Gopher Blog

Service Learning in the Chicano/Latino Community: Chicano Studies 1275

Learn Beyond the Classroom

Between class, work, and social activities, some college students discover that it’s difficult to find time for volunteer work. Fortunately, there are classes at the U of M that allow students to give back to the community while earning college credit. Service Learning in the Chicano/Latino Community offers students the chance to learn both inside and outside the classroom.

Course instructor Kathleen Ganley has two decades of experience working within the Chicano/Latino community; she developed and began teaching the Service Learning in the Chicano/Latino Community class eight years ago. The course focuses on some of the challenges faced by Chicanos/Latinos when it comes to education—topics include equality, language, and higher education.

The “service learning” portion of the class takes place at one of three locations within the Twin Cities: La Escuelita, Academia Cesar Chavez, or Edison High School. Students are expected to volunteer for a total of 42 hours during the semester, which amounts to about 3 hours each week. At the end of the course, students leave with a fresh outlook about the importance of service—as well as a new perspective of the Chicano/Latino community in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.

Want to learn more?

Visit the Web site for the Department of Chicano Studies at the U of M.

Explore U of M majors and programs related to languages and cultures.

Get Ready to March into the Future!

It’s Homecoming 2008!

At your high schools, Homecoming is probably a fun time of year. At the University of Minnesota, Homecoming is no different! Homecoming celebrations have been a tradition here since 1914 and this year the official week begins on October 27th and continues through November 1st.

Get Involved
There are plenty of ways that students can get involved and have a LOT of fun during Homecoming Week. Beginning on Monday is the flag football tournament. Usually, at least some of the residence halls have teams that participate as well as teams of members from the Greek community. Playing football isn’t my forte, but I will be there to cheer on my sorority’s team! Students also have the chance to participate in community service by donating blood at the Red Cross Blood Drive on Tuesday.

Homecoming Competitions
Two of the well-known events during Homecoming Week are the “Lip Sync” and “Cheer” competitions. In “Lip Sync,” bands of students come together to perform a song at the competition that reflects the overall theme of the week. This year’s theme is “Marching into the Future.” With this theme, it’s going to be an interesting variety of songs at the competition this year! The other main competition, “Cheer” allows students to form teams and create a cheer that reflects the Homecoming theme while including fun stunts and crazy songs. For all those students that used to be involved in cheerleading, this event is for you!

Homecoming and the Greek Community
At the U of M, the Greek community loves to get involved with the Homecoming festivities. Every Saturday of each Homecoming Week, there is a parade that happens before the football game. The parade route is along the street where most of the fraternities on campus are located. Fraternities and sororities come together to decorate the houses that are on the parade route; it’s always a fantastic sight to see all of the decorations, and it adds a new level of fun to the parade atmosphere. Student organizations as well as local businesses come together to create a parade that is enjoyable for all ages! It’s the Homecoming parade that I look forward to the most every year. Well that...and the football game! The metrodome becomes a sea of maroon and gold as fans of Gopher Football cheer on the Gophers! I’ll definitely be covered in maroon and gold to show off all the pride and spirit I have for the U!

Stay tuned for next week’s entry where I will feature a “Homecoming Re-Cap” with photos of as many events as I can attend!

~ Trisha

Tours, Tours, and More Tours!

The month of October is going by quickly as the weather gets cooler and the leaves on the trees turn from vibrant green to warm shades of yellow, red, and orange. I have always loved the way the fall season transforms the U of M campus. Students start bundling up with fall coats, scarves, and gloves and the crisp air and clear atmosphere create an atmosphere that is truly captivating.













Another sign of the season is the appearance of prospective students visiting campus for the first or maybe even second time! This past Thursday and Friday we had a LOT of great students visiting campus to see if it is the right fit for them. During my senior year, I took a tour of campus around this time of year. This visit is what sold me on my decision to make the U of M my first choice for college. I could see myself studying at Coffman Memorial Union or living in Centennial Hall. I pictured myself walking to class along the Northrop Mall and eating at a restaurant in the lively student town called Dinkytown. Have you been to campus recently? Tell me about your visit! What did you like? Click on the “Comments” link below to share your experience on a visit to the University of Minnesota!

~ Trisha

What is the Human Mind?: Psychology 1905

It’s Mind Blowing!

Featured Class: What’s about the size of a cantaloupe, wrinkled like a walnut, and generates enough watts to power a light bulb? That’s right, it’s your brain! There has been plenty of research on the brain as an organ in our bodies. What makes things a tad more complicated is the mind. Have you ever wondered: “How do humans think?” or “How do we have the ability to multi-task?”

With too much thinking on this complex topic, anyone can get a headache. One person who doesn’t get headaches thinking about the mind is Chad Marsolek, instructor of the freshman seminar, What is the Human Mind?

In this seminar, students will spend the semester discovering new realms of the mind. Chad will focus on exploring the mind through engaging class discussions, allowing for students interact with him and each other every time class is in session. Through the two course readings, students will gain knowledge about the mind that will enhance class discussions and extend beyond the classroom.

With the chance to learn through discussion rather than a lecture, get ready for a class that will blow your mind! This seminar is exclusively available to first-year students giving them the opportunity to get to know Chad and each other very well. Maybe you will discover how his mind works...

Want to learn more?

• Read more about Chad Marsolek.
• Learn more about programs in Psychology available at the U of M.

Midterm Crunch

There are more people in the libraries. Everyone in Coffman Memorial Union seems to have a book in his or her hands. Coffee shops are full all around campus. Yes... it’s that time of year. It’s “midterm season.”

As a junior at the U of M, I can say that my course work is demanding. This week alone I have a paper due as well as two important midterm exams. One exam is covering everything that I have learned in my Strategic Communication Research course since the beginning of the semester. With a little over two years of school under my belt, I’ve learned not to be afraid of the word “everything.” It sounds like a ton of information. But, I’ve broken up the information into smaller chunks to make it easier to study in a couple of evenings. It’s a system that might not work for everyone, but it’s been working for me... so I’m going to roll with it!

I’ve always been a person that can get overwhelmed with everything that she has to do. However, life at the U of M has taught me that when I’m feeling that I have too much to do, I need to take a step back and think about what I can look forward to, once the craziness subsides. Not only does this help me take a break from homework, but it helps me re-focus when I’m ready. And with so much happening on campus, there is a TON of events to look forward to. In fact, in less than a month it will be the celebration of Homecoming 2008! It’s a week of events, competitions, a parade, the football game, and much, much more! But... I’ll save that until another entry!

Until next week...

~ Trisha

Learning Abroad Opportunities

One of the things I heard the most when I first came to campus as a freshman was that the U of M will provide me with endless opportunities—all I had to do was pick the options I wanted. This has become very true in my life. Just a couple of months ago, I studied abroad in Cape Town, South Africa—an opportunity that I could have never predicted. A couple of weeks ago, another opportunity came my way because of my involvement with the study abroad office.

I was invited to participate in the Global Ambassadors Internship program though the learning abroad office on campus. The purpose of the program is to use study abroad alumni (like me!) to promote the benefits of going abroad at some point during college. While it is an unpaid internship, it offers me great opportunities to build my speaking and leadership skills and is another resume booster. My advisors on campus have always stressed the importance of internships during college, and it’s another way to get involved on campus.

The kick-off of the program was held in September. I can’t wait to see where it leads me next!

~ Trisha