At Home in Tacoma

One of the great things about living next door to a university is that it’s a constant hub of activity, and Tacoma’s University of Puget Sound is no different. A small liberal arts school that prides itself on diversity and community, UPS’s open campus isn’t just for students to enjoy. Whether you’re into checking out art shows, taking in a football game (Go Loggers!) or just grabbing lunch from the cafeteria, UPS has plenty of opportunities that are open to the public!

Music: In the past few years, UPS has attracted some big name performers: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Ben Folds, O.A.R., and most recently, Hey Marseilles, to name a few. The campus is bursting at the seams with musical performances—world class pianists, student recitals, visiting jazz ensembles, and community groups all make up an eclectic calendar of events. There’s always something geared towards kids, too— recently, the Tacoma Symphony performed “The Wacky, Wild World of Percussion” and the Tacoma Youth Symphony shares their lively performance of “Peter and the Wolf” every few years.

Lectures: Among a wide variety of lectures on pretty much every topic imaginable (politics, technology, science, literary theory, you name it!), UPS has also hosted lecturers such as Hillary Clinton, Bill Cosby, Spike Lee, Michael Cunningham, Sherman Alexie, and most recently, Darby Stanchfield (‘93), one of the stars in ABC’s tv show “Scandal.”

Looking for something else? Here’s a long list of on-campus activities!

• Theater: Plays, musicals, operas, and one acts are all on the menu!
• Movies: $1 campus movie nights and free foreign film viewings are shown regularly.
• Art: Kittredge Gallery hosts art shows from artists from around the nation, as well as student art shows.
• Sports: From Ultimate Frisbee to track meets, the university always has some fun sporting event going on. Want to participate? The school’s Kayak Club Pool Session is open to community members, and no experience is necessary! Gear supplied, every Mon. & Thurs. 8 – 10pm at Wallace Pool.
• Lessons: Music lessons and swim lessons for kids are available on campus.
• Food: The public is welcome at the cafeteria, the underground pizza joint aptly known as The Cellar, and at Diversions Cafe and Oppenheimer Cafe.
• Community Events: Easter egg hunts, flea markets, the Tacoma Bike Swap and the annual Luau (a huge deal on campus… dance performances and a roasted pig are all part of the fun!) are all events to which to Tacoma community is invited!

You can visit the UPS Events Calendar for more information on other upcoming events.

Many campus events are free, or have a minimal charge. If tickets are required, they are available at the Wheelock Information Center (in the Student Union Building— just ask a student where the “SUB” is!) or you can visit ups.universitytickets.com.