Carleton’s men’s basketball team, the Ravens, hold a major place of honour in Carleton lore. The team won six of the last seven national men’s championships, and boast nationally recognized alumn such as Aaron Doorenkamp. The Ravens also placed second in the 2004 World University Basketball Championships.
The city of Gatineau, Que. is about a 15-minute cab ride away from Carleton. The drinking age in Quebec is 18, making it a popular party spot for first years who are still underage in Ontario. Hot spots include nightclubs such as Le Bop, Le Bistro and Club Addiction. Be warned that Gatineau or “Hull,” as it is more commonly referred to, has gained a poor reputation over the years, leading some students to nickname it “Dirty Hull.”
Dunton Tower is the tallest building on campus and a landmark for the university. The 22-storey building houses schools and institutes such as the Norman Patterson School of International Affairs and the School of Public Policy and Administration.
Carleton’s tunnel system is one of the distinguishing features of the university. Campus buildings are connected by over five km of heated, underground tunnels, providing access to all buildings during poor weather. During cold winter months, many students in residence choose to remain submerged for long periods of time, moving around their dorm rooms and classes without ever setting foot outside; these sun-starved students are commonly referred to as “tunnel rats.” At the end of the year each residence floor can paint a mural on the tunnel walls, near the residence buildings.
The on-campus file-sharing program DC++ can be downloaded online and is used to share music, movies, television shows and games with other students in residence. Typically it takes less than 15 minutes to download a movie on DC++, making it faster than most other file-sharing programs. TV shows are often uploaded hours after they’re aired. You can get more info on DC++ at carletonhub.com
The Ottawa O-Train runs north and south from Bayview to Greenboro with a stop at Carleton in the middle. Students often use the O-Train to get to South Keys shopping centre, which has a movie theatre, clothing shops, restaurants and grocery stores. Tickets can be purchased from a vending machine on the platform. Train tickets can also be exchanged for a bus transfer on OC Transpo buses, provided they are used before the expiration time shown on the ticket. An easy way to get downtown is to catch the yellow school bus that picks students up outside of Steacie Building and drops them off at the University of Ottawa — bus drivers will often allow students to get off at stop signs as well. Shuttle departure times are posted at the stop.
Oliver’s, also known as Ollie’s, is the pub on campus run by the Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA). Ollie’s is a popular student hangout and it’s not uncommon to see people studying at the tables on a weekday. The pub is noted for its food (which includes pub staples like chicken strips and pizza) and Thursday night bar scene. Since many first years don’t have class on Fridays, Thursday nights tend to become the new weekend kick off. Ollie’s also hosts a number of special events throughout the year.
Carleton’s on-campus security is available to offer assistance at any time of the day. They can be contacted by dialing extension 4444 on residence phones or 613-520-4444 if you are off campus. If you are walking alone late at night Foot Patrol is a student-run program that will provide you with extra security. A pair of students will walk you anywhere within a 30-minute distance.