Students Snooze Rather than Study in Nestor Hall

February 22, 2009 by Abigail Canonico

Hall lounges at Columbus State have become sleeping quarters rather than study spaces for many, as students continue to become comfortable enough on chairs and couches to fall asleep in between classes instead of opening textbooks or even laptops.

Study lounges on campus offer plush furniture to study on, especially in Nestor Hall, which dedicates almost its entire first floor to the East and West lounges, accommodating those students that choose to stay on campus before, between, or after class.

While many students choose slumber over study, there is no rule that says that sleeping is not allowed.

Students not only let their heads drop backward, drifting into sleep, but sprawl out upon couches, or even on the floor. Some resort to sitting in plastic chairs, resting heads upon tables, finding comfort in only their own folded arms.

But does the in-lounge dreaming of some students bother the focus of others?

Terry Ocasio, a second-year student at Columbus State says that, “I have never been bothered by someone sleeping in the lounges.”

When asked if he has personally ever called Nestor hall’s furniture his temporary resting place he said that, “I myself use them mostly to sleep… I think that so many [students] use the lounges to sleep simply because many of the students at CSCC have to work a lot to pay for classes.”

Amanda Christenson, a second year student as well, also does not seem to be bothered by those that choose to sleep in the lounges, and although she says, “I have never fallen asleep while studying in between classes at Columbus State,” she also states that, “but I do if I go home.”

Bahareh Sadaat, another student attending classes here on campus says that, “I have never hung around the lounges…I go to my friends house in between classes.” She then stated that, “but if anyone snored, I'd probably throw my book at them.”

The general consensus around campus has become clear. Students at Columbus State have chosen this college with something very important in mind – a busy schedule. Those attending classes on campus not only attempt to keep up with papers and homework assignments, but also with work schedules and even families.

Christenson reinstates this idea and also believes that, “Some people have work and families to tend to, so if they get a big enough break to fit in a nap in between classes, then good for them.”

As a commuter college, Columbus State holds more sleepers than many other colleges or universities that offer dorms or that have students living near or on campus. Ohio State, for example, comparably sees very little sleeping in public lounges around the university.

Cody Giblin, a sophomore at Ohio State's main campus said that, “No one really sleeps or anything. When I went to OSU Newark, you would see people sleeping around the school all the time.”

The Newark branch of OSU hosts mainly commuters, leading many students to take comfort in any available couch or chair in between classes.

Giblin also describes why some students are tired due to a heavy play schedule, rather than a heavy work schedule. “Three weeks ago I had an 8:30 class and was super hung over…after I got out of the class, I slept on the bench in the hall for like 15 minutes.”

Although many students experience exhaustion due to outside responsibilities such as work and family life, some are just tired.