University of North Alabama
Hallmarks and Quirks
Things I'm Good At:
- Football and fútbol. We like to cover our bases.
- Photo shoots. Whether it's prom pictures, graduation pictures, high school pictures, or pictures to commemorate some other moment, everyone takes photos here thanks to the spectacular views.
- Squirrel interactions. My mascots might be lions, but squirrels rule the campus.
- Entertainment. If there's one thing I know how to do, it's have a good time. Whether it's downtown at First Friday or at one of the many campus events clubs.
- Music. Yes, my musical prowess gets its own category separate from "entertainment" because I'm that good. I'm home of the Muscle Shoals sound, after all. The Rolling Stones have been here. Alicia Keys has been here. Everyone has been here.
My Top 5 Must-Haves:
- Extra room. I'm talking about in your suitcases and your belly—there are free food and T-shirts at pretty much every event I host.
- Strong legs. My hills are no joke, so if you don't come equipped with killer calf muscles, you'll definitely have some by the time you graduate.
- Purple and yellow everything. I'm talking hats, sweatpants, T-shirts, bumper stickers, face paint, purple and yellow things. They're my colors, after all.
- Dining Dollars. Don't want these? Too bad—they're mandatory for full-time students. You can use them to buy anything from burgers to chicken sandwiches to pizza.
- A large, seasonal wardrobe. Guess what? My temps get close to one hundred in August and drop down to the mid-teens in February, so you'll want tank tops and heavy sweaters. And plenty of them.
Why You Might Have Heard of Me:
- When it comes to public four-year universities in Alabama, I'm the oldest. How many other schools can say that? Oh right—none.
- My mascots aren't just two lions...they're two live lions.
On a regular Saturday night, you can find me...
If I'm on campus, I'm probably watching an organization-sponsored film, enjoying campus festivities, or attending a fraternity party (since all of the sororities are on-campus in residence halls, the ladies aren't usually party hosts).
If I'm off campus, I'm probably chowing down at one of the many restaurants within walking distance (a total perk to my urban setting) or hanging with pals at FloBama or On the Rocks, two popular spots to grab drinks and catch live music.
Favorite Hangouts:
- The Guillot University Center (we call it the GUC) houses plenty of quiet areas to study upstairs, as well as a mailroom, performance center, food court, and game room. There's pretty much nothing that can't be done at the GUC.
- The Commons offers up plenty of space for studying (including study rooms—ooh la la), as well as fuel for said studying thanks to a Chick-fil-A, Starbucks, and a frozen yogurt bar.
- Collier Library has librarians who know what's up and are ready to help students write killer research papers. There are three floors of study areas available to check out, too, in case I need space to hit the books with fewer distractions than the Commons and the GUC have.
- If it's nice outside, I'm at the Memorial Amphitheatre feeding squirrels bits of pizza crust and eavesdropping on fraternity/sorority gossip.
Quirks:
- I'm old—like, really old—and I was all up in the Civil War.
- My mascots are real, live, roaring lions.
- I'm part of a give and take with the community. If you like to volunteer, my Leadership and Volunteerism department has plenty for you to do. And if you'd rather take, that's okay, too—almost every downtown location offers student discounts.
Famous Alumni:
- Patterson Hood of Drive-by Truckers
- George "Goober" Lindsey
- John Paul White of The Civil Wars
- Baseball player Josh Willingham
- NFL linebacker Ronald McKinnon