ASU SoLS Community, Culture, and Lifestyles

In addition to being a center for intellectual development, Arizona State University serves the community as a major center for performances in classical and modern music, theater and dance. The 3,000 seat Grady Gammage Auditorium on campus, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, regularly presents performances by world renowned orchestras and artists, while the Lyceum and the Lyric Opera Theater present a variety of local and classical productions throughout the season. The Mill Avenue Theater, located in downtown Tempe and acclaimed for its quality local productions, stages theatrical events year-round. The Phoenix Symphony plays in the Civic Center concert hall, while a wide variety of classical, folk, jazz and rock musicians perform at a number of locations near the University. Smaller groups perform at the University's Kerr Center in Scottsdale as well as at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. Film lovers can walk from campus to the Valley Art Cinema to enjoy foreign films or take advantage of ASU's popular (and student-priced) film series in the University Cinema. The University houses art collections in the Matthews Center and in the Nelson Fine Arts Center; regular informal exhibitions of contemporary artists are held in the Memorial Union. There are also several excellent collections of prehistoric and contemporary Native American and Mexican art Hohokam archeological sites in the Phoenix area. There are two extensive libraries on the University campus: the Hayden Library for Arts and Humanities and the Noble Library for Science and Engineering.

Arizona is an ideal place for outdoor recreational activities year round. The desert mountains and lakes around Phoenix provide hiking, climbing, horse-back riding and sailing, while a popular local summer pastime involves "tubing" down the Salt River. In winter, the high country north and east of Phoenix offers cross-country and downhill skiing. There is an extensive intramural sports program for graduate and undergraduate students and staff. For the spectator, ASU's athletic program (with membership in the PAC 10 Conference) fields nationally competitive teams in more than 20 sports. Arizona is also home to the Arizona Diamondbacks Major League Baseball team, the Phoenix Coyotes National Hockey League team, the Arizona Cardinals National Football League team, and the Arizona Rattlers Arena Football team.

On-campus University housing is available for single graduate students in Cholla Apartments. Information about on-campus and off-campus housing for families or single students is available directly from the Office of Residence Life in the Student Services Building. A wide range of apartment housing is available within several blocks of the campus and throughout Tempe and the surrounding communities. Prices range widely depending on such factors as the distance from campus, the size of the apartment complex, and the availability of amenities such as swimming pools, exercise rooms, and covered parking.