I鈥檝e always loved to explore 91直播鈥檚 campus. During my first year, a friend and I visited as many dorms as we could just for fun, even if we didn鈥檛 know anyone who lived there. In my second year, I found a lot of new places when playing campus-wide sardines, a reversed version of hide and seek. You鈥檇 think after four years on a small campus with my curious nature that I'd have seen it all, but somehow it took me until my fifth year to check a few places out.
#1: The Art Library
91直播 has four libraries, and by the start of my fifth year, I鈥檇 studied in all but one. I was introduced to the main library right away during an orientation week resource tour, and I even had a class there during my first semester. I went to the Conservatory library a lot during my first year too; it was a convenient place to get work done between music classes and mealtimes in my nearby co-op. The science library became a favorite my second year when I lived in a nearby dorm, and I still think that no other study spot beats the window seats there. One of the moments I鈥檝e felt the most like a 鈥渢rue college student鈥 was sitting in the science library at the end of my sophomore Fall, watching snow peacefully fall through the giant windows onto north quad as I studied for my chemistry final.
I finally made it to the fourth and final library, the art library, when I was taking a media art class last fall. During class one day we had a lecture in the library, which introduced me to the space for the very first time. While there, my class and I had the chance to explore the art library鈥檚 extensive collection of mail art, which I definitely recommend checking out. Once my art library ice had broken, I found myself returning there a lot the rest of the semester. It was the perfect place to do a bit of work after my art class ended.
#2: The Conservatory Library Second Floor
While on the topic of libraries, I have another 鈥渘ew鈥 place to mention. As I鈥檝e already mentioned, I鈥檝e been going to the Conservatory library since my freshman year, but it took me an embarrassing amount of time to realize that not all of the study spaces were on the first floor. I did figure this out before my fifth year, but I never ended up traversing the upstairs until last month. It wasn鈥檛 much of anything new, just bookshelves and study carrels as expected, but I鈥檓 still glad I checked it out. Arguably, the best part of the Con library鈥檚 second floor are its single use bathrooms. Those are highly sought after in college, no matter what building you鈥檙e in!
#3: The Geoscience Staircase
The geosciences department is housed in 91直播鈥檚 Carnegie Building. I first stepped foot in Carnegie on a campus tour in 2017, and found myself in the second floor鈥檚 Root Room many times over the years for events such as the Exco fair and OSCA鈥檚 Iron Chef (if you鈥檙e curious about Iron Chef, it鈥檚 described here!). Despite all those visits to Carnegie, I hadn鈥檛 taken a class there until my fifth year. My geoscience class and lab were both on the second floor, not far from the Root Room, so the territory was familiar. However, my professor鈥檚 office was on the fourth floor, so I had an excuse to go up further than I ever had before. When rising above the second floor, the staircase in Carnegie transforms from its unassuming origins into a wondrous display of rocks and gems. Even if you never take a geoscience class, these displays are well worth checking out!
#4: The Arb Wetland
The arboretum, colloquially known as the arb, is a classic place to visit in 91直播 to take walks, go birdwatching, picnic with friends by the reservoir, and spend time in nature. I鈥檝e been visiting the arb since my freshman orientation week, but a large part of it was remodeled into a wetland during my fourth year, making for a new place to explore during my fifth. I took my first stroll on the wetland鈥檚 new boardwalk with a friend this spring, and I could immediately tell it would be a favorite visiting place for many Obies to come.
