With a seemingly infinite amount of new developments, our campus is sprouting like mad. If you were away from campus this summer, there's no doubt that a few changes have caught your eye upon returning. To keep you up to date and hip with the rest of the youths, here are some new UBC treats and changes that have arrived in the past four months.
Waffles and pancakes in the Nest
Now there's no excuse to skip the most important meal of the day. Heck, you can even have breakfast for every meal now because Uppercase will be serving waffles dripping with strawberry and blueberry compote, maple syrup and whipped cream. If your weakness is the soft and spongy #TeamPancake, then don’t worry as you'll also be able to get your fix from Flipside.
Bus loop and “Next Bus” text service changes
Another year, another Translink change. This time, we are going to have to text 333-33 (or “Bae” as it’s named on my phone since it always responds right away) with both the stop and the route number. Only then will it give us the next departure times for that specific bus — an inconvenience that we will all no doubt complain about, but then get used to after a few months.
You may be also quivering in your own sweat and tears at the UBC bus loop, panicking in the absence of the 44, 84 and 25 bus stops. Well, we've got news for you. UBC now effectively has not one, not two, but three bus loops now. The 44 and 84 have been relocated outside the SRC in the formerly sad and vacant loop between Walter Gage Residence and the Old SUB. The 25, however, has been moved down Wesbrook Mall toward Shopper's Drugmart for no immediately apparent reason.
Bubble tea in the Nest
That’s right. Our prayers to the Mother of Pearl have been answered as the student-named P.H. Tea has opened beside Peko Peko. Got an aching sweet tooth? The only thing doctors at P.H. Tea prescribe is a nice, refreshing cup of tea – bubbled, not stirred.
Tall Wood Building nearly done
Ahead of schedule, it looks like Brock Commons — or the “Tall Wood Building,” as students have affectionately been calling it — will be ready to rumble starting late spring of 2017. At 18 stories of relatively fireproof sustainability, the student residence is slated to be one of the tallest wooden buildings in the world. Well deserving of its nickname, but also just so pretty.
Musqueam totem pole
Speaking of tall wood structures, perhaps you've noticed the new totem pole just in front of the Bookstore? Carved by the talented Brent Sparrow Jr., the post we have all seen in passing actually represents the origin story of the Musqueam by way of the two-headed serpent. Everything the dangerous “serpent passed over [had] died and from its droppings bloomed a new plant, the məθkʷəy̓. For this reason, the people of long ago named that place xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam – place of the məθkʷəy̓).”
UBC eSports champion ads
In celebration of our UBC eSports team — the best collegiate team in all of North America — coming in first place at the University League of Legends (uLOL) Campus series, Riot Games has put up billboards all over campus congratulating the humble champions. It’s a little depressing that UBC itself hasn’t shown as much support for the underdog sports that is gaming, but hopefully that will change soon — especially if our eSports team keeps being as OP as it is. GG, team!
New aquatic centre almost here
After months of jackhammers, cranes and tall gates, the aquatic centre right in front of the bus loop will be wrapping up construction by November of this year. Just in time too, because it looks like the centre will be seeing some good use in the future from our ever-improving pod of Olympic mermaids and mermen.
Gallery 2.0
Out with the pricey Perch restaurant and in with the nostalgic Gallery 2.0. Although the selection may be “remarkably uninspired,” the price is reasonable and paired with a rooftop patio and gorgeous views. We'll choose to remain cautiously optimistic about the revival of the original, beloved Gallery.
Library Garden to be revitalized outside Irving
You may have also noticed the fenced-off area right in front of Irving. This is going to be the new space for Library Garden and the Indian Residential Schools History and Dialogue Centre that's to be completed in 2018. Along with the previously mentioned Musqueam post, it's refreshing to see all of the recent steps taken to further strengthen the relationship between UBC and the Musqueam people.
Santa O-yes!
If you still haven’t heard, then you must be living in the North Pole because just about everyone is raving about our new fearless leader, President Santa Ono. Equipped with his radical bow ties, this crowd-surfing hero is known for freezing undergraduate tuition in his last school — the University of Cincinatti — by refusing to accept a salary increase for two years. He gets up at 4:30 a.m. to respond to student tweets and I’m pretty sure the only time he’s made anyone cry is when he had to say goodbye to his past students.
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