Here goes a new year

We're all back on campus. A new academic year has started; we have brightly colored new syllabi in our folders; David Boren has addressed the freshmen; and our days are spent dashing between the North and South Ovals. Well, my day is spent going back and forth...You may be so fortunate as to have classes all in roughly the same area of campus, or at least have a schedule that allows enough time in between classes for you to have a leisurely stroll through the brick corridors.

This year is so different from the last. This year, now that I live off campus, I find myself appreciating the architecture and beauty of the campus so much more. My new motto? "Look up more." Both literally, and figuratively- to God.

Some things I've noticed this year:

1) We have a lot of fountains. Does anyone know how many? I want to go around and count, maybe schedule a fountain-counting day

2) The ghost bike is no longer there! See previous posts for explanations of what this was. At the PSC there is only a normal, silver, empty bike rack.

I wonder what else I'll notice this year.

When you take a tour...

I feel like I've discovered a lot of new places on campus recently.  Hunting down professors and talking to different departments has led me to a number of places, especially on the North Oval, where I would not normally go.  So here is a short list of things that I've learned (and that I wish I'd been told a little bit "sooner")

1. If lost in the Fine Arts Center, remember that there is always another stairway or hall.  It might not be in the place you expect it to be, but just follow the weird stairways and halls until you come to a door.  Oh, and the basement goes in a gigantic loop.

2. Sarkeys does not make sense, but with a little bit of time and a trusty compass, you are sure to eventually get to those hidden elevators.  Some unique features of the building are its unreliable cell phone reception, secret hallways, and strategic location to gauge wind strength.  The cafe downstairs is quite nice.

3. The Old Science Hall is beautifully renovate

d inside. You might be so busy admiring the cleanliness of it all that you fail to notice the creepy mural of two gentlemen that is painted on the back of the door (someone's watching me!!!)

4. What is Ellison?  Ellison is the building across from the library that houses the administrative offices for the College of Arts and Sciences.  If you choose to explore, it is helpful to note that the elevator inside the front door is not the only way upstairs.  If you walk a little ways through the entry room, a nicely carpeted staircase will lead you to a study area on Floor 2.

5. The Visitors Center has maps, but not always advice...

6. Gaylord is a large building from the outside, but inside, the grand staircase and abundance of glass make travel fairly straightforward.  

7. Come see the Honors College!  Everyone thinks of it as so mysterious and different, "Cate 5?  Where's that?  What in the world is David L. Boren Hall?" but it really just has classrooms, offices, and a cozy library, with the dorm part on floors 2-4.  And it has a computer lab- stop in to study!  We may not have food for the stomach, but we do have food for thought.

8. Reynolds Performing Arts Center does not have normal elevators.  "2" is the Modern floor and "3" is the Ballet floor, but "3W" is a half floor for the music practice rooms.  If the button has an "E" next to the number it means that the door will open on the opposite (theater) side.

9. There are four theaters all in relatively the same area.

Rupel Jones: located off of Elm Street; larger of the two FAC theaters

Weitzenhoffer: also on Elm, but smaller and circular inside, I think

Holmberg Hall: located on Parrington Oval (the roundabout) with large wooden double doors and a burgundy interior

Lab Theater: there's one in the Old Science Hall and possibly one on the 2nd floor of the FAC...Probably best to ask for directions

10. The Towers have become a lot simpler than they seemed at first.  I constantly got them mixed up in my first week as a freshman.  Couch is by Couch restaurants and thus is the furthest.  Walker has Xcetera (you "walk" through it) and Adams has a "family" of towers with a post office in one.

11. Finally, there are only two ovals- North Oval and the South Oval- but there is a third sidewalk that looks deceptively like these two and runs perpendicular to the stadium.  Located near Asp, you will probably rarely walk here.

Nature Here at OU

First, I am compelled to note that Oklahoma weather has been putting me into an absolute quandary as to how I am supposed to leave the dorm.  Should I bring sunscreen, because it might be almost 90 degrees?  Should I bring an umbrella or snow boots, in case it really does get down to 32 degrees?  Should I just not leave at all, because a thunderstorm warning has been issued (via the rather frightening intercom in the dorms) and hazardous conditions may develop?  There is no shortage of weather excitement around here.

But on those wonderful occasions when the weather is resting at a mild 70 or so degrees, the campus really looks beautiful.  Thanks to Daylight Savings Time I was able to see this view of the moon on Sunday, around 6:45 pm, between two of the 

Cate Quads:

Another nature happening of note involves the OU squirrels.  Yes, the infamous squirrels.  They somewhat disappeared during the ice storm and have been scarce in the days since, but a run-in I had to day reminded me that they are still an 

active 

part of campus...There's something very unnerving about their boldness, almost as if they're perpetually experiencing Finals Week (for squirrels) and cannot help but dash around madly and launch themselves into any object that looks like it could be a landing pad.

Today, in the indecisive grey period before the cold front fully arrived, I was sitting in the courtyard outside of the Union (eating my Big Zeus wrap from the Laughing Tomato; I wouldn't recommend it as highly as California Craze or their whole wheat cookies) when I saw a squirrel scampering among the flower bushes.  Typical.  I returned to my studying, but when 

I looked up, was amazed to see that the squirrel was a mere two feet from my face and staring hungrily at my food!  He ran around my table a little bit, hopped onto the chair, and then raced across the ground and up into the flower bushes again.  This scenario kept repeating itself.  He would investigate another student's table, then pop his little head up onto the chair of my table, and eventually climb up to stare at me before giving a heedless leap over to the covered fountain.  Thankfully, I had my camera with me!

Those squirrels.

Eating Environment

Dear Readers,
As some of you know... "The Caf" has been redone! It is a fantastic thing that has happened on our campus! Before, I found myself wandering aimlessly trying to find a place to eat other than the caf. Now I embrace it with a warm, but usually empty, tummy. I have also found that most of the reason why I didn't partake in the caf as MUCH last semester was due to the staunch environment surrounding it. I don't live in the Towers, so I'm not used to the busy, get-out-of-my-way-or-I-will-probably-kill-you-with-one-glance atmosphere. I am used to a calm, independent vibe. So going to the caf was stressful. Plus, who decided to paint the walls white anyway? That's just gross. But NOW the caf is refurnished with colors, dark wood, and black plastic chairs... and dare I even say it... booths of a grandiose size. There's also a lovely stir-fry place (I like the Teriyaki sauce).I find myself wanting to go there...I think I will. Text me if you ever want to go to this lovely place... I may even pay your way in. But really, it depends on who you are.

How much does the "atmosphere" of a restaurant matter to you? Which place on campus do you eat the most? (If you eat on campus at all)