This semester, I’m taking a Sociology elective called “Mapping Inequalities,” where we are learning how to conduct geospatial data analysis and create maps to depict different demographic statistics! Our class discussions about place have really prompted me to pay more attention to the spaces I spend time in, and I’ve realized that the locations in Oberlin that I frequent have shifted quite a lot since my first year on campus, especially as my academic workload has increased. So I’m going to list some of my now favorite study places that I didn’t know about as a first year, and hopefully you can get a sense of where I am from wherever you are reading this blog.
1. The dance nook: Located in Warner Center, this one gets points right off the bat for being built the longest ago (the building turns 125 this year). Although many dance students spend quite a lot of time in Warner, few are appreciative enough of its coziest study/nap spot. The nook, located on the massive wooden landing between the second and third floor, is piled high with pillows and couch cushions and bean bag chairs that look like they’ve accumulated over the course of at least half a century. There are also these beautiful fancy windows that can be opened to peer down at passersby on their way to class and a bunch of cute Polaroid photos on the walls that previous students hung up to be remembered by. The nook is an ideal combination of rustic and comfortable, and it has the added benefit of locational convenience—it’s the perfect place to kill time in between back-to-back rehearsals!
2. Slow Train: I would not be an Obie if I didn’t include Slow Train Cafe on my list. Owned and operated by an Oberlin alum, Slow Train is always a bustling hub of student and community life, often hosting music gigs and trivia nights after hours. I actually don’t think I’ve ever seen more than three empty tables in there. In the spring of my first year at Oberlin, my friends and I started a weekly tradition of getting coffee every Friday to celebrate the passage of another week. Since then, it’s become a staple in my routine—I order a bacon, egg, & cheese croissant (with Chipotle mayo) and an iced Albino Squirrel latte (white chocolate and hazelnut with whipped cream, of course). Besides yummy little treats, Slow Train also features warm lighting, a couch that will envelop you whole if you’re lucky enough to snag it, and a wide variety of indoor plants. And of course, a huge pride flag right by the door.
3. The Environmental Studies Info Center (ESIC): I’m almost 100% sure that no one actually calls it the ESIC, but regardless of name this is another essential location for me. Tucked into the back corner of the second floor of the Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental Studies, the ESIC is a single-room library and study spot with super high ceilings and tons of natural light. On the two walls not lined with windows, books are stacked from floor to ceiling, with authors ranging from Shakespeare to Octavia Butler. There are also a few desktop computers that anyone can use. Usually when I’m in there I am—you guessed it—on the couch, but there are also a couple big tables you can sit at as well as one of those weird yoga ball chairs. Can you tell I care a lot about comfortable seating?
4. The Oberlin Public Library: Last but not least, I have been absolutely loving the quiet corner of the Oberlin Public Library this semester. My roommate Olivia and I like to go over there and sit in big cushy chairs facing each other while we read or work on whatever our next assignment is. There’s a ton of cute paper butterflies hanging from the ceiling, and the windows look out on the Library’s little garden patio area. Usually no one is around to disturb us, and there’s also a ton of awesome books to read if you want a break from studying. The best part of studying at OPL is that you always pass the Blue Rooster Bakehouse on your way there, so you can stop and get a little pick-me-up if you need one!
