Class Feedback--Blog 8

The class expanded my knowledge of the blog and sharpened my writing skills. I really enjoyed how Professor Broderick gave us a lot of freedom in our writing. This kept me eager to write about things I relate to and kept my interest in the class. The virtual textbook was difficult to pick up and read being that it is on my computer and not laying on my coffee table. I would have enjoyed learning more about the Daily Planet and the process that goes behind the blog and article section. It would have been nice if all the blogs were subscribers of each other to maintain that "blogging community" feeling. Possibly the teacher could have created a blog to help achieve this? I enjoyed this class and I did learn a great deal about writing and blogging. Thanks to a fun semester!

The Art of Choosing a Major--Blog 7

Like every other high school student I was frantic when given the task to choose a college major. Unless you’ve been planning out your path to medical school since you were four, choosing the right major can be difficult. Don’t panic just yet because you are in luck! I’ve been through it and learned first hand how to ease into choosing a major that compliments you.

Most of you reading this will likely have some sort of area already in mind. If not, take a look at your previous classes. Which courses have you done well in? Which course captured your attention? If you are still unsure try taking an aptitude test that will accurately pair your results with the field of study that fits you best. Hopefully this will narrow your search down to a specific field.

Once you’ve compiled enough evidence to commit to a specific area, take a look at a major university’s list of majors within that field. For example, let’s say you performed extremely well in math, but didn’t want to be a math major. You’d pleasantly be surprised that Aerospace Engineering might be a viable option. For a full list of undergraduate major from the University of Minnesota click here.

Ok so you’ve chosen a major, but now you are worrying about how it will apply to the real world after graduation. Don’t worry! You would be surprised at the variety of jobs that college graduates are offered. I know someone who graduated with a Classics major—which teaches the Latin language—and he is working for the Star Tribune. The best advice I have for you is to choose something you enjoy. Don’t let people make up your mind for you and stick to your gut feeling.

Hopefully by now you are feeling a little more comfortable with choosing your major. Don’t let choosing a major be a burden in your life. If you do well in school it won’t matter which major you choose. Good luck and have fun!

Where the buffalo roam -- blog 6

Last summer I made a commitment to shift gears and clean up my diet. In my search for food that was deemed “healthy,” I happened to stumble across a rather unusual choice. Recommended to me by a devoted weightlifter, buffalo meat soon became a staple in my diet.

Now before you claim buffalo meat as “gamey,”—and I know some of you are doing so right now—keep in mind that I am a very picky eater. The old saying that “it tastes like chicken,” couldn’t be more wrong, because it tastes exactly like beef! The taste is so similar that if you were to switch out beef for buffalo in your favorite dish, the taste would be identical.

So why choose buffalo if they taste the same? Glad you asked! The health benefits of bison meat far exceed those of beef. Being extremely lean, buffalo meat has 3.5 times less fat than beef. Bison also has a lower cholesterol level and a higher vitamin count. And for you weight conscious folks, Jo Robinson from eatwild.com claims, "If you eat a typical amount of beef, switching to a lean grass-fed…will save you 17,733 calories a year...If everything else in your diet remains constant, you'll lose about six pounds."


In Houston, Minnesota, located in the southeast corner, Mike Fogel raises buffalo at the Money Creek Buffalo Ranch. If you are considering a change in diet, I suggest giving them a try. I have ordered from them before and the taste and price are outstanding.

I wonder if they will serve rice doughnuts

While on vacation, you won’t see me soaking up sunlight, but rather immersing myself with the cultural environment. I guess you could say when visiting another country I am like a kid in a candy store—except without the candy. Anyways, it looks like my sweetooth for culture will be fulfilled once again.

This Saturday the St. Cloud State University's Nepalese Student Association (NSA) will be hosting a cultural celebration. The event is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. and will be held at the Atwood Memorial Center. Tickets for the event are $5 for students and $8 for faculty and community members.

The event encourages cultural awareness and promotes Nepali culture. Various speakers from the Nepali culture are set to speak as well as perform with traditional Nepalese outfits. To wrap the night up, a Nepalese banquet will be served in the ballroom.

I have never sampled anything Nepalese before and I am quite curious to see what dishes will be prepared. I do remember watching a documentary on Nepal and I mentally noted, only because they looked so good, that Sel Roti or rice doughnuts were a popular dessert. It should be interesting to see what Nepalese cuisine includes.

I haven’t yet purchased tickets, but you can assure I will be attending. If the pictures from last year's gathering depict half of what is in store for this year, it should be a lot of fun.

For additional information on the event contact Sweta Bhandari at bhsw0601@stcloudstate.edu

New Communities

“CAUTION, you are now entering unfamiliar territory.” Subconsciously that’s what the little voice in my head says every time I move.

This summer I will be relocating into an apartment in the historic Dinkytown area at the University of Minnesota. Equipped with a checklist of to-do’s, my goal is to learn as much about my future school community as possible before settling in.

Yesterday marked the seventh State of the University Address by University President Robert H. Bruininks. I found this to be a great opportunity to ease into the scene and learn more about my school’s future.

The president’s speech was dominated with economic challenges that the school faces presently and in the near future, however he ensures “to solidify the University’s quality and mission for coming generations.” In the middle of this adversity, affordability seemed to reoccur in conversation. One of the features was the revealing of the Discover U scholarship which helped financially strapped students fund tuition.

My walk around campus concluded at the new football stadium set to open this fall. TCF Stadium marks the first time in 18 years that Gopher football will be on campus. The workers are still putting the finishing touches onto the stadium and I can only hope, in these times of economic instability coupled with a bank sponsor, that all goes as planned.

My journey to my new community was a thrill. I now possess new knowledge about the state of the university as well as the location of some of the major campus landmarks. Hopefully when I return to settle in permanently, that little voice in my head will now be saying “Welcome, you are entering familiar territory,” and the adjustment will go as planned.

Greenhouse Effect

A few miles north of the St. Cloud Country Club lies an underdeveloped recreational park. The park, better known as Riverside Park, stretches parallel to the Mississippi river and includes outdoor activities such as swimming, tennis, volleyball, horseshoes and disc golf. Even with these numerous amenities, the park radiates dullness and visitors are left with the feeling you only receive when visiting an undistinguished landmark.

I decided to attend a city council meeting to see what future developments were being planned for the park. The meeting was held in a city office building in the heart of downtown St. Cloud. Upon entering the glassed double doors, I noticed an inscription in Latin on the marble floor which may have translated to “please wipe your feet,” but I assumed it to be a statement of unity or some sort. I was overwhelmed with the numerous politicians and office workers that were scampering amongst each other in suite and tie. If your mentality wasn’t already locked in at "business ready," it was now.

When entering the meeting room, a speaker was introducing the purpose of the meeting. The park and recreational advisory board was holding the meeting to reveal a new council agenda item entitled Riverside Regional Park Greenhouse Project. The project goal was to, “support the development, construction and maintenance of regional and community-wide recreational sites,” the speaker stated and that our necessary action was to approve or reject individual phases of the plan.

Being this my first city council meeting, I decided to sit back and learn the etiquette to avoid making myself look like a fool. One of the speakers from the board mentioned a plan to install security fencing around the park. The room seemed quite optimistic about the fencing to improve the overall park quality. Sarcastically I wanted to add “now we can keep those horseshoe thieves out,” but I held to my commitment of just observing.

It seemed as if the primary concern was to jump start the makeover of Riverside Park and complete the overall project in individual phases. The members in the room were throwing ideas around faster than I could write down. It is clear that this city is in desperate need of a revamped park structure.

Whether the project will succeed in turning Riverside Park into a city hot spot will only be decided with time. The effect of the Greenhouse Project will likely be felt in phases. As each phase gets accepted for funding, the park will gain a new and improved look. With the national and state economies faltering, one must wonder how much funding recreational parks are really going to receive.

For more information regarding St. Cloud city council meetings and agendas visit the official website.

A Bridge Too Long

The street sign has read “DETOUR AHEAD” for nearly 2 years now.

Every since the tragic collapse of the Minneapolis I-35W bridge, bridges around the state have been reconsidered for structural stability. In St. Cloud, the highway 23 bridge that stretches over the Mississippi River has been closed for nearly 2 years and is starting to upset some local residents.

Matt Persons, a member of the St. Cloud community, recalls the initial closing of the bridge. “At first they told us November [2009], but it doesn’t seem to be likely [finished] by then.”

The zigzag pattern that the detour creates—twisting throughout the heart of downtown—poses challenges for businesses on East Saint Germain Street; the unofficial Main Street. Crowded roadways piled with bumper-to-bumper semi trucks can be frustrating; especially during rush hour.

Mayor Dave Kleis must have felt the hostility surrounding the bridge. His solution? Create a contest that lets the locals name the bridge. “We’ll get the public to come up with the names, they’ll also narrow it down to the top two in a vote, and the City Council will pick the final one,” Kleis stated. Contest rules can be viewed at the City of St. Cloud website.

Michael, a high school student and resident of St. Cloud, stated that he “might just have to vote.” With the City Council vote finalizing the name, that leaves his vote for “A bridge [that takes] too long,” out of the question.