SHANNON URTNOWSKI
Living Editor
Take a look around. As you scan the campus, I bet one of the first things to catch your eye is the infamous Malibu coast just down the hill. With an ocean so blue and a horizon so wide and visible, it would be hard for anyone to miss. But, let me bring your focus back to Pepperdine.
There are numerous places on-campus that may not stick out to the average student, but they are places that hold meaning and importance — even if only to me.
Now, I cannot lie — I too was captivated by the ocean upon my first visit to Pepperdine. In deciding to attend this university, I could not help but think of the location as an added perk to Pepperdine’s Top 50 overall national ranking at the time.
However, I have come to appreciate even more, locations within this location. Let me take you on a tour of the Pepperdine I know.
One of my favorite places to hang out on-campus is the Caf. Whether stopping in for a quick fro-yo between classes or walking in laps at dinner trying to decide a meal of choice, I always look forward to my time spent there. But, let me clarify. It is not the food that sells me over — it is the experience.
What makes it the ultimate stop for breakfast, lunch and dinner is the endless people-watching that the Caf seating allows for. This may sound borderline stalkerish, but I just like to see what my peers are doing. No joke — sitting in there with friends is enough to satisfy me for at least an hour. But, I cannot eat and stare all day. I assure you I have a life outside of the Caf.
Somewhere I have recently come to spend much of my time is the Student Publications office (the newsroom), located in the Center for Communication and Business. It may not always be the liveliest of places, but there is always something interesting going on in there. Being that I spend so much of my time in that room, it has almost come to feel like my second on-campus residence. And, of course, the convenience of Cafe Fresca is a plus. Located on the second floor of the building, it has the best French vanilla cappuccinos any time of day.
After a long night in the newsroom, I like to go down to the track to run for a mile or two. Running on the track at midnight really is an amazing experience, as the air is cool and the campus is lit with just the right amount. The peacefulness of exercising there at night makes for the perfect end to a long day.
During the day, I save most of my thinking-time for my dorm room. I highly recommend on-campus housing. I do everything in my room — sleep, eat snacks, study, relax and write.
Last but not least, a place of which I will never grow tired is the bookstore. It may sound lame, but hear me out. Granted, it is not the largest book store that has ever graced a university campus, but it is filled with a number of fun items. With everything from blue and orange sweatshirts to textbooks for almost every class on campus to snacks and dorm essentials, there really is no reason to take that extra drive to Sav-On any more. The bookstore has almost everything you might need. And, as it is located near the Caf, stopping in for a quick browse is always easy to do.
So, open your eyes and discover all our campus has to offer. Though I know at times it can be hard, try to not to let your attention be diverted from the true greatness of Malibu surrounding us — Pepperdine.
10-06-2006
