Author Archives: Maleny Gomez

Advice from an Average Student

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As the winter break approaches many people have their sights set on Christmas but I decided to get a head start on  New Years’ Eve and try to figure out what my resolution would be. During this time of year it is hard not to think about classes, finals and, honestly, what I could have done better as a student so I decided to run with that. 

Here are some tips I found on how to be a better and more successful student.

Set Realistic and Achievable Goals 

  • Set both short-term and long-term goals
  • Set goals from the very beginning will help keep you motivated and focused
  • Make sure that your goals are realistic is important in ensuring that you do not set yourself up for unnecessary frustrations 

Focus on Time Management 

  • Procrastination is many people’s worst enemy so staying on top of due dates is a great way to keep yourself from slipping into that habit
  • Stick to a schedule. If you want to make sure you have time for your social life as well as your studies, try and spread out your workload so you don’t feel overwhelmed with trying to do all your homework in one night
  • Remember that you don’t have to wait until the due date to submit your assignments, you can work on them ahead of time and get them out of the way so you don’t have to worry about them later

Take Care of Yourself

  • Make sure you get an adequate amount of sleep is important to make sure your brain can take in all of the new information you will be learning in class
  • When you are well rested you can pay attention in class more easily than when you can hardly keep your eyes open
  • Going to class sometimes feels like the most laborious task of all time; if you are well rested it’s less likely to seem that way 

Although these are just a few tips on being a better student, I’m sure that once you apply them, you will definitely see a difference. If you would like to see more ideas on how to be a better student, click here. 

Stars Send Head Coach Packing

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In an unexpected turn of events, the Dallas Stars have dismissed Head Coach Jim Montgomery (pictured below) according to an article released at  9:30 A.M. Tuesday, December 10. This was Montgomery’s second year coaching in the NHL and many fans are shocked at the sudden dismissal of the former head coach. Assistant Coach Rick Bowness will serve as Interim Head Coach effective immediately. 

(photo from dallasstars.com)

After a live-streamed press conference at 11:00 A.M., the answer to the question “What exactly happened?” is still unclear. General Manager Jim Nill stated that he would not discuss the incident “…out of respect for those involved.” Although the whole situation is still unclear, we know that as of right now there is no timeline on hiring a new coach and the interim staff will remain in place for the rest of the season. 

For more information and updates make sure to follow the Dallas Stars on Twitter and Instagram (@DallasStars on both) and check dallasstars.com for regular updates.

Post Malone x Crocs

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Rappers having their own shoe design or clothing line is nothing new, right? Right… unless you’re Post Malone. Post Malone (also known as Posty) has decided to collaborate with the shoe brand Croc. Crocs are not necessarily known for their flashy style or trend-setting looks but that did not stop the Texas-native rapper from designing his own pair and let me tell you, fans are loving it. Some fans bought Posty’s collab Crocs as their first pair of Crocs ever.

(photo from https://dfw.cbslocal.com/2019/12/04/post-malone-free-crocs-texas-chicken-express/)

The shoes dropped Tuesday, December 10, at 10:00 A.M on the Crocs website for $59.99 a pair. They sold out in less than two hours. There has been no update on a restock happening so the shoes will definitely be in high demand online.

CAB’s Christmas Karaoke & Coffee

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If you and your friends are looking for some fun on-campus activities to take part in be sure to check out the Christmas themed Open Mic Night that the Campus Activities Board (CAB) will be hosting on Tuesday, November 19, 2019 at the Patterson Student Center from 6:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. There will be refreshments for everyone and a free Starbucks coffee for the first 30 attendees. Some of the activities that will be going on are karaoke, spoken word, acoustic performances, and conversation. Students are encouraged to come out and have a good time with their peers.

When asked about how important events like these are for students, Lead Event Coordinator Ta’Mar Colby said, “Events like these are good for students because they allow students to relax and have a good time during a time of the year that can be very stressful for a lot of people; it allows them to have an outlet to express themselves. Many times it is easy for students to get caught up in the classwork and exams, so it is nice for them to get a break every once in a while.”

CAB events are created to help students socialize and have a good time, so come on out on November 19th at 6:00 P.M. with some friends to sip some coffee and sing (or listen to other people sing) some Christmas songs.

Retro Jerseys Put Stars in Fans’ Eyes

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On Wednesday, January 1, 2020, the Dallas Stars will play against the Nashville Predators in one of the most iconic games in the NHL season – the 2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic. The Winter Classic first took place in 2008 with the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Buffalo Sabres facing off in what would be the start to a now long-standing tradition. Every year since then, two teams are selected to play on New Year’s Day in what is called the Winter Classic. This season, the Stars and the Predators are at the center of it all with the game being held in the Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas, the furthest south the Winter Classic has ever traveled.

One of the reasons this highly-anticipated matchup has drawn so much attention is that the two participating teams released new retro-themed jerseys for the game. This year, the Stars revealed their Winter Classic jerseys (pictured below) and had them up for pre-order on November 6. The jerseys sold out in less than a day. 

Photo from dallasstars.com

This season the Winter Classic jerseys were in such high demand that the Dallas Stars franchise had to re-release a limited supply of the jerseys a week later in-store only, explaining that they were not expecting such a high quantity of orders. There has also been an unexpected demand for young players such as Roope Hintz and Miro Heiskanen that simply could not be met during the pre-order release. More jerseys will become available in mid-December according to the Stars’ website but fans are encouraged to follow the Stars’ social media pages for updates on jersey availability.

Understanding Hockey Basics

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Watching hockey can be confusing for people who are new fans; with rules, regulations, and terminology that are intimidating to learn, it can seem like it is in a whole new language. Hockey is continually growing with a new National Hockey League (NHL) team joining the league in Seattle in the 2020-2021 season and more recently the Vegas Golden Knights playing their first season in 2017-2018. With continual growth, it’s better to go ahead and get a head start on learning the rules now.

Let’s start with some terms that may be confusing to new viewers.

Icing

  • If you’re a beginner, icing is one of the more confusing hockey terms, but it’s easy to understand once you’ve got some general knowledge.
  • You can’t shoot the puck  from your end of the ice to the other end in hockey. This is called “icing.” You’re in the clear when your player first touches the puck when it reaches the other end but if it is touched by the other team, it returns to your end for a face off.

Offside

  • In hockey, you cannot stay in the area of the opponent waiting for the puck. If you do this, you’ll get called offsides by the referee. You are also offsides when you cross the opponent’s blue line before the puck crosses the same line.

Pulling The Goalie

  • Sometimes, teams decide to pull their goalie if they are losing at the end of a game. You’ll also see teams pulling their goalie when the penalty is delayed.
  •  Only six players can be on the ice at one time from each team, but there is no rule dictating what position they must be filling.
  • Once the goalie leaves, they will be replaced by an offensive player. At this time, the team is actually playing 6 on 5.

Now that you have a basic understanding of some of the rules, let’s look at who the players on the ice are.

The Goaltender 

  • Firstly and arguably most importantly, we have the goaltender, also known as the “goalie”. The goalie in hockey plays the same role a goalie plays in any other sport; keep the other team from scoring. 
  • It sounds simple enough but a lot of the time, the only thing goalies can rely on are their hand-eye coordination or their instinct.

Two Defensemen 

  • The role of the defensemen can be a bit more diverse than that of the other positions. There are essentially three different roles the defensemen can play: classic, offensive (it sounds contradictory, I know), and a hybrid version.
  • The classic defensemen’s role is to stop players from the opposing team from scoring and to create some aggression and intimidation on the ice; they  rarely take any shots to the net and their first priority is to defend. 
  • The offensive defensemen is someone who will act as an extra forward. They will handle the puck from their end of the ice and create scoring opportunities and even take shots on goal themselves. 
  • The hybrid version is just that, a mix of the traditional style of play with the style of the offensive defensemen. They don’t shy away from big hits but are also there to help put points on the board.

The Right and Left Wings

  • The right and left wings are both considered skill positions and they are the positions that cover the right and left sides of the ice, respectively. They are usually fast and are responsible for generating most of the goals.

The Center

  • The center is the player who is responsible for creating scoring opportunities for their team. They are usually players who can read the game well and are able to steer the game in the direction they wish to take it; much like a quarterback of sorts.

Although these are just some of the basics involving hockey, you now have a general understanding of what is going on and that means you’re one step closer to enjoying this great sport without having to ask too many questions.

For a more in-depth look at hockey rules click here.

Star-Crossed Stars’ Stumbling Start

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 After a devastating double overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues in game six of the 2019 playoffs, the Dallas Stars look to redeem themselves and make their fans proud this year. October 3, 2019 marked the official return of the National Hockey League (NHL) to Dallas, Texas. 

Left to Right; Miro Heiskanen, Jamie Benn, Alexander Radulov, and Tyler Seguin
Photo from dallasstars.com

During the preseason, the Stars acquired  Joe Pavelski (San Jose Sharks), Corey Perry (Anaheim Ducks), and Andrej Sekera (Buffalo Sabres). Sekera brings maturity and experience to an already impressive line of young defensmen that includes Miro Heiskanen who participated in the 2019 NHL All-Star Game and had an astonishing season last year, leaving many under the impression that he is going to keep improving as his second season begins. 

With the addition of players like Pavelski, the Stars have given themselves the ability to create stronger, more diverse line combinations. Pavelski was placed in a line with Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn which proved to be a successful group. In their final preseason game, all three players scored a goal, leading the team into overtime where they sealed their 4-3 win in a shootout against the Colorado Avalanche. 

The preseason has not gone without its fair share of injuries, with Corey Perry out for two weeks due to a broken foot and Jason Dickinson placed on a day-to-day status after an accidental in-game injury from teammate, Seguin. Martin Hanzal and Stephen Johns are  on injury reserve due to Hanzal’s back injury and Johns’ head injury. Julius Honka is now out of the lineup with no specifics or updates on his situation. 

The Stars started off the regular season against the Boston Bruins, with their matchup ending in a 2-1 and two more injuries added to the Dallas Stars’ roster with Roman Polak fracturing his sternum and Blake Comeau recieving a lower-body injury putting him out for 2-4 weeks. 

The Stars played against the reigning Stanley Cup champions and their division rivals, the St. Louis Blues, on Saturday, October 5, which proved to be a very physical and aggressive game. The Stars gained a 3-1 lead over the Blues with a power play goal but after a controversial call, the goal was disallowed since officials declared that Justin Dowling was offside. The Blues then tied the game two minutes and eleven seconds later and eventually gained a lead, ending the game with a score of 3-2. 

Dallas played against the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday, October 6 and was led in goals by Roope Hintz. Hintz scored two goals and Seguin scored one goal to give the Stars a total of three goals. The Stars could not seem to pull through with a win, falling to the Red Wings with Anthony Mantha scoring all 4 goals for Detroit. 

The Stars coaching staff and the players both  know what changes need to be made in order to generate more scoring opportunities and hopefully improve their record as the season continues.

Curfew on the Courtyard

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When you think about college one of the first things that comes to mind is freedom. Freedom to make your own decisions and do what you want to do. So it’s pretty safe to say that a curfew is not what most people think of when they consider college. However, a curfew is exactly what Bringle Lake Village residents got when a new policy started being enforced on the courtyard at the dorms.

As of September 9, 2019, an existing policy stating that the courtyard and volleyball court would close at 10:00 p.m. started being enforced  For the past few years, the courtyard and volleyball court remained open 24 hours a day, so when the news of a curfew on the courtyard spread through the dorms, it seemed as though the world was ending for most residents.

One of the most common complaint from students is that “It wasn’t like this last year”. When asked about the sudden enforcement of the rules, Residence Life Coordinator Cali DiOrio – Saye said, “The rule has been there for years and no one has enforced it or made an effort to change it. We are just enforcing the rules.” Page eight of the Bringle Lake Village Housing Guide, on the school website, states “The courtyard and amenities are available for student use between the hours of 9 a.m.-10 p.m. daily in accordance with quiet hours. Please see the Pool Rules for other guidelines.”

The rule may seem like a nuisance for some residents, but the only way the rule is going to change is if they make an effort to change it. “Every student has a voice and every voice matters. A lot of our peers were disappointed in a decision that resulted in the closing of Bringle Lake Village’s Courtyard and its amenities by 10 p.m.,” said Student Government Association President Jarrell Lawrence. “Student Government Association and Residence Hall Association were created in order to have a direct line from student voices to the administration. It is vital that we remember times change and generations change. Every incoming class is different, and we believe that all decisions in our university should be made with the intent to enhance the student experience, while preparing us for the real world.”

Until students actively try to make a change, the rules are going to stay the way they have always been. If you want to make a change, contact a member of the Student Government Association or the Residence Hall Association and see what you can do to help.

Profs: The Good, The Bad, and the Either

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One of the most frequently discussed topics on campus seems to be whether the professors are “good” or “bad”, whether their classes are difficult or not, and most importantly, whether you should take their classes. When you start hearing people talk about their professors, it’s easy to become a little apprehensive about the classes you had already registered for. You become nervous because you have no clue whether you had gotten any “good” professors or if you had unintentionally set yourself up for failure and gotten “bad” professors for all of your classes.

You know this because this may have been you, one semester, one year, or even one month ago. But after a bit of asking around you may conclude that everyone seems to have different opinions about the same professors. For instance, some people prefer a professor who is strict, with a very structured class, whereas others may prefer a professor who has a more relaxed approach. Two people could be taking the same class with the same professor and have completely different opinions about the professor.

After realizing this you may understand why it is so difficult to get a clear answer on who is a “good” professor and who is a “bad” professor. This could actually make you even more nervous than you were before because, at this point, you have no clue what kind of professor you prefer and in turn, this makes it altogether more difficult to decipher which one of your professors you should be most nervous about. On one hand, you may appreciate a class with structure but on the other hand, you would rather not have a drill sergeant as a professor.

Hopefully, you did not have a horrible first semester and made it through with only a handful of breakdowns (fingers crossed that none of those were directly linked to your professors), a new perspective on what makes a professor “good” or “bad”, and the knowledge that you cannot assume that just because someone else thinks a professor is “bad” that you’ll think the same thing as well. So, remember that everyone’s opinion is subjective and do not let that stop you from taking a class you had always wanted to take, because at the end of the day you may end up finding that the professor they did not like was the perfect fit for you.