Finals week is almost here. Whether it’s your first or your last — or you are a professor looking for a quiet place to grade papers or a staff member looking for a change of scenery — finding a place that works for you plays a big part in being productive.
Knowing how important these places can be, I wanted to share a few great spots around campus by asking students their go-to spaces.
Autumn Tashman, a senior majoring in actuarial math, swears by the Mardigian Library — the second floor to be precise. The second floor is among the most popular spots on campus and the study area only gets busier towards the end of the semester.
"I prefer working and studying at the library. It’s super easy to collaborate with project groups,” Tashman said. “The second floor is the perfect place for a social yet quiet setting on campus and still be able to focus."
For people looking for a quieter space, the third and fourth floors of the library offer more silence and focus. In addition, graduate students can utilize the Graduate Student Collaboratory on the third floor. If someone needs a pick-me-up, they can also stop by the Picasso Cafe on the first floor for a quick bite.
The James C. Renick University Center is another popular spot to study because there are quiet spaces — but it’s also a social hub when you are ready for a study break. Unis Maktari, a senior in biological sciences, said it is a year-round study spot for him — and he likes the updates that were recently made like the new color scheme and addition of more student-centered spaces.
“I like having a location to hang out, study and refuel my energy levels. The UC has everything,” Maktari said. And with the relatively new Wolverine Commons, there are several options of seating from tables to workstations to lounge chairs.
For folks frequenting the Fairlane Campus, two study spots stand out — the lounge outside the Michigan Room in Fairlane Center South and the study area at the end of Fairlane Center North.
“I normally like to hang out at the College of Business org office, but the Fairlane Center lounge is a great place to study,” said Chris Kleabir, a senior majoring in accounting. “I just put on my headphones and spend hours sitting and working without disturbance.”
Engineering students have nothing but praise for the study areas in the Engineering Lab Building. Manikandan Sridhar, a graduate student in automotive systems engineering, said looking out the ELB’s large floor-to-ceiling window in between studying is calming during stressful times. "For me, a good view always motivates me to study, and the ELB has two large windowed study areas that show our campus’ scenic environments while I'm sitting at a desk,” he said. “In addition, the ELB is super spacious and you have a range of options to pick from as your ideal study area for the day. Another huge plus is comfy couches and plenty of charging outlets."
As another semester ends, only a few more weeks — full of exams and final projects — separate students and faculty from a summer break. Good luck, everyone!
Article by Rudra Mehta.
