John Carroll University offers numerous activities for students both on and off campus each week. Events range from a game in downtown Cleveland to the Quad on campus. These activities and events are geared toward getting out of the dorm and meeting new people. Many students have personal favorites, so The Carroll News went around to find out more.
Student Engagement is the biggest organization on campus, providing opportunities for students to venture into many different areas of one’s interest.
According to Kyle O’Dell, senior director of Student Engagement and director of Undergraduate Leadership Education, “For ticketed events hosted by U-Club, we ask students to put down a refundable $20 deposit to claim their spot. When they show up at the event, they receive their deposit back. If they don’t show up, that money is deposited back into the U-Club budget to use for future events. This policy is in place to ensure that students who sign up for an event with limited spots show up at the event.” Most events, however, are free for students.
What are those events?
They can be anything from attending a show at Playhouse Square to a game at Huntington Bank Field. There are also trips to Blossom Music Center and movie theaters. As a side note, students can purchase $10 tickets to Guardians games.
“We provide RTA passes free of charge for students to ride the Rapid Train down to Tower City – which is located adjacent to both Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse and Progressive Field, and up the street from Browns Stadium. The nearest Rapid Station is easily accessible by walking south on Belvoir Rd. to Shaker West, where it dead ends at one of the stations where the Rapid picks up travelers,” O’Dell says. The pass is $5 in general, but free to JCU students.
Other options include:
Shaker Rocks– A rock climbing and fitness class facility located in Shaker Heights, OH. It is right down the street from campus on Warrensville Center Road. There are different prices whether doing a one-time visit or for a membership. Note: There is a fee for rentals.
The Cleveland Museum of Art– Cleveland’s premier art museum located in University Circle. The museum features many events and exhibits from a chalk festival to different styles of art. Every third Saturday, the museum offers sensory-friendly hours between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. The best part: free admission!
Shopping and dining at Van Aken District, Pinecrest, or Legacy Village– Three shopping centers all within fifteen minutes of campus! Each offers unique shopping at boutiques, both fine dining and quick service, and much more! Van Aken offers Market Hall, a food court concept, with many varieties of food and local eateries. Pinecrest and Legacy Village offer many different brands throughout their centers.
West Side Market– One of the oldest shopping centers in North America, West Side Market brings local vendors together. With tons of different products, there is something for everyone! Whether it is fresh produce to a wide selection of meats,
Outdoor Activities include Shaker Lakes, the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Mentor Headlands Beach, and Edgewater Park. Whether it is to hike a trail or have some fun at the beach, many of these parks are not far from campus. Looking to have a peaceful time, all of these parks are not far from JCU.
Events sponsored through the Office of Student Engagement (including U-Club) are published on Inside JCU, in a weekly email from OSE that goes out every Wednesday and on Instagram. For student organizations, events are marketed on their specific individual Instagram accounts. Numerous flyers are typically hanging around campus.
After speaking with Kyle O’Dell, The Carroll News spoke with Sam Herr ‘26 and Jack Zuchlewski ‘26 about this topic. Herr said, “One thing I like to do off campus is go to Guardians games. Sometimes they are discounted.” Zuchlewski said, “To add on, I think going to Monsters games is fun!”
There are many affordable activities whether students are interested in sports, arts, or something else. Whether it is a U-club event or not, meeting new people with similar interests is key. There are many opportunities throughout the year, and it is never too late to sign up.