After many years of spending time on campus, seniors at Bluffton University have figured out the places they find best to study, hang out with friends and feel comfortable within their home-away-from-home.
There were three overlapping places that seniors felt were most comfortable and had an atmosphere enabling them to do their work. As an anonymous tip, they share their insight to freshmen and other students looking for a new or better environment around campus.
Students find energy from the bright colors on the walls while working in the Curriculum Resource Center on the fourth floor of Musselman Library. Photo by Olivia Tennefoss.
Musselman Library
Dedicated in 1930 and home to a fascinating history and abounding archives, this building is a popular location among seniors to do their work. The library offers ample space to spread out, access to the library’s database, a quiet atmosphere, the Curriculum Resource Center and the Writing Center–it’s not hard to see why students find the space appealing.
One senior and a group of friends explained they like to work together on homework at the CRC on the fourth floor, but instead of it just being homework they call them “library parties” so that it can be something more enjoyable instead of simply doing work.
“We love going here because three of us are education majors, so being surrounded by children’s books, the Ellison machine and the rainbow wall keep us motivated and inspired,” said the senior.
Even with COVID-19 restrictions and procedures in place, the library is still a favorite among students. Other seniors were quick to share they enjoyed having a quiet space and comfortable chairs to work in at the library.
While education majors are more likely to gravitate toward the CRC because of the sources and supplies they offer toward planning lessons and classroom activities, it is still a comfortable space that homes any and all students looking for a different and effective work atmosphere.
Tucked away in a corner of the Kiva, this senior write out notes for class. Photo by Olivia Tennefoss.
The Kiva
The Kiva, appropriately named after a Native American word for gathering place, is located on the upper level of Marbeck Center and next to the information desk. This area offers an opening space with four corner alcoves furnished with tables and chairs and is often used as a group meeting place.
“It just felt like a place where I could people watch but also study,” said a senior who discovered the Kiva’s charm while waiting for a friend. “It’s just kind of a place where I started to hang out when I needed a place to study or when I was just waiting for lunch to be served and I had nowhere else to go.”
Cushioned toward the back of the locker room, this senior dedicates time to their online assignments. Photo by Olivia Tennefoss.
The locker room
A familiar place for this senior, the locker room is a place for team bonding, game prep, and evidently a quiet area to work on homework. With access limited to athletes, it is still a unique studying space that can prove to be useful to many students on campus.
The back of this particular locker room is equipped with a table and chairs–perfect for spreading out papers and books to study. While the room may not be as effective when in use by the team, it is extremely quiet during its unoccupied hours.
“It’s pretty distraction-free,” said this senior. “I struggle to study anywhere else because there’s so [many] screens and everything everywhere; I struggle to concentrate, so this one is a little different.”
