When students leave to attend a college or university, an environment that makes them feel as though they are right at home greatly improves their experience. The concept of "home" varies for each individual, however, and makes comforting 10,000 students a difficult task. Bloomsburg University's effectiveness in creating such an environment makes it a very well loved school. Although more than 80% of the undergraduate students at Bloomsburg University are In-State, each student has his or her own life experiences that make them unique. Not every Pennsylvania resident comes from the same area, and those students that do come from the same area do not come from the same home, or have the same upbringing. Therefore, unique individuals with exclusive experiences decorate Bloomsburg. The university manages to unite all of its students, despite their differences, through one particular aspect of its landscape, the academic quad.
Above is a picture of the quad a few years ago from the landscapers that built it. Cozy, right? Not exactly. Before the academic quad was built, it was actually a student parking lot. The parking lot stretched from the Andruss Library to the Student Services Center. Many of the surrounding buildings (the Student Services Center, Bakeless, the Andruss Library) had been recently renovated and the Bloomsburg University administration wanted the academic quad to be the icing on the cake. Designed to be the central meeting place and unifying element of the campus, the quad is full of open space, greenery, historic elements, and sculptures.
A Campus Map Plan From 1958 Showing the Parking Lot
The academic quad is located in the center of several of the main academic buildings where it can't be missed. This location allows the academic quad to truly be the unifying element of the campus. Students and professors alike pass by, walk through, relax in, or meet there constantly throughout the day making the movement surrounding the quad incessant. The wide, green, open space found in the quad represents its openness to the students and faculty on the campus. It is comprised of 3 sections that make up one large grassy area divided by pavement.
On one particular evening during the week, the view from the quad is especially peaceful. Several people walking by are on the phone, others are focused intently on where they want to go. The sun is setting behind Bakeless and the air is cool and refreshing. One boy yawns as he saunters by. His dark grey t-shirt, black shorts, and earphones hanging lazily over his ears seem to reflect his mood. A quick burst of clashes disrupts the peaceful atmosphere and several heads turn in the direction of the Student Services Center. A skateboarder failed an attempt to ride down the stairs and is now brushing off his board. Seemingly in response to the first disruption, a scream pierces through the air. Two little girls run onto the quad followed by their father who is carrying a frisbee. When he launches it from one end of the quad to the other the girls explode with excitement and race after it. Later on that night a group of students is seen playing ultimate frisbee in the dark with a light up frisbee. Their energy is evident as they race around the quad and as one player yells to his teammate, "you score all the points!” All people can feel at home on Bloomsburg University’s academic quad.
The many activities that take place in the quad are designed to bring the students and even the faculty together. In the beginning of the fall semester the freshman class is required to participate in a welcoming process that takes place over the course of a weekend. A significant part of this welcoming process is the Welcome Fest. All of the freshman students are packed into the quad to socialize, receive free gifts, participate in contests, and be introduced to the fall sports teams. This allows the new students to meet each other, break out of their shells, and feel like they're at home at Bloomsburg University. Michael Jones, a freshman student, named the Welcome Fest as his favorite memory on the quad. Excitedly he recounts, "they had all the freshmen there, and we met new people, and they were giving away a bunch of free stuff, and we saw Roongo dance, and hopefully next year I will be on one of the sports teams that they introduced to the students!" He felt as though the activity on the quad allowed for chatting, movement, and interaction between the students. Although he claims to be a shy person who likes to stay with people he knows, he adds ”I met a lot of people with similar tastes, and yeah, it felt good to be around fellow freshman and meet so many different types of people."
Three interior sections make up the quad. The “Campus Green” is a large open green area where most of the quad activities are held. A quick glance may not reveal this, but it is actually slanted downwards towards the Student Services Center. This creates an auditorium feel and allows the stage to be seen well be everyone seated in the quad. This works to everyone’s advantage come graduation time or when there is an event on the stage. The “Central Plaza” hold the school’s fountain. The fountain was donated by the class of 1940! It was originally in a different location on campus but it was moved to add to the beauty of the academic quad. The fountain draws people towards it and adds to the appeal of the quad. The “Sculpture Garden” is located closest to the Andruss Library. Several sculptures are scattered throughout the area, enhancing the atmosphere.
The Program Board coordinates a large portion of the activities that take place on the campus. They organize events such as Siblings and Children's Weekend and bring fun activities to the quad. Chelsea Underhill, the secretary of the program board, recalls, "two years ago we had a Foam Dance on the quad which was a pretty big hit!" She proceeded to inform me of the Program Board's upcoming plans for the quad such as inflatables, a movie with free popcorn, and a carnival for the kids during Siblings and Children's Weekend!
No comments:
Post a Comment