Secret Spots

College campuses can feel crowded at times, but Colby students manage to find their own, sometimes out-of-the-way, places to get their work done. As seniors were wrapping up their final college classes last spring, we asked them to reveal their secret study spots, since their secrets wouldn't be out until after they left. Here’s what they bequeathed to Colby underclassmen. Use these or, better yet, discover your own.

1) Fourth-floor Lovejoy

Empty classrooms provide quiet table space, and this floor includes campus’s most quiet and underused computer lab. “I like studying there because it’s secluded, you have the room to yourself, and nobody will bother you. I especially like it because it’s not in the science buildings—because [as a chemistry major in a humanities building] I don’t know anyone. Also it’s really high, so you can see everything going on on the quad below. The view is really nice.” –Delia Massey ’09

2) Olin Science Center greenhouse 

Sure, winter is long, but that doesn’t mean you can’t sit in the sun. “My favorite spot in Olin is the greenhouse. It’s great because it’s always eighty degrees and I can catch some rays even in the winter!” –Margit Liander ’09

3) The Diamond Building

Diamond is Colby’s newest academic building, so it has innovative a rchite cture and unique
study spots. “It has study rooms that have only windows—or no windows—you can take
your pick.” –Nick Rosen-Wachs ’09

4) Coburn Library, Alumni Center

It seems that merely crossing Mayflower Hill Drive can put you worlds away from the hustle and bustle. Step into the quiet land of the alumni center for a retreat of sorts (and a leather couch). “I love the glass tables, quiet atmosphere, and the many places to hook up computers. Also, it’s really fun to procrastinate by looking at old yearbooks.” –Kathleen Maynard ’09

5) King Pine Grove, Arboretum

Some people come to Colby for Maine’s great outdoors, yet many don’t realize there is a slice of it just outside their dorm rooms . “I like to sit there with all my friends: furred, feathered, and scaled.” –Bryan Brown ’09

6) Lawn behind East Quad, by Johnson Pond

After long winters, spring days at Colby feel extra special—the perfect time to lay down a blanket in the grass and soak up the sun by the pond. “You really need to take advantage of doing your homework outside when you can. The pond is a great place to do that.”
–Hanna Schenk ’09

7) Psychology seminar room, third-floor Roberts

If any building is hidden in plain view, it’s Roberts. Students go mostly for the dining hall, but it also has classrooms and offices. “The seminar room has a great atmosphere. … It’s peaceful, spacious, and no one ever goes there.” –Eric Foster-Moore ’09

Note: Apparently this spot got so popular that they had to make it off-limits.

8) The Colby Bookstore

The bookstore isn’t simply a place to buy textbooks. Some students go for the atmosphere. “Those chairs are super comfy. The bookstore staff is really nice. My one regret is that I’ve never gotten around to playing with the chess set there.” –Kaylea Nelson ’09

9) Pulver Pavilion, Cotter Union

Pulver is the heart of campus, which, for certain types of studiers, is the ideal atmosphere. “Pulver is my favorite zone, because there is a nice level of background noise, easily available snacks, and friends drop by and make me take regular breaks.” –Eitan Green ’09

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