To new experiences — Freshman aims to get involved

Being out and about is on Logan Caniff’s to-do list.

The freshman psychology major said he hopes to never say “no” to a new experience this school year, and plans on taking part in the many service projects on campus.

Caniff volunteered in the Serving Your New Community project earlier this semester and said he has already signed up for the upcoming Paint the Palouse service event later this September.

Born and raised in Denver, Caniff moved to Idaho Falls a few years ago.

It was a big transition, he said, going from a big-city atmosphere to a smaller town where stores had shorter hours and there was less to do.

Like many other freshmen, Caniff lives in the Theophilus Tower.

Caniff

Caniff didn’t pay for a single dorm room, but the university didn’t assign him a roommate either, he said.

Regardless, Caniff said he’s not allowed to change or decorate the other side of the room. And when he tried to make the other side a little homier, he was told to take it down.

“It’s like a penitentiary when you don’t put anything on the other side,” Caniff said of his room.

He said he lives in a close-knit floor, and there are often people in their rooms who are willing to talk.

While he enjoys the dorm community, Caniff said he’s not a fan of the few residents who play their country music plays at various hours of the day.

They are not afraid, he said, of cranking up the volume.

While he was nervous about finding friends at a new school, Caniff said everybody on campus was so friendly and he had no problem fitting in.

For now, Caniff is psychology major.

“First year — still wondering what I should do,” Caniff said Wednesday night, watching his friends play Ping Pong in the basement of the Wallace Residence Center.

Caniff said he became interested in psychology after taking an AP Psychology class in high school. He said he had an enthusiastic teacher who inspired him to pursue psychology in college.

“I’m feeling a little generic here because there are so many psychology majors,” Caniff said, mentioning that at times he’s scared if he will be able to get a job after graduation with so many other people with the same major.

Caniff said he chose UI because there are so many other majors offered, so if he needs to switch, he could find something he’s interested in.

Even though he had no experience marching in a marching band, Caniff joined the Vandal Marching Band this year and plays cymbals.

“It’s going to be fun,” Caniff said of the Thursday football game.

He began to play percussion while in high school, but played in the pit section and had no previous experience marching on a field.

Ryan Tarinelli can be reached at arg-news@uidaho.edu or on Twitter @ryantarinelli