As orientation week kicks off, life at Gustavus can get kind of crazy. Getting acquainted with your new roommate, attending Greeter Groups and learning the ropes of the campus can be overwhelming and chaotic. In all of this chaos, be sure to take time to visit some of Gustavus’s most unique features. Take a stroll in the Arboretum, check out the Echo Circle or just kick back and relax in the Shakespeare Pit. Whatever you choose to do, be sure to take in your surroundings and enjoy all that Gustavus has to offer.
Arboretum
The Arboretum, or Arb for short, is a great place to hang out on sunny days or take a study break in between classes. The cascading trees and multiple water features help you escape from the chaos of the semester and allow you to take some time to relax. The Lind Interpretive Center, near the front entrance to the Arboretum, often brings in speakers and holds events open to the campus throughout the year.
Shakespeare Pit
Whether you’re looking for a quiet outdoor study spot or a place to hang out with a group of friends, the Shakespeare Pit is the perfect area. Located between the Fine Arts Center buildings, the Shakespeare Pit blends in with the rest of the West Mall. Once you find it, you will drop down out of sight and have your own not-so-secret getaway.
Christ Chapel
As one of the most prominant and recognizable buldings on campus, Christ Chapel is located in the center of Gustavus, between Old Main and the Folke Bernadette Memorial Library. Daily chapel services are held Monday through Friday, from 10:00 to 10:20 a.m. One of the most memorable events held here is Christmas in Christ Chapel, which takes place during the holiday season. Three of the choirs at Gustavus perform, as well as the Symphony Orchestra. Many alumni come back for the event, as it is one of the highlights at Gustavus during the holidays.
The Dive
During first-year orientation, the Dive is one of the best places to go and meet all of the other Gustavus first-years. From the “When I Grow Up” dance on Saturday night, to the “Night of Neon Dance” on Sunday, these dances give you the opportunity to let loose and mingle with people from other floors, sections or buildings. Located in the basement of the Johnson Student Union, the Dive holds dances every Friday night from 11:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. during the regular school year.
Echo Circle
Walking out of the Johnson Student Union, you have probably noticed the giant cement ring right outside the doors. This is Echo Circle. If you stand in the center of the circle and speak, you will hear your voice echo. This echo will only be heard by you and not anyone else standing around the edges of the circle. In addition, if you crouch down and whisper along one edge of the inner curve, a fellow Gustie listening on the other edge of the curve will hear everything you say, loud and clear. Seem impossible? Try it yourself the next time you pass Echo Circle.
Hollingsworth Field
Built in the fall of 2007, this new football stadium holds up to 5,000 fans, both in the bleachers and on the grassy hills surrounding the field, which sits below ground level. Admission is free for students, and the field always provides an energetic environment full of school spirit. The first home game takes place at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 11 against Wartburg College. With a total of six home games, the field will house thousands of roaring fans during the regular season. Whether you are an avid football fan or just have some spare time on a Saturday afternoon, Hollingsworth Field provides excitement and entertainment during the fall months.