Tag Archives: Millersville University

Announcements, Lifestyle / Hall Life, Lists

Explore Lancaster County This Family Weekend

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Is your family visiting this Marauder Family Weekend? Programming on campus starts in the early evening on Friday and concludes in the early evening on Saturday. Here is a schedule of the planned activities. After engaging in the exciting events on campus, pack up the car, and take a small road trip as Lancaster County has many hidden gems to explore!

Animal and duck feeding at Long’s Park or Lititz Springs Park

Long’s Park is located at the intersection of Harrisburg Pike and Route 30 and is home to many different activities. The park has a petting zoo, a three-acre lake, picnic pavilions, playgrounds, and much more. Lititz Springs Park is located in downtown Lititz. There’s a stream that runs through the center of the park and a fountain towards the main entrance, playgrounds, a volleyball court, picnic pavilions, a train car, and much more. Both parks are home to ducks, swans, and other animals.

Lancastrian history at Rock Ford Plantation or Hans Herr House Museum
Rock Ford Plantation was the home of Edward Hand, the Adjutant General to George Washington during the American Revolution. Hand had many different hats — one being a slave owner. Rock Ford Plantation partnered with the African American Historical Society of South-Central Pennsylvania to help explore slavery in 18th Century Pennsylvania and better tell the stories of Hand’s slaves. Hans Herr House Museum is the oldest surviving house in Lancaster County. The Museum contains three Pennsylvania German farmhouses, several barns, a blacksmith shop, smokehouse, outdoor bake oven, and farm equipment that spans three centuries. The Longhouse also teaches about the life and culture of the Native Americans who lived here before the Europeans settled in the area.

Ice cream and cows at Pine View Dairy

Pine View Dairy has been a part of the Lancaster County community since 1971. Pine View prides themselves on their fresh milk and homemade ice cream. They offer flavored milk as well as cream line, whole, low fat, and nonfat milk, and over 25 flavors of ice cream, frozen yogurt, and sherbet. Numerous sundaes, milkshakes, and “moo mixers” are also available.

Lancaster Central Market
Lancaster Central Market is the oldest, continuously running public farmers’ market in the country, founded in 1730. The market is open on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. More than 60 vendors call Central Market home, with the three longest-running stands clocking in more than 100 years, 80 years, and 60 years with the market. You’re bound to find what you’re looking for, whether it’s candy and snacks, coffee and tea, farm produce, or ethnic food!

Park City Mall, The Shops @ Rockvale, or Tanger Outlets

Park City Mall has more than 150 stores, a food court, and full and quick service restaurants. The Shops @ Rockvale has over 90 stores, full and quick service restaurants, and a Comfort Inn. Tanger Outlets has over 70 stores and a few places to grab food. You won’t be disappointed, so shop until you drop!

Coffee or tea at Prince Street Cafe
Prince Street Cafe was established in 2006 and is just steps from the Fulton Theater. Breakfast is served all day, there’s a variety of vegetarian and vegan meal options, and drinks include smoothies, hot and cold drinks, and loose leaf tea. With the welcoming atmosphere, Prince Street Cafe will become your go-to cafe if you have classes at the Ware Center downtown.

Breakfast at Lyndon City Line Diner or Knight and Day Diner

Personally, I am a huge fan of diner breakfasts. Both Lyndon Diner and Knight and Day have a wide selection of breakfast including breakfast specials, eggs and omelets, pancakes, french toast, and waffles. Both diners have exceptional lunch and dinner menus as well.

Hiking at Chickies Rock Park
Chickies Rock Park is Lancaster County’s second-largest regional park. The park includes Chiques Creek, Donegal Creek, and parts of the Susquehanna River. The hike to Chickies Rock is roughly half a mile and an easy trail, aside from the steep climb at the beginning. Chickies Rock Overlook is located more than 100 feet above the Susquehanna River and railroad tracks, and because it’s located at a bend in the river, it’s possible to see for miles in every direction.

Images courtesy of Rylan Harvey and Flickr.

Academics, Lifestyle / Hall Life

Helpful Tips To Help You Prep For Finals Week

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It is that time of the year again, the dreadful finals week. All of the 15 weeks of non-stop hard work leads up to this defining moment. Finals week can be intimidating, but very manageable if you plan ahead. Taking the time to fully process finals week and everything that comes with it is very important and can make a huge difference to how things play out. Here are some tips to help you prep for finals week.

 

 

  1. Write down each of your final times in your planner

The finals week schedule comes out early each semester so you can plan ahead and know when your test time is for each class. If you write down the date and time, you can plan out how many days in advance you want to start studying and what time you should get up each day during finals. This is also helpful so you do not forget the time you are supposed to be at a certain exam.

2. Start studying ahead of time

Studying ahead of time can help you learn the topics better and alleviate some stress during finals week. Each student most likely has an exam in each class which can total out to about 5 exams, so making time to study for each one can be tricky. If we utilize the week before finals week to study, we can take extra time to make sure our studying is not rushed and that we have adequate time to study for each exam we have.

3. Plan out time to relax

Finals week is very stressful, so it is also a great idea to take time for yourself and give your brain a rest. If you need a break from studying try taking a walk outside, watching a movie or going to the gym to get your mind off of your exams or projects!

4. Pack up some of your items in your room a week before you move out

Finals week also signifies the end of the semester which means it is time to move out. Moving out can also be an added stress during this already stressful time. To avoid getting even more stressed, try to pack a majority of items in your room that you are not using ahead of time so you do not have to do it last minute. If you live in the residence hall you can find a schedule of the move out times and other information here.

5.  Study with friends

Studying in a group can sometimes be more effective than studying alone. This can be very beneficial because if someone knows some information better than you, they can help you piece together what you are not understanding. Also, you can use the other person for moral support to get to the library and put the appropriate time of studying in.

6. Attend office hours if you have questions or do not understand a topic

If  you are not understanding a topic or have a question, your professor is a great source. This is also a great way to show your professor you are serious about this class and you want to succeed and get a great grade on the final.

7. Stay well rested

Finals week can be very tiring, especially if you are staying up late to prepare for exams night after night. Each night you want to make sure you are getting at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep. This is the recommended amount of sleep a person should get each night and it also gives you the right amount of energy you need  to get through the day.

8. Enjoy your last few days on campus

Whether you are graduating or returning next year, enjoy your last few days on campus! Over the summer you will not see this beautiful campus or a majority of your friends, so make sure you have some fun and make memories before you leave.

 

We hope everyone has a great finals week and may the odds be ever in your favor! Tweet us @VilleHousing if you have any finals tips to pass along.

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Lifestyle / Hall Life

Things To Do Before You Graduate From MU

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For many of us on campus, graduation is coming up very quickly, 12 days and counting to be exact. It feels just like yesterday the school year was starting. I know I am starting to get nervous for graduation and everything that comes after it, meaning  ‘adulting’. Before we leave campus and start our way into the workforce, I think there are things each student who goes to Millersville should do in order to make their time on campus complete. As we came to MU for our first year, we thought we had a lot of time, but with classes and everything in between, time went by quicker than we expected. So, I created a list of things you might want to cross off your checklist if you are graduating in May.

 

  1. Place a penny on the Marauder Statue.

We have all heard the stories of placing a penny on the statue for good luck. Many of my friends do not believe it helps or does anything, but I actually place a penny on the statue before every finals week to give me the extra luck I need to ace my finals.

  1. Watch Miller and S’ville swim around in the pond on a beautiful day.

Miller and S’ville are our campus swans who inhabit the pond located by Dilworth and Wickersham. They are very interesting and many students like to watch them make their way around the pond. Just be sure to not ruffle their feathers!

  1. Get something to eat from the Marauder Express.

Many students are passionate about the food truck and it is starting back up again just in time to grab something if you have not yet. They have the campus favorite, ‘the Ville-a-nator’, which many students love and enjoy, so make sure to give it a try!

  1. Go to a sporting event with your friends.

Cheering on our Marauders is a great way to show school spirit and display your Marauder pride in your last couple days on campus.

  1. Spend some time exploring the city of Lancaster with your friends.

Lancaster is a very interesting city and was recently named ‘one of the coolest U.S. cities to visit in 2019’ by Forbes. So make sure you visit some of the trendy cafés and local businesses before you leave the area!

  1. Buy a coffee or other drink from Saxbys.

Saxbys is our campus café that attracts many students each day with their delicious bagels and coffee drinks. Make sure to visit to grab a cold brew or to just sit in their beautifully decorated café to listen to some great playlists!

  1. Play a game of frisbee or catch on the Quad.

The quad is the area located between the residence halls and Gordinier. It is the perfect area to hang out with friends on a sunny day or start up a game of catch.  You will often see students relaxing and playing music to get away from the stress of schoolwork. It is a must if you have some free time to spare!

  1. Take a walk through campus.

As a result of  many busy schedules and having classes in only certain academic buildings, chances are you have not been inside a lot of buildings or places on campus. Taking a walk through can show you some of the hidden study places you have been missing out on.

  1. Go to the dining hall and eat like you are trying to gain the freshman 15 just one more time.

Some of us have moved off campus and do not have a dining plan anymore, so we do not eat at the Upper Deck as often as we used to. It can be nice to go there one more time to eat a bunch of the foods you used to eat all the time as a freshman. You can also try to meet up with some of your old friends you would eat dinner with every night.

10 . Hangout with your friends from freshman year.

Sometimes because of schedules and living situations, we do not see our friends we made from freshman year as often as we would like. So in your last couple weeks on campus, try to contact them to see if they would like to meet up and reminisce about your first couple days or months on campus and the best memories you shared.

11. Pull an all-nighter with your roommate(s).

Sometimes schedules are crazy and you do not get to spend enough time with your friends or roommates. So in your last couple nights, try to stay up all night with them to spend that extra time with them because in a little bit you will not be seeing them everyday.

12. Buy a t-shirt or sweatshirt with your graduation class on it  or alumni items from the University Bookstore.

Buying a t-shirt with your graduation year on it is a great keepsake to have to look back on your time at college. Also, alumni items are great to wear around to show your Marauder Pride after you graduate! You can find Class of 2019 items and alumni merchandise here.

13. Take pictures in front of famous MU landmarks.

If you are graduating, chances are you are going to want to take  pictures to remember your time on campus. So, grab your friends and take pictures in front of the most recognizable places on campus or the places you spent the most time at. For example, I know I want to take pictures near the big Millersville University sign at the front of campus, the Biemesderfer Center and of course the pond. Here are some other great places to get pictures taken!

14. Look back at the all the hard work and courses you have taken during your time here.

Sometimes it is good to look back at all the assignments and projects you had to complete to get you to where you are. These assignments can show you how much you learned and the type of things you are capable of completing.

15. Thank the people who were with you for the last four/five/six years of your life.

However long it has taken you to get to this point, you are graduating and I am sure there were people in your life who have helped you get to this point. It is important to thank your friends, parents, grandparents, siblings, teachers and anyone else you may  have gotten advice or support from. This is a big moment and it is important to look back on how you got to this point and who supported you! You should be proud of yourself.

 

Lifestyle / Hall Life, Lists

Spread Love This Valentine’s Day!

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It is that time of year again! Whether you call it Galentine’s Day, Single’s Awareness Day or good, old Valentine’s Day, it is the day to love and show love. Many people usually view Valentine’s Day as a day for couples and romance. Although that is partly true, Valentine’s Day is a day that is all about celebrating love and showing the people in your life that you appreciate them. There is a stigma around the holiday, viewing it as this day only couples can celebrate , but it is time to change that. On Valentine’s Day,  we should all take the time to spread love and positivity to our friends and family members. 

Photo courtesy of Canva.

 Anyone can celebrate Valentine’s Day and spread love to those around them, surrounding yourself with people who make you feel great and alive is the best way to celebrate this holiday. This Valentine’s Day,  grab some chocolate and enjoy the love-filled day with your best friends, significant other or family. “All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.”- Charles M. Schulz

 Here are a list of some things you can do this Valentine’s Day to spread love here at Millersville . Let’s make everyone feel loved this Valentine’s Day!

 

  1. Give a compliment to a stranger.
  2. Surprise one of your best friends with a small gift
  3. Make Valentine’s Day treats and share them with friends
  4. Call your parents and tell them you love and appreciate them
  5. Pay it forward at Starbucks or Saxby’s
  6. Make someone smile
  7. Wish everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day

These simple acts can make a person’s day better and create a chain effect of kind gestures. We hope everyone has a lovely Valentine’s Day!

Lifestyle / Hall Life

How To Have A Fun Friday Night In

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It is the middle of winter and for many of us that means we hate going outside into the cold. We often times get bored very easily and have nothing to do , but sit inside. Although sitting inside can be boring, there are ways to make it fun and a great way to spend your Friday night. Here is a list of activities to do inside to make your Friday nights fun and exciting.

  1. Hold a Netflix Movie or TV Marathon in Your Residence Hall Common Area or Your Room

If you are unsure of what to do Netflix has tons of movies and TV shows just waiting to be binge watched.  There are also many different varieties of movies so you can hold a scary movie night or a rom-com night to make you bawl your eyes out. My favorite movie on Netflix to watch with friends is To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before! This movie is so cute and is based on a book.

Photo courtesy of Canva.

2. Try Out New Recipes From Pinterest With Your Friends

Pinterest is a gold mine for finding fun recipes to make with friends. All of the Suites have kitchens within the buildings, so it is very easy to go to the kitchen and bake with all of your friends while listening to music. It is a great bonding activity that produces a sweet treat!

Photo courtesy of Canva.

3. Buy Canvases at a Craft Store and Paint Something You Like On It

Whenever I am bored, I personally like to do something crafty, but more often than not I paint.  Painting has many benefits including increasing creativity and it is a good way to relax after a long week. It is also very inexpensive compared to other activities. Here is a canvas I painted and a record I painted as well.

 

4. Do Something Crafty

By doing something crafty, this can mean drawing , a DIY project or something else of this sort. Last semester, I was really bored one night so I found an old jean jacket I had and I ironed patches on it and painted little designs on it to make it custom. All of my friends love that jacket and want to make one just like it. Here is a picture of the jacket!

5. Read a Book That You Have Been Wanting to Read

The weekends are a perfect time to catch up on the reading you have been meaning to do. This is a relaxing activity to do that can also result in many benefits.

Photo courtesy of Canva.

If you have any other activities that are fun to do on a Friday night, tweet them and tag us! Our username is @VilleHousing . Have a great weekend Marauders!

 

Announcements, Lifestyle / Hall Life

How To Start Off the Semester Strong and Follow-Through

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The spring semester is here Marauders! That means it’s time to get serious and focus. Many of us always say things in the beginning of the semester like, “I’m going to really do well this semester” or “ This is the semester I get a good GPA” , but many of us end up getting burnt-out and quit. It is the honest truth, but I think it is time we stop lying to ourselves and start really trying our best. To help us get that GPA we want or the encouragement to keep going, I made a list of tips on how to start the semester off on a good note and follow through with our goals. I hope everyone has a good semester and excels in their classes!

 

  1. Write down test dates and project deadlines as soon as you get your syllabus

Using a planner to write down important test dates and projects can help you to stay on track in your classes. Writing down important dates can also help to remind you of all the different deadlines you have for each of your classes so you never miss an assignment.

2. Sit near the front of the room in your classes

This may sound weird to you, but sitting in the front of class can help you stay focused and let the teacher know you are serious about the class. This may also give you less temptation to go on your phone or browse on your laptop while the professor is teaching. This is also a way for professor to get to know your name easier.

3. Meet people in your classes so you can all study together or discuss the material and deadlines

Having someone you know in your classes can make them better and make you feel more comfortable. I like to know at least one person in each of my classes that way if I am confused about a deadline or an assignment I can ask them for their help or advice.

4. Study or read your textbook a little each day

Reading your textbook a little each day will give you an insight into what you will be learning this semester and can give you a chance to ask your professor intelligent questions about material. Also, when test time comes around it will make recalling the information easier.

Photo courtesy of Canva.

5. Ask your professor any questions you have or attend office hours

Attending office hours gives you a chance to personally introduce yourself to your professor and gives you a chance to ask them questions you may have forgotten to ask in class. During this time, you can also get help with the material that was taught in class.

6. Find your go- to study space

Each semester I like to find a new space to study for my classes. Having a space where you feel comfortable and focused can help you study better and help you do better in your classes. Some of the best places to study are the study rooms in the library, the quiet floors of the library or the area behind Starbucks.

7. Schedule “me time” every week as a treat to yourself

Give yourself a nice break after a long week of hard work. Treating yourself by doing something you love can make you feel better and make you appreciate all of the time and work your are putting into your life and studies.

Photo courtesy of Canva.

If you have any more useful tips make sure to tweet them and tag us! Our username is @VilleHousing !

 

Events / Programs, Lifestyle / Hall Life

‘Donut’ Stress Event

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On October 24th, West Village A hosted an event called Donut Stress. During this event, students were able to express their sources of stress and learn more ways to deal and cope with it. Along with learning about stress, students were offered free donuts and coffee from Dunkin’ Donuts.

Throughout the semester, it is very common for students to feel stressed and overwhelmed. This event showed students that many other students are feeling the same way and that they are not alone. At this event, students were asked to write down what was stressing them on a sticky note and then post it on a paper that had a tip for reducing stress for the students to try.

Many of the causes of stress for Millersville students include classes, exams, sleep schedules , registration for next semester, relationships, tuition, and class readings. Many of these subjects are very stressful for every student who goes here , but there are ways to cope with these concerns. For example, the RA who designed this event displayed coping mechanisms on the sheet where students wrote what was stressing them. These techniques included communicating, going for a walk, utilizing counseling services, taking a long shower, spending time with friends or family and taking deep breaths. Other examples can also be watching  a movie, listening to music, doing something that makes you happy, exercising and talking to professors.

This was a great event to help students destress and enjoy a treat they deserve. RA events can be a great way for students to meet new friends and have a great and fun time. Make sure you look for similar or other events that are going on in your residence hall!

Events / Programs

What Makes You Prideful?

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On Friday October 12th, Millersville University hosted its annual LGBTQIA Pride Fest. Pride Fest is an event that promotes awareness for and instills pride in the LGBTQIA community and the campus community we have here at Millersville. During this event, many students show their pride and support by taking part in the festivities and many school organizations will have tables in support of the community.

This year, Housing and Residential Programs had a table to show our support of the LGBTQIA community. We take pride in our actions to support the community and the students who go to this university. In attempts to support the community, we do offer students gender inclusive housing. If you are unfamiliar with gender inclusive housing , it means that we allow suitemates/roommates of any gender combination to live within the same residential suite. Meaning, housing allows students to share a suite or room, with whomever they want regardless of a student’s sex or gender. We offer this to create an environment that is supportive and encourages diversity, along with making sure students feel comfortable in their own room. In addition to offering gender inclusive housing, we have also been using preferred names since 2014.

This year at Pride Fest , for our table activity  we asked students , “What makes you prideful?” This question did trip some students up  ,but overall many students knew exactly what they were prideful for. If you ask housing, we are very prideful of our gender inclusive housing options as well as the whole Millersville Community. Some of the things that make Millersville students prideful include their family, education, friends, partners, the Millersville community along with many others. Below we have inserted a chart to show you a calculation of what students said they were most prideful of. 54 students said their friends makes them prideful, while 42 said their family made them most prideful. These were the top two responses we received.

Millersville is a great community to be a part of and we were very happy to partake in such a wonderful event.

Lifestyle / Hall Life, Lists

Most Instagram-Worthy Places on Millersville’s Campus

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As Millennials and Gen Zs, we love to use social media and post pictures of everything.  I’m sure many of you want to post pictures of our beautiful school to show to your friends who attend other universities. I have the solution for you , I compiled a list of my favorite spots on campus to share on Instagram.

  1. Biemesderfer Center

Once upon a time, this was the old library. But now, it’s an administrative building. This stunning building and can be identified by its beautiful color and stained glass windows.

  1. University Pond.

Home to Miller and S’ville, the pond is one of the most recognizable parts of campus. This is great place to watch the ducks swim around.

  1. The Quad.

The Quad, located in the center of the residence halls,  is a great place to hangout with friends. You can often see a football or frisbee being thrown around.

  1. The Millersville University sign.                                                                          

This sign is located at the edge of campus and lets visitors or locals know that they are entering Marauder country.

5. Saxby’s

Located within Gordinier Hall, Saxby’s is a trendy and delicious cafe that is student-run. This is a great place to relax with friends or grab a bite to eat before class. It is also a great place to study.

  1. Chryst Field (Biemesderfer Stadium)

Home to our football, women’s field hockey, women’s outdoor track and field and women’s lacrosse teams , this is the place to cheer loud and proud for our Marauders.

These locations are great for showing your school spirit during your time here at Millersville.  If you take pictures at these locations, be sure to share them with us on Twitter or Instagram. Our username is @villehousing .