The Viking Plaza By: Alyssa Ziemek

Western Washington University is a beautiful campus, filled with a variety of people and beautiful sculptures throughout. In fact, all of the sculptures are people friendly, which means you may sit upon, sing upon and heck, even climb upon them. The Viking Plaza, in my eyes, is like one of WWU’s sculptures. I say this because it is a wide open space that people can gather at. It’s a place where people can sit and do their homework, walk their pets, or gaze upon the amazing view it provides. The Viking Plaza looks out on the Bellingham Bay where every morning and night you can witness sunset and sunrise. There are mountains as far as you can see, and a marina with as many boats as you can count. This place, to me, is the most peaceful place on campus. I could sit there for hours just staring out at the view. Others, I have noticed, can sit on the benches and do homework for hours. The plaza provides lots of seating and lots of open space to fulfill anyone’s needs, may it be walking your dog, sipping on coffee, or chatting on your cellphone. There is always room!

As you walk past the Wilson Library, you will approach a colorful open area with a view of the Bay. This plaza has a giant red sculpture called For Handel. It is hard to miss, so if you see this then you are in the right place. This sculpture is what you should look for, if you do not see the magnificent view first of course. You will notice the many wooden benches with light posts nearby, and the Performing Arts Center to your left. Everyday I see the Viking Plaza used to its full potential. There are many people doing so many different things here. I see bicyclists, and too many students to count on a daily basis! Students eating, reading books, and just doing what we all do best…studying! The Viking Plaza is a place for us to just be, and isn’t that a nice thing to have? I think it is, especially when you can do all the same things you would do in a library, but with a gorgeous view!

I am a student at Western Washington University, and I choose to use this place to find my peace. By this I mean, I come to this place when I am feeling flustered or stressed. I will walk across the red brick bottom plaza, and sit on the concrete flower beds. Flowers are so pretty to look at, and they smell so fresh. Sometimes these flowers mask the stench of the Bellingham Bay. There is one, and only one downside of the Viking Plaza. It is the stinky smell of the bay. Occasionally, when it starts to smell, I witness kids running across the plaza to get away from it. However, I personally do not mind it, especially when I sit next to the flower beds. The Viking Plaza never fails to calm me down in times of stress. I notice that other students feel the same way as I do. I call them the “regulars.” People who you seem to always see at certain times of the day in the same place. Emily Reast, a student at Western Washington University says, “I like to come here to watch the sunsets and all the boats, I think its really pretty and calming usually. It’s nice having a big space like this on campus with such a pretty view, and I like how large it is because it’s big enough to enjoy without people being loud.” Whether you are like me and seek calmness or serenity, or simply need a place to sit and eat your food before your next class. Or, you are just like Emily, who comes here to enjoy the sunsets and quietness. The Viking Plaza is a remarkable place for everybody’s needs in my eyes.

So, I think that this goes without saying as well, the Viking Plaza is hands down my favorite “sculpture” as you could say, on our campus. I know it technically is not a sculpture, but I think you could now visualize the beauty that this place holds. To me, sculptures are beautiful works of interesting art, something that you can appreciate, like the layout or design of a place, and the plaza is just that. I hope now with some new perspective, you can think of how you use this place, and maybe have a new reason to visit it more often. Maybe you have a new idea of how to spend your time here.

Sources:

Reast Emily . Personal Interview. 4 February, 2016.