Survival 101: A beginners guide to Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University

By Krystin Nichols
Western Herald

Western Michigan University, though smaller in enrollment size than Michigan State University or the University of Michigan, can be overwhelmingly large to a new student.

Adjusting to college life is never an easy task. Whether you are struggling to budget yourself, make new friends in an unfamiliar place or just keep your grades up, chances are you could use a tip or two to help you get by.

•Welcome Week and Bronco Bash are great for college students. Welcome Week activities for first years familiarize them with the campus, as well as allow them to be introduced to Greek life, other freshmen and get free stuff galore.

•Ask a friend who may live in your residence hall to give you a tour of the campus. Though orientation covers this, you may still feel nervous about finding classes.

•Never walk on the “W” by the library; you will fail your classes!

•The Bernhard Center is great for not only book buying, but also dinner and a study spot. The library can sometimes be too quiet so curling up in a chair at Bigby Coffee may suit you perfectly.

•The bank is located in the basement of the Bernhard Center next to the computer lab and Subway.

•There are five ATMs conveniently located on WMU’s main campus. The Bernhard Center main entrance, the lower level of the Bernhard Center, Miller Auditorium, Waldo Library and at the corner of Gilkinson Ave. and N. Dormitory Rd.

While being at college is for studying and making good grades, there is also nothing wrong with having fun. Though Kalamazoo is not the largest city, there is plenty around to make your social life exciting.

•Den Pops. You have not experienced the true Kalamazoo/WMU life without having made a trip to the local Den party store and coming up with a wonderful concoction for our 65 cent Den Pop.

Yes, you read that correctly. 32 oz. and 44 oz. of any pop you want for under a dollar.

For those of you who are not quite 21—don’t worry; Kalamazoo also has plenty for you to do; many of the clubs and bars in Kalamazoo do 18 and older nights.

•    Wayside Wednesdays—Wayside West, a popular bar/club, in Kalamazoo hosts college night every Wednesday. There is no cover with your WMU student ID—drink specials start at 9 p.m. and the DJ starts at 10 p.m. They offer 50 cent beers and great entertainment with a huge dance floor. If dancing is your thing, Wayside is the place to go.

•    Burdick’s half off deals—Burdick’s Bar and Grill, located conveniently downtown inside the Radisson hotel, offers great student specials every Wednesday and Sunday. With a valid student ID, all students will receive half off drinks and food all day long. The food menu, though limited, has quite an array of choices. Burdick’s is a great place to go to hang out with friends to watch the game or just relax as it has a very laid back atmosphere.

•    Y-Bar in Kalamazoo— located right next to campus in Campus Pointe Plaza, offers college night on Thursdays. No cover with student ID with $3 call drinks and $6 martinis along with a great DJ and dancing all night.

•    The Grotto at Capone’s— also located at Campus Pointe Plaza, it is a restaurant and a bar and is known for the deep dish Chicago style and traditional pizza. They have 24 beers on tap and over 30 TVs to watch any sport you want, as well as pool tables. There is never a cover charge at Grotto and specials go until 1 a.m. Though Grotto does not do 18 and over nights, they do offer half off pizza and pasta every Sunday until 10 p.m. for all college students with valid student IDs.

•    Located directly on WMU’s main campus and named after our very first President is Waldo’s Campus Tavern. Waldo’s offers free pool every Wednesday, Study Hall everyday from 3-6 p.m. with drink specials as well as the very popular buck burgers and mixed drink pitchers every Thursday night.

•    University Roadhouse— located just a few feet away from Waldo’s on WMU’s campus. Roadhouse has live music every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday as well as a DJ every Thursday with great drink specials and food.

•    Wild Bull Saloon in downtown Kalamazoo – offers college night on Wednesday’s with live music and late night dancing. Cover is $5 after 9 p.m. unless you have a college ID. Thursday’s at Wild Bull is 18 and over.  Under-21 cover is $8 and 21 and over is $5 cover. Wild Bull offers no cover with a dinner purchase and free parking after 5 p.m.

Many students, especially in their first year of college, do not have a car to go grocery shopping. Kalamazoo offers free bussing to anywhere in the city you may need to go and pick you up right on main campus. Whether you have a car or have to take the bus, grocery stores are right next door.

•    Meijer—there are three located in the Kalamazoo/Portage area. West Main, Gull Road and South Westnedge. During Fall Welcome, Meijer also offers Meijer Mania where students can hop on a bus and receive a live DJ show, coupons and free food.

•    Walmart—if you’re someone who likes to save and prefers to stretch your dollar, Walmart may be the place for you. There are two Walmarts in the Kalamazoo/Portage area:Gull Road and 9th Street.

•    For those students who are into more organic foods you may want to try visiting Sawall Health Foods on Oakland Drive, D&W Food Center on Parkview Ave. and Hardings Market Place on W. Centre Ave.

There is a little bit of everything in the great city of Kalamazoo, and nothing is ever too far—everything you need is within 25 minutes of Kalamazoo.

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Posted by HeraldAdmin on Aug 29 2010. Filed under Breaking, Campus, Local, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

Cody Kimball
Web Manager: I'm a Communication Student at WMU, a SCUBA Diver, Boater, Ordained Minister, Notary Public, Web Designer, Film Maker, DJ, and of course a Journalist. Born and raised in Port Huron, MI and a graduate of SC4. http://www.codykimball.com