Gopher Blog

Last Day of Classes

Yesterday was the last day of fall semester classes here at the U of M. This is a day that I think all students look forward to. That, and the last day of finals! “Finals week” begins today and runs through December 23. Luckily for me, this semester I don’t have a busy finals week. However, many of my projects and papers were due within the last week. Check out what my end of the semester looked like:

• Thursday, December 10 at 2:30 pm: I had my final group presentation for my senior capstone class in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. (By the way, it was a success!)

• Wednesday, December 16 at 10:10 am: I had a final five-page paper due and a group presentation for my Organizational Communication class.

• Friday, December 18 from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm: I have a final exam in my Mass Media Effects class that covers all the material we’ve learned throughout the semester.

• Friday, December 18 at noon: My final 10-page paper about my role as a global citizen (including what my life looks like in the year 2030) is due in my Global Leadership class.

• Friday, December 18 at 12:31 pm: Official end of the semester!

Because my exam on Friday overlaps with when my final leadership paper is due, I have decided to turn it in early. I’m looking forward to having it completed early so I can devote more time to studying for the exam I have on Friday. To study, I plan to grab coffee at The Purple Onion, my favorite coffee shop in Dinkytown, and settle in for a study session at the All-Greek Study-A-Thon held in Nicholson Hall. The study-a-thon is held by the Greek community each finals week and provides snacks and a quiet place to study. Who doesn’t like free snacks while they study?

As I mentioned, my finals week is pretty low-key this semester. But many other students on campus have multiple finals that will run into next week. Check out this student blog by a CLA Student Ambassador who gives advice on preparing for finals here.

Lastly, while I am gearing up for my second to last finals week of my U of M career, some students are preparing for graduation. Check out the video below with graduating senior, Sergio Meyer, as he fulfills some of the things he wanted to before leaving the U of M.

Like Sergio, I’ve never been swimming at the University Recreation Center…maybe I will check that out next semester. And, I personally recommend visiting the Weisman Art Museum. The exhibits change throughout the year, and if you’ve got extra time between classes, it’s a great place to go for some inspiration!

~ Trisha

Minnesota Miles Explores Life on Campus

Good afternoon Gopher Blog fans!

Wondering what life is like living on campus? I wrote about my university housing expereience last spring. You can read about it here.

Also, check out this cool video I found featuring Minnesota Miles as he discovers two residence halls on campus, Middlebrook Hall and Pioneer Hall.

~ Trisha

Halloween—Gopher style!

Hi Gopher Blog fans!

I spent my Halloween at the Gopher Game. Check out some pictures from the night below…

A couple of friends show off their Gopher pride with this pumpkin carving of Goldy Gopher!



At the football game, many fans came dressed in costume.



I especially enjoyed Spencer (below) who dressed as the popular social networking Web site, Facebook.



Here’s a picture of my sister and her friends donning Goldy masks. The masks were free to each student in the student section.



For Halloween, the band danced to “Thriller,” the Michael Jackson hit. Their dance was one of my favorite moments of the game!

Check out this video of the band's performance of "Thriller" below:

Hope everyone had a safe and spooky Halloween!

~ Trisha

Back in the Swing of Things

The start of senior year

The past two weeks have been filled with a whirlwind of activity!

With two weeks into the school year already gone, I’m still adjusting to life as a senior and my last year as a U of M student. If you remember, I am a member of a sorority on campus, Kappa Alpha Theta, and most of my time in the past two weeks has been dedicated to formal recruitment. Formal recruitment is the process that allows college women to join a sorority.

Recruitment was a ton of hard work and loads of fun! Becoming Greek was one way that I found my niche on campus, and it led me to some great opportunities. I’m excited to share my experiences with all of the new members that have recently joined my Theta chapter.

My class schedule is really nice this semester; I have two classes everyday besides Wednesday when I have three. So far my classes seem fun yet challenging. I’m really enjoying my senior-level “capstone” course in my journalism and mass communications major, because I have the chance to work with a group of students on a real-world project. Plus, the instructors for this course are two seasoned public relations professionals—an incredible opportunity for networking and learning from some of the area’s top business people!

Last, but certainly not least, Gopher football returned to campus last weekend! I was at the TCF Bank Stadium almost three hours before kickoff. The game and experience is one of my best memories from college so far. Plus, we won!

Stay tuned… next week I’ll post some pictures from formal recruitment and my first football game at TCF Bank Stadium!

~ Trisha

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

Discover Dinkytown

As you may know, I spent my first year and a half on campus living in Centennial Hall. Since moving out of Centennial, I have lived in my sorority house which is located near Dinkytown.

What is Dinkytown?
Dinkytown is a collection of shops, coffee houses, entertainment venues, salons, and restaurants located in a four-block area just north of the University’s East Bank. When I first heard about Dinkytown, I wondered how the area got its unique name. According to legend, it was named after the trolleys and rail cars that were commonly seen in the area, nicknamed “dinkys.” The truth is that no one really knows how Dinkytown got its name and many different stories exist as to how the town came to be. In my opinion, this makes Dinkytown even more unique: a place for U of M students to call their own--filled with history, lore, and eclectic neighborhood charm.

Creative cuisine
When most U of M students think of Dinkytown, the first thing that comes to mind is food. In just a four-block area, Dinkytown boasts 36 different restaurants! Of course, it has popular chains like Potbelly’s Sandwiches, Jimmy Johns, Pizza Hut, and McDonald’s. But what makes Dinkytown unique are the one-of-a-kind restaurants that bring the U of M its own local flavor.

There’s Annie’s Parlor, home to the best malts on campus. If you’re looking for Asian cuisine, you can have scrumptious meals at Sueng Cheng or Pagoda. The Loring Pasta Bar is great for a special occasion, sit-down Italian meal. Al’s Breakfast is a Dinkytown legend that seats just 14 people. Though small, I’ve heard they serve the best breakfast in the area, and judging by the lines outside on weekend mornings it’s true! (I haven’t been there yet, but it’s on my list of things to do before I graduate next spring.)

Last, but certainly not least, is Mesa Pizza. Widely known for its macaroni and cheese pizza, Mesa Pizza serves up a wide and unique variety of pizza, including steak and fries, taco, lasagna, chicken teriyaki, chicken quesadilla (my personal favorite), and many more. Many students might say that Mesa is at the top of their list of Dinkytown favorites!

Arts and Entertainment

This historic Varsity Theater is a landmark in Dinkytown and has hosted popular bands like The Fray, the Plain White T’s, Corinne Bailey Rae, the Goo Goo Dolls, Motion City Soundtrack, and much more. Also, throughout Dinkytown there are painted murals. When walking through the streets, they are like small surprises of art. Check out a couple pictures I took of them below:

On my way to work the other day, I noticed something new that I could see from Dinkytown… the TCF Bank Stadium! This made the idea of having a stadium back on campus even more of a reality. I have driven by the stadium many times before, but to see it in the distance from a place I visit on a daily basis during the school year was very exciting. It’s a new addition to the sights of Dinkytown for future generations of U of M students. Check out the view below!

With all the charm of a local neighborhood and an exciting U of M campus feel, Dinkytown is a great place to visit! Stop by on your trip to campus!

~ Trisha