The start of every school year comes with changes -- new roommates, new apartment, new classes, new favorite things to do in your free time. But this fall, UVA has its own brand-new changes that we'll all get to experience together this semester. Here's 10 things that will be a little different around Grounds in the fall.
1. The Rotunda is (finally) finished!
FINALLY. After over 2 years, the $51 million renovation of the most iconic building of UVA Grounds is complete and open once again to the public. Students will get to enjoy classrooms, a library, and events hosted inside. Also, there will be extremely fancy, extremely exclusive dinners hosted in the Rotunda's dining room once a week just for first years, and occasionally some for transfer students and second years who live on Grounds. NOT FAIR.
2. RIP 2nd floor Clem.
Half of what is easily the most popular study spot for UVA students has been converted into an advising center, to offer students academic, professional, and personal advising resources. Looks like our petition to save this holy ground failed. I guess I'll be venturing into the depths of Alderman Stacks more regularly now.
3. Old Dorms are moving into the 21st century.
Don't get me wrong, I LOVED living in Old Dorms last year, but I was kind of salty to hear I was one of the last classes to live there before extensive renovations. Starting soon, Old Dorms will be redone to install AC and elevators, repair heat, and add study lounges and more bedrooms. So will it now be New Dorms versus...Newer Dorms? And will there ever not be construction at UVA?
4. Zip Chicken on the Corner.
Bad news: The Subway next to Rev Soup is no longer with us. But good news for fans of Korean food: it's being replaced by Zip Chicken, a casual restaurant that serves Korean-style chicken wings, sides, and salads for you healthy people. It also delivers, so you can get your Korean food-fix wherever you want.
5. Coach Mendenhall.
I think we're all ready to win some football games and hopefully maybe possibly finally beat Tech at the annual Thanksgiving weekend game. If this new football coach can give us that, he'll probably be competing with Tony Bennett for UVA's favorite coach status.
6. Starbucks in Alderman (?)
This has been a rumor for a while, but many have heard the Greenberry's in Alderman Library is going to be switched to a Starbucks. Major blessing for all you frappuccino addicts who don't feel like walking all the way to Nau-Gibson for your daily Starbs.
7. New Arts & Sciences Curriculum.
The pilot program for the College's new curriculum won't begin just yet, but UVA has announced a complete revision of the existing area requirements for Arts & Sciences students, shifting to a three-part program that consists of "Engagements" (split into Aesthetic, Empirical and Scientific, Engaging, and Ethical), "Literacies", and "Disciplines". Does this mean future first years wanting to major in English won't have to take math classes? If so, I'm very jealous.
8. Mural on Graduate Court.
Painted on the side of the high-rising hotel by artist David Guinn, this mural was inspired by a line in "Testimonial", a poem written by UVA professor and poet Rita Dove. Guinn and Dove believed this line, "the world called, and I answered", embodied the mission held by UVA and its students. Just another reason why Charlottesville is the cutest, coolest town ever.
9. The Corner's multipurpose student center.
No one really knows what this building has been doing with its life for all this time (I mean, come on, this is prime real estate. Cookout or Chipotle, you could make some serious bank on weekend nights), but it's finally being converted into a student center through UVA. This old bookstore will offer lounge areas, food services, meeting rooms, and rehearsal space. Even though I would die of happiness if I could get my Cookout milkshakes more easily, I guess this is pretty cool.
10. The next Malcolm Brogdons?
Some of our favorite basketball players like Anthony Gill and Malcolm Brogdon have left our wonderful team *insert crying emoji* but we have four new players this year that could have potential to become the next ACC Player of the Year: Kyle Guy, Jay Huff (he's 6'11" just FYI), De'Andre Hunter, and Ty Jerome. Not going to lie, they have some hella big shoes to fill.
Some of these changes will be awesome (like the finally complete Rotunda and potential Starbucks), and some will be met with some unhappiness (we're looking at you, Clem), but no matter what is different and what has stayed the same, UVA will always be our much-loved home that we all can't wait to get back to this fall.
