Wednesday, February 4, 2009

The Student Center, Part I

 When you think of the quintessential college experience, what comes to mind? Rowdy dorm parties? Cramming for finals? Subsisting on a diet of ramen and Mountain Dew? For me, I think of the hours whiled away at the heart of campus, and the hub of all the activities – the student center. Now, DePaul is lucky enough to have not one, but two beautiful student centers available in the Chicago area: Lincoln Park and the Loop.

 This article will be part one of a focus on the student center in Lincoln Park, and all the wonders within – one post would definitely not be enough to explain all the advantages of getting to know this place.

 Let’s start with the first thing many students see – the ground floor. When entering from the Sheffield/Belden entrance early in the morning, you will of course be greeted by a long, snaking queue leading from Brownstone’s, the small café located in the far north corner. Not only are there bagels, smoothies, and other small snacks on hand, there is also a large computer bay with printers for when you HP decides to play dead the morning your huge paper is due. Getting a free machine during rush hour is a gamble though!

 Moving down the Sheffield side, Brownstone’s opens up into an enclosed lounge area. Here, you can find students napping on couches or draped over chairs. Select nights, you may even find an aspiring musician belting out an open-mic ballad.

 There is a small chapel/religious practice area next to this lounge. It contains a small chapel as well as a multi-faith room where the faithful can practice Buddhism or Islam. At the center of all this is of course a beautifully spacious atrium, This calming open air space lightens up the room and lends to the modern look of the building. The help desk is also helpfully located in this central location, as well as a TCF bank for easy transactions.

 To the right of the help desk are several offices, including the admissions offices. It is here where prospective students meet with tour guides and advisors. Also, the campus copy center is located here.

 To the left of the help desk is the MPR, or Multi-purpose room. The versatile space here can be converted for several different uses, including student concerts, buffets, and high-class dinner parties. 

No comments:

Post a Comment