Navigating Western: Tips and Tricks from Seasoned Students
After being away for a year, Western’s campus is busy again. This time, with more first-timers than usual.
Story by Brianna Poulos
First-year and transfer students are not the only ones new to campus this year. For those who have only known Western over Zoom, campus can be just as vast and confusing. Those with experience have some advice for newcomers.
Be kind to campus employees.
“I think it’s just a life rule, but be nice to people who are giving you food,” said Elizabeth Bridge, a third-year environmental science student.
When you’re rushing around between classes it’s easy to become impatient, but many of the campus employees are students too. Bridges said she reminds herself they are working between their classes and doing their best to be patient too.
“If you treat people right, they will treat you right,” she said.
The Academic West Building is a nice place to do homework. Keep an eye out for the doll chandelier.
Nick Pinkham, a recent graduate, loved the open seating on the top floor of Academic West and said that direct sunlight easily streamed in through the glass bridge.
“There is a really cool chandelier made out of little, tiny plastic dolls,” Pinkham said. “It’s cool and weird at the same time.”
The dolls are organized in a gradient from clear to red, creating a unique vibe, to say the least. The piece, “Cause and Effect,” was created by artist Do Ho Suh.
Bring a raincoat — and maybe some waterproof shoes too.
Current Western student Micah Lund promises students on campus will have frequent encounters with Bellingham rain.
“It’s never fun to be wearing your nice, cool running shoes and then end up with soaked feet to deal with in class,” Lund said.
Lund’s personal recommendation is hiking boots because there is also a lot of walking involved in getting around campus.
It’s easier to make friends than you think.
Fourth-year psychology student Lily Allred said she thinks about classes as social events.
“Everyone is nervous, and everyone wants to make friends so they will be thankful if you initiate the conversation,” she said.
Allred said you can’t judge people based on their resting facial expressions; she’s found people are much more approachable than they look.
Explore Downtown Bellingham.
Imogen Gilmore-Baldwin, a fourth-year student, said that because campus is so close to downtown, it’s a great place to go to take a break from campus and find good study spots and even better food.
“There are so many coffee shops, and you can go into any of them and have a good time,” Gilmore-Baldwin said. “For food, you have to try the dumplings at Pel’meni, and Black Sheep if you’re 21.”
Watch out for missing bricks.
Jacob Burton is a transfer student who has yet to study on Western’s campus; however, he has spent many sunny days wandering through and has noticed missing bricks on multiple occasions.
Burton said he noticed the bricks didn’t stay away for long and would appear again painted.
If you live in the dorms, keep your door open on your first night.
Some residence halls will have an open-door agreement on the first night after move-in, said Jordan Dearment, a third-year creative writing major. Dearment said her floor decided that if you left your door open on the first night it meant you were willing to talk and make friends and if you closed it, you weren’t.
“So many people left their doors open, so it felt like everyone living on my floor became friends,” she said.
Six of Dearment’s closest friends lived in her hall in her first year at Western.
Find alternative ways to zoom around campus.
Current Western student Noah Rawlings said biking beats walking across campus any day, but skateboarding is his favorite way to get around quickly.
“There are a lot of cool skateboarding spots and a lot of cool skater people hitting said spots,” Rawlings said.
No matter how you decide to travel, Rawlings suggests doing so with friends because it’s a sure way to see something new every time.