Campbell received a citation for the incident. His car was towed away at the scene due to the lack of insurance on his car. According to Campbell, he did not have insurance on the car because he just got it two weeks ago.

Follow Yuliana Barrales @Ybarrales and Samantha Matsumoto @SMatsumoto55 on Twitter.

After the festivities, keep the spirit going by attending these local Eugene events. Have no plans? No problem. Here are some great ideas to keep you in the spirit of the holidays.

First is the Last Friday ArtWalk in the Whiteaker Arts District on Dec. 27 at 1172 W. Second Ave. in Eugene from 6-9 p.m. Take a stroll through “The Whit” to experience 20 public pieces of artwork. The artwork will exhibit from wall murals to sculptures, neighborhood galleries and art studios. There will also be live music venues and exhibition of local art where attendees will be able to enjoy the quality of community art. Admission to this event is free. The Whiteaker Arts District is located northwest of downtown Eugene and Blair Boulevard.

Feeling in the mood to dance? Then keep the party going by attending the Forward Foundation Celebration Rock N’ Roll dance party on Dec. 28 at 657 E. Main St. in Cottage Grove from 8:30 p.m. till 1 a.m. Enjoy some good old fashion rock with performances from Rocktopica and The Never Ever Band. The music vibe will create one memorable night and you will be able to enjoy great food. All funds collected will go straight to the Forward Foundation. Admission for this event are donations.

Want to enjoy some good laughs? Then head to the Sam Bond’s Garage on Dec. 28 at 407 Blair Blvd. in Eugene to watch Leigh Anne Jasheway and Friends perform at 5 p.m. Jasheway, master of public health and figure of public humor, will run the house with good laughs and spirit. Come enjoy a night of good humor and a few laughs. Admission varies.

Grab the whole family and head over to the Holiday Family Sleepover at the Oregon Coast Aquarium Dec. 28 from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. at 2829 SE Ferry Slip Rd. in Newport. Attendees will be able to enjoy the aquarium by traveling through various exhibits on a scavenger hunt and participating in hands-on activities. The next morning, enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at the aquarium. Explore life under the ocean by witnessing the aquarium’s passages of the deep tunnels. The sleepover includes a full dinner with vegetarian option if needed, a late snack and a light breakfast, as well. Admission for this event is $60.

Stuck in Portland during Winter Break? Head to the Portland Art Museum to see various exhibits the museum is offering. Some exhibitions include: ‘The Question of Hope’ which includes photographs that capture the limited resources of the Northwest, and The 2013 Contemporary Northwest Art Awards.  

The two exhibitions to check out first include ‘Samurai,’  the armor from Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller collection, and the Masterworks/ Portland Series presentation of ‘Three Studies of Lucian Freud.’  

Beginning Dec. 21, the Portland Art Museum will exhibit the most expensive artwork sold at an auction, Frances Bacon’s  ’Three Studies of Lucian Freud,’ all the way through March 30. The work is considered to be one of Bacon’s finest portraits, a perception of Freud, noted artist and grandson of Sigmund Freud. Both Bacon and Freud shared a close friendship and were companions in post-war London. The two artists painted each other on many occasions for more than 50 years. Bacon completed a dozen different portraits of Freud.

Bacon’s triptych is considered an emotional and painterly summary of their friendship. The ‘Three Studies of Lucian Freud’ places the subject inside what is a crystalline frame that defines an emotional and architectural space too. Each panel conveys a different viewpoint.

The next exhibit to observe is the ‘Samurai’ collection which includes 22 suits of armor, 46 helmets (approximately weighing up to 11 pounds), ceremonial jackets, horse gear, swords, arrows and many more war paraphernalia that date back to the 14th through the 19th century.

The collection will exhibit three life-sized horse mannequins that add life and energy to the exhibit. Visitors will also be able to enjoy film series of  Samurai inspired movies. The films include: ‘Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai on Dec. 20 at 7 p.m., ‘Yojimbo’ on Dec. 21 and 22 at 4:30 p.m. and ‘A Fistful of Dollars’ on Dec. 21 at 8 p.m.  

To attend any of these exhibitions, admission will cost $20 for adults, and hours of the museum are: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sat from 10 a.m. till 5 p.m., Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. till 8 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. till 5 p.m.

At 11:40 a.m. on Sunday, Dec.8, a water pipe burst on the outside of the Onyx building in the Lorey I. Lokey Science complex, causing for students and librarians to evacuate and wait outside for half an hour.

As of 12:45 p.m. the pipe was not fixed and although the water was turned off around noon water was still running outside the building for another hour.

According to manager of the Onyx library, Lara Nesselroad, the last occasion of a water pipe bursting due to weather conditions occurred over a decade ago.

“I have never seen this before and so when it occurred it was surprising just because this hasn’t been seen in over a decade,” Nesselroad said.

Currently the water pipe will not affect the hours of operation of the library, Onyx continues to run on short hours from 11 a.m. till 4 p.m.

It is unclear if weather conditions are the cause of it.