Coming to UMass Boston isn’t all about going to class. Sometimes you need a chance to unwind and recharge your batteries before you dive into that ten-page paper on Canadian single-payer healthcare. If you lack the time to leave campus for an hour, here are some places on campus you might find fun.
• Student Resource Centers (Campus Center, third floor): One floor up from the walkways is the cross-cultural center of student life. Filled with over a dozen social organizations, both centers and clubs, many students come here for a break, a game of chess, support, and friendly faces to hang out with. Anybody can stop by any group–believe me, if they’ll talk to me, they’ll talk to you.
• The game room (Campus Center, upper level): Located across from the One Stop, the game room has flat-screen TVs, a pool table, board games, and plenty of gamers who are ready to play. People there are friendly and competitive, so bring your A-game and your student ID–you won’t do well without the former and can’t get in without the latter.
• The greenhouse (Science building, fourth floor): High atop the Science building is a quiet place, filled with a variety of lush plants and a selection of small fish and birds. The vistas from the glass walls are spectacular, with an excellent view of the harbor. Be careful going up during a rainstorm, however–that’s not a drip-irrigation system. Regardless, there’s no better place on campus to stop and smell the flowers.
• The swimming pool (Clark Center, lower level): If you want to take a few laps and get in some low-impact exercise, come visit the pool. Have your swimsuit and goggles ready, and you can get ready for summertime swimming while the winter weather keeps everybody but the polar bears out of the Atlantic.
• Beacon Fitness Center (McCormack Hall, first floor): A healthy body can be an important part of maintaining a healthy mind. A full set of fitness equipment is available. Best of all, it’s free for students! Bring your student ID and a completed application form, and you, too, can get more fit this year.
Other great places include the Ryan Lounge on the third floor of McCormack, the gymnasium in the Clark Center, and most floors of the library. Whether you need quiet space, some exercise or a place to hang your hat and rest your weary feet, there are plenty of places on campus where you can relax.
