We went straight to the source, Stevie Pointer, to get the inside scoop on life at UW-Stevens Point. From favorite campus hangouts to must-visit local spots, consider this your official guide to living like a Pointer!
Q: What is the best building on campus and why?
Stevie Pointer (SP): "The Chem Bio Building is hands-down one of the coolest spots on campus! It feels like a mini tropical getaway where you can see plants from all over the world!"
Venture to the Chemistry Biology Building for a tropical oasis, no matter the season, in the Tropical Conservatory. Featuring a variety of biomes, water features, and a green wall, the conservatory is the perfect spot to relax. If you have a good book to read, the Chem Bio Building has dedicated study spaces on every floor. Grab a coffee from Common Ground Cafe while you explore!
Q: If someone could only see one thing on campus, what should they see?
SP: "You've got to check out the programs at the Allen F. Blocher Planetarium or the Arthur J. Pejsa Observatory!"
On clear nights, the observatory offers a close-up view of the night sky. Regardless of weather and atmospheric conditions, the planetarium offers a better understanding of our universe. Don't miss the annual laser light shows set to music, perfect for all ages!
Q: Where's the first place you take your friends and family when they visit?
SP: "I love taking friends and family for a walk around Schmeekle Reserve. It's such a beautiful spot right by campus!"
More than half of the UWSP campus is devoted to the 280-acre Schmeekle Reserve, a great spot to explore nature. The reserve offers five miles of trails, a visitor center, kayak and canoe rentals, and the Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame.
Q: Where's the best place to grab a bite on a budget?
SP: "My favorite place to grab a snack and coffee would either be Basement Brewhaus or Zest Bakery, which is just off-campus."
Visiting campus can work up an appetite. In the Dreyfus University Center, check out Basement Brewhaus, which doubles as a coffee shop and bar, with an array coffee drinks, beer, and wine. Enjoy free board games, borrow a book to read, or play a game of pool while you enjoy your drink. For a meal on wheels, check out Stevie's Food Truck! Most commonly found at Point Brewery, it has a rotating menu that serves snacks, beverages, or even full-course meals.
Q: What event do you look forward to every year?
SP: "The World's Largest Trivia Contest is a fun, unique experience."
Each year, there is an event that seeks to challenge the minds and endurance of all who dare to play. Hosted by 90FM, UW-Stevens Point student-run radio station, the World's Largest Trivia Contest is a 54-hour long competition, taking place every April, that keeps players searching for answers. Or check out local trivia nights at Guu's on Main, Graffiti's Sports Pub, District 1 Brewing Company, and more!
Q: What's your favorite hidden gem on campus?
SP: "The awesome art exhibitions at the Edna Carlsten Art Gallery."
When school is in session, stroll through rotating exhibits at the Edna Carlsten Art Gallery within the Noel Fine Arts Center. The gallery displays work by student and community artists. Keep enjoying the arts on campus - from music to theater and dance - in Jenkins Theatre or Michelsen Hall throughout the year.
UW-Stevens Point is also home to "E Pluribus Unum," a massive mural made with over 200,000 individual tiles, on the Trainer Natural Resources Building. Another public memorial mural, "The Ancestors Buried Below Us," by Christopher Sweet, features words and imagery to recognize where Native Americans from Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Oijibwe, and Potawatomi were buried on campus grounds before UW-Stevens Point was established.
Want more?
Check out more campus spots worth a visit. Looking for events both on and off campus? Check out our upcoming events page or things to do in the Stevens Point area! If you decide to visit one of the Insta-worthy spots mentioned, be sure to tag us @StevensPointArea and use the #StevensPointArea for a chance to be featured on our website!
