With midterm stress ramping up in the final stretch before spring break, we here at the Collegian know firsthand how important it is to have a good study routine. While people often act like the only places to work are the Chalmers Atrium (cacophonous) or dorm rooms (depressing), this couldn’t be further from the truth. Kenyon’s campus is a treasure trove of underrated study spots. And, in our humble editorial opinion, some are better than others.

Working on an honors project this year, I (Sacha) have been known to spend my mornings camped out on the couch on the third floor of Oden Hall, often with a stack of books to one side of me and Cooper Bertschi ’26 to the other. And while I may not always get as much work done as I set out to, there’s something about being able to see the sun and chat with passing faculty and staff while I chip away at my thesis that makes it an ideal spot to ease into the day. Of course, sometimes I really do need to shut myself away to focus and end up in the lower levels of Chalmers Library, where I’m a fan of jotting down my thoughts and outlines on the whiteboard desks. A happy medium, though, is the Gund Gallery lobby, home of my beloved art history department, where I can supplement my study breaks with the works on display. (I particularly like the Helen Frankenthaler and Frank Stella pieces on view now!)

I (Dorothy) have developed something of a reputation for spending an obscene amount of time studying in Peirce Hall each day. Friends, acquaintances and random strangers at parties all say the same thing: “I always see you on your computer in New Side.” The question that invariably follows is: “Why?” Well, here’s your answer. I seriously, genuinely, 100% unironically think it’s the best study spot on campus. Sunlight streaming through the windows, unlimited coffee refills, interesting people-watching… What more could you ask for? Most importantly, the wide-open Peirce panopticon motivates me to lock in — I can’t let my peers see how addicted I am to online solitaire and sudoku. Yes, Peirce gets busy during meal times, but if you snag a mid-afternoon window table, you might be surprised by how productive you are.

Although I (Micah) am not about to reveal my doomsday study spot in the Collegian’s pages — my comps still aren’t done, sorry guys — I can shed some light on some of the more underappreciated quiet study spots on campus if, like me, you involuntarily cringe at the thought of being productive on New Side. Ascension is famous for its idyllic old study rooms, but they can get quite packed, so what about Samuel Mather Hall? Find a quiet classroom all to yourself and plug away. Additionally, once the weather gets nicer and the trees get greener, try a study session in Horvitz Hall. Its secluded classrooms with wide views of the forest will give you a quick getaway from the hustle and bustle of Gambier, and you can always look at student artworks for inspiration! My ultimate advice: Change things up. Don’t rely on one space, have a few to rotate through. Variety truly is the spice of life!

Sincerely,

Sacha, Dorothy and Micah

The staff editorial is written by Editors-in-Chief Sacha Franjola ’26 and Dorothy Yaqub ’26 and Executive Director Micah Arenstein ’26. You can contact them at franjola1@kenyon.edu, yaqub1@kenyon.edu and arenstein1@kenyon.edu.