Back on Campus

Last month when I was in Kingston working for the Kingston Canadian Film Festival and visiting my sister, I took the time to go for a little stroll through my old alma mater – Queen’s University.

It was a little bizarre to be there and see all the students heading to class. That was me just three short years ago.

Despite the ridiculously cold weather here in the winter, I really loved this campus with its big old limestone buildings.

I used to go here to study in Douglas Library. On the third floor there is a big study hall that looks like something right out of Harry Potter.

The high vaulted ceilings, large stain glass windows and dark wood tables and chairs really added to the ambiance. I can’t tell you how many hours I spent in this room….doozing off while trying to read my textbooks.

And this building brings back lots of memories of racing up those stairs to get to class on time. Sometimes I even made it ; )

Not all of the buildings are limestone, but they still have great architectual features. Walking through campus always gave me a real sense of history and the people who came to learn here before us.

This is where I spent most of my time, in the Film Studies department at the Film House. I worked on the main floor of the building on the right in the administrative office, I had classes on the left side, talked to profs in their offices on the second floor (caught some zzz’s in the lounge area there) and then edited films on the third floor.

Theological Hall has always been one of my favorite buildings at Queen’s. The entrance and large convocation hall have so much drama, which seems appropriate considering that the drama department is housed here ; )

This is the oldest building on campus, Summerhill and at one point the villa housed the entire university in the mid-1800s. Now it serves as the official residence of the Principal and as a location for hosting special guests and official dinners. As a mere student I only ever got to sit under the trees on the lawn and read.

Now they have just built the new Queen’s center and to me it stands out like a sore thumb. Don’t get me wrong, I like modern buildings too, but I love the old feel to this campus and I don’t want to see that go away.