Newport, Rhode Island is home to breathtaking seaside views, giant gilded-age mansions, great restaurants, and in the center of it all: Salve Regina University. This small, private, Catholic institution is known for it's beautiful campus, strong academic programs and close knit community. Like any other university, Salve has its quirks that only the students who attend the school recognize. Here are some signs that you go to Salve Regina University:
1. When you hear "Miley" the first thing you think of is Sodexo, not the singer.
Miley Hall is the home of our only dining hall, freshmen dorms, the bookstore, student development and Miley Mart. And despite the jokes from everyone who visits campus, it's named after Sister M. Hilda Miley -- not Miley Cyrus.
2. Your Instagram is full of pictures from the Cliff Walk and Ocean Drive.
From sunsets to artsy group shots with your best friends, no Salve Instagram is complete without dozens of pictures of adventures on the Cliff Walk and Ocean Drive.
3. You understand the struggle of relying on the RIPTA.
When you aren't allowed to have a car on campus Freshman year the trolley becomes your main source of transportation. Will it sometimes be five minutes early or ten minutes late? Yes. Will it occasionally drive past you? No doubt. Are you still thankful that you have some form of transportation when you need to run to CVS? You betcha.
4. You know it's Connections Day when they put out the good brunch in Miley.
Having tons of potential students and their parents on campus means that Miley will step up its game -- including more than two types of fruit up for grabs the whole day.
5. Your profile picture has been you and your friends sitting in the daffodils behind McAuley.
It's not spring at Salve unless the daffodils are in full bloom and you and your friends spend half an hour trying to get the perfect picture amongst them.
6. You know what Salve Bananas is.
No one really knows why @Salve_Bananas is a thing, but an account that features pictures of bananas around campus is something to be appreciated not questioned.
7. This song has been stuck in your head for a year.
The Salve Regina Schnitzelbonk video inviting potential students to Connections Day has reached over 28,000 views on YouTube. Once you get over the initial embarrassment, there's no denying that it's actually a really catchy tune.
8. All of your professors actually know you.
Going to a small school means small classes and a high probability that you'll have the same professor more than once. Every professor knows you by name, takes a genuine interest in your life, and will definitely notice if you skip class.
9. You look forward to Parade Day all year.
Everyone at Salve looks forward to the Newport St. Patrick's Day Parade. Even though the parade itself only lasts a few hours, the whole day turns into one big celebration.
10. You've had a scary encounter with a raccoon.
Whether you saw one rummaging outside of Wakehurst while grabbing a late dinner, or while jogging down Victoria in broad daylight there's a good chance you'll run into these abnormally large and terrifying creatures before you graduate.
11. You've fought over washing machines/dryers in Miley freshman year.
Before they renovated the laundry room in Miley, washing your clothes could take hours. Throwback to passive aggressive notes, piles of unfolded laundry sitting on the table, and your wet clothes thrown on top of the washing machine even though you were only three minutes late to switch over your laundry.
12. You've been asked if you go to an all-girls school.
Yeah, pretty much.
13. You've camped out in the library during finals week.
Saved three term papers until the last minute? Don't worry, so has the rest of Salve. Everyone you know will suddenly be looking for a spot on the third floor of the library so you try to get there early to claim your table.
14. You can't make it to class without running into at least three people you know.
Your roommate from freshman year, your Spanish professor from first semester, that kid you had an awkward encounter with last Saturday. You'll run into all of them and more on your way from the dorms to O'Hare.
15. You've gotten up early to watch the sunrise from Forty Steps.
While it may be a pain to drag yourself out of your cozy bed, seeing the beautiful sunrise over the water is totally worth it.
16. You've been asked where the Breakers is.
Once tourist season begins the Cliff Walk is full of lost families asking if our administration building is the Vanderbilt's famous mansion. The answer is no.
17. You spend afternoons of the first week of classes at First Beach.
During the first week of classes there's minimal homework so there's really no reason why you shouldn't spend the afternoons enjoying the warm weather, sun and sand.
18. You've gone to an SRU Dance show.
SRU Dance is the largest club on campus, which means you're bound to know someone in this show that draws a larger crowd than any Salve sporting event.
19. At any given moment someone around you will be wearing Patagonia, Vineyard Vines, or Lily Pulitzer.
There are more than a few preppy kids at Salve and it shows in the way they dress. In my earth science lecture last year there were five different guys online shopping for vineyard vines polos at the same time.
20. You couldn't imagine going anywhere else.
Salve Regina University's beauty, great academic programs, and a genuine sense of community make it feel like more than just a college. Once you've spent time here it really becomes your home away from home, and you couldn't imagine going to school anywhere else.
