New to Western U

If you’ve been on campus recently – and let’s face it, you have been if you’ve been attending classes regularly – you’d have noticed a few recent additions to Western’s campus. If you’ve been slacking, not to worry. We’re here to give you the details of Western’s newest renovations.

The most obvious additions are the brand new Starbucks in the UCC lobby and the new installation of the Purple Store, which moved from the basement to the foyer. The Purple Store is located where the old InfoSource was, which has moved into the basement. An easy transition, but it can be confusing for students who don’t know about the switch. In light of these changes, the lobby looks much more open and much more inviting to students – though they increase student traffic and add congestion to the already busy area. Don’t worry though, with the UCC Starbucks’ staff efficiency, you can still get your tall pumpkin spice latte and be on time for class. Yum…

Also in the UCC, you will find last year’s additions of the Mustang Lounge – perfect for studying, reading before class or even taking a mid-afternoon nap – and the on-campus grocery store. There are always events going on in the Mustang Lounge: last week, a free concert took place (Hey Rosetta and Zeus) and on the 26th you will find the cast of MTV’s The Buried Life giving a presentation. Be sure to check it out!

Though I’m sure most of you aren’t particularly interested in architectural changes within Western, there are a few buildings that have been in the process of a face-lift – from the inside out – that are open for business… er, I mean classes. Last spring, we saw the opening of the Stephenson-Lawson Building after it completed its renovations (which had been on-going since my first year). The inside has a modern feel with bigger classrooms, new conference and study rooms and the addition of desks with plugs built in – genius. There are also a few study lounges placed throughout the building, but you’ll have to discover these great study spots for yourself. Like the Stephenson-Lawson Building, the Physics and AstronomyBuilding underwent renovations (which are still in the process of completion) and similar changes can be seen throughout. There is a lounge-like area in the center of the building which is still under construction, but it looks to be a great place to hangout and study, especially if you’re one to avoid Weldon at its busiest times.