From a bird’s eye view, the campus is a beautiful sight to see, and once on the ground, it's a dream of its own. The University of Rhode Island is not only rated #3 as one of the most beautiful campuses in New England, but what it has to offer within and around it make the campus much more enticing. From being 10-15 minutes from the beach to a Razzbull on a rough day of cramming; there are 20 things about URI that make it the campus that we all know and love.
1. The Ripta schedule: If you have not yet learned or memorized the times in which the Ripta runs, start now. It’ll save you a ton of rushing, but be aware, the number of seats will be scarce.
2. URI squirrels. They are everywhere and are overly used to people. Therefore, they will be jumping out of trash cans and will run past your feet like it’s no biggy.
3. Since we’re on the topic of trash cans, bees. They are everywhere and anywhere, especially in the trash cans. Walk with caution.
4. The long line at Dunkin in The Union. If you have a class in 10 minutes, the odds of you standing in this line (that goes out the door and down the ramp) for coffee, and still making it to your class on time, are as unlikely as daily rain in California.
5. Expect to hear someone driving around Frat Circle yelling “Wake up frat circle!!!” on Saturday mornings.
6. The “new gym” is never empty. It’s always excessively packed, especially during Spring semester, because everyone has a “new year, new me” resolution until spring break vacay.
7. It's almost impossible to find a parking spot, especially if you’re living off campus. If you’re in Greek Life, expect random people to be parking in your lot and having to call parking services five times in a row before something happens.
8. The s***iest wifi ever. Expect to be logged in and out multiple times and having to hike to the lib for some technical help.
9. The hike: The giant hill that separates the dorms from the class halls. You will run out of breath (quickly, very quickly) and will be sweating halfway to class.
10. Living mainly off of grab-and-go pizzas and salads, with the occasional bagels, breakfast sandwiches, and smoothies.
11. Pizza in Butterfield is always gone within 5-10 mins., but when the next three they make in 5 mins. come out, be ready to fight for a slice.
12. If you’re a big football fan, I’m sorry in advance.
13. You’re not a Rhody until you’ve experienced a URI basketball game. WHOOP WHOOP!
14. Passing by FIJI (Phi Gamma Delta) around Christmas time and seeing their mansion of a house lit af (no literally tho, there are lights everywhere).
15. Using the URI maps that you save in your photos on your phone to find all your classes every year because the campus is like a city of its own (I swear even after 4 years you don’t completely know the names of all the halls and what hall is where).
16. Getting caught in a Nerf Gun showdown on your way to or from class.
17. There’s always something going on on the quad, especially during Spring semester. There are always people studying out there, sitting in a hammock they’ve hung from the trees, tight rope walking (which they own), and other activities going on.
18. Every now and then you may spot a person dressed up in a T-Rex costume roaming around for the hell of it (or just because they really dig Halloween)
19. Ordering a nice, greasy calzone from I-zones in the Emporium at midnight or just before 2 a.m. because you can and debated hard core that you deserve it.
20. There will always be a tour going on wherever you walk. They. Are. Everywhere.
