OT - How different is campus since you were there?

[alexd]

It's amazing what $4.9 billion can do.

 

[boog204]

It is kinda crazy to think back to how campus used to be. I was there 98-02 and it was kind of a dump tbh. You had a couple of nicer spots with Horsebarn Hill and by the lakes, but most of the buildings were old and literally falling apart, the roads and their orientation were a disaster, there was little parking other than random parking lots far away, and the "amenities" were few and far between. After the 99 title, you started to see how enhancements with the "new" South, the Chem building with that club sign, and I think there was a new business building, maybe? You go back now, and it looks like a real college campus and environment. That being said (and I mentioned this in another thread), I have students who are attending High Point and SEC schools, and it's still a night-and-day difference.

 

[CL82]

It's amazing what $4.9 billion can do.

Well, you know what they say, $4.9 billion here, $4.9 billion there and eventually you're talking about real money...

For what it's worth "old" South campus was awesome. 60 person dorms, 20 on the floor, mostly alternating between men's and women's floors. Each dorm had its own cook and its own dining hall. It made for a great family atmosphere.

(Plus, as a freshman, I can remember getting out of the shower, calling downstairs to the cook for an omelette, slapping it between a couple of slices of toast, grabbing a cup of coffee and hiking across campus for my morning classes. It was terrific.)

No doubt "(new)" South campus is more attractive and more modern but I doubt it is a better experience than the old dorms offered.

 

[uconnfan68]

Well, you know what they say, $4.9 billion here, $4.9 billion there and eventually you're talking about real money...

For what it's worth "old" South campus was awesome. 60 person dorms, 20 on the floor, mostly alternating between men's and women's floors. Each dorm had its own cook and its own dining hall. It made for a great family atmosphere.

(Plus, as a freshman, I can remember getting out of the shower, calling downstairs to the cook for an omelette, slapping it between a couple of slices of toast, grabbing a cup of coffee and hiking across campus for my morning classes. It was terrific.)

No doubt "(new)" South campus is more attractive and more modern but I doubt it is a better experience than the old dorms offered.

South campus, in my day, was female only. McMahon was female in north tower, male in south. Jungle was mostly male except for 3 female only on lower east end (only remember Fairfield was one, because that's where I watched the first draft lottery).

 

[Excalibur]

It is kinda crazy to think back to how campus used to be. I was there 98-02 and it was kind of a dump tbh. You had a couple of nicer spots with Horsebarn Hill and by the lakes, but most of the buildings were old and literally falling apart, the roads and their orientation were a disaster, there was little parking other than random parking lots far away, and the "amenities" were few and far between. After the 99 title, you started to see how enhancements with the "new" South, the Chem building with that club sign, and I think there was a new business building, maybe? You go back now, and it looks like a real college campus and environment. That being said (and I mentioned this in another thread), I have students who are attending High Point and SEC schools, and it's still a night-and-day difference.

Chem building opened in Fall 1996. South opened in 1998.

 

[Palatine]

In the early 70s, South Campus was a hotbed of "streaking." There was kind of a path between the mostly female dorms, streakers would run down that path and soon the windows would fill up. The sound of the onlookers cheering and yelling would bounce around and echo up and down between the dorms.

I can safely say, that south campus is much different now.

 

[Excalibur]

For what it's worth "old" South campus was awesome. 60 person dorms, 20 on the floor, mostly alternating between men's and women's floors. Each dorm had its own cook and its own dining hall. It made for a great family atmosphere.

(Plus, as a freshman, I can remember getting out of the shower, calling downstairs to the cook for an omelette, slapping it between a couple of slices of toast, grabbing a cup of coffee and hiking across campus for my morning classes. It was terrific.)

Had the same experience in Towers. Small dorm cafeterias were the best thing on campus.

 

[CL82]

South campus, in my day, was female only. McMahon was female in north tower, male in south. Jungle was mostly male except for 3 female only on lower east end (only remember Fairfield was one, because that's where I watched the first draft lottery).

When I was there, it was mostly coed with only Stowe (all male) and Crandall (all female) being single sex dorms. Being able to walk up or down a flight of stairs to reach the girls' floors was... convenient.

 

[boog204]

Chem building opened in Fall 1996. South opened in 1998.

I was absolutely there for day one of "new" South. I could've sworn that the Chem building opened when I was there, too? Hmm. There's a lot of UConn, which is slightly hazy or spinning, as it was.

Had the same experience in Towers. Small dorm cafeterias were the best thing on campus.

I lived in West and my first semester we had a small cafe on the 1st floor. Our chef, Steve, was the nicest guy ever (and the single most powerful whistler in human existence), and it was like having a personal cook. He'd make you made-to-order omelets, and if you weren't feeling the "meal" for dinner, he'd whip you up something else.

 

[boog204]

When I was there, it was mostly coed with only Stowe (all male) and Crandall (all female) being single sex dorms. Being able to walk up or down a flight of stairs to reach the girls' floors was... convenient.

I'll one-up that... The dorms in West were "L" shaped. One part of the L was male, the other female. So no stairs at all. Just one awkward, stumbling turn to paydirt.

 

[Vuce]

Well, you know what they say, $4.9 billion here, $4.9 billion there and eventually you're talking about real money...

For what it's worth "old" South campus was awesome. 60 person dorms, 20 on the floor, mostly alternating between men's and women's floors. Each dorm had its own cook and its own dining hall. It made for a great family atmosphere.

(Plus, as a freshman, I can remember getting out of the shower, calling downstairs to the cook for an omelette, slapping it between a couple of slices of toast, grabbing a cup of coffee and hiking across campus for my morning classes. It was terrific.)

No doubt "(new)" South campus is more attractive and more modern but I doubt it is a better experience than the old dorms offered.

Yes! Family style dining was great and I did the same for breakfasts. Tom was our cook’s name and he was awesome. Great memories

 

[Chuck]

Campus is much more in line with a flagship university. But even with Downtown Storrs it’s still lacking amenities. I think part of the issue is that while the school is rural, it’s only 20ish minutes form bigger suburbs so a lot of staff, professors, coaches live in those towns. So most Storrs stuff is focused fully on students and they only have 8 months to make money. Other rural universities are the only big employers and towns nearby so they get more stuff. University Park PA has a lot more than Storrs.

 

[Excalibur]

Campus is much more in line with a flagship university. But even with Downtown Storrs it’s still lacking amenities. I think part of the issue is that while the school is rural, it’s only 20ish minutes form bigger suburbs so a lot of staff, professors, coaches live in those towns. So most Storrs stuff is focused fully on students and they only have 8 months to make money. Other rural universities are the only big employers and towns nearby so they get more stuff. University Park PA has a lot more than Storrs.

Why wouldn’t it? There are 50k students there vs just over 20k at UConn.

 

[husky8273]

Had the same experience in Towers. Small dorm cafeterias were the best thing on campus.

agreed - 60 dorm mates ate dinner together Mon - Thurs. 2 years as a resident and 2 years as a waiter for a free meal plan

 

[Rocktheworld]

I’m just glad they’ve finally knocked down those old frat houses that were used for offices between Arjona/Montieth and South.

And everything else has looked great. What is that huge building taking up what was part of X lot, across the street from hilltop dorms?

 

[ColchVEGAS]

I'll one-up that... The dorms in West were "L" shaped. One part of the L was male, the other female. So no stairs at all. Just one awkward, stumbling turn to paydirt.

This was my experience. West was a dump but I loved it.

 

[Trudy Gay]

WTH is downtown Storrs?? Is that like where the Oaks is? Is it still the Oaks? I guess I’m old

 

[AdamaNation]

A few years ago. I stayed at the Graduate Hotel. The hotel bar filled up with professors who started trickling in at 3 PM. The new rec center was much nicer than what we had in the early 70s.

Love the grad.

 

[Hoophound]

The funny thing about people always saying Storrs is isolated is that while it is a town unto itself, a large metro area that begins in Manchester is 15-20 minutes away. There’s a reason there’s no Best Buy in Storrs, it’s because Storrs isn’t actually isolated at all. Isolated means there’s nothing nearby.

 

[CL82]

WTH is downtown Storrs?? Is that like where the Oaks is? Is it still the Oaks? I guess I’m old

 

[cwh20]

Yes! Family style dining was great and I did the same for breakfasts. Tom was our cook’s name and he was awesome. Great memories

I was in Towers and yeah, I loved the dining. And after dinner about 20 or so would watch M*A*S*H together right after in the common room. And the one dorm phone was there in case you didn’t have one in your room. Every so often you had to track someone down when a parent called. Shout out to Charlie the cook and let’s say knowing the assistant steward had its advantages on random weekends. Also, the long gone open space field next to the dorm was great for intramural ultimate and football.

Anyone remember the cartoon Bedlam Hall in the 1982 Connecticut Daily Campus? By Paul Cantanese. It covered dorm life at UConn humorously and perfectly. I have the book he published the next year with all the strips in it. It’s still fun to look at every other year or so.

 

[Gurleyman]

downtown storrs in my day was a Store 24 and Phil’s Stationary - which sold baseball cards. I think there was a Hardee’s in that little strip mall too.

 

[Trudy Gay]

downtown storrs in my day was a Store 24 and Phil’s Stationary - which sold baseball cards. I think there was a Hardee’s in that little strip mall too.

Same but no one called it downtown storrs 😂

 

[Palatine]

Why wouldn’t it? There are 50k students there vs just over 20k at UConn.

The most recent detailed figures available from the University of Connecticut's fact sheets show a total population of over 44,000 people, combining students, faculty, and staff.

Based on the Fall 2024 data:

• Total Student Enrollment (Undergraduate and Graduate/Professional): 33,554
• Total Faculty & Staff (Full-time & Part-time, including UConn Health): 11,011

 

[alexd]

I remember in the late 80s, from my sister's room in McMahon, looking down at the construction project and the big round hole in the ground affectionately dubbed "the Conn-dome".