By Sienna Paletta
Unlike most events at Western New England University, the ideal Sunday does not come with flyers, banners, or social media posts. Rather, it is brought about by the simplicity of it all. The freshman quad in all its glory creates an event on its own. The distinct smell of fresh linen, clippers buzzing as they are used efficiently, and the sound of fingers tapping at keys as they finish their homework fills the atmosphere as students enjoy their final moments of peace before Monday’s rude arrival. This Sunday started off at a slower pace, as students emerged from the dorm halls of Berkshire, Hampden, and Franklin with their backpacks, key cards, and routine in mind for their own spin on a “Sunday reset”.
For some freshmen, Sunday is a day to prioritize rest before the chaos of Monday through Friday ensues. Tommy Prendergast, a first-year mechanical engineering major from Westminster, Massachusetts, says it best, “The freshman quad on Sundays is usually pretty quiet. It’s a day where everyone focuses on getting a good sleep so they can get ready for the week.” Prendergast even joked that the slower pace has its own benefit: “It’s quiet, so you don’t get any FOMO.” For freshmen, that calm is a relief. The pressure felt during the weekdays to always be in the mix or involved in every activity disappears, and what’s left is sheer tranquility.
Charles Henriques, another first-year mechanical engineering major from East Berlin, Connecticut, agreed but emphasized the mental reprieve the day provides, “Sundays are kind of a moment for everyone to build up their energy, and prepare for the week.” For Henriques, that moment of ease comes in the form of tossing around the football with his friends, finishing assignments on the quad, and checking whether he or Prendergast is ahead in their fantasy league.
For others, Sunday may include laundry, Netflix, football games, or a weekly FaceTime call with family. Yet on the quad -under the gazebo or around the tables- the open space becomes merely a backdrop for students to test out their passions and side hustles. Here, the options are truly endless, and freshman football player Max Lograsso does not take this creative freedom for granted.
On the vibrant green lawn of the quad, the first-year business management major sets up a makeshift barbershop, laying his clippers, combs, and scissors in a case on the gazebo bench. Offering quick fades and trims to anyone in need, Lograsso discusses his flexible schedule, “I tell people to text me whenever you want to meet, I just ask them to give me a little advance warning.”
Lograsso’s interest in barbering began when he was a junior at Lynnfield High School. His team, prepping for their annual uniform cuts, needed a stylist. He recalls thinking: “You know what? Why not give it a try?” Giving credit to his family, he adds, “I have about three or four cousins with their shops in Boston, who are actually barbers, so it’s kind of in the family business.”
As Lograsso works diligently, the buzz of his clippers fades into the distant chatter and occasional shouts from the open windows, exhibiting how everyone’s Sunday looks a little different here.
Sundays at Western New England University are much more than a day of rest- they are a time for students to connect, recharge, and create in their own unique ways. With no advertising necessary, Sundays have become an event entirely on their own. Whether you choose a route like Tommy Prendergast’s sleepy Sundays, Charles Henriques’ quiet rituals, or Max Lograsso’s lively barbering gig, the goal of the day is to embrace the simplicity of college life.
