The action happens at the Patriot Zone

                The University Center is always lively. Students take some down time from the late night studying to meet with their friends. Laughs are shared. Smiles are given. But what you don’t always see, is something that brings students together even if they’re strangers to each other; The Patriot Zone.

                There, past the smell of delicious Chick-Fil-A chicken, you will find one of the great extensions of the UC. The PZ is a great spot to spend your free time with friends or even complete strangers.

                Do you like TV and comfy chairs? They have more than you need. You can switch to whatever channel you want, so don’t be shy if you want to catch the new episode of the Vampire Diaries this fall. Why? Because everybody loves vampires. Blame Twilight.

                If you’re more of a video game person, you can go to the gaming center and play some. It’s easy, just go to the desk at the far end of the room and give them your student I.D. so you can play. They have a PS3, a PS2, and XBOX 360 and Wii! I know…uhhhhhh. You can play Mario Party on the Wii; you can play Call of Duty 3 on the Xbox.

                Are you a pool, ping-pong, or air hockey person? Bring your friends and share a game! You’re definitely welcomed to play anytime!

Me playing air hockey with friends at the PZ

                They can also help if your organization needs materials to help make posters! Save yourself the hassle of driving to the store.

                So don’t worry if you feel that there’s nothing to do this upcoming fall semester. Our university always offers great amenities to students that will make your experience here better every time!

                For more information about the Patriot Zone and what it has to offer, go to http://www.uttyler.edu/pz/



Healthy Video Game Habits for College Students

One of my favorite hobbies while attending UT Tyler has been marathon gaming.  Playing video games for an extensive amount of time is a very popular habit for students in a college setting.  When I use the word “extensive”, I do not mean a couple hours in a day, a few times in a week.  For moderate to hardcore video gamers, “extensive” means playing various games for 12-15 hours a day for entire weekends, or possibly entire weeks (depending on the time of the school year).  Since class hours are more spread apart, and weekends can seem a bit longer, the urge for the college student to binge on video games can be huge. 

If marathon gaming is a common part of your college routine, fear not, you do not have a problem. However, without the right precautions, your innocent habit can turn into a very unhealthy addiction.