(Bates) The Ancient, the Old, and the New

     One has educated minds for four hundred years while the other recently celebrated its hundredth birthday. Despite their age difference, Trinity and Loyola both possess a distinctive charm in their architecture, greenery, and art.

     After walking through Trinity’s massive front gate, you’re greeted by an open space of cobblestone called Parliament Square, which is surrounded by gray stone and brick buildings. The architecture shares more characteristics with Tulane’s buildings rather than Loyola’s, but not so much that we can’t forgive them for that. Happily, there is one red-bricked building reminiscent of Loyola, but fundamentally, Trinity’s architecture is its own.

      Yet the architecture is merely the first observation. Like Loyola, Trinity has many green “quads,” but unlike Loyola, there is no stripping down to the bikini for a sunbath, even if you did luck upon a day with sun. The five large grassy fields are strictly off-limits to pedestrians, except for special events such as croquet. Though these regulations are a bit disappointing, the fields never turn into muddy bogs like the Res Quad during a rainstorm.

     One of the most appealing things I found on Trinity’s campus that Loyola somewhat lacks are the tucked away flower gardens. My favorite was a small square of grass surrounded by pink, white, and yellow flowers. These flowers grew around six wooden benches, each reading, “In memory  of …” The effect was almost romantic.

     But it was a bit further, on the corner of the College Park, that I found the most intriguing sight. Amongst a group of old trees rested a piece of black modern art, its texture, on closer examination, suggesting wood. At first I thought it odd to find such a modern piece amidst the gnarled trunks, but then I thought of the other modern art sculptures I’d seen around the campus. Though none of Trinity’s pieces resembled the silver sculptures between Marquette and Bobet, the sight of them reminded me of Loyola. Both schools were founded long ago, yet each mix twenty-first century artwork with architecture hundreds of years old.