It’s that time of the semester, and for most of us when it comes to finals, there’s always something else we’d rather be doing. To help get you through not studying for finals, we’ve put together here a well-researched set of ten of the best ways to procrastinate instead of looking over your notes or doing that big project gathering dust on your desk. So, without further ado and in no particular order, here they are!

1. Switching back and forth between the same three social media apps for hours on end!

Nothing is updating, and when it is, it’s never more than one post at a time. But don’t worry: you’ll be able to say you saw your friend’s half-asleep rambling post declaring how tired they are of studying for finals in real time.

2. Taking a nap!

Finals are a great time to get caught up on all the rest you’ve missed out on over the rest of the semester! The hope that maybe this time when you wake up all your academic stress will have disappeared completely will always be dangling overhead, too. Unfortunately, this is almost never true, but hey – maybe after the next nap.

3. Finally organizing every digital file on every device you own!

You’ve been meaning to clean out your photos anyway, and you can consolidate some of these notepad files into a single note, and don’t forget about the downloads folder on your computer  – maybe it’s time to install some of those free fonts you found four months ago!

4. Suddenly getting really invested in your phone games!

Whether it’s one you’ve had for years, one you just installed or one you deleted years ago and are reinstalling right now because you remember it as being okay enough to waste some time on, phone games, like social media, have your back when it comes to procrastination. Except when they require waiting for energy points to refill, and then you’re stuck switching between three or five… or ten… But hey, beats thinking about that essay you have due!

5. Blasting through a bunch of television episodes!

After all, the new season of “She-Ra” is out, and there’s always some cool show you haven’t seen before – or, you know, you’ve been meaning to rewatch your favorite series anyway. Better start from the beginning of a 15 season show, just to be safe.

6. Sorting through your playlists on Spotify!

You have one for every conceivable mood you could possibly be in. There’s nothing like putting the same song in every playlist you’ve ever made, then reconsidering and deleting it off of one or two so you can feel accomplished for not being really in love with one song.

7. Obsessively cleaning your room!

Nothing like the threat of having to look at your own incoherent class notes to suddenly inspire you to find a vacuum cleaner. And it probably wouldn’t hurt to take a Clorox wipe to your desk. Maybe your fridge needs a good wipe-down while you’re at it – it can’t hurt to be thorough, right?

8. Trying to learn how to cook a real actual meal!

You’ve been living on takeout and microwave burritos for a semester, so obviously this is the time to use the communal kitchen to perfect your homemade chili, which you definitely have never made before and which is definitely going to turn out wonderfully.

9. Packing everything you can in preparation for going home for the summer!

It’s technically productive, and it lets you think about that sweet, sweet time when finals are over –  so it’s the perfect procrastination activity. And then when you have to go take your final, you’ll have to dig through your packed clothes for a pair of socks, but who’s thinking about that, really?

10. Taking a two hour-long shower and using all the hot water!

The people who need to shower after you aren’t going to need water any warmer than freezing, so hop on in there and dissociate while getting clean! Time to think about all the things you’re procrastinating on and all the ways you’re going to fail your finals and all the horrible negative consequences that will have on your future… Actually, maybe it’s just better to study for finals after all.

The latest release in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), “Captain Marvel” is simultaneously 90s-nostalgic and futuristic, blending some truly gorgeous special effects with the impactful emotional arc of Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) discovering the truth about herself and the universe. Featuring appearances from a young Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg), “Captain Marvel” offers just enough humor to make the more hard-hitting moments that much more meaningful.

While the deluge of superhero movies our culture has experienced for the past decade or so can make it difficult to care about the newest addition to whatever the current lineup is, Brie Larson does an excellent job portraying a Carol Danvers that the audience both likes and can root for, effectively feeling fresh and distinctive as a character.

Danvers must overcome six years of being molded into someone she is not in order to protect a group of interplanetary refugees and her own friends and family. The emotional climax of the film subverts viewers’ expectations as Danvers’ main antagonist challenges her to prove herself to him by playing by his rules, to which Danvers responds coolly that she has nothing to prove to him. Instead of the big, intense battle audiences have come to expect from superhero films, Danvers takes her opponent out easily and at a distance: the fight is over before it has ever begun.

Perhaps the most difficult part to swallow of “Captain Marvel,” however, is the blatant military advertising. Superhero movies, and Marvel in particular, are no strangers to promoting the military – Steve Rogers being a notable example – but the uncritical presentation of Danvers’ participation in and apparent idolization of the military combined with advertisements pre-movie designed to make joining look like a way for women to be empowered is uncomfortable to say the least.

As the film’s present-day is set in 1995, Danvers would have been last active in service in 1989, suggesting that she would have been serving under Reagan and Bush Sr. There is no mention of contemporary military activity, only that Danvers and her friend Maria Rambeau (Lashana Lynch) are not given many opportunities to participate in many actual assignments despite their strong desire to do so.

The decision to keep them out of activities unrelated to the plot absolves the characters of involvement in the military actions of the ‘80s, but presenting the military only through Danvers’ enthusiastic eyes as a vessel of opportunity ignores the imperialism that the United States military perpetuates. Complicating the presentation of the military in the same way that the group of refugees were revealed would have lessened the feeling of blind praise.

Despite this, “Captain Marvel” is still an enjoyable watch for the storyline and the development of Danvers’ character. The emotional arc of the film is rewarding, and being aware of the military advertising space makes it easier to set aside in order to focus on the film itself. If you’re a fan of superheroes, powerful women, or just want to stay in the loop of the MCU before “Avengers: Endgame,” “Captain Marvel” is a good choice.

William Jewell College’s literary publication, Inscape, was released to the public April 10 at 7 p.m. in the Stocksdale Gallery. The team provided cookies and punch to celebrate a successful launch of the most recent volume of Inscape, and students and professors alike turned out to support the publication. Guests were given the opportunity to read works of creative writing at the event’s open mic, where some contributors shared previews of their published pieces.

Heading the event were editors Becca Saffier and Cameron White, as well as faculty advisor Dr. Ruth Williams.

“This is the culmination of months of hard work,” said Saffier. “It’s nice to have a celebration of everything that’s gone into this. I’m proud of everyone for the work they’ve put in – my editors and the contributors both.”

Having physical evidence of the work they’ve been doing all year was a moment of great accomplishment for all involved.

“I’m very pleased with how this edition turned out,” White said with a smile. “It’s great to see how many people are here to support us, too.”

Copies of Inscape will be available to pick up in the English department, found on the third floor of Jewell Hall.

After many harrowing experiences meant to throw them off the trail, investigative journalists have discovered the truth behind a question that has plagued generations of Jewell students: why the Hill?

Whether it be the trek from the commuter lot to the quad, from the Sahara to the first-year dorms or from Shumaker to the PLC, one constant remains to guarantee that students are out of breath and uncomfortably aware of a burning sensation in their calves by the end of their journey – that is, of course, the Hill.

Getting in touch with some of the more communicative ghosts on the third floor of Jewell Hall, we asked for their insight into this universal predicament. One ghost – kept anonymous by request – confirms that the donation of the land on which William Jewell College now stands was very intentional, and that the wheezing and groaning of nonathletic students who just want to get to class without becoming tachycardic are, in fact, all according to plan. The fact that students are often weighed down by heavy textbooks, however, is simply considered a bonus.

Today, Jewell prides itself on its students’ famous critical thinking skills, providing courses that result in fully-developed academic minds. However, our spectral source confirms that the original plan for Jewell’s hilltop location was meant to ensure that not only would students become mentally strong, but that they would also be physically strong as well – or at the very least, to ensure that Jewell students would always have great legs.