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.