What is there to do on Campus?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Richmond
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<p>We have visited Richmond and were pleasantly surprised by the beauty of the campus and the academic facilities. So here's my concern. Although we love all that a small college can provide, like personal attention, prof accessiblity etc. What is there to do, outside of study? I feel and hopefully I'm wrong that sometimes with the small schools that are not in a large city, that there could be times when its all work and no play. I believe in balance. What does Richmond have to offer? Do kids get excited about the footballs games, now that the new stadium is built. How about basketball season? Do the kids get psyched for them? During the winter what is there to do on campus? Do you really need a car to get into charlotte, or is there some kind of public transportation?</p>

<p>Anything you could answer would be great. If you want to add to it please feel free.</p>

<p>Thanks so much......</p>

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<p>Dungaree, generally, our student support the athletic teams fairly well, but can be fair-weather. For example, at the beginning of the season we had over 1,700 students come out to the games, and as the season went on, that number dropped. I’m not sure of any other schools that can say they’ve gotten over 55% of their students out for a football game (Notre Dame maybe?). Here are some links to some football highlights and basketball highlights, so you can get an example of what are students are capable of.<br>
[YouTube</a> - No. 9 Richmond Spiders Down No. 7 Elon In Robins Stadium Opener](<a href=“No. 9 Richmond Spiders Down No. 7 Elon In Robins Stadium Opener - YouTube”>No. 9 Richmond Spiders Down No. 7 Elon In Robins Stadium Opener - YouTube)
[YouTube</a> - SpiderTVHD: Spiders Stopped By Xavier](<a href=“SpiderTVHD: Spiders Stopped By Xavier - YouTube”>SpiderTVHD: Spiders Stopped By Xavier - YouTube)
As far as other things, I attended a lecture yesterday given by the founder/CEO of the preeminent investment bank in Richmond (one of the top 3 middle market banks in the country). Next Tuesday, I’m taking my wife to see Savion Glover, a famous tap dancer that was on both Colbert Report and Dancing with the Stars last year. In the city of Richmond, there are a ton of museums, ranging from the fine arts (which is featuring a Picasso display here shortly, and just finished a Tiffany Glass display) to the Civil War to Edgar Allen Poe, there are literally scores of great dining establishments, several shopping opportunities to satisfy different tastes, a couple of different bar scenes (downtown and the Fan district). You’re within 1 1/2 hours of the beach, the mountains and the Capital for day trips. On campus, there were 91 different events listed on the calendar today ([R25</a> WebViewer: Events by Day](<a href=“http://r25web.richmond.edu/wv3/wv3_servlet/urd/run/wv_event.DayList?evdt=20110209,evfilter=20810,ebdviewmode=grid]R25”>http://r25web.richmond.edu/wv3/wv3_servlet/urd/run/wv_event.DayList?evdt=20110209,evfilter=20810,ebdviewmode=grid)). </p>

<p>I don’t guess you need a car to get to Charlotte, but it would certainly help, since it’s about 300 miles away. If you want to go to downtown Richmond (or to a number of shopping or dining locations) though, there are plenty of options ([Transportation</a> - University of Richmond](<a href=“Parking & Transportation Services - University of Richmond”>http://transportation.richmond.edu/)).</p>

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<p>okay just to tack on to dungareedoll’s question… what are richmond parties like?</p>

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<p>You’d have to ask our daughter about the parties, but she says they are fun :slight_smile: I want to add that I was at UR a few weekends ago and we toured all over the city. We went to Belle Isle and walked one afternoon and she told us about a history class she took last semester spent numerous times down on the James River studying history (and standing where it happened!). The city has a lot to offer and Spider’s point about being close to DC is a strong point. In fact, the AMTRAK station at Staples Mill is only a mile or two from campus…our daughter and friends have taken an early train into DC on a Sat. morning and spent the entire day there, returning late. That is a real plus (location). The school ends earlier than most colleges, around April 30 or May 1, and a huge number of students go to “Beach Week” immediately after finals. Again, they are a short drive from the beaches. Our D does not have a car and she spends the majority of time on campus and never runs out of things to do. There are so many clubs and sports and arts and such that it provides a great experience. Dungaree, I wonder if you were getting Richmond mixed up with Davidson? Davidson is 40 min. away from Charlotte, but UR is a L O N G way from Charlotte! In any event, our D gives UR a huge thumbs up in every aspect from academics to faculty to clubs to extracurriculars. We are really, really happy with our investment in her future.</p>

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<p>Yup, I messed up. I actually didn’t mean Charlotte at all, I meant the city of Richmond. I am so sorry for the confusion. But in any case, thank you all for the information. I can’t wait to pass this on to my S. We really loved the school, its just that now that things are coming down to the wire, we have begun to second guess many things. Thanks for reminding up what it was about Richmond that we loved…</p>

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<p>Spider: Just checked the links you game me. That was great. Thanks so much.</p>

<p>I have another question. Are there a lot of kids who commute to UR. In other words does the campus empty out over the weekend? Also is the community of Richmond very involved in the school. Again, I’m trying to an idea if the school feels like a bit of a commuter atmosphere? Is some of the spirit at the school coming from the community itself or is it a very collegiate feel?</p>

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<p>UR is the antithesis of a commuter school. 92% live on campus all four years, and only 17-20% are from the state. Even those that are typically don’t go home that often (my wife, girlfriend at the time, was from Williamsburg, my roommate for two years was from northern VA and neither of them went home but once or twice a year outside of scheduled breaks). </p>

<p>The school has been more isolated from the community than it would like, although this is changing a bit under Dr. Ayer’s leadership (and it’s a welcomed improvement). Spiders spend a lot of time in the community though, volunteering across a lot of varied sectors.</p>

<p>It’s very much a collegiate feel, as opposed to an urban state school.</p>

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<p>I thought that was the case but someone recently had told me the contrary, so I figured I would ask. Thanks again for everyones help.</p>

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<p>Agree with Spiders: Not a commuter school whatsoever. Campus is vibrant and active all weekend. Well, after noon on Saturday, anyway!</p>

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<p>The kids basically work hard and play hard…Many chose to play club and/or intramural sports. UR kids love, love, love their themed parties: Halloween is a scared 3-day holiday when it falls on a weekend night. The students band together and host "Trick or Treat Street and host local children to a day of fun. Football games, with the new stadium are very popular, especially Family Weekend and Homecoming. The Spring semester brings the 3rd year Women’s Ring Dance (black tie) and a tradition officially named “Festivus”, but is more popularily named “Pig Roast”…Fraternity row is opened and they each have barbecues going, bands in the front yard. Frats do have a tendency to be the center of a lot of weekend night activity, but on 37% of the students are Greek -and- there is no pressure to join one or to attend them. Of course, a lot of them nab inner tubes and picnic lunches and spend time at the river once Spring comes around. Movies are shown just about every weekend in the Commons that are freebies. The student union host these, along with a plethera of bands, comedians, etc. That’s the social stuff.</p>

<p>There also so many lectures and special events hosted over the weekends. The Modlin Center does a lot of concerts, dance productions (Savion Glover was here for 2 nights this week - -Pilobolus is coming next year for the 4th time in 15 years… The Theatre Department puts on 4 major productions a year, plus a bunch of smaller events every year…A lot of kids end up working on those -or- just going for the joy of seeing live theatre. </p>

<p>And since the labs are all open every weekend, more than one kid has had a lost weekend, working with state of the art equipment composing music, creating graphic art, or going to a foreign film festival.</p>

<p>it is certainly NOT a suitcase school. Yes, there are quiet weekends (just before Spring Break, a lot of students go home, for example) -and- everyone honors the no party rule during exams.</p>

<p>There are tons of things to do on the weekends…During the week, a lot of clubs have meetings and there are other special events (speaker’s forums, etc.) --Not to mention HOMEWORK and PAPERS that swallow up time during the week.</p>

<p>And, Richmond offers a lot, whether it is the museum, fun restaurants, great shopping spots…</p>

<p>Again, the adage is Work Hard, Play Hard!</p>