Gopher Blog

Discover Coffman Memorial Union (Part 1)

A place that makes students’ lives easier

As a freshman on campus, one of places where I could be found most was at Coffman Memorial Union. I’ve mentioned this popular campus hangout a few times in past entries and wanted to take the time to talk about why this is one of my favorite places at the U of M.



What is Coffman Memorial Union?
Coffman Memorial Union (or Coffman for short) is one of the University’s student unions and is described as a student’s “living room on campus” because it’s a great place to hangout with friends, get involved on campus, and find your niche. In my opinion, Coffman is all this and more because this center of student life at the U of M is a place that makes students’ lives easier.

Spend time in between classes


One of the main reasons I stop by Coffman is because it’s a great place to spend time in between my classes. Located in the center of campus, Coffman is close to many buildings and “on the way” for most students in between their classes. Whether it’s reading to finish before my next class, homework for a class I have the next day, or taking the time to read about the latest campus news in the Minnesota Daily, Coffman is a perfect place. Many students talk about the comfy couches available for studying, chatting with friends, working on group projects with classmates, or the occasional nap.

Grab a bite to eat


Coffman is also a convenient place to grab a bite to eat. From Chinese and Italian food to bagels, tacos, or an on-the-go mocha latte from Starbucks, there’s a place suited for your cuisine cravings. My personal favorite is Bene Pizza and Pasta (I can never turn down a good breadstick!). Check out other places to eat in Coffman here.

Complete your to-do list
Need to run some errands in between classes? You’re in luck! Coffman is a great place to complete all the items on your to-do list. If you need to pick up a book for one of your classes (which many people do at the beginning of each semester), the University Bookstore is located on the Ground floor. If you just received a check from your campus job and need to deposit it at the bank, you can use one of multiple ATMs. Or if you forgot to send your Mom a birthday card, pick one up at the bookstore and send it to her at the Coffman post office! Check out all the services offered to students below:

• Banking Services

• Campus Link Kiosks

• Coffman Information Desk

• Computer Lab

• Events and Conferences

• Gopher Express Convenience Store

• Internet Kiosks

• Printing Services Copy Center

• Security Monitors Program

• Lounge and Study Space

• STA Travel

• U Card Office

• US Bank

• U.S. Postal Contract Station

• University of Minnesota Bookstore

Stay tuned… next week I will finish telling you about how students get involved on campus at Coffman!

~ Trisha

U of M in the News: Marching Band Moves into New Stadium

Good morning!

Did you know that the Pride of Minnesota, also known as the Minnesota Marching Band, moved into its new home at the TCF Bank Staduim this past weekend? Check out the video below to learn more:

KSTP TV - Minneapolis and St. Paul - Marching Band Moves into New Stadium Shared via AddThis

~ Trisha

A Saturday Afternoon Trip

Minnesota History Center: A Journey of Discovery



This past weekend, a friend and I ventured to the Minnesota History Center in downtown St. Paul for an afternoon of history and exploration. Since high school, I’ve always enjoyed history so a trip to learn about the history of Minnesota not only seemed like a fitting activity, but also a great way to spend an afternoon in the city.



The Greatest Generation
The History Center is part of the Minnesota Historical Society, an organization dedicated to archiving Minnesota’s history through different historic sites and museums located throughout the state. One of the current exhibits at the History Center is “Minnesota’s Greatest Generation,” showcasing the lives of Minnesotans during World War Two. In the exhibit, there were artifacts from Minnesotans who were soldiers; newspapers and magazines from the 1940s; and even military equipment used in the war. It was really interesting to learn about Minnesota’s connections to a war that changed the world forever.



An Extraordinary St. Paul Home
I also enjoyed an exhibit called “Open House: If These Walls Could Talk.” It featured a house modeled after a local St. Paul home and followed the history of the families that have lived there throughout the years. From the first German immigrants, through Italians, African-Americans, and Hmong residents that succeeded them, this exhibit showcased the different struggles that each family faced while living in the St. Paul house. Everything from how family members dressed to letters they sent to loved ones were included in this exhibit. There were even college transcripts from a Golden Gopher who attended the University of Minnesota during the early 1900s. (As you can probably tell by now, I really enjoy historical artifacts!)

A University of Tradition
Another exhibit features past research by the scholars at the University of Minnesota! It was a small reminder of the important role that the University has played throughout Minnesota’s history with its commitment to research. (Not to mention it gave me a small boost of pride for the place I’ve called home for the past three years.)

I’ve always liked learning about history because information about the past (even though it doesn’t always seem relevant at first) can help us discover more our individual passions and our purpose for the future. And finding our purpose, or at least deciding what we want for our lives after graduation, is what college is all about!

~ Trisha

Introduction to Studies in Cinema and Media Culture: Studies in Cinema and Media Culture 1201

Film, television, the media and more!

Have you ever wondered why films always seem to have a love story? Or why cable stations air the same film over and over again? Or why television screens seem to be everywhere you look? In Introduction to Studies in Cinema and Media Culture, you’ll get the answer to all of these questions... and more!

Stephen Groening, a professor in the cultural studies and comparative literature department, teaches Introduction to Studies in Cinema. This course teaches students the theories, concepts, and methods people use to study and analyze media culture. Professor Groening helps students learn the concepts with regular small group discussions and in-class exercises that help his students apply what they’ve learned in class to different forms of contemporary culture like television, films, music, the Internet, video games, and magazine ads.



Students in this course have the opportunity to design their own research project about an aspect of cinema and media culture that resonates with them. It’s a great opportunity for students to have fun and be creative with their research. Because the students choose their own topics, past projects have examined everything from music videos and reality television to social networking sites and advertising campaigns. Examples include television shows like The Office and One Tree Hill; films like Transformers and Twilight; and social networking Web sites like Facebook.

Want to learn more?

• Read more about Professor Stephen Groening.
• Learn more about a major in Studies in Cinema and Media Culture.
• Discover more about the University’s support of Film and Cinema.