Friday, August 10, 2018

A Guide to the HUB


HUB is short for Hetzel Union Building, but the name “HUB” truly conveys its importance in the life of a typical Penn State student.  The HUB is almost directly in the middle of campus and truly serves as a center of activity as well. Many students at Penn State use the HUB as a place to hang out and catch up with friends.  Others enjoy studying and listening to the buzz of everyone around, or grab a bite to eat.

Offices
The HUB serves as the location for some club offices on campus.  You may need to go to the HUB for things like turning in club dues, reporting club expenses, etc.

Food
Of course, the HUB is known for its name-brand food places like Starbucks, Panda Express, Jamba Juice, and Chick-fil-A.  These can be a great treat, but be sure to keep spending at the HUB to a minimum. Another tip: the line for the Starbucks in the bookstore is usually much shorter than the one on the first floor.  Also note that lines for food during the “typical” lunch hours (right after the 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. classes let out) are extremely long! If you can, try to get to your favorite spot right before classes let out or wait a little bit and head over afterwards.


Library
If you’re spending some time at the HUB but need a quiet place to work, try out the HUB library! The library is a quaint little area on the second floor, that is a nice break from the bustle of the HUB.  It’s tucked away near the Freeman Auditorium down Art Alley.

Involvement Fair
One of my favorite memories on HUB lawn, was hearing the passionate cries of the Polish Club during the involvement fair: “Are you Polish? Do you want to be Polish?” Another great memory was passing the Spanish Club table.  I remember seeing a student sitting on the table next to their poster board. He had his foot in a cast up on the table and a crutch under his arm. Right as I passed him, he said, in a very serious voice, “Spanish Clurrbbbb.”  On August 6, Team M will have even more information on the involvement fair--how to find clubs, get on their email lists, and find a group of people you will really love!

Weekends
After spending some time studying, the HUB offers a place to relax on the weekends.  Every
Thursday and Friday the HUB offers new movies for students to kick back and enjoy.  Last year, a group of friends and I went to see Thor Ragnarok in Eisenhower Auditorium, which was hilarious!
Another free adventure my friend group embarked upon was laser tag in Freeman Auditorium.  If you keep an eye out for events, the HUB is sure to make your weekend a blast!

A close friend of mine is also very invested in the swing dancing they have in the HUB on certain Saturday nights. She actually inspired me to take Ballroom Dancing as my GHA this semester!  Because of that, I hope to join her in dancing the night away on those weekends.

Quite opposite swing dancing, HUB lawn is a great place to go sledding if you happened to bring a sled up to campus, or would like to buy one online for a fun weekend activity.  While sledding last year, my friend group actually had a really nice conversation with two alum who told us they used to do the same exact thing!

If you want more tips on weekends at the HUB, check out Team J’s post on HUB activities!


Outside of day-to-day activities, the HUB has some awesome stuff to do during Welcome Week and Finals Week.During Welcome Week, the HUB is the location for things from talent shows to outdoor concerts.  Last year, I was able to watch a few gymnasts do some great stunts and see KYLE perform right outside the HUB. I definitely enjoyed the atmosphere and would recommend going to Welcome Week events with new roommates and potentially new friends, it is a great way to bond! I also remember being able to relax a bit at the HUB when they held yoga on the lawn, along with a few other stress-relieving activities like coloring and making some healthy yogurt parfaits.During finals week this past semester, the HUB held more events, including a station to make your own bamboo arrangement! I happily added the new member to my growing plant family.

The HUB is clearly a great place for any type of activity, and I’m sure you’ll be spending plenty of time as a Penn State student!

By: Ann Lipinski (Envoy Team L) 


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