University

University of Saskatchewan: student life on campus

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

The 411

If I wrote the school motto:
“Most proud of our crops and cows”
Best place for a nap:
The window nooks in the Chelsea Library
Best place for a fancy meal:
Primal, an Italian restaurant with handmade pasta
Best cheap lunch:
Choices cafeteria in St. Thomas More College
Best hangover breakfast:
Hometown Diner
Favourite campus food:
The fries at Louis’ Pub
Best bar for hanging out:
Melody Bar
Best place to live:
Anywhere near the Saskatchewan River
Best place to study:
The Gordon Oakes Red Bear Student Centre
Best pizza:
Christies Il Secondo for thin crust or Red Swan Pizza if you’re ordering in
Weirdest tradition:
The pranks between the students in agriculture and engineering. At one time, it consisted of kidnapping the college deans. Now it takes the form of a large-scale water balloon fight.
Best campus event:
Global Village, an annual intercultural event hosted by student groups
Best giveaway:
Weekly soup and bannock provided by the Aboriginal Students’ Centre
Best live music venue:
Amigos Cantina
If I could change one thing about the school:
Expand the underground pedestrian tunnels to connect to every building

PROFILE: University of Saskatchewan | Saskatoon, Sask. | Founded 1907

The University of Saskatchewan has a quintessential campus, with a large, grassy courtyard—lovingly called “the Bowl”—surrounded by Gothic-style buildings that provide that perfect post-secondary aesthetic.
Although it is a member of the U15 Group of Canadian Research Universities, the U of S still maintains the welcoming vibe that you would expect from a smaller campus. From instructors to the administration, everyone at the U of S tends to be approachable and takes a genuine interest in students—likely due to that Prairie mentality.

Situated on Treaty 6 territory and the homeland of the Métis, the U of S stands out from other universities because of its commitment to reconciliation, most notably through the efforts to better support Indigenous students and incorporate Indigenous knowledge into programs and courses. The campus community celebrates its diversity. For instance, there are extracurricular activities like Building Bridges, which aims to develop relationships and cultural understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.

Access to some of the top research facilities in Canada creates opportunities for U of S students. They can work or specialize in areas like agriculture, energy and mineral resources, and water security. But even if you are considering a program outside of these focus areas, rest assured the U of S maintains the same quality across the board.

Whether you are looking for a school with plenty of research opportunities or an inviting place to call home for four years, the U of S has something for everyone.

After Class
With the Merlis Belsher Place sports facility now open, both Huskie athletes and spectators are enjoying the spacious new rink as a much-needed upgrade from the aging Rutherford Rink. However, if you are more interested in skating for leisure, we have that covered, too. The Rink in the Bowl has all the nostalgia of an outdoor community rink with much better scenery—picture yourself gliding across the ice while admiring the frost-covered oak trees and greystone buildings. It’s not a bad way to pass the time in winter.

Local Vibe
Saskatoon was named No. 18 of the 52 places to go in 2018 by the New York Times. Admittedly, it was mostly due to the new art museum on the riverfront and its Picasso gallery. But the city is booming with restaurants offering everything from multicultural cuisine to locally sourced specialties. For nightlife, the choices are more limited as the main options for dancing are between either the country bars or the gay bars. If that’s not your scene, you can always try your luck with the bands playing at Amigos or Louis’.

More Info
Stay up to date with everything happening on campus and in the city by checking out the student newspaper, the Sheaf.

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