Michael Gulczynski
English 160
Ms. Browning
Situating Yourself on Campus
Hello students! Welcome to UIC, the largest public university in Chicago.
The largest public university in Chicago…
that can be a little intimidating to a freshman. You’re probably thinking, “How
am I going to get to class on time if I have a tight schedule?” or, “How am I
going to figure out where everything is?” Well, I have a little surprise for you;
we have here a blog which will get you acquainted with a part of your new
campus! The section described here will be the area of the campus that contains
University Hall, Stevenson Hall, Henry Hall, and Jefferson Hall.
The
above picture:
First of all you will notice that this
is a rather large area, with many places to go outside and relax while doing
your homework or studying for an exam. There are stone benches, walkways, and
trees, if you want shade. The building you will probably notice first is
University Hall, the largest building on campus. This is where the
administrative offices are. It is the building that keeps the university
running. On the outside it may look intimidating, since this structure is the
largest one around the area and it looking larger at the top than at the
bottom. Its jagged outcroppings might also make you feel somewhat afraid to go
inside. However, inside you will find that it isn’t so frightening after all. The
people you go to see are eager to help you. This is because, as I stated
before, they keep the university running, and you are a part of the university
now! The building on the inside is very business-like, but it also has its
little pleasures. On the lobby floor there is a little shop where one may get a
cup of coffee, perhaps a snack, or lunch. The upper section also has a view of
the campus. The upper business floors are more of a company tone, with little
slit windows and offices everywhere. It may seem like a maze at first, but
there will always be someone there to help you find where you need to go.
The
above picture:
If I were to relate the inside of the
building to you, I would have to say it reminds me of the 1990’s depiction of
an office floor: with white walls and offices every corner, phones ringing and
people constantly working. Everybody there wears business/business casual
attire; the only conversations you will hear most of the time will be
business-related. Nobody there, however, is a drone. This is the kind of place
where one gets a quick break to down their lunch and get back to work. It is
very fast paced and efficient. Everybody there is ready to help you attain your
goals at the university. And as many people as there are there, in terms of
ethnicity, there is really no dominance of any. You may see and meet many
people there: some may be secretaries, floor workers, or even the top
administrators! You may also see professors there because University Hall is
the center of many different departments.
The
above picture:
Stevenson Hall, Henry Hall, and Jefferson
Hall, are the other buildings in this section. All of them are full-blown
college buildings. They all have there traditional classrooms with the desks,
chalkboards, and lockers outside the rooms. When you walk into these buildings,
you will automatically feel like you are in school. The rooms have an ambient
feel of nostalgia for middle and high school. Some of the buildings are nicer
than the others, though. Henry Hall is nicer and looks newer than Stevenson
Hall. It is made of glass and steel, with large windows and rooms. Stevenson
Hall is nice as well. It has a little lounge inside on the 1st floor
where you can use your computer to do homework or just relax. This building
seems a little older, but it certainly does its job well. All of the buildings
serve as classrooms for many different subjects, not just one.
As
one student said, “At first I couldn’t find my way around you know? I just
basically looked for my room numbers instead of going to the ‘math wing’ of the
school like I did in high school.”
You may feel like you are not used to
the environment until you get to know these places. Trust me though; you’ll get
to know them like the back of your hand soon. All of these places are there for
your benefit; to help you in your career as a college student. All of them have
resources, if not one, then many, for you to choose from everyday and on
basically any subject. As a new student it is your right to be intimidated at
first, but do not forget that this is your campus now, and you will get to know
it in time, perhaps much sooner than you think!
The
above picture:
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