Eastern Connecticut State University

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Hallmarks and Quirks

Things I'm Good At:

I may not be churning out Olympians, but I take my Division III sports seriously. Almost everyone is either on a team or involved in intramurals.

I know that college students are broke—I understand. That's why I employ over 700 students on-campus each year. Gotta make sure y'all have money for ramen and late-night Domino's.

My student center is kind of a big deal. It's like the mitochondria of the campus—headquarters for all clubs and activities are located there. There's a food court upstairs and a fitness center downstairs. In a nutshell, the student center is always poppin'.

Our Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Department provides students with the opportunity to present at prestigious conferences (such as COPLAC, Posters on the Hill, and NCUR), as well as the chance to be published in undergraduate journals. That's grad-school-status of professionalism, y'all.

My Top 5 Must-Haves:

Clothes for every season. In September, people can be seen wearing bathing suits on campus from time to time. In January, I have serious wind tunnels on campus so yes, you should pack your scarves, mittens, and hats.

Your laptop. Many classes have assignments due on Blackboard. You thought you'd be sleeping at 11:30PM on a Wednesday night? Wrong. You'll more likely be typing up a last-minute response to post to Blackboard by midnight.

A bike. Freshmen aren't allowed cars, and a set of wheels is faster than walking when you're running late for a class on the other side of campus.

A mini fridge. Freshmen are required to purchase a meal plan, so you'll want to have a fridge to store leftovers for late-night snacking. Even as an upperclassman, a fridge is nice to have in your own bedroom away from hungry roommates.

A smile. Seriously. It might sound cheesy, but it's a small campus and you'll be seeing lots of familiar faces. Jess from your political science class? Clint who's an R.A. in your building? Yeah, you'll pass them on the way to the student center so you might as well flash those pearly whites.

Why You Might Have Heard of Me:

The clock tower. You can't go inside and climb to the top, but it's always there to let you know that you're five minutes late for class.

I'm the prettiest of the Connecticut state colleges. Seriously, have you seen the quad in autumn? The warm colors of the trees mix with the cool green grass like a Van Gogh piece.

On a regular Saturday night, you can find me...

I don't have frats or sororities, but Warriors know how to get down. Whether it's hanging with close friends playing cards or travelling in packs to house parties, weekends at Eastern are never dull.

If you're of-age, the bars in town have pretty sweet deals on Thursdays (25¢ drinks at Sports Bar, anyone?). If not, there are free pancakes every Thursday night in the Student Center. Whether you're heading out for Thirsty Thursday or Tasty Thursday, it's a win-win situation.

Yes, some people would rather go to UConn on the weekends to experience the Greek life, but there's something about an Eastern weekend that's fun and relaxing all in one. Plus, if you stay on campus Saturday night, you can join the study-party in the library on Sunday afternoon.

Favorite Hangouts:

The Akus Gallery, for all of your artistic needs.

Blarney's is a thirty-second walk from campus. It's an Irish pub that's been in the area since the 1950s. Students who want to relax with a drink and sing some karaoke usually go there. For a dancier atmosphere, try Sports Bar.

There's a Domino's right off campus, and students have been known to grab late-night bites there often.

The Smith Library is four floors of academic bliss. Whether you need to use the computers, check out a book, or rent out a study room, the lib has it all. Be sure to get there early during midterms and finals week—it gets packed fast.

Have I mentioned how awesome the Student Center is? I mean, it's home to the Intercultural Center, the Women's Center, the Pride Room, and the SGA Suite.

Quirks:

There's only one dining hall on campus: Hurley Hall. The food is mediocre at best, but the cookies are to die for.

I recently adopted a test-optional admission policy. You're more than just a number (but a killer SAT score never hurt anyone).

I have a priority point system for housing. The more points you have, the nicer the dorm you can live in. Good grades, involvement in clubs and sports, and community service all earn you points. Hint: Go to priority point meetings in your dorm. There's usually free food.

Eastern is the perfect place to find your soapbox. Whether it's hosting your own WECS radio show, writing for the Campus Lantern, anchoring at TV 22, or participating in an open-mic night, there's room for everyone to have their voices heard.

Famous Alumni:

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, trailblazing feminist and Nigerian author

Jonathan Alpert, NYC-based columnist and author

Susan Wilson, American author