The Sacred Place of Many Students in Zagreb

The most important building in the life of every student is certainly the one known as the Zagreb's Student Center. I'm sure everyone can assume which building I will devote a few words to in this article. It is the institution which lives for students and students live for it, too.

The central and the most frequent place of every student event at the University of Zagreb as well as all over Croatia is the Student Center. I can say for sure that this place is a sacred place of many generations of Croatian students including me, too. The first thing I did after moving to Zagreb was joining the Student Center.

This institution was established in 1959 on the former premises of Zagreb Fair in Savska Street. The grand opening of the Student Center was one of the 'greatest victories' of students who were also the initiators of this project. It has provided students with so many things - rooms for learning, numerous student dormitories, restaurants, and a variety of cultural and social events.

Some of them have found their soulmates in the Student Center

It can be said that the Student Center goes beyond the existential reality of a student. Student dormitories, including restaurants, are places of students' everyday lives, a substitute for parental home and family. In the Student Center, you grow up and mature. Some of them fell in love there for the first time and others found their true love so they got married. To be more precise, the Student Center is a place which prepares every student for real life, for real emotions, and professional work.

Credit image: Kampus Borongaj, Facebook page

But, let me start from the beginning. In 1959, students have launched the opening of many restaurants which began providing meals for students. Today, the Student Center has 12 restaurants, so-called canteens, which prepare 26,000 meals for students every day. Dear cooks, who became our second mother, cook so good that sometimes you feel like you're having lunch at a five-star restaurant and you don't miss the absence of parents, home and mother's meals at all. (I hope my mother will not read this article). :)

Eat, work, study, sleep, and repeat

After every good meal, you need some nap and the Student Center can help you with this, too. Many students who come from all over Croatia and abroad have the opportunity to find their own 'part of the universe' in modern rooms whose price is affordable for every student's pocket.

But the main reason why I joined the Student Center was the possibility of employment and, of course, earning some extra money. Can you believe that the business unit known as the Student Service which was also established in 1957 was the only and the main source of existence of many students?

Credit image: Studentski dom 'Stjepan Radić', Facebook page

Besides gastronomy, accommodation, employment opportunities for students, the Student's Center has also been the creator and organizer of cultural, artistic, entertainment, educational, informational and spiritual events from the first day. So every day, students, Zagreb's youth and all citizens have the opportunity to enjoy a wide range of services.

The cultural side of the Student Center

The Student Center is certainly the most productive place in Croatia. This is the place that unites numerous multicultural values. Therefore, in the life of the capital city, the Student Center asserts a leading position as the creator and organizer of cultural events.

The Student Center has created foundations which were long ago recognized in Europe, as well. These are facilities like the ITD Theatre, the SC Gallery and the SC Cinema, Music Show, MM Center and so on. I also need to mention the popular debate ''Five minutes after eight'', the newspaper ''Reason'', a national event ''Days of Croatian film'' and ''Passion Heritage'', and so many other contemporary cultural projects that were 'born' in the Student Center.

Credit image: MM Center, Kratke slike, Facebook page

I'm sure you will agree with me if I say that today the Student Center is both a living monument and a modern workshop and a laboratory of student standards at the same time. In addition to this, the Student Center has become a cult place not only for students but also a cult place in the broader social context. The Student Centre affects life paths of numerous students, including myself, for the benefit of Croatian society.

So, the next time you meet your friends in front of the SC, please stop and bow to this magnificent building that has been raised for thousands of generations. Please take a bow to the institution that will celebrate the 57th birthday of its successful working this year in June.

Header image credit: Student's Center, Facebook page

Author: Nikolina Jozanović