Students weigh in on the best napping spots on campus
Published: Thursday, February 25, 2010
Updated: Saturday, June 16, 2012 02:06
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A third of American adults nap on a typical day. Students are no exception, and they nap all over campus.
Roughly 34 percent of people ages 18 to 79 said they napped in the last 24 hours, according to a study of almost 1,500 adults conducted by the Pew research center in 2009.
More than 18,000 students will nap on any given day if those statistics are applied to Ohio State's student population of 55,000.
Students have reported napping in locations all over campus, including buildings, buses and The Oval.
"I actually saw someone napping one time at the RPAC in one of the basketball courts," said Devin Condon, a fifth-year in industrial systems engineering. "I guess the possibility of getting injured in their nap might be good for them."
Students reported the essential qualities of a "good" place to nap include quietness, seclusion, comfort, a view and the ability to stretch out.
"You have to be comfortable and it's got to be warm. It's hard to nap in the cold," said Leah Gaffney, a fifth-year in hospitality management.
Many students also had recommendations for the best places to catch up with sleep on campus.
"The best place was the basement of University Hall," said Eric Hoerle, a former student. "There are always empty classrooms and you can just go into one of the classrooms and nap until somebody starts filing in for classes."
Other common spots were benches, study rooms, The Oval and class.
"Honestly, my favorite napping spot is on the buses," Condon said. "I like sitting in the back corner of the CABS buses and it just takes you around in a loop. It is just soothing to me."
Students also had some other favorites.
The Geological Sciences Library in Orton Hall, on the south side of The Oval, is quiet, secluded, warm and has cushioned chairs, and the Physics Research Building has many long, cushioned couches to nap on, including a couch underneath a stairwell in the basement.
Hitchcock Hall's large auditorium, room 100, when unoccupied, is also a quiet, secluded place to nap, especially on the balcony.
Students also recommended Scott Labs on 18th Avenue, with its long benches and window sills to lean against and stretch out in the basement and on the ground floor.
The Thompson Library has the most space for naps, with hundreds of cushioned chairs and couches, secluded coves and large windows overlooking all sides of campus. The better-equipped floors are the second, fourth and 11th.
Thompson library staff has noticed the large number of people napping at the library, especially during finals week.
"We let people know it's not a lodge; it's a library," said Stefan Kempf, a fourth-year studying international studies and the facilities operations manager for Thompson library.
Students can share their favorite napping spots and qualities by commenting on this story.
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