University of Eastern Colorado

The University of Eastern Colorado (UEC) is one of the many locations that Joel and Ellie travel to during their journey across the United States in The Last of Us. It was formerly the Fireflies' base of operations before they fled to Salt Lake City in Utah."The University"
== History ==
=== Background ===
The outbreak struck around homecoming week, as evidenced by several banners around campus. Almost all of the university's population died or became infected. Some students managed to hold out for almost eleven months. They built barricades to keep the infected out, scrounged what little food was left, and even kept a radio working in order to get news from the outside world, but around ten months later, batteries became scarce. Eventually, some gave up hope of being rescued and left to scavenge for supplies in the nearby city of Boulder. Many years later, Joel found one student's journal and learned of the events there.
Some years later, the Fireflies set up their base of operations in the science building of the campus. Beginning in late August, they transferred a lot of their equipment from the hospital in Salt Lake City to the university over the next seven months. However, they left after a scientist was bitten by an infected lab monkey and spread the infection throughout the campus. The second outbreak must have happened a while before Joel and Ellie found the place, as one of the infected had the time to turn into a bloater.
=== Events of The Last of Us ===
When Joel and Ellie arrive at the university, they're immediately suspicious about the campus, as it is too quiet and desolate to be occupied. Joel leaves Ellie to wait with Callus as he goes around the campus, starting up generators, so that they may make their way through gates and other obstacles. Once the duo reaches the science building, they discover that the Fireflies have moved once more to St. Mary's Hospital, located in Salt Lake City, Utah. As they make their way back to Callus, multiple assailants arrive and attack them. Joel ends up being seriously wounded on a piece of jagged rebar, leaving Ellie to guide them both to safety. They make it out, fleeing the university on Callus.
== Behind the scenes ==
* In the 2016 video game the player character Henry may come across a "University of Eastern Colorado" sweater in one of the many scattered Supply Caches. This is likely a reference to the UEC from The Last of Us, as the sweater bears the bighorn mascot and is green with gold lettering. Henry then asks another character, Delilah, why someone would make the place up and put it on a sweatshirt.
== Gallery ==
University of Eastern Colorado.jpeg|Joel and Ellie arrive at the front gate.
UEC Bighorns mural Part I.PNG|Mural depicting Bighorns mascot on campus
UEC Richard Harington Science Lab.png|Richard Harington Science Lab building.
UEC Main Hall.PNG|Main Hall building.
UEC seal.png|The university seal, seen on the floor of the Melissa Smith Library.
UEC Melissa Smith Library plaque.png|Plaque inside the Melissa Smith Library.
File:UEC logo.png|UEC logo
== References ==
de:Universität von Ost Colorado
Category:Locations