My Favorite Campus Places

Lynn Humiston '81—Bapst Library
My favorite place was in the “bowels” of Bapst Library. I always went to the basement of the library to study. I would frequently take a break and walk around the books on the saints that were stored down there and read about their lives. I must admit that upon reflection today, that time represented a continuous reaffirmation of my faith.

Danielle Hildebrandt '04—The Common Room in Cheverus Hall
Although it doesn't evoke the distinction and collegiate charm of Devlin or Gasson Hall, the common room in Cheverus Hall holds a special place in my heart, even years after the trials and tribulations of freshman year. It was more than a place to study or talk on the phone to your best friend from home in the middle of the night when you couldn't sleep; it was a space where almost everyone in the dorm seemed to unwind after classes and truly be themselves. Dressed in sweatpants and slippers, we indulged in bags of sour candy from McElroy and helped one another with calculus, chemistry, and charcoal drawings. When studying became too tiresome, someone would take a seat at the old piano and play a few songs from memory to enliven the crowd. Most of all, the common room was a place to escape your dorm room, curl up on the couch, and talk with your first college friend for hours on end about life, love, and dreams.

Geraldine Lauinger Moriarty '72, P'00,'03—Coming Full Circle
It was early morning on June 7, 2009. My husband and I had come back to Boston for a wedding and were staying in a hotel in Newton. I couldn’t sleep, so in the dawning light of this new day, I decided to go for a walk to the nearby Boston College campus. It had been 36 years since my graduation and I was curious to see what my old alma mater looked like after all these years. I parked my car near the main entrance on Commonwealth Avenue and began my stroll down memory lane. When I was a student here, there was no guardhouse at the main gate—the entrance, now, seemed much more official and prestigious. Read more of Geraldine's story.

Jeff Pelletier '94—Conte Forum Steps
It may not be the most scenic spot on the Heights, but one of my favorite places is the steps leading into Conte Forum outside of the band room. I spent a lot of time there during my undergraduate days with the band, and have a lot of random memories with friends and family on those steps. It was where we lined up to start our pre-game trek into the stadium, where we often had post-game performances, and where the high-brass line usually warmed up. It was also where the band gathered for an impromptu pep rally the year that BC upset #1 Notre Dame, when we met the team arriving back on campus late that night. I'm sure BC fans walk up those steps all the time without giving them a second thought, but images come flooding back to me every time I am there.