The year is 1956. Western freshman John C. Davis Jr. and a group of his fraternity brothers drive around downtown Bowling Green’s old Bradford Service Station while throwin’ back some cold ones. They aren’t there to get drunk. They’re there to get a glimpse of the King, Elvis Presley, who is playing there that night.

It’s all around us. It’s the movies we watch, the music we listen to and the products we consume. It’s popular culture. A committee of nine has been planning a new interdisciplinary pop culture studies program that members hope will be available in fall 2009.

It starts with a case of the jitters, then moves slowly to insomnia with a touch of upset stomach. The heart begins to race and swiftly the blood pressure level moves up slightly and dangerously. These are the effects of caffeine addiction. Caffeine addiction affects a wide range of people, including college students, adults and the elderly.

The phrase “Without the Greek it’s just a week,” took on a new meaning last week when more than 1,200 Greek members turned out to show what they were made of for Greek Week 2008. For sororities, Kappa Delta took home a first place over-all finish, Alpha Delta Pi was second and Sigma Kappa finished third.

Many know Parisa Montazaran though her involvement with the reality show “The Real World: Sydney” and the infamous “push and shove” incident with her roommate Trisha. But what many don’t know about her is that she’s a singer, songwriter and graduate of New York University.

Music blared and fashion flared as the lights in the Kentucky Building Auditorium dimmed on those who attended the third annual Rip the Runway Fashion Show Evolution: “Don’t Stop the Music” Tuesday night. The show was sponsored and produced by the Black Student Alliance, Office of Diversity Programs, Campus Activities Board and the design, merchandising and textile student designers.

Becky Bennett, director of the Career Services Center, stood in front of a group of women Friday afternoon in Downing University Center’s Cupola Room. “Today I want to take a look at strong and beautiful women, and where we are today,” she said. Bennett was just one of five speakers chosen to be a part of the Women of Western Conference: “Generations of Women Moving History Forward.”

The sweet smells of apple enchiladas and German chocolate cake filled the fourth floor of Downing University Center Friday night during International Night 2008. Students from around the world greeted and hugged each other as they gathered together to teach others about their cultures.

Surrounded by a baby carrier, stacks of games and toys, Nick Wiard sat on the couch in his office tucked away in a cozy corner of Minton Hall. The toys belong to his 5-month-old daughter, Hayden. Wiard, Minton Hall director and resident, is just one of a handful of dorm employees that juggle family life and a busy work schedule.

Many people hide behind masks in some way, whether they’re hiding their true feelings or something else. But for theatre students in the play “Memorandum,” they take “hiding behind a mask” to a whole new level. “Memorandum,” an award-winning comedy by Czech writer and politician Vaclav Havel, explores the nature of life under an absurd bureaucratic regime in an organization where one person stands up for what he believes in.