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So I was dating a guy from high school for around 8-9 months. We really loved and cared for each other, and we dated throughout the school year, the summer before college, and a little bit into freshman year of college. We argued a little too much, and we ended on good terms. Obviously, I was still very sad and vulnerable, so a few days after the breakup, I decided to go party and drink a lot. I ended up hooking up with a random guy and drunk-texted my ex about it. He still hasn’t forgiven me.

So, in my opinion, the term “casual” is supposed to be open to interpretation, much like a casual relationship is. It can mean a plethora of things, but generally, the term casual is used to refer to something that’s low-commitment and freer of expectations than a monogamous relationship. I think when defining a “casual” relationship with a partner, it is important to clarify expectations in order to avoid misunderstandings that can breed resentment.

Every time we get into a fight, my boyfriend threatens to break up with me. Is he doing this so I say sorry and he wins the fight or does he not want to be in a relationship with me anymore because of our fights?

I ate so much junk food this week, I feel like I gained ten pounds! How can I get more willpower?

I started dating this girl last semester and I really like her. We get along great, she is very supportive, she’s intelligent, and she makes me laugh which is a bonus. The thing is we have different political views on some issues happening in the world right now and can get into heated debates. I often walk away feeling like she doesn’t understand the reality of social justice needs in this country and consider removing her from my life. Are political views worth ending things over or are there better ways that we can work things out?

Take care of yourself, each other, and our community

My boyfriend and I have been in a relationship for almost 3 years and even though I care about him, I think I’m interested in seeing other people. He’s great but I’m starting to wonder what I may be missing out on. Any advice?

I’m going to be around campus for the Thanksgiving holiday. This is my first year at Cal and away from home. What should I expect? What is there to do?

Q: I don’t have a lot of money for food. How can I eat well on a tight budget? A: Unreliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food - aka food insecurity - is an unfortunate reality for many UC students. Food and other basic needs insecurity among students is gaining the attention of campus and state leaders, and efforts are underway to improve the problem from many angles.

Being a transfer student sucks. It’s almost the end of my first semester and I don’t feel like I have made very much progress socially (or academically). Any tips?

My roommate and I are on two different schedules. I’m up early getting ready before 8 a.m. and he tends to get back to the apartment late. Plus, he’s a night owl. He’s gotten upset with me in the past for making noise "too early” and honestly, he wakes me up at times when he’s up late at night. What can I do about this?

I’ve changed my major twice already and am thinking about changing it for a third time. I feel confident that I’m making the right choice this time, my only problem is that I haven’t told my parents yet. They’ve freaked out on me already for not sticking with one major and I don’t know how to bring the conversation up again. I’m nervous because I don’t want them to see me as flaky or irresponsible. How can I talk to them about it?

Dorm plague is rampant in Unit 3. How can I best prevent myself from catching what others have?

Q: What is mindful eating? And is it really practical for busy college students? A: I believe that learning to eat mindfully is the key to lifelong healthy food habits. Mindful eating takes practice but it’s not complicated and it doesn’t require lots of time. To understand how mindfulness applies to food, it’s important to first define mindfulness itself.

I have been in a relationship for almost 2 years and my girlfriend and I have had what I consider a great relationship. Last week she confessed to cheating while she was home for the summer and I don’t know what to do. I try to be the best partner I can and know that she loves me but I’m mad and don’t trust her and have thought about breaking up. She says she wants to be with me but how do I know she’s telling the truth?