Chances are high that you’ve seen them strolling the streets of Brookings, or maybe the pair has visited you. Elder Bramwell of Irvine, Calif., 22, and Elder Foster of Mesa, Ariz., 20, are two of the four volunteers stationed in Brookings for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The two were randomly paired together, yet they must spend all of their time together while serving in Brookings.

Bramwell and Foster wake up every morning at 6:30 to study and discuss the Book of Mormon (the book unique to their faith), begin visiting Brookings residents by foot at 9:30 a.m., and arrive home by 9:30 p.m. They work every day with the exception of having a half-day off every Monday.

When asked about the overall friendliness of townspeople, Bramwell said he has seen both sides of the coin.

Most students have visited at least one restroom on campus while attending SDSU. Each bathroom experience has uniqueness, whether you run into an old friend or you discover an unwanted gift from a previous restroom visit. Several restrooms on campus have distinct characteristics, making your bathroom visit newspaper worthy, or a quick pit stop. Here are the winners for the best, brightest, cleanest and grossest bathrooms on campus as well as the bathroom with the biggest time warp.

Note: Male restrooms were not observed directly for obvious reasons.

Best and Brightest:

The best and brightest bathroom on campus is in Crother’s Engineering Hall. The yellow walls and stall doors glow under the natural sunlight and fluorescent lighting. The faint humming noise in the room creates a relaxing effect making a nap on the room’s green, cushioned couch possible. A vertically positioned mirror allows students to assess their finest assets. The room provides shelving units and hooks for personal belongings. “The automatic hand towels are a cool addition,” said Sarah Bandas, a grad student at SDSU.

Cleanest

The Performing Arts Center wins for the cleanest bathroom on campus. The restroom was spotless; it was as if no one had ever stepped foot in the room. Each stall was in order and had plenty of toilet paper. The trays underneath the soap dispensers, meant to catch excess soap, were soapless and the counters were free of water spots (and of course soap thanks to the tray). Whether it be the newness of the building, or the limited number of bathroom visitors in the P.A.C., the room is number one in the upkeep department.

Grossest

The grossest bathroom on campus is located in the Hilton Briggs Library. Comments on unpleasant aromas and paper towel messes are not uncommon for the bathroom on the main floor. Amy Lewis, a graduate student at SDSU, said that the bathroom in the basement was even worse although she did have one positive comment. “It does have a handy little shelf for your books,” Lewis said. Although, the grossest bathroom on campus is in the library, there are several contenders for the title. “I think they’re all pretty gross,” said Jenna Hardy, a freshman music education major.

Biggest Time Warp

The Animal Science Complex’s orange and cream striped bathroom walls along with its matching countertops and pumpkin-colored stall doors bring the 70s to the student. The bathroom provides a built-in wall ashtray in the waiting room and pull down utility shelves in each stall. The bathroom in Ag Engineering deserves an honorable mention for its usage of turquoise and plastic couches.

What are you giving up for Lent? Many SDSU students have decided to give up sweets, a few decided to deprive themselves of one-night stands, but the most popular response to this question was neither — smoking was the number one response. Here are a few ways to help newly found nonsmokers overcome cravings.

Ditch the cigs

Soon-to-be nonsmokers should throw away cigarettes and cigars from around the house –the less temptation the better! If your roommate has a similar addiction, make sure to inform him or her of your sacrifice; ask your roomie to hide their cigarettes in a safe place. If the thought of trashing a pack of smokes makes you uneasy, donate the cigarettes to your roommate –he or she may need an extra smoke while living with a recent nonsmoker.

Establish a “butty” system

Why quit smoking on your own, when you can quit with a friend? The motivation to keep clean may increase your success. Jog around the block together after every complaint or mention of smoking. Plan outings or activities during times where cravings are the strongest and try to meet at non-smoking establishments. Most importantly, make sure that you pick a friend with stick-to-itiveness and the determination to make the sacrifice.

Allow family to kick butt

You may come close to cheating, or actually take a puff or two. Make a list of family/friends to call if you are close to cheating, or happen to go astray. The individuals listed should be people with backbone –you need encouragement from people who know you best (they know you can do it). The people listed could be major influences in your life; would they be disappointed in you for failing to make this sacrifice? Pull out the list when you feel the urge to smoke-it can serve as a preventative tool and relieve your mind of smoking while you chat.

Post puff art

Seeing is believing-you can make the sacrifice! Decorate your home with anti-smoking ads, or health reports on the dangers of smoking (you will find the Internet to be a great research tool). Post the ads/info everywhere in your home. Stuff the image of a tar-filled lung in your purse in place of your cigarettes, or paste a picture of a smoker’s smile near your toothbrush. The images may help you stop smoking for good.

Don’t cloud the symbolism

Remember why you’re sacrificing your habit in the first place. Your time-off from smoking parallels a greater sacrifice.

Do you need a novel now that you’ve finally found time to read? Here are six places in Brookings you can visit to buy your next book. I chose the top two.

Hy-Vee organizes its book section by bestsellers (arranged by number), romance, fiction and new release novels. Christian/Inspirational books can be found on a bookstand at the aisle’s center. Hy-Vee offers customers magazines, special occasion cards, candles and coloring books along the same aisle. Shopping for a novel in Hy-Vee is meant for convenience while shopping; the prices range between $4-$7.

Wal-Mart’s designated book area is similar to Hy-Vee’s book area topically, though Wal-Mart carries a larger selection of books. Searching for books is easy and private for the customer. The prices of novels range from $3-$6. Wal-Mart’s book area serves as a convenience stop for readers; the selection is limited.

The University Bookstore offers students study aids to prepare the MCAT (can be costly, but worth it) or to catch up on assigned reading with Cliff’s Notes (with little expense to the student). Cookbooks are available to students learning to prepare meals quickly and easily; the cost is around $20. The University Bookstore provides friendly service along with a variety of reading material and SDSU accessories (oh yes, and textbooks).

Brost’s Aquarium and Hobby offers customers a distinctive book selection-mostly science fiction. The books are organized by hard cover, paperback, books that have been made into movies (Star Wars), short stories and a section for a variety of books. The prices range from $5-$35. The store carries video and computer game magazines and also popular card games such as Magic. The store has a unique atmosphere (fish aquariums and supplies) and friendly service.

#2: Brookings Book Company provides readers with a large selection of used books organized in a variety of topics, some having a separate room! The prices are low and range from book to book. Comics and records can be purchased, as well as Jackrabbit yearbooks from SDSU’s earlier years. Brookings Book Company provides a warm, homey atmosphere and companionship from the store’s friendly feline.

#1: Cover to Cover’s book selection is the best in Brookings. The walls are covered with books arranged in alphabetical order and organized by topic; Literature, Fantasy and Pets are a few topics provided. Children’s books line the back wall; a play area is available for children to explore while reading. The selection of magazines spans almost an entire wall. Though the staff did not greet every customer entering the store, they remained helpful.

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