Westfield State University invites local residents to dine on campus, use indoor track, attend campus events
WESTFIELD, Mass.—Westfield State University welcomes the public to campus to enjoy discounted meals in its dining hall, walk the indoor track at the Woodward Center, and attend intercollegiate sports and cultural events, both on- and off-campus.
“I am pleased to invite area residents to engage in the life of Westfield State University through our various campus events, cultural programs, athletics facility, and to enjoy delicious meals in our dining commons,” said Westfield State University President Linda Thompson, DrPH, MPH, RN, FAAN. “Westfield State strives to continue to be a good neighbor, and part of that is warmly welcoming our friends in the community to campus—of course taking into consideration our COVID-19 safety precautions, given the current pandemic.”
Dining – 7 days a week
The Westfield community is invited to dine at Tim & Jeanne’s Dining Commons (DC) throughout the academic year at affordable prices. The DC offers breakfast with a classic breakfast menu featuring eggs and omelets to order, a parfait bar, a nature and fruit bar, sides, breads, pastries, and a full assortment of beverages including locally roasted coffee.
Lunch includes options from the deli, salad bar, and grill; pizzas, homemade desserts, pasta and sauces, homestyle meals, omelets to order, and a top-eight free-allergen station. Dinner options include the same options as lunch as well as a custom stir-fry and made-to-order sushi Monday through Wednesday. Weekends are a great option for brunch and every day offers “all you care to eat.”
Prices for the general public are $7.25 for breakfast, $9.25 for lunch/brunch/late night, and $10.25 for dinner. The DC is open Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. For a $7 deposit, diners can also take meals to go in a reusable container, return it, and WSU will wash it.
The Dining Team will celebrate the local community and offer a welcome back special of a $6 lunch (11 a.m.–3 p.m) from December 6–10. Simply mention this special to the cashier for discounted pricing.
The Dining Commons is a great place for groups to gather and enjoy a meal, play cards, or socialize with the community. If you would like to reserve a table for your group to dine and meet, please contact Dining at dining@westfield.ma.edu.
Follow Dining on social media to celebrate special events and theme days. Visit @Westfield State Dining on Instagram and Facebook.
Woodward Center and Westfield State Athletics
The University’s indoor track at the Woodward Center encompasses the basketball and volleyball courts and can be used by Westfield residents Monday through Friday, 7–9 a.m.
For updated news about the Westfield State Owls teams, which compete in 18 sports at the NCAA Division III level as members of the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC), visit https://www.westfieldstateowls.com/
Westfield on Weekends and cultural performances
This fall, a series of live musical performances by Westfield State students are scheduled at the Westfield on Weekends Creative Arts Center at 105 Elm St. The series, “From Beethoven to Broadway,” continues with events on Nov. 19 and Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. Masks are required. For more information about the University’s many performances, visit https://www.westfield.ma.edu/academics/music-department/performance-calendar
Westfield State’s Theatre Arts production of “Marisol,” by Puerto Rican playwright José Rivera will be performed during Puerto Rican Heritage Month, Nov. 17–20 at 8 p.m., with a matinee on Saturday, Nov. 20, at 2 p.m. in the Ely Campus Center Studio Theatre.
Eric Parness, assistant professor of English, is directing the play, which will star eight student actors.
Winner of the 1993 Obie Award, the play is about Marisol Perez, a young Latinx woman and copy editor for a Manhattan publisher. Although she has elevated herself into the white-collar class, she continues to live alone in the dangerous Bronx neighborhood of her childhood. As the play begins, Marisol narrowly escapes a vicious attack by a golf club-wielding madman while traveling home on the subway. Later that evening, Marisol is visited by her guardian angel, who informs her she can no longer serve as Marisol’s protector because has been called to join the revolution in progress against an old, senile God who is dying and “taking the rest of the universe with him.”
Tickets are $12 general public, $10 faculty and staff, $5 Westfield State students, and are available at https://westfield.universitytickets.com/?cid+185
Arno Maris Art Gallery
Located in Ely Campus Center, the Arno Maris Gallery hosts a minimum of five exhibitions each year, including the annual student show. In conjunction with each exhibition, there may be a public reception and talk, or a presentation by an artist, critic, or curator. All Maris Gallery events are free and open to the public. For more information, visit https://www.westfield.ma.edu/offices/arno-maris-art-gallery
COVID-19 procedures
The public is reminded that visitors are required to wear masks when indoors on the Westfield State campus, regardless of vaccine status. Masks may be temporarily removed when eating and drinking in the DC. For more information about Westfield State's COVID-19 procedures, visit https://www.westfield.ma.edu/documents/overviewcovid-19procedures2pdf
Founded in 1839 by Horace Mann, Westfield State University is an education leader committed to providing every generation of students with a learning experience built on its founding principle as the first public co-educational college in America to offer an education without barriers to race, gender, or economic status. This spirit of innovative thinking and social responsibility is forged in a curriculum of liberal arts and professional studies that creates a vital community of engaged learners who become confident, capable individuals prepared for leadership and service to society. For more information about Westfield State University, visit www.westfield.ma.edu, www.twitter.com/westfieldstate, or https://www.facebook.com/WestfieldStateUniversity.