With $0.04 printing, single bedrooms, and just a 100m walk to our favourite Robarts Library, Innis may just be the best part of U of T. Both the College and the Residence offer unique perks that the rest of the U of T community appears to turn a blind eye to. A friendly rivalry amongst all of the University’s colleges is all fun-and-games until you realize your college isn’t U of T’s favourite…

Scrolling through @uoftmemes on Instagram at 2:32 a.m. made me realize that U of T—or rather its students—have strong stereotypes about the seven colleges on campus. From a characteristic fashion sense to prototypical identities, every college is given distinct traits. A few stereotypes are true, though not all of them are.

For instance, I heard through the grapevine that Innis students are nerds with no social life, but try telling that to our GPAs that fall faster than snow in a Canadian winter. We do, however, have arguably the best Registrar’s Office on campus. The Registrar is a particularly strong asset at Innis because our small population allows for less waiting and more one-on-one time. We also have great study spaces (both at the College and Residence), whether your preference is sitting at a window with a view or in a quiet, closed study room. Innis College has a small library that, in my opinion, is more aesthetically pleasing than Robarts. (I will admit: Victoria’s E.J. Pratt Library is a close second to ours.) Across the street from this library, Innis Residence has study rooms, open 24/7, on multiple floors. More on that: Innis Residence recently got new furniture and it is looking good!

Innis’s “small, tight-knit community” is also frequently talked about. Some people see it as a barrier to making new friends, others call it an opportunity to make close friends. Objectively speaking, a small College is an ideal contrast to a big University. I find it comforting to see a familiar face on St George Street while walking to class amidst thousands of strangers. The small community also provides an opportunity to participate in student governance and councils if that is something you’re interested in. Even if you’re not, who doesn’t like the option readily available to them?

Most colleges have dormitories, but the apartment-style housing is one of Innis’s best traits. We can give points to Woodsworth for this, too. Having your own room, I believe, is crucial for students, especially in first-year. I couldn’t have imagined having to share a bedroom with a stranger and, luckily, Innis doesn’t make me do that. Of course, dorms have advantages too, but Innis is one of the few Colleges that makes introverts such as myself feel like my personal space and privacy are respected.

I found that this sense of respect put my mind at ease throughout my first year and, despite all the College rivalry, Innis respects the entire UofT community—unlike certain colleges, we’re not “stuck-up”! So, if you’re not a part of Innis (yet), join us for one of our Free Friday Films?