Gopher Blog

Spring Commencement

Thank goodness, it looks like I’ll survive this week! I turned in my last project today (a 6-page paper, which took me a good 6 hours to write) and now I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I’m going to “walk” at graduation in a little more than a week (walking basically means you put on your cap and gown and walk across stage while they read your name. It’s optional at this level, but it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so I figured why not?).

Each college within the University has its own commencement ceremony. My college, the College of Liberal Arts (CLA) is bringing in one of the “Lost Boys of Sudan,” John Bul Dau, to speak. Other big names speakers for U of M graduations include businessman Steve Forbes and former Gopher and NBA player Trent Tucker, among several others. Check out the full list!

In other news, spring has sprung on campus! Check out some of the pictures I took of the mall today (and note the jugglers!) –

Two Weeks and Beyond

Well, I'm down to the last two weeks of classes. Amazing to think it's coming to an end ... I still have about 5 projects/papers to do by May 4.

In my advanced electronic production class, it's my turn to produce our bi-weekly newscast, University Report. Between class time and outside-of-class time, I'll be spending around 25 hours in the journalism lab between now and Sunday. Producing a show includes writing scripts, editing video, shooting video, contacting people to interview, making sure we have a space to do the production, designing the set, and managing the rest of the 15-person class, so the hours really add up.

Also in that class is a newscast analysis; it's a few pages of analysis on a local newscast (strategies they used, decisions they made, etc.). Finally, next week in there is a class project; we're designing a Web page chronicling one of our productions.

In my new media culture class, I have a 7 page research paper due May 3 on a topic of my choosing. I'm doing it on sports-related message boards and the communities they create.

For the summer months, I haven't found a summer job as of yet, but there are plenty around here. I just need to get out and find something I can have for a few months.

I haven't told you yet, but a few weeks ago I was accepted to Boston University's Communications Graduate School. I looked at my future, at my present, and figured the best option for me would be to go to Boston next year and start work on my Master's degree in Applied Communications Research. It will be a great experience in a great city, but I'd be lying if I said I won't miss all my friends and experiences here in the Twin Cities.

But enough sentimentalities, I have a big couple of weeks ahead before I graduate!

Hope everyone is enjoying the spring time!

-- Will

Museums On Campus

Hey everyone, just found this article on the University's main page; it's an interesting look at all the different art galleries on campus. Enjoy!

Break Time

Hi once again everyone,

I just turned in my last paper of the semester, a 15-page research paper on the historical, cultural and innovative reasons why The Simpsons has been such a popular television show.

One final tomorrow in my persuasive speaking class, maybe a little holiday shopping, and I'm done for the semester! Just one more semester to go, it's amazing how time flies by.

As it is almost winter break, I'll be sporadically updating for the next month or so. I'm actually going to Green Bay, Wisc. to watch the Packer-Viking football game this Thursday, then headed to Tempe, Ariz. for the Insight Bowl from December 27-30, then going back to Wisconsin for a family holiday party, and finally going to Iowa City, Iowa on January 13 and 14 to watch the Gopher basketball team. Four states in four weeks is going to be crazy!

Hopefully I'll be able to update in between my many trips and let you all know how winter break is going.

Until next time,

-- Will

Mid-Semester Update

Sometimes there comes a point in a semester when you hit a groove, when things are going along rather methodically and you "hit your stride". I think I hit that this week. Surprisingly, marching band is almost wrapped up (two games and two indoor concerts left) and half of the semester is finished!

I did well on my GRE test a few weeks ago, and now the fun part of applying to graduate schools begins! Hopefully I'll have all my applications finished by mid-November.

In other news, homecoming is next week! This year's theme is "Wild Wild Midwest". There's no shortage of things to do during the week, from intramural sports competitions to a barn dance. It should be a great time to be on campus.

Big games for Gopher hockey this weekend as they open up their WCHA (Western Collegiate Hockey Association) schedule with two games vs. Colorado College! Ski-U-Mah, Go Gophers!!

- Will

Driven to Discover

I was thinking about the new campaign by the U of M, “Driven to Discover” (check it out here), and I thought about what MY greatest question is. I could ask an earth-shattering question about the future of the world economy, or what diseases will be cured in the coming years.

But I think my greatest question is – How will I do on my GRE (graduate school test) this Friday? I’ve been studying for awhile, and hopefully it’ll all pay off!

What is YOUR greatest question? Comment here with your answer!

Farmer’s Market and Other Updates

Hey everyone! This morning I decided to check out the U of M’s Farmer’s Market for the first time; it was very cool! There were a good amount of vendors with some really good looking vegetables and fruits available right on campus. I also found out that there is a student-run organic farm on the St. Paul campus called “Cornercopia.” Great ways to stay healthy at the U of M!

On a totally unrelated note, I have a leadership retreat this weekend before starting Spat Camp next week. Spat Camp is about two weeks of non-stop marching band as the U of M Marching Band prepares for another great season. Here’s a typical day for me during those two weeks –

• 7 am – Breakfast
• 9 am – Marching rehearsal
• 11:30 am – Lunch
• 1 pm – Music rehearsal
• 5 pm – Dinner
• 7 pm – Marching rehearsal
• 9:30 pm – Done for the day!

It makes for a lot of work, but it’s all worth it when football season rolls around. Because of my busy schedule over the next few weeks, I may not be able to update as often as I’d like. In the meantime, however, feel free to comment on here or send me an e-mail at gopherblog@admissions.tc.umn.edu and I’ll try to get back to you as soon as I can.

Go Gophers!

-- Will

Around Campus (Part 4 of 4)

Hi everyone! Sorry it has been a little while since my last update, I’ve been busy with my job, trips, birthdays … and I thought summer was a time to relax!

Anyhow, it’s time for the last installment of my journey around campus. This time I headed to the other half of the Twin Cities: St. Paul, and the St. Paul campus. I haven’t spent a lot of time in St. Paul throughout my undergraduate career (as it turns out, I have my first St. Paul class next semester), but going to the campus makes me wish I had.

Getting to St. Paul is easy. You just hop on a Campus Connector bus and it travels from the Minneapolis campus down a dedicated bus line to the St. Paul campus. The trip is free and it only takes about 5 minutes.

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While the Minneapolis campus has a more urban feel, St. Paul definitely feels “small-town” (while still being amongst a big city). There is a lot of open, green space for studying, playing games, or just laying outside and enjoying the weather.

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There’s the St. Paul Student Center, which has a food court, bowling alley (reconstruction scheduled to be finished in the fall!), a post office, study spaces, and several other student amenities.

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Veterinary medicine programs are located in St. Paul, which means spotting some cows and the occasional horse around campus (fenced in, of course!).

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Right next to the St. Paul campus is the state fairgrounds, home to the Minnesota State Fair, the best place to have 50-cent glasses of milk and a bucket of warm cookies.

That completes my journey around campus! If any of you have any questions about the campus areas, please comment here! Also, I very highly recommend that you make it up here for a campus visit. I can show you all these pictures and talk about each campus neighborhood for hours, but the only way to find out if the U of M is the right fit for you is to come to campus and experience it for yourself.

Until next time,

-- Will

Around Campus (Part 3 of 4)

For the third installment of my look around the U of M, I’m staying in Minneapolis and taking a trip around the West Bank.

For those of you who’ve never been here, the Minneapolis campus is divided by the Mississippi River. East Bank is home to Dinkytown and Stadium Village, but West Bank has a feel all to itself.

I’ll start with where I live, Seven Corners, a neighborhood that cozies up to all the classroom buildings found on the West Bank of campus. I’ve tried to count the corners in this area, and I don’t think there are seven, so I don’t know exactly how it got the name, but oh well. Anyhow, I live in an apartment complex with a pretty good view of downtown.

My apartment complex!

My view!

Next door to me is a collection of restaurants that are really the heart of Seven Corners; Sgt. Preston’s, Grandma’s, Chipotle, and Jewel of India are just a few places within one block of where I live. Also across the street is the U of M Law School, so I’m about as close to “on campus” as you can get.

About two blocks south of Seven Corners is an area called Cedar-Riverside (named for Cedar Avenue and Riverside Avenue, go figure). Cedar-Riverside has a great collection of coffee shops and African eateries. Actually, one of the U of M classes just did a project on the history of this very cool neighborhood. Read about it here.

Just about two blocks east of Cedar-Riverside is campus yet again; this time, it’s the West Bank Arts Quarter (WBAQ). The WBAQ contains all of the U of M’s art-related departments, like theatre arts and dance, music, and art. It’s great to have all those departments located next to one another because the different departments can easily draw inspiration from one another.

That will do it for my trip around West Bank. Before I go, let’s hear from you! Are there any art-related majors out there? What do you want to do? Have you seen campus before? Let me know if you have any questions!

Thanks, and go Gophers!

-- Will

Around Campus (Part 2 of 4)

Hello once again, Gopher Blog nation! Time to continue the journey around the University area with a neighborhood known as “Stadium Village.” Stadium Village is an area just east of the East Bank campus, mostly centered on Washington Avenue SE. It gets its name from the stadiums and arenas that surround the area.

 

I am so excited that football games will be played on campus in 2009 in the brand new TCF Bank Stadium! Having traveled to so many other Big Ten football stadiums, I know what it’s like to have that “game day atmosphere” on campus. This isn’t to say there’s no atmosphere at the Metrodome, in fact, the games are really a TON of fun, but I think there’s just something more you get with the games on campus. 2009 can’t come soon enough!

 

The old Memorial Stadium, which housed Gopher football and such greats as Bernie Bierman, Bud Grant, and Bronco Nagurski, used to be located here (actually on the land the McNamara Alumni Center now occupies). From 1924 to 1981, the team played on campus and outdoors, winning 6 national championships (including three straight in 1934, 1935, and 1936). The Metrodome attracted the team off campus in the 80s, but now after years of work, the team will be moving back to campus, just blocks away from the old Memorial Stadium site.

The site for TCF Bank Stadium (click to enlarge)

Also close to Stadium Village there’s Williams Arena (or “The Barn”, as students call it) which houses the University’s men’s and women’s basketball teams. One interesting thing is that the court is raised, putting the action higher than the first few rows. It’s the only raised court that I can think of. For me, games at the Barn are so much fun! There’s nothing like standing, chanting, jeering, and cheering for an entire Big Ten basketball game. The atmosphere is electric, especially when one of our big rivals comes into town (most notably Iowa and Wisconsin).

And, of course, there’s Mariucci Arena, home to Golden Gopher men’s hockey. If you haven’t been to a game, do yourself a favor and go … it is one of the best places to watch a hockey game! Minnesota is the “State of Hockey,” and Mariucci is a shrine to that legacy.

Stadium Village isn’t just sports venues, though. There are also places to eat, study, see movies, and more. When you come to campus, check out Stadium Village!

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Before I check out, I’d like to pose a few questions – What is your favorite Gopher sport? Do you have any memorable Gopher sport experiences? Comment on here with your answers!

-- Will

Around Campus (Part 1 of 4)

Greetings yet again! Today I embark on a great journey exploring the four distinct areas around campus – Dinkytown, Stadium Village, West Bank, and St. Paul. I hope you all get an idea of the great things you can experience as a student here.

I start my journey in an area just north of the East Bank campus called “Dinkytown”. No one knows why it’s called Dinkytown, it just kind of picked up the name somewhere along the line. Dinkytown is a collection of shops and restaurants that takes up about three-square blocks. Sure, there’s your standard McDonald’s (open until 3 am for your late-night cheeseburger cravings) and a Jimmy John’s (brand new, and I LOVE their sandwiches!), but there are also some places with a unique neighborhood charm.

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There's the Loring Pasta Bar, the building which, in the late 1950s, housed famous University attendee Bob Dylan (at the time he was known as Robert Zimmerman).

Loring Pasta Bar is on the right (click to enlarge)

Then there's Al's Breakfast (one of my absolute favorite places to get a good breakfast). Al's seats only 14 people, but it has become almost an icon to the area, serving up the best breakfast in the Twin Cities for over 50 years.

Finally, there's Annie's Parlour, home to the best malts I've found during my three years here.

Annie's malts are the BEST! (click to enlarge)

Of course, I don't have time to list all the great things the area has to offer, but for local charm and a campus-feel that can't be beat, Dinkytown is it. Be sure to check it out when you're up here for your visit!

Up next, Stadium Village...

Thanks for reading, go Gophers!

-- Will