As classes wrap up and you prepare to pick up graduation regalia, decorate your mortarboard, and pass through the Archway at Commencement, its time, Bryant seniors, to make sure you’ve checked off these 14 essential campus experiences before moving your tassel from right to left:
1. Pet Archie: Can it truly be considered a good day if you haven’t had the chance to pal around with Archie, Bryant’s beloved comfort dog? Be sure to catch up with the loveable yellow lab and offer him some pets as he patrols campus with his handler, Department of Public Safety Officer Sarah Sirois.
2. Go for a dip in the campus pool: If you’ve never been for a swim in Bryant’s pool, now is the time to make your big splash (better here than in Bryant Pond). Open swim hours are available on the Chace Athletic and Wellness Center’s website.
3. Create a memory in Bryant’s Makerspace: From 3D printers and Cricut cutters to hand tools and sewing machines, Bryant’s Makerspace — part of the university’s Sprague Center for Entrepreneurship and Design Thinking — is a great location to get your creative juices flowing. Whether you want to create college mementos for friends or use the Makerspace’s supplies to decorate your mortarboard, take this opportunity to explore.
4. Show off your Bulldog pride: Cheer on your fellow Bulldogs one last time as a student as they square off against their competitors on home turf. Bryant’s baseball, softball, men’s lacrosse, and women’s lacrosse teams are all playing though the end of the semester, so be sure to show your support and deck out in your best Bulldog game-day gear.
5. Step into a new reality: Equipped with 20 Meta Quest 2s and five Oculus Rift Ss, Bryant’s VR Lab — located in the George E. Bello Center for Information and Technology just outside the Douglas and Judith Krupp Library — is home to a treasure trove of unique games and educational tools.
6. Try a new workout: Expand your horizon and boost your endorphins by trying a new type of workout. Bryant has many fitness class offerings, including spinning, pilates, barre, yoga, strength and toning, and core classes. All classes are offered within the Chace Wellness and Athletic Center’s Eannarino Group Exercise Studio.
7. Spend the day by Bryant Pond: Chillout in Adirondack chairs and tune in to WJMF Radio (88.7) while basking in the spring sunlight by Bryant Pond. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, rent games from the Fisher Student Center (Cornhole, Spikeball, and Kan Jam are all up for grabs) or cast a fishing line into Bryant Pond and try your hand luring in one of the bass or sunfish that call those waters home.
8. Go on a food tour: Start your food crawl and make sure you’ve tried every campus eatery. Beyond Salmanson Dining Hall and the BELC’s the Corey E. Levine ’80 Dining Commons, stop by the Fisher Student Center and grab some bites at Dunkin’, Tupper’s, The Exchange, and Fresh Market. Also, check out the Unistructure’s Archway Cafe, the Bello Center’s Bulldog Bytes, the Academic Innovation Center’s AIC Cafe.
9. Visit Krupp Library’s artifacts: Your days in the library were most likely spent completing homework, studying, or working on class projects. With the nearing conclusion of the semester and added free time, look through the library’s first and second floor display cases, which include a piece of the Berlin Wall, Terracotta soldiers, a silver gilt ship, and more.
10. Enjoy Spring Weekend’s offerings: Complimentary food, free merch, and fun activities? Yes, please! Join Bryant’s Student Programming Board for its annual food truck festival leading up to the annual spring concert. Follow @bryantspb on Instagram to stay up to date on these Spring Weekend events and more.
11. Engage with the arts in Bryant’s Art Barn: If you’re in a creative mood, visit Bryant’s Art Barn — an artistic hub where members of the Bryant community come to share in, appreciate, and expand the arts. In addition to attending special events and exhibitions, students can drop by during open hours to relax and create.
12. Connect around the campus firepits: Enjoy an evening outdoors around a campus firepit — either by the Fisher Student Center or the Puishys Residence Complex. Whether you’ve decided to roast marshmallows over the open flames, play a board game or two, or chat the night away while stargazing, the options are endless.
13. Get your fill at Late Night Breakfast: Load up your plate with free eggs, sausage, pancakes, and more during Student Government’s biannual Late Night Breakfast in preparation for finals. With t-shirts and raffle prizes available, this one’s a can’t-miss event.
14. Make the most of Senior Week: From food trucks and outdoor games by the Fisher Student Center patio to an off-campus senior ball and the senior toast at the Callahan House, make sure these time-honored graduation traditions are on your calendar.