Merrimack College

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Hallmarks and Quirks

Things I'm Good At:

Hockey. I know I've mentioned that it's my thing, but between the recent facelift to my athletic center and ice rink, and the upcoming addition of a Division-I Women's hockey team, I've got a lot of people talking. Division-II sports don't take a backseat with me, though. In fact, several of my football players have made NFL dreams come true.
Engineering. Science majors are becoming some of the most popular choices for incoming students. My civil and mechanical engineering programs not only have one-year Master's options, but future engineers even compete in annual bridge and canoe-building competitions. Ranking alongside MIT and Worcester Polytech reminds people that I'm anything but a dumb jock—I want to be loved for my brains. Well, mostly.
Community involvement. Many people associate me with community outreach, and I gotta tell ya, I love being a pillar around here. Between community service, service learning experiences, and internships, my students are a part of business and charity in a crazy number of ways. I'm just payin' it forward.

My Top 5 Must-Haves:

Midnight snacks. The Warriors Den is the one place where you can always find students fueling up. This campus hub operates all night, along with my library and fitness center. What can I say? I'm a night owl.
Plenty of activity. I like to do things. In fact, I love to do things. Busyness is my business. If it's not intramural sports (which are hugely popular), it's drama or volunteer work. I thrive on community, and people get involved here. I also really enjoy karaoke nights, comedy shows, and great concerts—like, ask me how I know how perfect Ludacris' teeth are. Seriously. Ask me how.
Coffee, coffee, coffee. This is New England, a.k.a. "Dunkin' Donuts Country." Coffee is the nectar of life around here. Starbucks also happens to be up the road from campus, because there's nothing wrong with a little variety in our pumpkin spice latte selections.
Northface, L.L. Bean, and Eastern Mountain Sports gear. Did I mention this is New England? It gets cold around here. Campus is small enough to easily walk from place to place, but big enough to get chilled on the way if you aren't bundled up. Don't worry, the weather can be beautiful—you just have to love the seasons. All of the seasons.
A sense of adventure. Not to sound cheesy, but I'm really looking to go places. I've been growing and gaining recognition lately, and from expanding my majors and studying abroad, I see possibility everywhere. I love when my students take advantage of everything I have to offer, from biotech internships to studying overseas.

Why You Might Have Heard of Me:

Big East Hockey. I play with the big boys in hockey and our conference gets a lot of people talking. For college hockey fans, I'm the little guy who you love to see win.
Charlie Day. Again, not to name-drop, but are you an It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia fan? Well then, you probably know Charlie Day for both his writing and acting, which are skills he honed with me. He might just be my funniest alumni.
Rogers Center for the Arts. The athletic center isn't the only place where I shine. My arts space is home to the Visual and Performing Arts Department, my ever-popular drama club, various area music and drama productions, film screenings, and more. People travel from all over to see what's happening at the Rogers Center, especially when it comes time for Mr. Merrimack.

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

Saturday nights are time to relax and have fun. There are almost always campus-wide activities happening in the Sakowich Center. Clubs and student groups also hold parties and gatherings across campus. Sure, Boston is a short drive away, but did you know that parking in the city isn't free? In fact, everything about going out in Boston can be pricey…and crowded, for that matter. On-campus options are clear winners.

Since most students live here, the weekends get busy. Needless to say, events are well-attended. There are a few nearby bars and restaurants that are Merrimack favorites, but even with the recent addition of Augie's, the campus pub, my over-21 students like to stay within walking distance from their dorms. Safety first, my friends.

Favorite Hangouts:

Sakowich Campus Center. This place is the heart of campus. Hungry? Come to Sparky's Café. Antsy? Run laps at the indoor track. Bored? Meet friends at Augie's Pub, which is twenty-one and up for certain evenings/events. I have something for everyone.
McQuade Library. You see, this isn't just a library. McQuade is a hub on campus that is often open 24 hours. With various kinds of study space and an awesome café, McQuade is a lot more than a place to stare at books and nap.
47 Lounge. My newest addition on campus is also one of my students' favorites. Located in Deegan West, this space is not only a comfy spot to read or watch the game, it has a full kitchen. A full kitchen…for anyone to use. That's right, you don't need to live in an apartment to learn to bake. And I'll taste-test for you anytime. (Just throwing that out there.)

Quirks:

Pellegrinaggio, Italy. Let me tell you about Pellegrinaggio. You see, St. Augustine was an incredible dude, and to follow in his footsteps, Merrimack students, faculty, and alumni make a pilgrimage to Italia. During this ten-day trip, my pilgrims get behind-the-scenes tours of historic places open only to Augustinian Friars. They're kind of like rock stars that way.
Stargazing. Every Wednesday night, the North Shore Amateur Astronomy Club leads a stargazing night at the observatory on top of Merrimack's science building. The observatory is also open during special events like meteor showers and lunar eclipses. Need a romantic evening? I gotcha covered.
Moseley Wrought Iron Bridge. One of my most distinct campus features is one of the oldest riveted wrought-iron bridges in the United States. In the late 1980s, engineering students salvaged the bridge and later had it installed prominently in front of my science building. I'm not saying I'm a saint or a genius…I just happen to be pretty nice and really smart. No biggie.

Famous Alumni:

Charlie Day. Yep, the one and only. From It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia to Horrible Bosses, Charlie's doing big things. He even hosted Saturday Night Live.
Carl Yastremski. This Baseball Hall of Famer bestowed one of my old magazines with his John Hancock. I think $150 is a steal for this piece of history, personally.
Kathleen McGlynn. As the Chief of Staff for American U.N. Ambassador, Susan Rice, Kathleen has done the Merrimack name proud. Plus, she had articles in both Glamour and Leaders Online, which is pretty snazzy.
Adam Satchell, a Democratic Senator from Rhode Island and another one of my esteemed alumni
Kelly Lange, an Emmy award-winning newswoman and one of the first female news anchors in the country, Kelly might remind you of a real-life Veronica Corningstone (the LA Times agrees). Just like the Anchorman character, this anchorwoman not only broke barriers for women, but also became a household name in news.