University of California, Irvine

The University of California, Irvine is a public, coeducational university situated in suburban Irvine, California. It is one of ten University of California campuses and is commonly known as UCI or UC Irvine.

Student life

Graduate students are housed at the Verano and Palo Verde apartments. Freshmen are typically assigned to live in either the Middle Earth or Mesa Court residence halls, while non-freshmen undergraduates live in the Campus Village, Arroyo Vista, or Vista Del Campo housing complexes, or in one of the many apartment complexes off-campus. Because of increasing enrollment in recent years, on-campus housing is not guaranteed for non-freshmen students, besides transfer students. However, plans for two-year guaranteed housing are in motion due to the opening of the latest on-campus housing complex, Vista Del Campo, and the construction of another housing complex, Vista Del Campo Norte.

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Due to its location in a preplanned suburban community, general student apathy, reputation as an academic or suitcase school (students tend to go home on the weekends, but stay on campus during the week nights), UCI has had a reputation as a quieter college town. While it is true that life at UCI can be said to be somewhat different from the traditional idea of American college life, there is still plenty of entertainment and recreation on campus and in the area. With just a short car ride to any of the many surrounding changes the night life drastically. Newport Beach, which is less than 10 minutes away, is home to a vibrant night life.

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The recently completed Anteater Recreation Center boasts several new recreational and sporting facilities and is popular among students (and some faculty). The campus is within driving distance of local attractions such as the Irvine Spectrum, and South Coast Plaza shopping malls, as well as some of Southern California's most popular beaches and surfing spots at Newport and Huntington Beach.

Related Topics:
Irvine Spectrum - South Coast Plaza

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Also popular among those who know where to find it is the only pub on campus: the Anthill Pub and Grille, a self proclaimed "swill-free zone" which is run by the Associated Graduate Students. Located on the third floor of the Student Center, the Anthill boasts an impressive collection of microbrew beers, ciders, and wine as well as a knowledgeable staff. The pub has become a favorite location for students and some faculty to have a drink while talking, watching TV, or shooting pool between or after classes. A pint of beer typically runs $3, while a pitcher costs around $8. Somewhat fitting for UCI's sober reputation, the Pub is not open on weekends or during the summer. As of March 23rd, the pub has been closed due to reconstruction of the student center. As of March 28th, there are no plans to provide a temporary home for the pub during the time of the reconstruction, although there has been some talk about serving a limited selection of beer at one of the eateries, the Phoenix grill (unconfirmed). A recent editorial mentioned the unconfirmed plans in an issue of The New U, a college periodical.

Related Topics:
Pub - Microbrew

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UCI also holds a medieval theme fair known as Wayzgoose in April, which includes (among other things) student booths, live bands, (lots of) food, a car show, and students dressed in cardboard armor whacking each other with fake swords. The event is open to the public and also functions as an open house for incoming and prospective students.

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Because UCI does not offer a program in journalism (its literary journalism program focuses on creative nonfiction, not hard news reporting), its student newspaper, the New University, is only published weekly. But UCI has a vibrant alternative media program. There are two ideologically oriented student magazines, the Irvine Review and The Irvine Progressive, as well as a Muslim student paper and other independent publications.

Related Topics:
Literary journalism - Creative nonfiction - Student newspaper - New University - Alternative media - Irvine Review - The Irvine Progressive - Muslim

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