Written by Michael Lis-Sette
Generally, opinions on campus facilities tend to be positive. Even the “least popular” dorms are still well thought of, the Chapel of Saint Ignatius is well liked by students, and the exterior design and landscaping is very attractive, if perhaps a bit dull in the winter months. On other aspects, including the Connolly Center and Lemieux Library, opinions tend to be a bit more mixed. The Connolly Center is generally perceived as being out of date and inadequate for the current school, though it will be undergoing an eventual renovation and expansion. It does offer a number of opportunities for physical exercise (from the martial arts to basketball to swimming to exercise machines), but be prepared to wait for a machine late in the afternoon and during the evening.
Thoughts on Lemieux tend to be a bit more positive, though it is still perceived as being old and a bit out of date. It will be getting a larger renovation and expansion much sooner than the Connolly Center, with the new Learning Commons adding in more computers, study spaces, and a larger capacity for books. Not everything is being developed so well, however, as the lack of a dedicated track for track and field events still irks some students. And despite the quality of campus housing, the lack of enough of it and the seeming ever-increasing student body continues to strain school resources.
But there are many bright spots as well. The maintenance and grounds crews work extremely hard to ensure all public areas are well-maintained and clean, and the Student Center is generally seen in a positive light. Students can do everything from getting a bite to eat to talking to a spiritual counselor to playing videogames there, though it is most frequently used just as a centralized meeting place. And for off-campus students, there are the dedicated collegiums, which many people adopt as something of a second home to turn to on-campus and which offer students everything from kitchens to cook in to their own computers and printers to a simple place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the wider campus and just study.