UNH Hockey East Regular Season Champs

Last night the UNH Men's hockey team came from 3 goals down in the final period to tie BC and clinch the regular season title. Regular season titles are really nice, but now the real fun begins with the Hockey East tourney and hopefully the NCAA's, which UNH would really have to choke to miss. I have never been a big fan of Umile, and he is definitely overpaid, but I would like to think that he said the right things before the 3rd period last night. UNH wraps up the season tonight at BC, before shifting all their focus to their first round opponent, which depending on the final games tonight could be Vermont, Northeastern, UMass or Merrimack.

Stay classy, not UMassy.

Playoff crowd in jeopardy

Tonight the UNH men's hockey team plays their final home game of the regular season. Although they have already clinched a spot to host a first round game of the Hockey East playoffs this is sure to be one of the loudest games of the season. I have attended most of the home games this year  and UNH fans have been treated to some great games.The Wildcats play two games against BC, one tonight at the Whit and again tomorrow at BC. UNH is currently first in Hockey East, just ahead of BC, and they only need to tie one game to clinch the top seed. If you're attending tonight's game be sure to check out today's sports column in TNH by Zack Cox.

Now, you're probably wondering why I said tonight's game will be the loudest of the season if they get to host at least two playoff games. It is because those games are scheduled for Friday March 12th and Saturday the 13th. That means that the majority of the UNH student body will have already left campus for spring break. That is the second year in a row that has happened and it is unacceptable. UNH always says how they want athletics to become a focal point of the university, yet they are sending almost the entire student body home before the biggest hockey games of the season. That is a shame and the team deserves a big crowd for to make for a true playoff atmosphere. UNH leads Hockey East in attendance, but I guarantee the student section will be terrible for next weekend's games. There is a simple solution to this problem, for UNH to let students stay until Saturday afternoon. Dining Halls wouldn't have to be opened and students could see at least the first game next week. I understand that UNH just wants the students to leave for spring break, but our pride of having the best team, and the best fans, in Hockey East are at stake if we can't fill up the Whit for a home playoff game. It happened last year (and the team lost both games) and it is looking like it could happen again this year. Hopefully with a different outcome.

Stay classy, not UMassy.

This week in Dining: Old People want salt too

There was an old guy (like 70ish) sitting at the table next to me. This is what he said: "This goddamn place doesn't have any salt!" He continued to rant about it and I had myself a good laugh. That is all I have to say about dining, other than the fact that the sign I spoke about last week has been removed. I call that a win.

Seeing as I don't have Thursday classes I took the day to going skiing at Cannon Mountain. Their 2 for 1 Thursdays are perfect for a college student. The conditions were as good as I've ever skied and there was hardly any wind at all, which is rare for Cannon. After lunch we hiked over to Mittersill, which is the new expansion planned to fully open next year. Right now it is just an old out-of-commission chairlift with a few narrow trails and glade runs. It was pretty awesome to get in a run over there. The hike isn't too bad at all, but only experienced skiers should give it a shot. I've been skiing for 10 or 12 years and some of it was pretty tough. They plan on adding a new lift and opening up the trails next year so I think Cannon could become a real gem in the future. It already is my second favorite mountain in New Hampshire after Wildcat. I love Wildcat because it is never crowded, you don't have to deal with little kids and slow family skiers and you get most skiing for your money. Wildcat has a 6 minute quad to the top peak and has some of the longest trails in the state. You can't beat that in New Hampshire. A lot of people like Loon, and as a mountain it is not too bad, but the tickets are way over priced and it is crowded 7 days a week. How was your $73 lift ticket? Because I paid $33 (2 for 1) and got in twice the runs. I'm not hating, I'm just saying...

One final note: I would like to say that I honestly do like criticism so I can improve my writing and blogging, but I have been taking a lot of flak over my last article about RAs. I will admit I was on a little rampage that morning, but I need to make something clear. From day one I have said to never take anything I write too seriously because I make fun of different groups of people pretty much every week. I have been doing that on the blog for almost an entire year. (Holy shit!) When I make fun of or criticize cops, the administration, President Huddleston, or dining most people just laugh. (Except for those who work at dining.) But then I joke about how some RAs are on a power-trip and every fucking RA or former RA freaks out. Jeez, lighten up and smoke a joint or something! (Joking, haha... awkward) How come I can poke fun at other groups and you laugh along, but I joke about RAs and some get all defensive? It's like that old saying "If you laugh at one group of people, you got to laugh at them all." Besides, the main point of that article was to simply state that sometimes taking names down isn't necessary for first time offenders. I have been criticized before, but I never have and never will change what I do or say. 

Stay Classy, not UMassy. 

A Reader Email and Extreme Munchies

The following is a reader email I got last night:

Im 17 and a junior in New York State. I want to go to UNH because ive been to the campus and it seems pretty awesome. It seems like a pretty well rounded school and what id like my college to be. I took a little tour and everything, ate at the cute little sandwich etc. but i didnt learn enough. Imna be really honest. I love me some happy juice. how free would you say the happy juice flows in UNH? I want to imagine keg wonderlands hidden deep in the New Hampshire wilderness... and the smell of Stella Artois & Yuengling B/T (my favorite) filling every dorm room. So what can you tell me about the parties/ drinking of UNH? its a crutial part of my college career. I do not take my drinking lightly. Another part would of course be the women. Im talking in general here. Are they hicks? When i was on campus (a few months ago) the average seemed to be less than ideal. Of course i saw a very small sample... but it wasnt lookin too good. If i was to go to UNH, would there be a good selection? I dont do drugs... so i really dont care about that aspect of UNH... but i wanna know all about the blondes/booze. I know you cant really speak for the student population of the future but there must be some trends you can tell me about. Some info on admissions would be helpful too. Im currently in Trig/ALG 2 and it blows. Im not doing that great in a few subjects. Would you say UNH is hard to get into? I really do like UNH but it has to be able to give me the college experence that i want. Im pretty sure you have an idea of what that is for me by now. (HINT: booze is to mouth as women is to bed) But i am a nice guy too, i swear to god. Id also like to know if there is a pattern of nice girls that go there so Will can love someone. That would be great. Thanks for any help you can provide. 

That was probably one of the best emails I've received since starting the blog and I was honored that I would be contacted. Needless to say, I replied with honesty explaining UNH's night life, availability of alcohol and the beautiful women. Of course most high schoolers think that they will be able to roll up to any party and get in so I explained what college life is really like. UNH is a pretty awesome place, but I have yet to discover a "keg wonderland" in the heart of college woods...

So last night I had used my vape and I got an extreme case of the munchies, like worst than I've ever had them. I decided to hit up the vending machine in the basement of my dorm. I walk out in the hallway and the first thing I hear is a girl down the hall say to a guy "I can still taste it in my mouth." I immediately say "Ew" louder than I meant and then start laughing. Out loud. I couldn't help it. I decide not to take the elevator because I couldn't imagine having to be in a small room with complete strangers. I took the stairs down to the basement and to the vending machine. I decide to get a bag of peanuts and Doritos. Then I decided to get a second bag of Doritos, but it gets stuck. I couldn't shake the machine because someone was doing laundry so I realize that I must buy a 3rd bag of Doritos. Luckily it gave me both packages. As I bend down to grab my snacks someone gets inline behind me. So, at about 11:30 p.m. I turn around with three bags of Doritos and one bag of peanuts. I have to bit my lip not to laugh because I can picture what I look like. There was no denying that I had the munchies so I made a beeline to my room and chowed down. And it was delicious.

Stay classy, not UMassy.

Like a Pro: Dealing with RAs

The other night I found myself at a party at a friend’s apartment. Everyone was is a good mood, having fun and enjoying the college lifestyle. There was no Ke$ha or Miley Cyrus to be heard; all was good. Epic battles of Beirut were going down in the kitchen and on the living room table a game of kings was being played. Other people stood around sharing tales of their glory days of high school sports and other general conversational topics from classes to internships. Then came the knock on the door.

The knock came from two RAs because it was after the 1 a.m. quiet hours. Earlier, one of the residents had asked everyone to keep it down, but unfortunately that didn’t last too long. One RA spoke and said something along the lines of  “You guys are being too loud. Unless you are sleeping here you all have to leave. Form a single file line and have your IDs ready so we can take down your names and ask a few questions.” That was it. No warning. Nothing. It was your typical power-tripping “I got picked on in high school so I became an RA,” the worst type of RA. While the two RAs talked with one of the residents, I grabbed my backpack and started the line out the door. I went first because I was feeling confident and knew others might need a little more time to collect themselves.

I handed over my ID, gave them my date of birth and informed them that I had not been drinking. I was free to go. I waited outside for a few friends and to make sure everyone was leaving OK. Despite the fact that the music was turned down low, the amount of conversations and laughing was apparently loud enough to call attention to the apartment. As I stood outside, I wondered if they would bust the party next door too; and the one that was above us, and the one in the next building over. Noise violations are always the easiest way to get written up by an RA or CA and if you are not prepared they can lead to more serious violations, which could attract the police.

When it comes to dealing with RAs it is very important to know ahead of time what type of RA they are, and this is a lot easier if you live in a dorm compared to the Gables or Woodsides. There are really two main classifications that RAs fit into; there is the power hungry kind and the “I need free housing” kind. Those in the first group are going to use all that power they have to make themselves feel better by ruining the night of fellow students who are just looking to have a good time. They, like many of Durham and UNH’s finest, are on a massive power trip and love the fact that they get to tell people what to do. Sure they are just doing their jobs, but a verbal warning is always nice. The best RAs are the ones who just want the free housing; as long as you are not rude to them they will usually let you off with a warning. They aren’t there to just bust people or make themselves feel important, they just want to get free housing.

Despite a few verbal warnings, I have never been written up for anything, not even a noise violation. It is all about preparation, showing courtesy and obeying quiet hours. If you are in a regular dorm room, and under 21, make sure that nothing is visible from the door if there is a knock. That means having a place to quickly stash all your “Gatorade” and “Mountain Dew.”  Try to avoid using anything that will emit curious odors. Also, if you are playing Beirut, always use water cups. It is way easier to hide one drink each than all those cups. Plus, it is more sanitary; trust me, I aced Germs.

If you are hosting a gathering be sure to keep the volume as a reasonable level and don’t be afraid to ask people to leave if they can’t settle down. As a guest always do what the host asks and respect their rules. The bottom line is when you have to deal with RAs or CAs, as painful as it may sound, is to be respectful because it is better than having to deal with the police.

 

Stay classy, not UMassy.

Did you see this comment?

So on my debut "This Week in Dining" post from last week the following comment was anonymously posted earlier today:

"Dining's policy on food leaving the dining hall has not changed. You may take one hand fruit, fill your mug club travel mug with a beverage or take a cookie/brownie from one of our locations. The sign pictured above was meant to remind guests that things should not be taken from the dining hall (other than what is listed above)Things like full bags of cereal, bagels and prepared sandwiches. If you would like to address your concerns with UNH Dining Services, it might make more sense to communicate directly with Jon Plodzik (jon.plodzik@unh.edu)rather than in a blog of this nature. Thank you."


I really wonder if that was the Jon Plodzik and I would be truly honored if it was because that means the blog must be making some noise. Awesome. It had to at least be a dining employee because they said "our locations." Anyways, I responded with the following:


"I actually did find that out this weekend and was going to make the correction. On the large sign above it says"Our new policy requires that all food and beverages be consumed within the dining hall" so I guess I misinterpreted what "new policy" and "all food and beverages" meant. I did notice the smaller sign on the door that says explains that mugs and fruit ect... can be taking. The new bigger sign made me assume that the policy had been changed."


My vendetta against dining continues. And what the fuck does he mean by "blog of this nature." I am offended. That is a low blow and uncalled for. Horse shit! 


Stay Classy, not UMassy.

Monday Updates

This weekend only solidified my hate for RA's. Well, technically they were two CA's at the Woodsides, but they still sucked. They felt it was necessary to make everyone leave a small party, which seemed reasonable because we were being kind of loud, but they also made sure to check ID's and take down everyone's name. They gave no warning or anything. When they told to form a line I knew that there were certain people their who would A) need a moment to gather themselves and B) think of a way to avoid giving their name because of who they are/positions they hold. So I grabbed my bag and took my place at the front of the line. Instead of giving a fake name  I handed over my ID because I knew it would better to make it quick. I gave told them my birthdate and informed them I had not been drinking.  And she bought it. Others who were 21 told the truth and some gave fake names. Once outside I waited for a few people to walk back with and assisted others out a back window. Great success. My column in tomorrow's paper while go into further detail about how to deal with RA's so be sure to check that out if you're interested.

In other UNH news, the men's hockey team has just two regular season games left and only one at home. They play second place BC in a home and home series this weekend. They just need to tie one of those games to clinch the top seed for the Hockey East tournament. They will host at least two games in the first round, but they will be after most of campus has left for break so that really sucks. The women's hockey team will be the number 2 seed in their tournament which is held at Providence this year.

The men's basketball team finished their regular season with a big win over first place Stoney Brook. They will face Vermont, the number 2 seed, a team we beat and lost to in overtime, in the first round of the America East Tournament. EDIT (9:35 p.m.) Binghamton, who would have been the 5 seed, dropped from the tournament due to findings in a recent investigation. Therefore UNH as moved up to the 6 seed and will play Maine in the first round who blew us out twice in the regular season.

Stay Classy, Not UMassy.