Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Six Places

1. The Arc
Both times I visited the Arc for this assignment the main basketball court was empty.  Despite the lack of both people and noise, the court still has an loud and active vibe about it.  I am obviously influenced by my own memories of the Arc, but I think this vibe would occur to someone who had never been to the Arc, and maybe even someone who had never even been to a gym.  The layout and acoustics of the gym give away the activities that take place there daily.  There is also a strange contrast of both serious and fun elements in the gym.  Whether the game taking place in the gym is a varsity sporting event or pick up among friends, it can be both competitive and enjoyable.  Also the different parts of the gym are more serious than others.  In the main gym specifically, the stands are more light hearted, while the court is more competitive and serious.  

2.  The Shoe Tree
The shoe tree was definitely my favorite spot we visited during our walk.  This landmark, like a few of the others visited on the walk, is extremely unique to our campus.  It is interesting and can be provocative, depending on the explanation given to you by your tour guide.  Though it seems like the least serious landmark, it represents a lot of history (in a different way than the coffee house in Historic might).  Each pair of shoes represents a different person and a different story.  The shoe tree represents a different aspect of St. Mary's history, an aspect that is more relatable for students.  It also represents the corky, carefree side of St. Mary's, though maybe frowned on by administration, is an undeniable trademark of this school. 

3. The Campus Center
The Campus Center was the definitely the busiest spot I visited on both walks.  This is probably because it serves as a gateway to many other places: the campus store, the patio, the library, the mail room, the help desk, and the Great Room.  On my second walk, there was a woman set up outside the grind who was selling posters.  The woman had obviously picked (or been assigned to) this spot because it is the center of campus.  Not only is it literally in the center of campus, it also houses the places that most students need to visit everyday.  People are always hanging out on the patio when they want to be social because they know they will run into almost everyone for some reason or another.  

4. Coffeehouse in Historic
This spot, like we discussed in class, directly contrasts the Campus Center.  Unlike the campus center, this coffeehouse was completely empty.  It was hard to see into and impossible to get into because it was locked.  I assume that it must be open at certain times or on certain days, however I, and probably most other students, do not know when those times are.  This also contrasts to the Campus Center because almost all students know when the Campus Center will be open and plan certain aspects of their days accordingly. While most students visit the Campus Center several times a day, it would be surprising if a student visited the coffeehouse at all.  Most students visit Historic St. Mary's at least once in their career here for various reasons.  I cannot speak for other students, but though I have visited Historic several times, I never know what any of the buildings actually were, including the coffeehouse.  Historic is such an interesting cultural aspect of our campus that is overlooked by most students.  Though unfortunate, this is understandable because unlike the shoe tree, the coffeehouse is not a relatable source of history for students.

5. Grave
Though the coffeehouse started a more somber vibe on the walk, this spot was definitely when the walk got much more serious.  The sites like the Arc, the shoe tree, and the campus center (all on one side of the river) were more lively and even silly.  However, once I walked through Historic and ended up at the grave, I lost that feeling.  The spot, looking out on the water, is definitely a place to think.  Though there are many graves around, this one sticks out.  Not knowing much about the death, I was left thinking about the things I did know.  For example, I know that he was the son of St. Mary's professors.  Though sad, this incorporates a special connection to St. Mary's and its history.  The first time we visited the grave, we commented on the shells that had been put on the grave.  The second time I went back, more flowers and a piece of driftwood had been added to the shells.  This gave me even more to think about.  Since the death occurred several years ago, I wonder how many people on campus are still aware of the incident and of the grave.  And out of those people, who is still visiting the graves and leaving the tokens. 

 

7. St. Mary’s Hall

This final site is a good way to end the walk.  While ending there made me feel like we had visited the St. Mary’s spectrum, I also felt like we had come full circle.  We started with fun and lively, and ended with somber and quiet.  However, St. Mary’s Hall still connects back to the first place we visited, the Arc.  Similarly, both spots are performance areas however they differ greatly.  Things performed in the Arc are big and loud, while things performed in St. Mary’s are intimate and quiet.  I enjoyed the quiet in St. Mary’s Hall because it allowed me to think about all the places I had just visited, what they mean to me, and how they relate to each other.  

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