Chances are right now, most of you wildcat collegiettes™ are cramming for finals and packing your bags to move off campus for the summer. But let’s be real, ladies. As much we complain about classes, deadlines, projects, and presentations, we love the UNH campus. Take a look around: there are just as many cute, shirtless guys as there are beer-bellied broskies (especially this time of year). For every exam, there’s a MUB movie night with friends, and for every homework-filled Monday, there’s a “Thirsty Thursday” not too far off in the week. Her Campus UNH has compiled a list of the top 10 things we miss about campus life at UNH over the summer.
1. UNH, it’s your home away from home
You live here 10 months out of the year: the UNH campus is your home away from home. If you are a resident of any one of the 27 dorm halls or a member of any one of the 18 recognized Greek organizations on campus, you know what it means to be part of a family. And that’s exactly what your live-in friends are: family.
“Over the summer I miss living in the Kappa Delta house with 40+ girls- not to mention all the other girls who don’t actually live there but are always over. It gets a little crazy, but sometimes I’m in the mood for crazy, and always having someone there for you is great.” – Kary McCafferty, junior
2. Late-night snacking
Wildcatessen subs. Kurt’s cheesy fries. D-Hop slices. Need we say more? Late-night snacking is one of the best things about campus life at UNH. Especially on weekend nights when you’re out with your friends, a late-night run to D-Hop for a slice or Wildcatessen for 99 cent waffle fries is the best midnight munchies fix.
“If I’m pulling an all-nighter for an exam, me and my roommates will head down to Store 24 for a pint of Ben and Jerry’s cookie dough ice cream. You can’t do that back in my hometown when everything shuts down at 9 p.m.” – Ellie LaMonica, junior
3. Main Street bar-hopping
Scorps. Libby’s. The Knot. Whether it’s sharing a pitcher outside of Ballard’s on a sunny summer day or going out on weekend nights, Main Street bars are the best place to meet up with friends and hang out in Durham. And let’s face it, you can’t beat Ballard’s $1 drinks on Thursdays!
“I love going out to the bars on weekends with my friends. It’s the best thing to unwind with a beer after stressing out all week, and that’s something I’ll miss over the summer. I can’t do that at home.” – Stephanie Aksten, senior
4. Cat’s Cache
What can pay for your tote of laundry at the Laundromat, your groceries at the DUMP, and that sweatshirt you’ve been eyeing in the window of Hayden Sports? It’s cat’s cache, of course. Cat’s Cache is quick, convenient, and accessible.
“I live on Madbury Road and I’ll come downtown to run all my errands with my Cat’s Cache. It’s nice to know I can use it virtually anywhere I need it on campus.” – Erin Murray, junior
5. Breaking New Grounds
If you’re like me and you’re a self-described coffee-addict, Breaking New Grounds is a great way to get your morning caffeine fix. The small-town café on Main Street in the heart downtown Durham is known and loved by everyone on campus: students, professors, locals, and visitors. You can spend hours there on a sunny day, sunbathing and chatting with friends, coffee in-hand.
“My favorite has to be the Funky Monkey: mocha and banana. Mmmm!” – Kate Charter, sophomore
6. Hockey season
Nothing beats hockey season in Wildcat Country. With a championship-winning team, a mascot, and a crowd bursting with school spirit, hockey games are a staple of UNH campus life. And everyone has their favorite cheer.
“Heeyyyy, heeyyyy goalie, you suck! I wanna know… will you be my sieve? Sieve, sieve, sieve, sieve!” – Molly Batchelder, freshman
7. Concerts
Snoop Dogg, Jason Mraz, Third Eye Blind, MGMT, the Dropkick Murphys: what do these musicians all have in common? They’ve performed at the UNH campus. Brought to you by SCOPE, these concerts almost always sell out and you can’t beat their student discount prices.
“Wiz Khalifa was crazy this year. When I leave UNH to go home, I’m definitely going to miss the SCOPE concerts. It’s one of the best events I look forward to at college.- Jennifer Brown, senior
8. T-Hall and lawn-lounging
Especially at this time of year when spring semester’s classes are coming to a close and the summer is heating up, Thompson Hall’s grassy lawn looks a little greener. And what a better way to spend a couple of hours on a balmy afternoon than to lounge on T-Hall lawn? You can toss a Frisbee, sunbathe listening to your iPod, or simply revel in the feeling of warm sun on your skin and blades of grass between your toes.
“Not just T-Hall. But I miss just being able to go outside and lounge out on the grass with my friends. It’s a great way to unwind after class.” – Jo Demming, sophomore
9. Wildcat transit
When you don’t have a car on campus or if you just don’t feel like spending the gas money, Wildcat Transit is the easiest way to get around with connections across campus and out to neighboring towns. You can hitch a free ride to Portsmouth, Dover, or the Fox Run Mall in Newmarket.
“I live in Dover. So as a commuter, I take full advantage of the bus routes all the time. I’ve spent almost $80 a week on gas during the summertime, so I definitely miss just being able to hop the bus for free when I go back home.” – Kelly Baxter, senior
10. Dining halls
At the end of the year, you might be sick of HoCo’s steak and cheese subs or Stillings’ taco bar, but one of the best things about college life is not having to cook your own meals. The dining halls at UNH, HoCo, Stillings, and Philbrook, have won awards with their culinary creations, including special events like Local Harvest Feast and Thanksgiving dinner.
“Dinners at HoCo definitely beat microwave Easy Mac in my room. I’m definitely not one to cook and I certainly don’t get food like this at home.” – Jamie Snyder, freshman
Sure, right now as the last weeks of the semester wrap up, you might be tired of the same, day-old routine. You’re ready to pack up your bags and drive off campus. But there are some things about campus life at UNH that make our four years here memorable: Ballard’s Thursday $1 drafts, hockey games, living with friends. Miss UNH already? Don’t worry, move-in day will be here before you know it.
Sources
Kary McCafferty, University of New Hampshire
Ellie LaMonica, University of New Hampshire
Stephanie Aksten, University of New Hampshire
Erin Murray, University of New Hampshire
Kate Charter, University of New Hampshire
Molly Batchelder, University of New Hampshire
Jennifer Brown, University of New Hampshire
Jo Demming, University of New Hampshire
Kelly Baxter, University of New Hampshire
Jamie Snyder, University of New Hampshire