By Aliza Feldman, Staff Writer
There is nothing more isolating than feeling like you have no place to go. Between the short commute from dorm to class and the hourly migration of students shuffling between the two buildings on Lexington, it’s hard not to notice that there aren’t many places to just hang out on the Beren campus.
Besides the few couches and chairs scattered among various floors of the two main buildings, there is no central space for casual socializing. Even within the few lounges that do exist, their designs and layouts are completely outdated and the furniture is old and decayed. Students are extremely limited when it comes to planning a casual meetup with friends or organizing a study group, and are often forced to find a place outside of our school buildings for socializing.
It is important to note that Stern has made no effort to maintain or redecorate the dorm building student lounges that do exist. For example, the 36th Street dorm building contains a small common area, a large open lobby and an outdoor courtyard, all of which are perfect spots to create lounges or social spaces in, yet none are inviting or visually appealing in the slightest. The common areas in 36th are decorated with a stained, old-fashioned bright green carpet, and the couches are green and yellow and look like something you would find in your grandmother’s living room. The ‘70s vibe is not an intentional throwback either; the space just hasn’t been redecorated since. The Brookdale lounge and the 35th Street lounge aren’t exactly welcoming or well-maintained either. The walls are bare and the blue leather couches are torn and peeling. The reference lounge in the 245 school building contains a few rusty arm chairs with missing pieces of cracked leather.
All these spaces are rundown, uninviting and overdue for renovation.
The lack of third spaces at Stern, whether it be outdoor spaces, gyms or common rooms, makes an already fragmented campus feel even more isolating. Students need spaces that feel inviting and visually appealing because they contribute to a shared sense of comfort and comradery. It is important to have designated spaces for socializing, where students who are by themselves can also feel a broader social presence.
Public common areas can also be important for studying purposes, as many students find it easier to study with the background noise of other people’s voices as opposed to a silent library. These social areas can even create motivation, like working out in a public gym. Additionally, going from a dorm to class and back again creates a sense of monotony. Incorporating inviting social areas can break up the routine and add more excitement into students’ schedules.
Students on the Beren campus often complain about how difficult it is to form new friendships, noting that many girls entering the school tend to stick to their seminary or high school friend groups rather than expanding their social umbrella to people outside of their comfort zones. In part, this problem stems from the structural barriers of the school buildings themselves. If there were more visually appealing spaces where students could go to hang out, study or relax, there is no doubt that more spontaneous socializing would occur. The closed off, uninviting feeling of the dorm and class buildings turns students away from being on campus and encourages them to relocate elsewhere for their social needs.
This is not a mere attempt to point out outdated interior design or critique Stern’s aesthetics; it’s about reimagining social spaces to create positive energy in the school buildings. Vibes are everything. Architecture and design can directly impact our mood; cold, bleak spaces make us feel lonely and unsettled while vibrant, warm and visually appealing atmospheres make us feel comfortable and can soothe anxiety.
By neglecting these spaces and refusing to update student lounges, Stern is missing the opportunity to cultivate thriving social environments and make the campus a place where students enjoy hanging out. Revamping building lounges and creating more central third spaces would undoubtedly have a positive psychological impact on the student body by making students feel less stressed and lonely, and that they have a place where they can feel at home.
Photo Caption: The 245 reference lounge
Photo Credit: Aliza Flug / the YU Observer