Marble Pedestal: Summer at the U of A

Once winter semester finals end, and May comes around, the campus vibe is completely different from that of just a few weeks ago. The once crowded Cameron library is now quiet, the Tim Hortons line in CAB is finally down to less than 30 people long, and it’s finally possible to walk in the Centennial Centre for Interdisciplinary Science (CCIS) without dodging hordes of students. Main Quad even feels larger now that it’s empty. Summer at the University of Alberta is almost post-apocalyptic, but in a very charming way. Campus in May is like discovering the ruins of a civilization that survived on Redbull and academic validation.

Being in a lab on campus this summer, I get to see a different side of Edmonton and the U of A that I haven’t experienced before. People seem happier, more relaxed, and more appreciative of their time. The hustle and bustle of fall and winter is gone, and it shows. The competitive tension disappears, and people seem more human when they aren’t rushing to their next class.

I found that during the regular school months, I tied down purpose to busyness. However, without any classes, I’ve been able to appreciate the campus and city for what they are, and not for what I need to accomplish.

The season isn’t the only thing that’s changing, as campus is undergoing a bit of a makeover as well. The administration building is being demolished, making way for more green space by the time students return in the fall.

I would say that the campus is finally quiet, but the sounds of the building being torn down are somewhat hard to ignore, especially since the geese are also in the process of reclaiming their territory. Regardless, this summer has forced me to slow down and appreciate the U of A just a little bit more. School actually feels like a place to think, wander, and talk, rather than just another deadline I’m failing to meet.

During the fall and winter, it feels like school is reduced to checkpoints. Lecture, assignment, exam, applications, network. Campus just felt like a place to pass through. The summer exposes what is lost during the rest of the year.

I hope people bring pieces of the summer into the next academic year. By starting anew and taking the time to think and appreciate life more, campus can remain calmer. I hope to see people chewing slower, slowing their steps, and making sure to take a second to breathe.