The University of
Illinois at Chicago (UIC) was built after World War II as a two-year
undergraduate program for veteran students. By 1965, a new campus was built in
Chicago’s west side, which included a four-year program for students to earn
their degrees. It is clear the original goal for UIC has grown into something
much more than a two-year program. One of UIC’s missions is to create knowledge
that transforms our views of the world through sharing and application of ideas.
It’s accomplishing its mission with the design of college campus and the
Behavioral Science Building (BSB) is a good example of that.
When you first see the
building, it can be quite intimidating. This building doesn’t look like the
other buildings you would see on campus. The very first thing I noticed about
this building was that it’s big, gray, and has very few windows. It almost
looks like a prison. Walking in, my impression of the inside was the same as
the outside. I remember walking in and not knowing what was ahead. The hallways
were small and tight. There also where signs to show where the rooms are, but
you would still feel lost from the design of BSB. At this point, you are
probably wondering how this prison-like building UIC with its mission. At first
sight, BSB looks like there isn’t much to offer, but looks can deceiving.
The Behavioral Science Building
When you walk in, you do feel intimidated by
the building, but maybe that isn’t a bad thing. I remember the first time I
entered BSB was for my orientation. I was scared because the building was
different from my high school. I wanted the people around to help me. To my
surprise, that is what happened. It is tough being a new student in a new
school. After walking in, I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do next, but
with the help of the orientation leaders, I felt better about the rest of the
day. The next thing I remember was walking into the big lecture room and seeing
200 hundred new faces. I wasn’t as scared as I was before, so I decided to
introduce myself. The people I met were nice and friendly. Some of them had the
same mind set as me. They were scared about a new school but they didn’t let
that fear hold them back from enjoying this experience. It was nice to know
that there were others that felt the same way I did. In a way, it felt like we
were there to help each other. We were all facing this new challenge, so why
not face it together? Maybe that is why the freshman orientation is held here.
BSB also helps students
with their academic goals. Inside the building, you will find the lecture rooms
and the computer lab. The lecture rooms are where some classes are taught. My
Crime, Law, and Justice class is held there every Monday and Wednesday. The
class sizes are huge, so it’s easy to ask for help from the people near you.
The computer lab is there for the student’s use as well. It’s a great place for
surfing the web on your free time or doing research for a homework assignment.
Some of my friends go there while they wait for their next class.
Not only is BSB a place
for students to learn, it is also a place for students to relax. There are some
quiet seating areas on the first floor, second floor, and the roof. From the
roof, you get a very beautiful view of downtown Chicago. In addition, the BSB
also has a food court on the lower level. There are vending machines and the
food court store, which provides quick snacks for students on the go, or
students in need of a break. I noticed that the students go to the food court
to finish up some homework, eat some food, or talk with their friends. My
friend Eddie says, “it’s a good place to study and do homework because of the
calm and peaceful setting.” I usually go to the food court with my friends when
we want to catch up with each other.
The view of downtown from the
rooftop
The UIC mission is to
create and share knowledge that transforms the views of the world. The
Behavioral Science Building is a key factor to why the school has been able to
achieve this goal. It offers resources for the students to use to help them
learn and interact with others. I enjoy being there because it has a lot to
offer. It’s an area where students are able to work, as well as have fun
together.
In my blog post, I talked about how the Behavioral Science
Building (BSB) plays a role in UIC’s mission to transform the views of the
world through sharing and application of ideas. Although BSB is important, it
is not the only contribution to the mission. The university has much to
offer. The campus has many halls were
classes take place, areas for students to relax or study, and many
restaurants/stores for students to enjoy a meal. I try to enjoy everything that
UIC offers for its students.
I really enjoyed reading other
students blogs because it helps you look at certain areas in a deeper
perspective. The many halls in UIC are great examples. These buildings are
where some classes take place. These buildings are all different from one
another. Some are bigger then the others, and some are newer. Once inside, you
can easily tell that Stevenson Hall is older than Douglas or Lincoln Hall.
Elisabeth Tapoi says these buildings “don’t have a large purpose besides
classrooms, lounges areas, and computer labs.” A lot of people would agree, but
I feel that there is a greater purpose than what it appears to be. The
buildings are here to prepare the students with their future. My English
classes are in Stevenson Hall. I really enjoy these classes, because I can use
what I learned in everyday life. In English 160, we are learning grammar. It
seems so basic, but it will help when I write a business letter or work on my
résumé. Most of my schoolwork is done in these halls. I enjoy being there
because I get to learn with my fellow classmates.
Grant and Douglas
Hall
Another area that helps with UIC’s
mission to transform the world through sharing and application of ideas is area
7, or the quad. According to Bhavana Kolli, the quad “is like the kitchen, the
heart of the home.” It’s located at the center the campus. It is the biggest
intersection that UIC has. There are always people walking through it. It might
be an intersection, but I see it as a great place to meet new people. There are
so many people; it’s so easy to start a conversation with someone. I met a
couple of my friends at the quad just by walking up to them and saying hello.
Since there are a lot of people at the quad, it makes sense that the sign-ups
for fraternities and sororities were located there. That is where I signed up
for the dance group, Fia Modern. The quad is something that can’t easily be
explained because there is so much that goes on in this area. It is truly a
great place to socialize. In order to get the full experience, you have to go
see it for yourself.
The Quad
College seems like all work and no
play, but that is not true with UIC. In the post, I talked about BSB being a
great place to relax, but the campus has much more than just BSB. I want to
talk about area 6. Area 6 is on the east side of campus and contains two of my
favorite buildings, Student Center East (SCE) and the Recreation Center (RC).
Student Center East is where you will find a good portion of the restaurants on
the campus. It also has the UIC bookstore and the bowling alley. I usually go
the to SCE with my friends when we are hungry. I like how there is a variety of
food choices unlike highschool. The Recreation Center is where students
participate in all types of physical activities like basketball, running,
swimming, etc. These buildings are great places for students to get away from
all the schoolwork, and it also helps UIC with another mission. In Minh Huynh’s
blog post, he says “One of the goals of UIC is to help give back to the
communities that UIC was built on.” He also says “I think that the RC is one
great way to give back to the community.” I agree with his statement because I
use the Recreation center on a daily basis. School is very stressful sometimes,
and I visit the RC to relieve some of my stress. I go there to play basketball,
work out, and dance. Without Student center East and the Recreation Center, I
don’t know where I would spend my free time.
Student Center East Student
Recreation Center
Although these areas might have a
different purpose for everyone, they still contribute to the UIC mission to
transform the view of the world through sharing and application of ideas. The halls
allow students to work and study together and allows to them share ideas. The
quad is a wonderful place on campus for students to see their friends or make
new ones. Lastly, Student Center East and the Recreation center allow the
university to give back to the community. Even though I only mentioned certain
areas, the entire UIC campus is designed specifically to achieve every single
one of its goals. You don’t really notice the things the university has to
offer until you take the time to enjoy them all.
No comments:
Post a Comment