By Scott Brindiar
It happens to all of us. We decide to study before our next class, but can’t seem to find a quiet place on campus or even a free table. Our go-to spots have all been taken, and now we have nowhere to study. If you’ve experienced this situation, there is still hope. Almost every building on campus has at least one student lounge. Next time you find yourself looking for a quiet area, try one of these:
Moser Hall 1210: Located on the first floor of Moser Hall is the Dr. Jack D. Bakos Jr. Student Collaborative Lounge, also known as “The Fish Bowl.” It gets its nickname from the windows that surround the enclosed room, resembling a fish tank. The lounge offers optimum seating space with several tables and soft lounge chairs. Highlight: This lounge features a display case devoted to Dr. Jack D. Bakos that is really quite interesting.
Beeghly Hall 1208: Education majors have been keeping this student lounge a secret. This lounge, located on the first floor of Beeghly Hall — not to be confused with Beeghly Center — includes large round tables, couches, three vending machines and a microwave, and seems generally unpopulated. Highlight: Right outside the lounge is a charging station that has free phone chargers for student use, although they are still in need of a lightning adapter — sorry, iOS users.
The Watson-Tressel Reading Lounge: Located on the second floor of Kilcawley Center, this may be the most fancy study area on campus. Lit by dimmed chandeliers and furnished with leather couches and table lamps, the Watson-Tressel Reading Lounge is a quiet, “no-food-or-drink-in-this-room” type of lounge. Highlight: It feels elegant and professional, which creates a strong work-centered environment.
Phelps 114: The Phelps Building, which sits between the Lincoln Building and Jimmy Johns, is probably the least-trafficked building on campus. Some students have probably never even heard of it. That’s why this student lounge is the perfect study area. Made up of one long table a la a conference room, this lounge isn’t big, but it’s big enough for the zero people that seem to use it. Highlight: You can spend a lot of alone time here.
DeBartolo 258: Everybody always gathers in the main-floor lounge area at the main entrance of DeBartolo Hall, but there is actually a smaller, more private study area at the end of the hall on the next floor. It holds two tables and two computers, which gives room for about four parties to use the lounge at one time. It’s quiet and closed off from the rest of the building. Highlight: The outside wall has a huge window with a great view of the outside landscape, creating a serene and relaxing environment.
Lincoln 302: Ah, the Lincoln Building. Broken elevators and insane heat have given this building quite the reputation this year, but it has one of the nicest student lounges on campus. It’s secluded on the third floor, where traffic is pretty light and sports enough tables to hold a fairly large number of students in need of a quiet study area. Highlight: This student lounge includes three vending machines — one for snacks, one for beverages and one for hot coffee — as well as a complimentary microwave.
Beeghly Center 103: Located in the basement of Beeghly Center, this student lounge is in a strange place. It’s very small, but has enough room for about four different parties. Highlight: There are two private enclosed rooms inside this study lounge for students who want complete solitude.
Schwebel Reception Center: Across from the Watson-Tressel Reading Lounge on the second floor of Kilcawley Center is the Schwebel Reception Center. The two are very similar, but the Schwebel Reception Center is a little less extravagant. It feels like a hotel lobby and attracts few visitors. Highlight: The many leather couches and lack of windows create a judgment-free napping spot.
Cushwa Café: This may be the best student lounge area on campus. It is completely decked out with couches, tables and a mini cafeteria that sells sandwiches, coffee, drinks and snacks. Located on the first floor of Cushwa Hall, this area attracts fewer people than one would think. Highlight: mini cafeteria.
The next time you’re looking for a place on campus to study or just unwind, try one of these lesser-known student lounge areas and avoid the masses crowded together in the Chestnut Room.
