Written by Kaelyn Spickler
When you think of Roanoke College, some things immediately jump out. These things include superstitions like not stepping on the seal before you graduate or walking by the kicking post to give it a kick for good luck before finals. Others that might come to mind include the spectacular sunset view from the Cregger Center or standing in line at Commons for Chef Jacob’s omelets at brunch. Here are some of the biggest aspects that make RC so special:
Everyone’s Favorite Night to Dress Up with President and Mrs. Maxey
President Maxey hosts RC’s President’s Ball every fall, and it is always one of the most well-attended events on campus. The Colket Center is entirely transformed with sparkling lights for the dressed-up students and faculty and staff to enjoy a night of dancing, live music, and delicious food.
RC’s Proud Heritage
Every year the History Department celebrates the birthday of RC’s first president with Founder’s Day, or Bittle’s Bash. Students are encouraged to dress up with costumes provided by the History Department and then attend a bonfire, a torchlight parade, and a celebration with karaoke in Cavern. Olde Salem Days can also be included here which celebrates not only RC’s heritage, but Salem’s too, as vendors line Main Street with everything from homemade crafts to kettle corn.
Emphasis on Community
RC truly goes above and beyond to build a tight-knit community. In the fall, students look forward to having their families in town for Family Weekend, and every Friday in September, the whole RC and Salem community enjoys backyard-BBQ-style meals with Fridays on the Quad. In the spring, we look forward to Spring Fest which kicks off Alumni Weekend. Year-round students get ready for BINGO nights which proves to be a big hit each semester as everyone hopes to win big.
Main Street is the Place to Be
With so many restaurants lined up along Main Street, you are sure to run into students wherever you go. In the mornings and Sunday afternoons, you can expect to see students sipping coffee and doing some last-minute studying. Macado’s has anything and everything a college student could want, including Power Hour happy hour on Tuesdays. On Wednesday nights, students 21+ are staking their claim at Mac ‘N Bobs for free wings during Wing Night, and on Thursday nights you can expect to see a similar crew at College Night. Of course, we can’t forget El Jefe’s or Olde Salem Brewery- two of Main Street’s newest additions.
Cavern’s Packed House on Thursdays
If Main Street isn’t your thing, then Cavern’s got you covered, especially on Grilled Cheese Thursday. This weekly special leaves the line long for the majority of the day as students look forward to their weekly grilled cheese sandwich with a side of tomato soup.
RC’s Prestigious Reputation
Year after year, RC is ranked high on many nationwide college rankings. In 2016, the college was ranked #464 on Forbes Top 600 Colleges. RC was featured in the 2018 edition of the Princeton Review as one of the nation’s best institutions for undergraduate education and was featured again in 2019 for the eighth time. Furthermore, RC continues to be one of the top producers of Fulbright scholars.
It’s clear why Roanoke College is beloved by all of its students, faculty, and staff and by the whole Salem community.
