Daily Archives: October 9, 2015

Articles, Events

What is Homecoming?

Are you excited for Homecoming? Do you even know what homecoming is at Millersville?

If not, keep reading!

By the time you are finished reading you will understand why Homecoming is such a big event here in Millersville and know all, or most, of the favorite Homecoming Traditions.

  1. Wearing all MU Insignia – This is a time for everyone to dress up in their best Millersville University clothing and colors, everyone likes to get creative and represent the university in their own special way. You will see people with painted faces and guys with painted stomachs for the Football game, as well all kinds of Homecoming t-shirts that students have made to get in the Homecoming spirit. If you want to fit in and look like a real MU student, get dressed in Black and Gold from head to toe! Have fun getting together with your friends to make custom t-shirts or planning to wear all matching clothes and look like a team, it’s up to you how you do it, but do Millersville Proud!
  2. Breakfast before the Parade – The Parade is early, much earlier than most students like to be awake on a Saturday morning. To get in the spirit and wake up many students get together with their friends before the parade to make breakfast and get ready for the day-long festivities. This is the time everyone gets ready in their best MU colors, paint their faces, and get riled up for the football game later, and what better way to wake up and get excited for Homecoming than with friends!
  3. Homecoming Parade – Come watch the Parade with the Office of Global Education! This is an event that the entire Millersville and surrounding community like to get involved with and come out to watch, not just students!
  4. Tailgating before the Football Game: After the parade students like to get together to “tailgate” before the football game, which includes grilling outside, eating food, playing games and just enjoying the outdoors with their friends before the football game starts. Students do this in a variety of places such as their apartments and often play Football, Frisbee, Kan Jam (game where you have to fly a Frisbee into a hole cut out of a black container) and many other games! The university also has tailgating events planned in the area next to the Football Stadium and the Sugar Bowl. There is an Alumni & Friends Tent Party from 11:00am – 3:00 pm where you can get free food, drinks, and just hang out with friends before the Homecoming football game at 2:00p.m.  Photo I.D. is required for beverage service (age 21 or older!). This event is open to all students, alumni, faculty, staff and friends.
  5. Marauder Zone. This area is a student “tailgating” party before the football game that is in the Byerly Parking lot next to the Stadium and features student organizations, games, student performances and other entertainment before the big game!
  6. Millersville Marauder’s vs. Lock Haven University Football Game. The game starts at 2:00pm at the Stadium and includes a half-time show to introduce the MU Student Homecoming King and Queen. Game Admission is free as long as you have your MU I.D. So don’t go anywhere without your I.D. on Homecoming!

Last but not least, regardless of what you do for Homecoming be sure to stay safe and have fun. These are just a few of the things that MU students like to do, so have fun and make your own traditions and memories!

Articles, Events

Hershey Park in the Dark

Sign up by October 16th! (Cost $35)

Hershey Park is an local amusement park founded by Milton S. Hershey who founded the Hershey Chocolate Company. Chocolate is a common theme at the park! The park has many different kinds of rides including roller coasters and water rides in the warmer months. Come join the staff at Global Education and travel with us to Hershey Park. Hershey Park in the Dark is a special event held in October for the Halloween festivities. Take a flashlight tour at night, watch special shows, and have fun!

 

Articles, Events

Homecoming Porch Party!

RSVP by October 16th! 

(Let us know that you are coming)

The Office of Global Educationand Partnerships is hosting its annual

Homecoming Porch Party

On Saturday, October 24th from 9 – 11:30 am.

 With a prime location on George Street, you will be able to enjoy the best parts of the Homecoming Parade without having to go anywhere!

There will be many new people for you to meet including past study abroad participants, Millersville Alumni, professors and faculty.

We will have food and drinks, as well as an opportunity for everyone to vote for their favorite pumpkin from the Pumpkin Carving Contest!

9:00 AM – 11:30 AM Porch Party at the Office of Global Education: This event is free.The party is for international students, past study abroad students, and alumni of Millersville University. Light food and drinks will be provided. This is a time to relax and have a fun Saturday morning. You will have a great view of the Millersville Homecoming Parade!

9:00 AM Millersville Homecoming Parade “Superheroes.” Herr Avenue, Landis Avenue and N. George Street, Millersville. The 19th annual parade includes over 2,000 participants along a two-mile route. One of Lancaster County’s largest parades, with 15-20 varied music groups (i.e., Millersville University and high school bands, drum and bugle corps, bagpipers, U.S. Armed Forces bands, a steel drum band, a Philadelphia Mummers band), floats, impersonators, mascots/inflatable costumed characters, fire and emergency groups, twirlers, antique vehicles and more.

Articles

Fall Break Important Information!

Meal Plan Information over Fall Break

If you are staying on campus over fall break you are probably wondering what, if anything will be open. Not to fear, below are the fall break hours for the dining locations on campus:

Friday, Oct 16th:

  • Upper Deck, North Side Bistro, Galley, Cyber Café, and Campus Grill: Regular Hours
  • The Anchor: 9am – 8pm
  • Starbucks: 8am – 2:30pm

Saturday, OCT 17th:

  • Upper Deck: Brunch from 10:30 – 1pm

Sunday, OCT 18th:

  • Upper Deck: Brunch from 10:30 – 1pm and Dinner 5 – 7pm

Monday, OCT 19th:

  • North Side Bistro: Brunch from 10:30 – 1pm and Dinner 5 – 7pm
  • The Cove: Open 7am – 3pm

Tuesday, OCT 20th:

  • Upper Deck: Brunch from 10:30 – 1pm and Dinner 4 – 7pm
  • The Anchor: 5 – 11pm
  • Juice Bar: Open 6 – 10pm
  • The Cove: Open 7am – 3pm

Wednesday, OCT 21st:

  • All Dining Services return to normal operating hours.

PLEASE NOTE: You will not be able to use your meal plans during fall break, you will only be able to pay using FLEX, Marauder GOLD, VISA, and MASTERCARD. Meal swipes will start again on Tuesday night, for dinner.

  Library Hours during Fall Break

Planning on studying and catching up on your reading over Fall Break? Here are the library hours over fall break so you don’t get stuck walking all the way there only to find out the library is closed. If you do need a place to get away and study but the library is closed, remember, the SMC is always open 24/7!

Friday, OCT 16th: Open 8am – 5pm

Saturday, OCT 17th: CLOSED

Sunday, OCT 18th: CLOSED

Monday, OCT 19th: Open 9am – 5pm

Tuesday, OCT 20th: 9am – 12am (midnight)

Wednesday, OCT 21st: Return to regular hours, 8am – 12am (midnight)

Planning Fall Break – Staying Local vs. Traveling Farther

In many ways, it is hard to believe that Fall Break is almost here. While in other ways, it feels like you have been away from home and in school forever, working hard and studying. Even though we are still a week away from the big weekend, it is a good time to start making plans, be it big or small.

For those of you who are not planning on doing anything big or extravagant for Fall Break, no need to panic, plenty of students are in the same situation. More students than you think use the break as an opportunity to catch up on sleep and homework and opt to stay on campus in Millersville. If you do want to get off campus for fall break, however, you still have plenty of options. Here is a list of ideas for you:

  1. Go home with a friend. Many Millersville students are thrilled to bring a friend home with them to show off, especially if that new friend is an international student. Going home with a friend will allow you to experience some family traditions that you may not have known about or ever experienced in your country. From home-cooked food, to exploring their hometown and meeting your friend’s family, you will get to see a side of life in the US and your friend you are not exposed to here at Millersville. Not only will you be able to experience home life here in the US, you will also be able to build your friendship further and make a friend for life. You never know when you will be back in the US and this is a great way to make lasting friends that you can visit for years to come. So go ahead and ask if you can go home with someone and spend time with their family, you will not regret it!
  2. Go explore. Pittsburg, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. or Baltimore are all easy to get to and have plenty of things to do. These are perfect locations to visit for a day trip or long weekend, so team up with a friend or two and make a mini-trip out of it!
  3. Take advantage of the great fall weather. Take Advantage of the Fall Weather. It doesn’t have to be bright and sunny for you and your friends to have fun outside. Instead of planning a trip to the coast, you can plan a trip to some nearby mountains or woods. Renting a cabin for a few days is fun and affordable, especially when you split the cost among a few friends. Whether you rent a cabin or not, you can always use the fall season to your advantage. It’s the perfect time for picking apples, pumpkins and any other fruits or vegetables. If there is a lake or river within driving distance, fall break is a beautiful time to go rowing since multicolored leaves should be lazily falling into the water and floating alongside your canoe. Be sure to bring your camera!

Articles

Study Tips for Midterms Exams

Study Tips For Midterm Exams

Exams can be a stressful time for all students, especially when you are trying to plan trips for the upcoming breaks. Knowing how to properly prepare for exams is the key to avoiding stress and acing every single one of your exams, not to mention saving lots of precious time. You may be overwhelmed with all the material you have to cover for your exams, but with a little knowledge you can study for them all and still have time to spare. Here are a few methods that will have you focused and better prepared for exams, without all the stress that comes with it.

  1. Skim: You may be tempted to open up your book and read every word of chapters that were covered in class. Don’t! This is a waste of time. Instead, focus on chapter headings, footnotes, study questions, and chapter reviews and summaries. The course syllabus is your best friend as the subjects listed there are probably the ones the professor deems most important.
  2. Don’t Cram: Say NO to cramming: (Cramming is when you try to study a lot of information in a short amount of time) Study in intervals! Studying in 20-50 minute increments and give yourself 5-10 minutes in between is more beneficial than cramming. Distributing learning over time typically benefits long-term retention more than a short period.
  3. Attend Review Sessions and Study Groups: You may be tempted to skip out on that review session or study group being held by your professor, but this could be a huge mistake. Most of the time, these study sessions cover the main exam topics, and professors usually let more than a few exam questions slip during these meetings.
  4. Enjoy the Silence: If you aren’t attending a study session, find a quiet place where you can stay focused and uninterrupted; the library, an empty classroom, the park. Your dorm room may seem like the most obvious place, but have a plan B ready for when the distractions hit (and they will).
  5. Disconnect from Technology: Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and email are all unnecessary distractions, so while studying, disconnect for an hour or so. You may be surprised at how much you can accomplish when technology doesn’t get in the way.
  6. Figure out what will be on the exam: No, this doesn’t require any mind reading abilities, but it does require you to listen and pay close attention to your professor. Ask as many questions as necessary, professors will usually try to help as much as they can.
  7. Meet with your Professors: Stop by office hours to discuss difficult concepts, ask questions about lecture material, or just to find out what types of topics the midterm will cover. You may be surprised at how much your professor is willing to share.
  8. Stay Healthy: During midterms, it’s easy to overindulge on junk food, up your caffeine intake, and basically suspend all personal hygiene (you won’t be interacting with anyone anyway) — never mind the fact that you have no time to make it to the gym. Don’t fall into this rut. Instead, schedule time for healthy meals and regular exercise, and don’t forget about that shower! You may just find that these breaks help you stay focused.
  9. Take Study Breaks: Consequently, a 12-hour marathon study session won’t do anything but make you crazy. Instead, take short breaks every hour or so, even if only for 10 minutes. Leave your study area when you do — that bit of fresh air may be just what you needed to clear your head.
  10. Exam Day: It’s finally here! Don’t let all of your hard work go to waste by rushing to class, cramming while on the walk there and confusing all the terms that you just spent all night learning. Relax, take a deep breath, use the restroom before you take your exam, make sure you have water or something to drink on you and go into the classroom with a clear mindset.

Follow these top ten tips, and you’ll be in a far better position to ace those exams than you could have imagined!