San Rafael winter

Being from sunny Southern California, I’m used to the warm sun shinning on me all day and everyday. Marin is not like that. Every year about this time, “San Rafael Winter” kicks in.

So, what is “San Rafael Winter?” It is really simple. “San Rafael Winter” is non-stop rain until March. Last year, “San Rafael Winter” went till May, which made the Student Life Department nervous because we have our commencement exercise outside in our beautiful, sunken amphitheater. “San Rafael Winter” is a hassle when we have lacrosse or softball games and they are cancelled on account of the weather; which happens a lot during the spring.

It is almost Halloween and DU students are already in the spirit. There are a number of students that have decorated their dorm room doors with pumpkins, spider webs, and skeletons. There is even one hall in Pennafort that is completely decked out in a Halloween theme. When DU students get in the spirit, they really get in the spirit.

On the DU athletic front, all our fall sports are undefeated in conference play which began last week. Men and Women’s Soccer and Women’s Volleyball are all on track to bring that California Pacific Conference home this year.

Besides winning conference games, we have has some special games this weekend. Our Women’s Soccer team faced off against the “Black Queens,” the Ghana National team Sunday. It was amazing to just be able to have a team of such skill and discipline play against our women. Also, as an early exhibition game, Women’s Softball had a match Friday and also won.

On the academic front, professors are assigning term papers. I’ve noticed two things.

1. all professors tend to give you papers around the same time and make those papers due around the same time. So, if you start off the week with a professor assigning a paper, be prepared for at least one other during the same week.

2. Junior year brings lots of term papers. During freshman and sophomore year, I had papers but they were usually due in a couple of weeks.

Term papers are different. Since you are given the entire term to complete the paper, more is expected. More research, more background, more to say, and more pages to the paper. All my term papers range from 5-10 pages and my topics are all over the scales. The one thing I am happy about is that your term papers are usually topics you choose.

For those of you that are coming to the Campus Visit Day, dress in layers, an umbrella would be helpful and I’ll see you then.

Stay cool and Lets Go Penguins,

Chilly