We’re nearing the end of the spring semester, and while that can be tough or exciting — depending on how you look at it — at least we’re the basketball capital of the world… But wait, we’re the Life section! We don’t cover sports here, so what else is UConn the true capital of? Let’s see what Life writers conjure up.
Benjamin Lassy, LE:
Microsoft
Through my time at UConn — now spanning three years — I know we’re more than just the basketball capital of the world. We might as well be the capital of Microsoft.
I am still baffled by the priorities of the university budget makers, but I won’t get into my thoughts on that here. Just think, next year we won’t have access to the Google Suite through our UConn accounts… It’s a dreadful thought. Of course, it’s a battle between two evils: Which massive conglomerate do we support? There isn’t much of a choice for students, though. That’s what frustrates me.
With confidence, I can say that for the foreseeable future, Bill Gates might as well move into his new capital. No matter where you stand on the matter, Google tends to have a more user-friendly layout, and on top of that, Microsoft account access is often much slower and clunkier than Google’s. I’ll admit, Microsoft is catching up slowly but surely. As a history major, though, I think I’ll look fondly at the times before the capital relocated…
Karla Perez, ALE:
Dining disappointments
Even without a meal plan this year, I still hear “Dining Paws lied to me!” at least once a week. The app that supposedly gives students previews of the weekly menus for all the dining halls has proven itself unreliable time and time again. Frustrated and saddened emotions overwhelm the student body when they see a fish filet where General Tso’s chicken was supposed to be.
But at least the Student Union is a good fallback, right? Sure, so long as you weren’t planning on attempting to use a flex pass at One Plate, Two Plates. In case you’ve been living under a rock, One Plate, Two Plates no longer allows students to use a flex pass for their fan-favorite chicken tenders and fries. They are a points-only establishment now. If not basketball, UConn is the capital of dining disappointments.
James Fitzpatrick SW:
Bad Wi-Fi
There are plenty of things this school does right, but they appear to be incapable of providing a stable Wi-Fi connection for their students, who happen to predominantly work on their computers in 2024. Believe it or not, Wi-Fi networks grow more congested when a surplus of students are on them, hence the gruesome twosome of “UCONN-SECURE” and “eduroam.” The problem is that both networks are incredibly shaky when attempting to keep devices connected, so much so that UConn’s guest network is often the best alternative for people to use – after you accept the terms and conditions for the hundredth time, of course.
The room I am currently writing this in (ITE C80) has my phone on SOS, and the building I spend most of my time in constantly drops connection the moment I leave my dorm room! That is not to mention Homer Babbidge Library, which experienced multiple crashes on all networks when I was there. Maybe I am projecting my grievances on T-Mobile still being shit after their merger with Sprint, but either way, Wi-Fi is supposed to be a superior service to data, yet both fail me whenever I am at school.
Desirae Sin, SW:
Parking services
There is only one correct answer to this question. While UConn is famous for their men’s and women’s basketball teams, they are also notorious for their Transportation/Parking Services department. In no other college (as far as I know) will you find parking services giving students more of a hard time than UConn. Everyone who owns a car on campus is routinely fighting for their lives, scouring the parking lots for open spaces and praying that the UConn car with cameras attached doesn’t find you. It’s the most dangerous game of cat and mouse, with your bank account on the line.
Despite the mixed demographic in the student body with varying opinions, every single one of them will tell you that UConn’s system for parking citations, parking permits and overall transportation is by far the most idiotic thing ever conceptualized. One day I saw a man park his car by the Nursing building for only five minutes before coming back and Parking Services still managed to give him a citation. The devil works hard, but UConn’s Parking Services work harder.
Patrick Boots, CC:
Ice cream
The University of Connecticut is really the Ice Cream Capital of the World.
The weather is getting warmer, the foliage is appearing and the UConn Dairy Bar is getting ready to scoop up smiles with a tasty variety of homemade flavors.
Did you know that we had an ice cream parlor on campus? It’s just a short walk up the main drag on the corner of Manter Road and Horsebarn Hill Road, across the street from the Floriculture department (the cows are your landmark).
There are classic flavors such as cookies and cream, raspberry, chocolate brownie fudge, mint chip and plain ‘ol vanilla — plus custom specialties like Husky Tracks, Hazelnut MOOcha and Jonathan the Husky Supreme. I’m willing to believe this year’s senior scoop, “Basketball Capital of the Swirl’d” may have had something to do with our teams’ success, too. Just saying.
You can also partake in the Dairy Bar On Wheels outside of student events, at One Ton Sundae or the Dairy Bar Too when it operates inside the Student Union. Oh, yeah, they also supply the ice cream at our dining halls.
You can’t officially call yourself a UConn student until you’ve enjoyed some of the Dairy Bar’s magical treats. UConn Animal Science’s Kellogg Creamery has been consistently award-winning for over 65 years, and I personally think the Dairy Bar ice cream is the best in Connecticut — if not the world.