Fifteen dollars can get you a lot at The University Center. You can shoot pool with a friend for three hours at the Side Pocket game room, or you can drop your pants and receive oral sex from a stranger in the bathroom. The black Sharpie written messages on the walls of the second and third floor men's bathrooms tell the story.

What could be better than beer and pizza on Friday night after a long week of classes? Try an iPod. According to the recent Student Monitor LLC's Lifestyle & Media survey, iPods dethroned beer for the first time since 1997, as the thing that college students want most.

University of Memphis education major's seeking National Board of Professional Teaching Standards after graduation may find the process easier than ever thanks to The Tennessee Department of Education. The Department of Education announced last month that because of funds provided by the federal government, the state of Tennessee will offer $1,250 to offset certification fees of teachers.

First-hand accounts of hundreds of World War II veterans in the Mid-South will forever be preserved as part of the new Veterans Oral History Project at The University of Memphis. The goal is to permanently record tales and perspectives from surviving war veterans, according to Charles Crawford, director of the Oral History Research Office.

Making the jump from high school to college is a big step. And sometimes an overwhelming one. But orientation can make it easier. "It really is the jumping off point for the first year," said Brian Meredith, director of Recruitment and Orientation Services.

Hourly tuition charges may have University of Memphis students paying more each semester if the Tennessee Board of Regents goes forward with their new pricing plans. The new system would charge students by the hour instead of billing them a flat fee. The TBR is considering changing the way that they charge students for tuition.

The University of Memphis family experienced a tragic loss early Monday morning. Tom Crafton, associate vice president and deputy CIO in the Information Technology Division, died unexpectedly Monday during a vacation. He was 58 years old. Crafton came to The U of M in 2004 but quickly established a notable reputation with his co-workers.

For any student at The University of Memphis, deadlines become almost second nature. But the federal government's July 1 deadline for an almost 2 percent interest rate increase may be more costly than any class deadline. The federal government adjusts student loan interest rates every July, and the rush to consolidate loans under a lower interest rate is on for many U of M students.

It's not often a basketball player goes from the NBA Development League to partying on Miami Beach with the NBA champions, but former Tiger star and seven-footer Earl Barron has done just that. Barron, signed as a free agent by the Heat in 2005, was a reserve player for Miami this season as they rebounded from a 2-0 series deficit against the Dallas Mavericks to claim their first NBA championship.

Bridge Builders, a local organization is focused on bringing high school students together from across the Mid-South area to face the challenges of racism and social inequality. Eleventh grade students in the program spend a week on campus with other juniors.

Memphis recently received $4.2 million in federal funding for homeland defense on the basis that the city has more possible terrorist targets than New York City or Washington D.C., according to the federal officials that handed out the money. According to Claude Talford, director of the Memphis and Shelby County Emergency Management Agency, the area has "up to 28 designated threats and critical infrastructures.

The Delta - Everything Southern Conference comes to The University of Memphis to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the Mississippi Delta in a daylong event at the Fogelman Executive Conference Center on June 29. "The Delta and the impact of the Delta on the American story is just beginning to be understood," said William Bearden, one of the event organizers.

DETROIT - When it comes to cutthroat reality competitions, there's CBS's "Survivor," NBC's "The Apprentice" and now Volvo's "The Hunt." Running through July 11, Ford Motor Co.'s Volvo unit is running a new reality TV-showesque competition in which people can participate in a worldwide treasure hunt for a hidden custom $82,000 XC90 V8 to promote the SUV and Disney's soon-to-be-released "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest.

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The U.S. death toll in Iraq reached 2,500 on Thursday as American forces remained locked in a bitter fight against insurgents and foreign terrorists. The Pentagon also reported that 18,940 U.S. service members have been wounded in the war to topple Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, which began more than three years ago and has left tens of thousands of Iraqis dead.

Cotton, fried catfish and folklore were all on the menu at the "Delta, Everything Southern Symposium" that was held by the friends of the library on campus June 29. The list of speakers ranged from cotton barons to catholic priests to musical scholars all sharing their knowledge about the Mississippi Delta.

There may be no greater sound for University of Memphis music students than the sound of victory. Thanks to the work of five U of M recording industry students, The U of M's music recording program is now in the spotlight of the entire nation. Shure Incorporated announced June 22 that The U of M had been selected as the top participant in the companies annual Fantastic Scholastic Recording Competition.

With the heat and humidity that comes with Memphis summers, there are other things to look forward to rather then just the dreary, hot days. Summertime is a chance to relax, grill out with friends and find ways to stay cool during the dog days of summer.