The Daily Campus

Issue date: 6/9/08 Section: Focus

Media Credit: Dan Gindraux Bookworms Café, above, is nearly empty during the summer in comparison to mid-semester.

Media Credit: Dan Gindraux The South parking lot, above, is much emptier and more accessible during the summer months in comparison to the mid-year craze. Parking is also easier near the gym and Student Union. Parking by the library, however, still poses a challenge.

From late August to early May, thousands of students, staff and faculty occupy the Storrs campus to make UConn the bustling university that it is. But what about the other months? Here are five things to know about Storrs in the summertime.


Don't let the door hit you on the way out

Being a college campus, UConn provides a number of services well into the night to meet the needs of so many students on a crazy and hectic schedule. But in the summertime, life becomes a bit more difficult and you will find yourself at a loss because the gym and library both close before 9 p.m.

The gym is open until 8 p.m on weekdays and 4 p.m. on weekends. To accommodate summer students the library keeps its doors open until 9 p.m. on weekdays but only until 5 p.m. on weekends. Your best bet is to plan your evening early because Homer will not hold his doors open for you.


It's not a ghost town, for the most part

Rumors always seem to fly that Storrs is completely dead the week after finals. This just isn't true. Although it is a far cry from the customary mid-semester hustle and bustle of thousands of students, it is not a ghost town. Walking through campus in the afternoon there are definitely people around, let's not forget about summer session classes and students working and living on campus during the summer.


The buses are still going

Everyone's favorite mode of transportation at UConn is still around, but with a reduced schedule. The shuttle runs from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and hits all its normal routes. So if you find yourself on campus and you need to catch a ride, just check out your local bus stop and that big white bus should be pulling up anytime.


Fake out take-out

After a night of youthful recreation at about 2 a.m., the first thought of many students is "Let's get take out."

But not so fast - in response to the decrease in the student population, favorites like D.P. Dough and Wings Over Storrs do not burn the midnight oil in the summertime. Wings closes at 10 p.m. on weekdays and 11 p.m. on weekends while D.P. Dough is open until 10 p.m. every night. So stock your refrigerator with plenty of snacks if you plan to be up late.


Parking is finally possible

Unlike the year-long struggle many students face searching and scouring for that all-elusive parking spot, the summer allows for the possibility of parking within a mile of your destination. The really key spots, such as right by the library, are still a rarity but parking across from the Student Union in front of the field house is finally doable. But watch out for busy times - around 4 p.m. or 5 p.m. parking can still be challenging for those trying to sneak on campus for a quick workout at the gym or a meal at the Union. Enjoy it - come September those spots will be a memory.


Contact Diane Dauplaise at Diane.Dauplaise@UConn.edu.

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