After two years of construction, the Muenster University Center opened in February 2009 and the USD campus hasn’t been the same since.
Sophomore Alyssa Day goes to the MUC daily, and said she wishes it had been open during her freshman year.
“It gives campus a different atmosphere,” she said. “You feel much more connected to everyone else.”
USD President James Abbott has expressed his wish for the MUC to become more than just another building on campus, and 2009’s freshman class will be the first to test his dreams. But what is it about the MUC that makes it different from everywhere else on campus?
Food and Drink
When the food in the Commons just isn’t doing it for you any more, the MUC has three options when it comes to fulfilling your on-campus hunger needs.
The Marketplace is open Monday-Saturday until 7 p.m., and has options ranging from burgers at Charlie’s Grill to pizza and pasta at Bene Pizzeria.
If you get a craving for a snack, the C-Express convenience store is open until 10 p.m. Right next door is the U.Brew café, which is the only place on campus where you can get a coffee until 10 p.m.
Day said she likes the convenience of the dining at the MUC, but wishes the Marketplace and other options would be open on Sundays.
Study Time
In case you don’t want to lock yourself up on the third floor of the library or in your dorm room to do homework, the MUC provides several options in one simple space.
On the first floor, you can sit in the desk chairs and chat with your friends as you watch people scurrying to and from the library, or move on over to the Pit Lounge during the winter and cozy up next to the fire. If you need some room to spread out, there are always plenty of tables in the cafeteria. Day said she likes the multipurpose use of the MUC for studying.
“It’s very convenient for when I’m studying. If I want to go read a book, I go sit in one of chairs, but if I need more space, I grab one of the tables,” she said.
If you can’t handle the noise from downstairs, then head upstairs where you’ll find secluded couches and chairs tucked away in the annexes, and small rooms that come in handy when you need to do group work.
“Utilize the MUC,” she said. “You can hang out and socialize, and not just study your entire college career away.”
Entertainment
At the front desk of the MUC, you can check out controllers and games for the Nintendo Wii, Playstation 2, and Xbox 360. Popular games include Rock Band and Wii Sports.
There are also more than 20 HD flat screen televisions in the MUC, all tuned into different channels and often used for Program Council-sponsored movie nights.
The Pit Lounge is a popular place for musical performances to be held, and activities are often going on upstairs in the ballroom.
Day said her favorite part of entertainment at the MUC is live music during lunch.
“I like that a lot. We come and hang out over lunch to listen to the performers,” she said.
The Volante > News > Freshman Issue 2009
MUC offers food, study spots, entertainment
Published: Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Updated: Tuesday, May 5, 2009
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