The sun is shining and our campus is buzzing again as students flood back to the University of Connecticut with fresh energy, new goals and the promise of another unforgettable year. The hustle, the late-night study sessions, and the undeniable excitement of a fresh start are here — let the semester begin!
Whether it’s your first year or fourth at UConn, strap in for some of my top tips for starting your semester off right.
Stay Informed
The Daily Campus is UConn’s independent student-run newspaper and is an excellent free source of news with thorough coverage of our university in addition to regional, state and national news of interest — but you knew that. Thank you for reading! Even if you don’t want to pick up the paper, don’t sleep on the DC’s webpage, available at dailycampus.com: News, Sports, Student Life and Opinion.
The university’s official Daily Digest email and calendar is also a good place to learn about important dates, events and academic information.
Bon Appetite
When I’m on campus, my routine is to read my morning newspapers over breakfast.
Connecticut Hall — the newest cafeteria, by the way — and Whitney are my go-tos: A waffle or French toast, with potatoes O’Brian, a sausage link, cheesy eggs and ketchup (Sue me.)
For lunch, I favor Northwest or McMahon since they both have build-your-own sandwich stations. McMahon has a Panini press too.
Dinnertime can be a toss-up. In the Student Union food court, honey chicken from Earth, Wok, and Fire is good. I often choose South and Whitney, which has an “action line” with adventurous dishes — but as the smallest cafeteria, there are less options overall.
My favorite off-campus eatery, you ask? The Dog Lane Café – especially their apple-turkey sandwich. DP Dough, which specializes in calzones, is also a treat — but one I save for special occasions (read: late-night cravings) especially when delivery is involved. These two are located downtown. Further north is the Willington Pizza House, on Route 32 — a great place to bring family when they visit.
Relax and Unwind
UConn has a wealth of spots on and off-campus which are great for studying, lunching and hanging out.
My picks are Betsy Paterson Square downtown and the Homer Babbidge Library, aka HBL. They have volume-choice floors, which is nice.
You might also find me snacking at Bookworms Cafe, located in the Babbidge 24-hour space. A PB-and-J flex meal sure hits the spot.
Go Huskies
Chances are you’ve heard about the rich sports culture here at UConn. While I’m not the biggest sports fan in the world, I think every student should at least catch one basketball game during their time here. The best part is that tickets to many games are free for students but usually have to be reserved ahead of time.
Who wouldn’t want to see the best teams in the world? As you may know, UConn women’s basketball has a rich legacy with 12 NCAA National Championship titles — with our men’s basketball team carrying the torch with six of their own wins. March Madness sure does mean something else here in, ahem, the “Basketball Capital of the World.”
Not a hoops fan? UConn hosts dozens of other interesting sports, such as the usual football, volleyball, soccer and so on — but also some unique options like surfing, pickleball, disc golf and woodsmen squads. There’s bound to be something you’re interested in.
Fun fact: The women’s field hockey team was the first UConn team to win an NCAA National Championship, in 1981 – a whole 14 years before WBB took their first home.
Trippin’
If you’re into traveling or just have to get from Point A to Point B, remember your transportation options: Husky Go shuttle buses are free around campus. WRTD buses bring you from Storrs-Mansfield to Willimantic — and CT Transit’s hourly express can connect you with downtown Hartford, perfect for taking the train to your favorite destination.
Oh yeah, you can take all these for free with a U-Pass — take advantage of it! Check out the Daily Campus’ transportation guides for more information.
Don’t Forget Dessert
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the UConn Dairy Bar, which makes available for sale — by all accounts — the best ice cream in the universe. Located right next to the picturesque Horsebarn Hill, on Manter Road, it’s a must-visit for every UConn student at least once.
They’ve been making the tasty ice cream treats at Kellogg Creamery since 1953 — wow! Plus, there’s even a course in developing your own ice cream flavor. Sign me up.
When it comes to flavors, Husky Tracks is a classic, black raspberry tastes great – but Jonathan XV’s “kitchen sink” style flavor is my favorite. They have so many options, plus every year there’s a limited-edition flavor designed in a student contest called the “Senior Scoop.” Tasty!
When visiting the Dairy Bar, take advantage of the outdoor seating. My only other advice would be to avoid the longer lines on game days.
UCan at UConn
Well, your day at “bootcamp” may be coming to a close but your year is just beginning. Don’t be afraid to say “Hi,” get involved, and have fun — but keep sight of that schoolwork. Make it a good year, Huskies!