Navigating MTSU
Your college experience is made by what you chose to do throughout your college career. Although your main goal at any university is to walk out with a degree, what you do on your way is what makes college such an unforgettable adventure. Finding hobbies that interest you along with getting involved around campus is, in my opinion, the best way to make your experience in college one-of-a-kind; and MTSU has no shortage of different clubs and activities for you to get involved in. So many, in fact, that it can sometimes be overwhelming for newer students; I will give you a taste of what MTSU has to offer in the different buildings around campus, which house many of the different clubs/activities. I am going to cover what I believe to be the top three of MTSU’s many buildings. Making use of the building around campus can be extremely useful, and if you are living on campus it is practically a must. Lets get right into it!
The Student Union
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Standing as one of the most popular/most used buildings on campus, the Student Union, STU for short, comes in as #1. This building is home to loads of different activities, from a quick bite to eat before your next class to playing one of the many games in the game room, the STU can be a great place to go to meet new people, or spend time with those you already know. The Student Union has 3 floors. The first floor, or the main floor includes the food options, such as panda express, steak n shake, dunkin doughnuts, and many more. Also on the first floor is the game room; the game room has many different activities including pool tables, table tennis, and video game consoles. The second floor has many different spaces to study or hang out in, and also a large balcony where you can sit and eat. The third floor also has many different rooms to hang out and eat, study, or talk with friends, but also a main room with a large TV which many people connect to with their consoles, Xbox, Playstation, etc., and play games with friends. The third floor is also where I, and the majority of MTSU’s E-Sports club, goes to eat/relax in-between classes.
For more information about the Student Union, you can visit: https://www.mtsu.edu/mtunions/sub.php
The Recreation Center
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The MTSU recreation, or rec, building comes in at #2. The rec houses a full gym, a pool, a cardio room, a track, and my favorite: the rock wall. The gym consists of free wights; inclined, declined, and normal bench-press benches; free and assisted squat racks; and weight machines ranging from calf to shoulder workouts. Upstairs you can find the cardio equipment, which includes at least 3 different types of treadmills as well as stair-steppers and the track, which sits above the basketball courts as well as the racquetball rooms. Not only does the rec have all of these things for you to come out and do by yourself, but it also hosts group activities, whether it be working out in one of the indoor fitness rooms or going out and rock climbing or kayaking. Finding the time to go to the rec to work out, run, or swim can help clear your head and keep you from becoming overwhelmed by your classes. Personally I enjoy going with my friends in-between classes, it really helps me get my blood flowing and I can always think much more clearly afterwards.
Before you check it out, though, make sure you watch this video so you don’t become a “gymnewbie,” like so many others: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YD3NFL6Epho
For more information about the Rec., you can also visit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aER0V4JbtSU https://www.mtsu.edu/camprec/
The Library
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Number 3 on our list is the library. The library is another great building to spend your free time in. Officially named the “James E. Walker Library,” MTSU’s on-campus library is made up of four floors containing everything from study areas to tech services… not to mention the Starbucks. As seen in the picture to the left, the first of four floors of the library has a reading lounge, for when you need to study in a nice quiet space, as well as a tutoring spot, which has tutors for multiple different subjects. On the second floor is where you can find the majority of the digital areas in the library. one of these being the makerspace. The makerspace is a large space of the library where you can use the universities 3D-printers or even their virtual reality equipment, such as the oculus rift. In the third floor of the library is a university writing center, which is similar to tutoring, in that they will help you will any writing help you may need. The third and fourth floors of the library both contain quiet zones, for studying/reading, as well as group study rooms, for anytime you need to study with others.
For more information about the James E. Walker Library, you can visit:
