As it is my senior year, I have spent some time thinking about what I will miss the most when I walk through Old West’s big white doors on May 18. While there are many things that I will miss from my time at Dickinson, the Academic Quad is something that sticks out.
To me, the Academic Quad is the pinnacle of the college experience – A large, open space where you can study when the weather is nice or layout in the grass with friends when coming back from a party. When the weather is nice and the trees are in full bloom, few things rival the feeling of reading a book while on the Academic Quad. Or when your professor is finally convinced that class should be held outside because it’s so nice. It really is the best. I feel like aside from a college campus or perhaps a nice park, there really isn’t something that is comparable to a college quad.
Another great aspect of the academic quad is the location. As a Political Science and Economics Major, pretty much all of my classes are within the quad. There is something nostalgic about taking a brutal economics test, only to sit in an Adirondack chair wishing I studied harder. It is something I will truly miss.
The academic quad also hosts the bi-annual club fair. Seeing every club set up tables begging freshmen to sign up really does make Dickinson feel like a community. My freshman year I remember being impressed by the club fair. It felt like I had so many options and a lot of ways to meet new people.
The one aspect of the Academic quad that Morgan Field does better is its capability of hosting dining events. Despite my appreciation of the Academic Quad, Morgan Field is most definitely the superior space to hold dining events, like Oktoberfest or the Phillies Game event a few weeks ago. During last fall, dining services did hold an event outside and to be honest, I can’t formulate an argument as to why it was inferior to Morgan Field, but it just wasn’t the same. That is definitely Morgan’s specialty.
Despite this small caveat, the academic quad is an unrivaled spot on campus. It will be the spot on campus I will miss the most when I graduate. Especially when it’s warm.
