2008 Woodie Awards
Searching for solitude
Student union to relieve study space crunch
Brandon Muri
Issue date: 9/6/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Finding a quiet place to study can sometimes challenge students. However, the addition of the new student union building next semester should indirectly free up more room for solitude.
"We are on the cusp of having a lot of space," said Rich Péwé, vice president of administration.
However, the student union building itself is not designed to be a place for studying.
"We have created a social, lively atmosphere," Péwé said.
The new building will not be a bookworm's hot spot, but it will free up other areas of campus for study, such as the library.
With a new place to socialize, the administration hopes the library will once again become a quiet haven for students to study, which has not been the case in the past.
Some students prefer the current atmosphere in the library.
Junior Gavin Phelps said he enjoys studying in the noisy library.
"I like the noise. If it's too quiet, and I'm left alone with my thoughts . . . I get distracted," Phelps said.
For many students however, this is not the case. They like silence.
Junior Dawn Harris said she prefers Kendall Hall to the library because it is quieter and there are less distractions. Towards the end of the year last semester, though, she said finding an available room was a challenge.
While the area of tables, desks and chairs on the library's first floor can comfortably accommodate about 75 students, whole rooms in Kendall and Lane halls of similar size, which can hold up to 50 students during class, are used by only one or two students in the evening. The entire building of Lane can be "full" on a Monday night with only 15 students.
Péwé and the administration hope returning the library once again to its taciturn, solitary old self will encourage studious students to return and stop squabbling over room ownership in Kendall and Lane.
In addition to freeing up the library, Péwé said the student union building may actually generate more study space. The new cafeteria will be available to students after hours. While food is not being served, students may sit around the tables, read, study and talk.
In addition to the more well-used study spots, some students have their own secret study space. Junior Craig Kreinbihl said the Dow science building is almost completely vacant on any night of the week.
"We are on the cusp of having a lot of space," said Rich Péwé, vice president of administration.
However, the student union building itself is not designed to be a place for studying.
"We have created a social, lively atmosphere," Péwé said.
The new building will not be a bookworm's hot spot, but it will free up other areas of campus for study, such as the library.
With a new place to socialize, the administration hopes the library will once again become a quiet haven for students to study, which has not been the case in the past.
Some students prefer the current atmosphere in the library.
Junior Gavin Phelps said he enjoys studying in the noisy library.
"I like the noise. If it's too quiet, and I'm left alone with my thoughts . . . I get distracted," Phelps said.
For many students however, this is not the case. They like silence.
Junior Dawn Harris said she prefers Kendall Hall to the library because it is quieter and there are less distractions. Towards the end of the year last semester, though, she said finding an available room was a challenge.
While the area of tables, desks and chairs on the library's first floor can comfortably accommodate about 75 students, whole rooms in Kendall and Lane halls of similar size, which can hold up to 50 students during class, are used by only one or two students in the evening. The entire building of Lane can be "full" on a Monday night with only 15 students.
Péwé and the administration hope returning the library once again to its taciturn, solitary old self will encourage studious students to return and stop squabbling over room ownership in Kendall and Lane.
In addition to freeing up the library, Péwé said the student union building may actually generate more study space. The new cafeteria will be available to students after hours. While food is not being served, students may sit around the tables, read, study and talk.
In addition to the more well-used study spots, some students have their own secret study space. Junior Craig Kreinbihl said the Dow science building is almost completely vacant on any night of the week.
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