He Doesn’t Even Go Here: Sacred Heart University Edition

SHU's recreational center | Photo courtesy of Sacred Heart University
SHU’s recreational center | Photo courtesy of Sacred Heart University

Since last week’s entry stuck pretty close to home, this week’s will venture across state lines and over into Connecticut! For the past few weeks, I’ve been frequently visiting the surrounding areas of Fairfield County, to the point that I’m pretty sure the Amtrak attendants are starting to recognize me. Somewhere deep inside, that kind of makes me feel special. In any event, in running off to visit my significant other—and having them visit our lovely anti-campus— I figured it was time to see the area that they call home. I’ll tell you this: walking around Sacred Heart University, or “SHU” as students refer to it, is a breath of fresh collegiate air that you just don’t get here in the city.

For starters, they have an actual campus. You know, with an open grassy quad and cute little zigzagging sidewalk paths running this way and that. Since SHU is a Roman Catholic university, you will find a bell tower and a gorgeous chapel—the first staple I’d like to elaborate on. The chapel at SHU is constructed in a more modern fashion, housed inside a pristinely clean and angular building. Through the towering simplistic wooden doors stands a beautiful altar situated in front of an original mosaic-style religious scene. It’s nothing short of a piece of art, constructed by the Italian architect that the school hired for the project. Off to the side is a creatively pieced together organ with crisscrossing reeds behind the massive pipes.

Moving out of the church and over toward the classroom building, you’ll get to walk across the lush green that, once again, BU lacks. Similar to BU, however, are the number of construction projects taking place simultaneously around campus. Inside one of the school’s classroom buildings, hallways twist, turn, and wind around so much that once you’ve walked down them you’re either dizzy, hungry, or both. If you end up feeling the latter, then Sacred Heart has a dining area equally as massive and impressive as those of the schools around Boston, and it’s even, dare I say, cleaner than many non-collegiate dining facilities I’ve been to over the past few weeks. I suppose they really do keep cleanliness next to godliness, something I’m sure all students appreciate.

What struck me as I walked through both the dining facilities and the study areas was the fact that ceiling to floor windows cover the walls, providing a view of the entire campus for those sitting down to eat, read, or cram for the next day’s exam. I’m not sure how much work I’d actually get done in those seats—hence why I haven’t ventured to that top floor of Student Village yet—but I can’t say I’d mind the view while procrastinating.

After seeing all that there really was to see of SHU, except of course for housing options, which I was unable to gain access to, I experienced the one thing that I’m very pleased I’ve never had to deal with at BU…and that is parking. The lots of SHU are crowded beyond crowded and I applaud the students and faculty members able to park their cars without creating a gash in the sides of their or another’s vehicle. All in all, I think the SHU fits quite nicely! Until next time…

A view of campus | Photo courtesy of Sacred Heart University
A view of campus | Photo courtesy of Sacred Heart University

About Joseph Martelli

Joseph Martelli (COM '15) is a New Jersey native by way of Pennsylvania. He majors in Public Relations with a concentration in Political Science. He enjoys music from the 1940s, direct-to-DVD sequels and anything crafted by Shonda Rhimes. He can be contacted by emailing jmartelli@buquad.com.

View all posts by Joseph Martelli →

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *