Mount Royal University: Student life on campus

Unofficial school motto: ‘Small school, big heart’
Best place for a nap: Pretty much anywhere in the library
Best lunch: The Table. The cafeteria-style dining means there’s something for everyone and all of it is delicious!
Perks of living in this town: Other than the serious lack of public transit, Calgary is pretty perfect. Proximity to Banff and the Kananaskis is definitely a perk.
Best place to study: The Riddell Library and Learning Centre. The third and fourth floors are the best for quiet studying, but you could pick a different spot to study every day and never run out of choices.
Best resources: The maker studio, immersion studio and the audio production rooms—all in the new library. Have I mentioned
how incredible it is?
Best campus event: Any event that takes place in the Visualization Lounge or the library in general is bound to be amazing
Best giveaway: Scholarships and the Good Food Box
Best live music venue: The brand new renowned Mount Royal Bella Concert Hall

PROFILE: Mount Royal University | Calgary, Alta. | Founded 1910

University Insider: Leah Laidlow, 25, English

Mount Royal University is no castle—but it’s where I found my prince. This means my outlook on Mount Royal is a little fairy tale-esque. First of all, it’s a family school. I followed in my brother’s footsteps to the school and soon became known by students and teachers alike as “little Gregson.”

Meanwhile, my father-in-law is the main IT man. He’s indispensable to the inner workings of the school, including the new Riddell Library and Learning Centre. Thanks to him, I recently received a behind-the-scenes tour of the epic and innovative library. You have got to check it out!

I’m a small-town girl, and so a small school with a big heart is exactly what I was looking for in a university. I’m sure you’ve heard that the class sizes are small—it’s kind of a big deal to us. Most professors still take attendance because at Mount Royal, we believe that you need to be present in order to learn something. Not only are the classes small, but the campus is as well. It’s easy to navigate (especially when you’ve learned about the hidden stairwells and doorways) and I never have to worry about getting from one class to another with only a ten-minute break.

Extras
Clubs Days never ceases to amaze me with the multitude of extracurricular fun that is available for students. The Mount Royal University Ski Club recently broke the world record for largest Nerf gun battle.
SAMRU (Mount Royal’s Student Association) maintains a lively and vibrant atmosphere in Wyckham House where there is literally something for everyone. There are also Wellness Services and the Multi-faith Chaplaincy office if you just need someone to talk to.
I highly recommend taking a class with brilliant literature prof Kenna Olsen, but if there’s no room in your schedule, catch one of her seminar presentations in the Ideas Visualization Lounge. Brad Rennie’s Outstanding Lives course follows the relationship between C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien—it’s a must-take class for any fellow fantasy nerd!

Local Vibe
Can I hear a “yahoo”? Home of the world-famous Calgary Stampede, Calgary’s vibe is just a little bit Western (which is great for my small-town heart). Mayor Naheed Nenshi, however, is doing his darnedest to increase the city’s “cool” factor. If you haven’t heard, he was awarded the World Mayor Prize in 2015. Oh, and did I mention he emerged into politics from none other than Mount Royal University’s Bissett School of Business?

The Skinny
Visit the student union’s website (samru.ca) for campus news and events.

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