THE BEST OF UNLV 2010 – Part 2

April 27, 2010 by The Rebel Yell 

BEST FRATERNITY:

Zeta Beta Tau

The gentlemen of Zeta Beta Tau are a self-proclaimed “powerhouse of excellence,” Their members are some of the most involved students on campus, a few of them even part of The Rebel Yell staff. Well-rounded and diverse, they are involved with almost every part of UNLV life, from intramural sports to CSUN and the Interfraternity Council.

That was a deciding factor for Student Body Vice President David Rapoport, who cites his brothers’ support for helping earn his spot in CSUN. “We’re there for each other, whether it’s picking up someone after a night of partying or being there after a breakup with a girlfriend.”

They care about their brothers and for the community too. Since ZBT was chartered at UNLV in 2002, they have raised more than $15,000 for the Children’s Miracle Network. As they often say to each other, “It’s good to be a Zeeb.”

BEST SORORITY:

Alpha Gamma Delta

Alpha Gamma Delta not only has the honor of being the Best Sorority this year, but these girls also hold the mark of having the highest grade point average among sororities at UNLV.

The organization has made a lot of progress since opening in 1904 at Syracuse University.

At UNLV alone, this society of “squirrels” won the best philanthropic event this year and is the most represented sorority in CSUN.

Congrats to the red, buff and green on their winning ways and remember: “Inspire the woman. Impact the world.”

BEST USE OF CSUN MONEY:

Scholarships

CSUN gets a lot of flack, but they fund some useful things. I’m talking about that crosswalk thingy that stops traffic with lights and bilingualism. I’m talking about the money-saving Textbook Reserve Program. Speaking about money saving, they’ve given me a lot… in the form of scholarships. CSUN rewards students that are leaders, philanthropists and go getters. Gracias, CSUN!

WORST USE OF CSUN MONEY:

Spring Ice-skating Event

BEST KEPT CAMPUS SECRET:

Massage Chairs

Anyone up for a quick massage? Well you can’t have one, but the massage chairs that are free in the Rebel Wellness Zone on the second floor of the Recreation and Wellness Center do a pretty close imitation of the real thing.

BEST STUDENT FREEBIE OR DEAL:

Free drink at Chipotle

So you can get a free drink with a purchase of $5 or more when you show your RebelCard. Kinda cool, we guess. But really? The best student freebie?

The Rebel Yell’s Pick:

Tampons and Condoms

These are just the kinds of things that should be free. They’re there for the taking at the Jean Nidetch Women’s Center in the Student Services Center, Building A.

BEST RESTROOM:

Student Union

WORST RESTROOM:

Beam Hall

BEST DORM:

Dayton

BEST CSUN SENATOR:

Emmanuel Reyes

BEST BOOKSTORE:

Rebelbooks

Rebelbooks won this title last year, too. Now that Omelet House has been replaced by Café Rio, the staff can be proud in peace. No chance that some witty Rebel Yeller will sour your victory this time, guys!

UNLV’S BEST TEAM:

Runnin’ Rebels Basketball

What can you say about the Runnin’ Rebs? After getting bumped out of the National Invitation Tournament just last year, the now young squad decided they were going to get back to being a force in the Mountain West Conference. And boy, did they. After taking down a then-ranked Louisville squad and only losing two non-conference games, the Rebels went into conference play and returned to the top three.

Their close finishes and run to the MWC championship game left impressions on everyone, which is what puts them back into the best team category.

UNLV’S WORST TEAM:

Rebel Football

The type of season UNLV football had last season can only be described with one term: Almost had it! On multiple occasions this year, UNLV was in striking distance of winning their games, but they always came apart in the last quarter (in some cases, the last drive). From a season standpoint, they won three of their last five, but it was not enough, as they came just one game short of bowl eligibility. This close game stuff was no longer tolerable to the athletic department, forcing a change in head coach. With a new system trying to take place and no set quarterback to spearhead its implementation, this program could be on a downward spiral.

BEST LOCAL MALL:

Fashion Show Mall

BEST LOCAL BAND:

Kid Meets Cougar

Electro-pop couple Kid Meets Cougar are way more than your ordinary lovebirds. Brett Bolton and Courtney Caroll call their style “electro-organic,” using a drum set, guitar, keyboards and samples to create a mix of fun, energetic dance songs. The band has a loyal group of listeners who are at every show – like the girl with the red hair who is never afraid to dance, or KMC’s bike crew who always get the crowd chanting “Totes inAppropes.” If you’ve never seen them play before, make sure to catch their remix of “Ain’t Nothin’ But A G Thang,” which you can also download for free on their website – or purchase their first full length album “For Breakfast,” for six bucks. The best part about seeing a Kid Meets Cougar show? It’s not the clips of Bolton and Caroll running away from robots that they play in the background, it’s seeing these two have so much fun doing what they love to do – and who wouldn’t love playing music with their best friend?

Runner up:

America Yeah

Tropical indie-rock group America Yeah looks just as good as it sounds. This talented group of guys might look like they just stepped out of an Urban Outfitters catalogue, but they’re doing something different in the local scene. Bringing a beachy, coastal vibe to the West, America Yeah also incorporates a saxophone in almost all of their songs. Since releasing their first album last month, the band has already become a local favorite, especially to frequent downtowners.

BEST MUSIC VENUE:

House of Blues

Two major pluses about The House of Blues are the awesome sound quality and the great full bar inside. Also, H.O.B. usually books pretty well-known acts, but most shows don’t go over 20 bucks. The drinks on the other hand are priced like you would expect from a venue on the strip, so it might help to down a few in the parking lot before you’re ready to see the show. Just make sure you don’t get too rowdy – H.O.B. is known for kicking kids out. You can’t get away with crowd surfing here and the bouncers – who are pretty big – will be glad to throw you… or show you the door.

The Rebel Yell’s Pick:

The Bunkhouse

One of the best local bars downtown, The Bunkhouse becomes a great venue to see shows during the nighttime. The drinks are cheap – you won’t have to pay 5 bucks for a PBR here – and they book some of the best local bands. The open floor is a great place to dance, but there are still plenty of places to sit and hang out. This western-themed bar can get pretty packed sometimes, so getting a drink might take a while, but you’ll probably run into someone you know while you’re waiting – or you’ll be too busy listening to the music to even notice.

CLICK HERE FOR THE BEST OF UNLV PART 1