University

Mount Allison: student life on campus

An insider’s guide to the best hangover breakfast, place to study and more

The 411

Best place for a nap:
Mary Mellish Room on the third floor of the library
Best cheap lunch:
Song’s
Best hangover breakfast:
Patterson’s Diner
Favourite campus food:
Muffins from the Flying Bean
Best bar for hanging out with friends:
Ducky’s
Best place to live:
Anywhere along Bridge Street
Best pizza:
Napul’è
Best place to study:
R.P. Bell Library, on the second or third floors
Best place for a fancy meal:
Joey’s
Best weekend activity:
Walking in Waterfowl Park
Weirdest tradition:
Constant references to ducks. They’re all over town!
Best campus event:
Lettuce Eat, a free community soup meal organized by Mount Allison Eco Action Society. Yum!
Best giveaway:
Coffee and snacks in the library during exam season
Best live music venue:
Thunder and Lightning Ltd.
The thing that surprised me most about the school:
The tight-knit community, especially between the town of Sackville and the university

READ: The inside scoop from small-town New Brunswick

I was greeted by dancing students in bright yellow T-shirts and face paint the first time I ever visited Sackville, which was move-in day of what is affectionately referred to as O-Week here at Mount Allison. This, in my experience, encapsulates the attitude of the school toward newcomers: welcoming, warm and sincerely excited for you to be here.

A huge part of Mount Allison’s culture starts in its student residences. There are eight different houses and halls, each with their own atmosphere but with a common goal: to create a sense of community between students both within and outside their respective residences. In addition to residences, there are so many different clubs, societies and other initiatives to get involved with, including intramural sports, academic executives, volunteering in the community and student media. The best way to get the most out of your time in Sackville is to simply take part in life here.

One of Mount Allison’s biggest strengths is its ability to offer small classes, which creates deeper and more engaging discussion and develops closer relationships with professors and other students. This also gives professors more chances to meet with students outside of class time if necessary. There are also many opportunities for TA-ship or independent study, sometimes as early as second year. You’d be unlikely to have those options at larger schools.

After Class
While Mount A is home to an extraordinarily spirited student body (come to Homecoming to see it in action), the true community is made up of more than just students. The campus is intrinsically connected to the town of Sackville. Wherever you go, you can’t help but be greeted by familiar faces of peers, professors and others. Coming from a big city, I found it was a little nerve-wracking to move to such a small town, but there are many fantastic attributes to life here. You can’t help but feel like you’re part of this community.

Local Vibe
Sackville is the definition of walkable. You can get from one end of town to the other in about 20 minutes, no wheels necessary. Downtown is home to several independent businesses—no Starbucks here!—from art galleries to coffee shops to restaurants, so there’s no need to worry about sacrificing “civilization” or amenities for mobility. The Saturday farmers’ market is a big deal, especially in the warmer months. We’re also close to hiking and backpacking trails along the Bay of Fundy and Hopewell Rocks, as well as running trails and boardwalks in Waterfowl Park, located steps from campus.

More Info
The best way to keep up on events on campus and in town is to read our independent student newspaper, the Argosy, founded in 1872 and available online or in print all over campus and in some businesses downtown.

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