Girl Meets World

Surprises at SHU for me and for you

There was hay everywhere. Seton Hill University seems to have finally gotten in touch with its agricultural side or its refurbishing one. For those who have not returned yet to SHU, you are in for a surprise. Grass growing techniques aside, I was amazed at what I found on campus last night.

• A new parking lot. There are actual walkways for the pedestrians to stroll upon. Two of them line the main A-Lot--one down the center and another positioned on the hillside above the other parking lots. As a commuter I was almost counting the spots in A-Lot, making sure that we didn't lose any parking, but it doesn't seem that we have. In fact, the lot looks bigger with its straight parking spaces and two-way drives. There are more stop signs across the lot, however, but that, I'm sure is to reduce the chances of pedestrian and car crashes that may result from the changed traffic pattern. What does that mean? The shuttle may take a half an hour, rather than fifteen minutes.
• New lounges. In Sullivan Hall's old, nasty weight room, I was surprised to find a lounge full of furniture fit for a coffee house. The seating can move, but it is all pieced together like a jigsaw. The effect is pretty groovy, yet with its clean lines, very organized.

  The old commuter lounge in Maura Hall with its huge big screen television has been upgraded very nicely. The big screen with non-functional buttons has been replaced by a widescreen and its own stand with DVD capabilities underneath. The furniture is a la coffeehouse again, but cozy. I know--I watched a movie in there and didn't have to reposition once.

  The billard table has a stained-glass lamp dangling from the ceiling and real cues and racks. The lamps, which are secured to the walls, have ivy draped around them, and there is a gorgeous Victorian-style lamp where the flag mural used to be.

  New computer seating and a new television are featured in the extension of the commuter lounge, along with, for the first time, a remote control on a cord. I noticed more beige commuter lockers in that area, as well.

• Varnished wood. The entire school looks like it has been polished to a spit shine. You know those ugly outdoor stairs leading into the Canevin/Lowe buildings? They are beautiful wood; I guess we didn't notice underneath all the mud we tracked in.
• Missing hedges. Those hedges that I always had to walk around when I was dead tired are miraculously gone. Clipper, a hedge-gnawing fairy, finally took mercy on us and they are gone.
• Televisions in the weight room. I can't say that I have used the weight room in the past year that it has been open, but I'm planning to now. Looking out over Greensburg is only interesting for a while. I would much rather catch up on the news while running or walking on a treadmill. And the Setonian/EC office is so close...
• The NEW SETONIAN/EYE CONTACT OFFICE. The two-level space is beginning to come together. We have comfortable lounge couches, lamps and end tables thanks to Karissa and her divine mother. Diana and I did a little work last night, putting things in their place and moving some furniture. We just need hooked up, decorated and the staff to come back with their summer-tanned smiling faces and we'll be back to it. :-)

With lighter workload and these improvements to the happening spots at SHU, I am excited about another year back. I never was one for the senioritis bug. Let's just hope when students return, these spaces will remain the eye-catching areas I saw last night--or at least a remnant of them.