Lewis University Navigator Blogs

Broadcast Journalism is my decided major. Even though at Lewis, Broadcast Journalism is not one of the biggest majors offered it is still an amazing program. All of the staff and professors that teach the classes give you lots of attention so you really understand all of the material. The class sizes are really small, so that means a lot of one-on-one time with the teachers. For example, I am currently in a class called Intro to Television, which is taught by John Kilpatrick. The class consists of 7 students. I have already learned quite a bit of information about the business of Broadcast Journalism. Intro to Television is a hands on class. The class is student run, so that means the students are the news anchors, the camera worke,r and the production workers. During the semester you learn how to work pretty much all of the machines and the positions, so everyone gets a little taste of what the real life experience would be like.

The professors that teach the classes in Broadcast Journalism are great. We students get to work with a lot of equipment that some of the big stations use. Also ABC 7 was very generous and donated equipment in the studio, such as the setting for the news, a news truck, and other things for the studio. If you have any questions about the program feel free to leave a comment or contact the department of communications for further information.

Hey guys!! There are a lot of things to do on campus, but one of the most widely diverse and exciting activities is participating in on campus intramurals. I myself have participated in two so far but have watched and cheered for many others. Intramurals are all different kinds of sports, including dodgeball, soccer, volleyball, football, and many others, that allow students to play these sports in a relatively non competitive way. All you have to do is get a team together and have a captain attend the captain’s meeting. There is a coordinatior who makes the schedule, and you just have to show up to play!! I have participated in soccer and am currently playing dodgeball.  

Worried about not being athletic or good enough to play? Our soccer team ended up losing every game, but we had a ton of fun making matching team shirts playing our hardest. The dodgeball team I am on now is pretty good. We have a lot of fun and again made team shirts and bandanas. Dodgeball is really cool because everyone makes it to the championship round. I do not consider myself to be athletic, but I really enjoy having fun while playing and hanging out with my dodgeball team. I sometimes question why I even played dodgeball because my friends tease about how easy I startle, but I really do have a lot of fun!! LOTS of people come to watch the games too. Just because you are not playing doesn’t mean that you can’t watch friends play! It can be like a huge party when a bunch of people come. When I first came to Lewis and others were talking about joining intramurals, I figured that it just wasn’t something for me, but I have seriously enjoyed every game that I have played with the intramural program here at Lewis!

It was Tuesday and I had just finished my classes for the day. As usual, I headed over to my favorite spot for lunch: The Courtyard Cafe. It’s specialty in delicious sandwiches makes it a popular spot for Lewis students for lunch or breakfast.

Located in De La Salle Hall, The Courtyard Cafe is a convenient choice to Lewis students that live on the southern end of campus. It’s variety of seating, from comfortable couches to tall bar chairs, encourages students to do anything from hang out with friends to simply grab a quick bite and study in between classes.

Walking in, the familiar hubbub of the enclosed serving area greeted me. The style of The Courtyard is reminiscent of a typical cafe: warm colors, cozy atmosphere, and comfortable seating. After looking through the menu of sandwiches and salads, I settled on the Chicken BLT with chipotle mayo on Tuscan bread. I quickly placed my order, grabbed some chips and relaxed on the couch that they have for people waiting for their orders. The wait was about 10 minutes because I chose to get my sandwich toasted.

Looking at my sandwich, I saw a generous amount of chicken and bacon. They were both covered in great quality melted cheese. The lettuce was crisp and the tomatoes were fresh. The chipotle mayo was delicious and really tied the sandwich together.

After my meal, I decided to treat myself to one of the specialties at the Courtyard Cafe: the Italian sodas. I picked out Sierra Mist with raspberry syrup. The employee mixed the two with creme and handed it over. It was a great mix of sweetness with the tang of raspberry and a perfect end to my meal.

Final Verdict:

Atmosphere gets 5 out of 5 Bedchecks. The cozy chairs and friendly feel really adds to the comfortable cafe ambiance.

Cleanliness gets 5 out of 5 Bedchecks. The kitchen staff all wear gloves, hats, and the tables are wiped down regularly.

Food gets 4 out of 5 Bedchecks. It was delicious and very well prepared: much better than what I expect school food to taste like.

Service gets 4 out of 5 Bedchecks. The employees are good at their jobs, however, the cashier can get backed up if they don’t open another lane.

Prices get 4 out of 5 Bedchecks. They are a bit high, but that is to be expected from a college food service.

All in all, I give The Courtyard 4 out of 5 Bedchecks. The food is great and you will soon find yourself making it your favorite lunch spot on campus.

Hi guys! We are nearing the end of a week and anxiously awaiting Thanksgiving next week. This has been a busy week at Lewis. On Sunday, our Lewis University Women’s Volleyball team captures the GLVC conference Tournament beating Indianapolis in 4 games. It was a great win after they lost to Indianapolis in the championship game last year. We all are really proud of them! As for school, this week was registration week for classes in the spring. Here our registration order is done according to how many credits you have and is done online or you can go register in person in the Registrar’s office. 

As for looking ahead, we go on Thanksgiving break on Wednesday, as Wednesday is the last day of classes for the week. To help those less fortunate have a good Thanksgiving on Tuesday, some friends and I are going to a local shelter to help distribute food to families. This volunteer program along with many others is lead by our campus ministry. Our ministry offers great opportunities to become involved in our community. Lewis is also providing transportation which is great because it allows everyone the opportunity to participate if they live on campus and do not have a car. I am really excited to help out. I wish all of the Happy Thanksgiving as we reflect on what we are thankful for! Have a good week!

Hey everyone!! Hope you have a had a great week!! Last weekend I participated in a weekend retreat called Koinoia. It was a great way to get off campus, relax, have REALLY good food, and meet new friends! Friday, we left for the LaSalle Manor, not knowing how great of weekend it was going to be. While at the manor, we participated in group reflections, small group discussions, and free time. During free time many of us played kick ball, while others walked around and canoed. Later groups of us played group card games like Mow and Mafia. There were a lot of other activities that took place but cannot explain because of how special they were!! I just keep telling people to go and as our leaders told us at the begining of the trip, “Expect the unexpected”. By the end of the retreat I was very refreshed and made SO many new friends! It was a really great experience!

As a freshman there are many opportunities to join a variety of clubs and organizations. I played volleyball all through out my life and for a while it was my life. I decided not to play at the college level, but I was still looking for something to fulfill what was missing because I still have the passion for the sport. A couple of weeks ago Lewis started a Women’s Club Volleyball team, and I decided to join. I thought of the team as a good opportunity to get my hands back on a volleyball, meet new people, and of course stay in shape. As of right now we have about 30 girls which will eventually turn into two teams, a competitive team and a recreational team. We will also be working along side of the Men’s Club Volleyball team which started last year. The season does not start until January, but we have already started preparing for the season with open houses. We will also be trying to start to put together more matches on campus because most of our tournaments are out of state. They are out of state because our conference is the Midwest.

Club volleyball is for both competitive people and non competitive because of the range of experience on the team. Some of the girls have played all their lives like me and some haven’t touched a volleyball since middle school. I am very excited to see how the season plays out. I hope everything goes really smoothly, we have fun, and hopefully win a couple of matches!

One of the most popular questions asked on my tours is about the food. Parents want to make sure their soon-to-be college kids are going to be well fed…and for good reason! Short of actually trying the food for themselves, I decided: what better way of getting to know Lewis food than through a food review?

It was Monday night, and I was taking a break from studying for an Econ test. It was getting late and I wanted something more fulfilling than a microwavable meal or a cold sandwich from the convenience store. Around here, there is one place on campus that immediately comes to mind when we think “late dinner”: Grill 155, better known as “The Den.” Its reputation stems from the fact that it is open until midnight every day of the week.

Located in the lower level of the Student Union, The Den is a favorite among Lewis students craving something delicious and greasy. Upon entering, one picks up on the fun, laid back ambiance of a burger joint. Because of its location, sounds of billiards balls, arcade games, and laughter provide the atmosphere for your meal.

After looking over the menu of chicken sandwiches, hot dogs, nachos, and hot beef sandwiches, I settled on the special: The Angus BLT Ranch Burger. I also decided on some fries and chicken wings to go with it. The stocky Italian guy with an accent further added to the burger joint feel that was almost too perfect. He didn’t keep me waiting too long and was quick in getting my order in.

While I was waiting, I chose a fountain drink to go with my meal. The Den is one of the select few locations in America where Pepsi chose to test one of their new vending machines. Its touch screen allows you to mix different flavors with popular Pepsi products. I poured out my regular: lemonade with raspberry.

I got my food after a 5-10 minute wait. Burgers usually take a bit longer because they are grilled. Looking over my order, I saw a decent sized burger loaded with bacon, cheese, lettuce, tomato, and ranch sauce. After my first bite, I decided that it tasted just as good as it looked. The beef was good quality and had the taste of actual meat (unlike the substitutes we have all gotten all too used to.) The toppings were fresh and the bacon was delicious.

Although the burger was big enough to satisfy most people, I moved on to the fried additions to my meal because I am a college student and like to enjoy my speedy metabolism while I have it. The fries were well seasoned and served as a great addition to the Angus BLT. This time they came out crispy (just the way I like them). The six chicken wings were delicious, and the buffalo and ranch dipping sauces I chose complimented them nicely.

Sitting back and loosening my belt after my meal, I thought about my previous experiences here. In my three years at Lewis, The Den has been the reliable option. Their food has always been consistent and the service decent. I have never been left waiting to order my food or pay. The wait can be a bit longer, which is why I like to stress that it is a “burger joint” not a “fast food” place on my tours.

Another perk of Grill 155 is that if you’re in the mood for dessert, or just want to make the healthier choice, it is located in the same area as the NRgize Cafe. Because of my aversion to lactose (and/or “healthy food”) I’m not a regular, but from the smoothies I’ve shared with friends, I’d say that they are delicious and made with fresh ingredients.

Final Verdict:

Atmosphere gets 4 out of 5 Bedchecks. It is loud, fun, and a great place to go with friends for a good meal, arcade games, and laughs.

Cleanliness gets 5 out of 5 Bedchecks. The kitchen staff all wear gloves, hair nets, and the tables are wiped down regularly.

Food gets 5 out of 5 Bedchecks. It all tasted great and is well above what I expect school food to taste like.

Service gets 4 out of 5 Bedchecks. The employees are good at their jobs and won’t delay in getting your order in.

Prices get 4 out of 5 Bedchecks. They are a bit high, but that is to be expected from a college food service.

All in all, I give The Den 4.5 out of 5 Bedchecks. The food is great and you will find yourself going back again and again. I know I do!

Ask any Lewis student, and they would respond to what a great Halloween week we had! On Friday night (October 29th) our women’s volleyball hosted Maryville for their Halloween themed senior night. Fans came dressed in costumes to cheer on the Flyers to their sweep over Maryville. Prizes were awarded to top three best costumes and we all had fun dressing up and cheering for the girls. The win left the Flyers undefeated at home and are currently ranked 14th in the nation. Halloween on Sunday night, the Rec Center hosted a one night Halloween dodge ball tournament, in which costumes were mandatory. It was pretty funny seeing ninjas and ghosts playing some pretty competitive dodge ball.

This past weekend I also attended an Autism workshop. A workshop is 11 hour one credit course in which you attend usually a few hours on Friday and then during the day on Saturday. It was a great workshop as I learned a lot and got to meet a lot of other people who are in the same major as I am.

Now that it is November and the holidays are coming, the Rec Center just started a bunch of new workout classes (To avoid the holiday weight gain?). Today a bunch of us went to a 30 minute AB Lab. The classes are free and are a great workout! I know my abs are going to be sore tomorrow. The AB Lab is offered everyday as well as many other classes that I will be trying it which I will give you the update on! Have a great week!