College of Liberal Arts
University of Minnesota
Twin Cities Campus
101 Pleasant St SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455

Mike's Blog

A Weekend at the University of Minnesota

One question that I feel many prospective students think about is what exactly happens over the weekend in college. This is a very relevant question to ponder since the college campus will be a student's new home for an entire academic year. Since the University of Minnesota is located in the heart of the Twin Cities there are several off-campus activities that students are able to discover in addition to on-campus events as well.

One alternative to partying during the weekend is attending events put on by a student organization called Gophers After Dark. Basically the group puts on free late night events in the student union every Friday and Saturday night which run until around 2 o’clock in the morning. From free films in the Coffman Memorial Union Theatre to extreme games of laser tag, there are many different activities to choose from.

To give you a taste of these events, I thought I would mention the events that are happening this weekend. The film for the week is the movie Step Brothers which plays at 7pm, 9:30pm and midnight (and it’s free!!). This Friday is fiesta night with a live mariachi band performing and free food from Qdoba. This Saturday is luau night with a limbo contest in addition to free Maui Wowi smoothies and island hors d’ oeuvres. Hopefully this gives you a glimpse into a few of the different events that are available for you when you come to the University of Minnesota.

Another option over the weekend is discovering events happening off-campus. Minneapolis is the hub of many professional sports teams and students are able to choose from taking a short bus ride to see the Minnesota Twins at the Metrodome, the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center and many other sporting events. Minneapolis is also a central location for the arts. From visiting the Guthrie Theatre to watch a play or visiting the Walker Art Center to view many different exhibitions, there are many options to choose from.

With the urban environment surrounding the University of Minnesota and the many on-campus events, there is no need to worry about not having anything fun to do on campus. However, make sure to balance these fun events with school work!

Until next time,

-Mike

 October 25th, 2008
Picture of Mike
  • Class & major: senior; psychology, Spanish minor
  • Hometown: Rochester, Minnesota
  • Why a liberal arts degree : Before applying to the U of M I was thinking about majoring in psychology. After asking questions and researching, I learned that the U of M's program is ranked with the best. This was the most influential determinate of enrolling in the U because my focus was the quality of the education I would receive. Overall, CLA has stood up to my expectations and is helping me discover my abilities and potential.
  • My advice for a good first semester : It goes by fast, so enjoy it! Keep your door open to new opportunities, meeting new friends, and getting involved in activities. Some critial advice is to make sure to STUDY a lot your freshman year. You won't have the option to get behind.
  • Favorite hangout on campus: the big comfy chairs in Coffman
  • Favorite quotation: "An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind." - Gandhi