Where all the cool people hang at USD

Check out these locations next time you’re on campus 

Mei Flory / Assistant Art & Culture Editor / The USD Vista

Welcome back, Toreros. With the sudden influx of new students who didn’t get the chance to explore much of campus while in lockdown, now is the perfect time to scope out some new study spots. Between on-campus restaurants, designated study spaces and casual lounges, here are some fun (and somewhat underrated) places to check out on campus.

Bert’s Bistro in Mother Rosalie Hill Hall

On the far end of campus near the Learning Commons and Copley Library is the School of Leadership and Education Studies (SOLES), otherwise known as Mother Rosalie. When entering the building, take a left down the hallway and stop by Bert’s Bistro. The lines are generally shorter than at Aromas or La Paloma, and one can get a nice view when they sit outside. The view of the valley is accompanied by a swift breeze that cools you down from the afternoon sun. And, since Bert’s is a bit more tucked away from the main campus, the noise levels are dramatically reduced.

Robert Lee, a USD senior, loves Bert’s atmosphere. 

“It’s a nice place to hang out with friends, and it’s the only restaurant on campus with a decent view. It reminds me that I live in San Diego,” Lee explained.

As for food options, Bert’s serves acai bowls, coffee, chicken tenders and various grilled foods such as sandwiches and burgers. The outside grill is quick and easy to spot when you step outside. The campus restaurant also updated their menu to include some Caribbean and Coastal African cuisine. Additionally, like the other restaurants on campus, students can pay for their meals with dining dollars or meal equivalencies. 

With the newly established Learning Commons up and running, students can cut across the street to grab lunch at Bert’s rather than make the semi-long trek to Aromas or the SLP. 

 UFMC in the Student Life Pavilion

On the fourth floor of the SLP is the United Front Multicultural Commons, or the UFMC. You  can take the elevator or stairs located near the dish return in the cafeteria or right outside Tu Mercado. This area was originally designed for students in multicultural organizations, but the area is open to all students who need a relaxed place to work. 

USD senior, Sydney Lee, loves the couches and chairs in the UFMC in particular. 

“If I wanna work and get stuff done, I have multiple ways of being comfortable,” Lee said. 

If the weather is nice, there’s also an outdoor seating area on the third floor of the SLP, right outside of the UFMC. 

The UFMC, which can also be referred to as the UF, offers students both a safe space and quiet area for studying. 

 The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, and the UFMC is as much an area to socialize as it is to study. 

As Reyn Yoshioka, USD junior and Executive Board member of one of the multicultural clubs on campus stated, “It’s super lit.”

Garden Behind the Shiley Center for Science and Technology

Right next to the Kroc Peace and Justice Institute (KIPJ) is the Shiley Center, which is where you’ll find almost all of the science classes (and STEM majors). 

But, not many people stick around for the fantastic views right behind the building. 

The Garden of the Sea may get all the attention, but the garden behind Shiley also serves as a nice getaway from the rest of campus. 

 Michelle Nguyen, USD senior and STEM major, loves the area. 

“It’s close to the place and people that I love, but it’s still secluded enough that it feels intimate…it’s a nice escape from the hustle and bustle of STEM life,” Nguyen said. 

The pathway behind Shiley is easy to spot and makes a loop around the back of the building. 

The garden can be accessed at any time of the day by taking the stairs to the left of Shiley. Or, if class ends and students don’t feel like walking back to their dorms, they can take the elevator on the left side of the main hall down to the first floor. From there, they can turn left at the heavy doors that lead to the outside area. 

Now that we’re back on campus, students can take advantage of all the spaces and resources USD offers its students and enjoy.