Written by: Ella Madison
The University of Northwestern is known for its beautiful campus, outstanding professors, and lively environment. However, being an insider at Northwestern, as a part of the student body, I get a firsthand look at the joy of experiencing weekends on campus. Let’s dive into just 4 ways to maximize your weekends here on campus!
1. Sports Games
I posted a Survey, asking UNW students what their favorite ways to spend weekends on campus are… Olivia, a second-year communications major, said she enjoys “watching movies on our projector and making fun memories with my friends” (Anselment, 2024) Home sports games are great ways to maximize your weekends at UNW because they are affordable, fun, and right in your own “backyard”. Whether you’re cooling off in the Ericksen Center to cheer on the women’s volleyball team, or catching the beautiful sunsets over the football field while supporting the men’s football team, there are plenty of ways to enjoy our amazing sports teams on the weekends!
2. Student-Led Activities/Events
While a handful of students choose to go home on the weekends, there is a special advantage to being on a campus where community is so highly valued. There are often events hosted by different groups of student leadership on Friday nights, such as this past week. This past week many students indulged in the joys of dance through organized swing dancing outside at the Stud! This event encouraged community, friendship, and promoted healthy friendships and connections.
3. Hanging Out with Friends in the Stud
Many students spend their evenings in the Robertson Student Center, better known as “the Stud”. This space is great during the day for peaceful studying, with your friends, and lights up at night. During the evening, the Stud is full of lively laughs, chatter, and games. If you are craving wholesome, fun socialization, this is the place to be! There will always be a friendly face willing to welcome you into a board game, conversation, or a campus favorite… indoor spike ball! If you live in KnuHa, take a few steps out of your dorm room and find yourself in the middle of all the action in the Stud!
4. Being Outdoors
UNW’s campus has endless opportunities for enriching time spent outdoors. During the weekends at UNW, you can utilize the outdoors in many different ways. The campus green is a great place for studying, picnics, yard games, and stargazing in the late hours of the weekend! Another favorite outdoor spot on campus is the island. This is a great place to go swimming, have bonfires, or feel connected with God while surrounded by nature. You can also find the island chapel here, which is a beautiful, preserved chapel, that make the island feel extra peaceful and secluded. All of the trails and paths around campus allow for early morning and late night walks to get out and breathe the fresh air in between classes, study sessions, or meals at the Billy. Overall, UNW has a plethora of beautiful outdoor spaces that all of its students can enjoy.
UNW Campus
These are just some of the ways that students on campus have spent their time on the weekends here so far. As we are just entering the true fall season, the first few weekends on campus have been a buzz. The weather has been warm, the spirits have been high, and people are as friendly as ever. A big perk of life at Northwestern is the many spaces for socialization. You may sit in your dorm, feeling lonely on weekends, but there is an easy fix to this problem here at UNW… go outside! There will always be people around on the weekends to make friends with and enjoy fun activities with.
