The best places to park it and get down to business
Emily Manns | Fulcrum Contributor
BETWEEN THE PARTY next door and the river-dancing roommates upstairs, attempting to study in your room can be one hell of a headache.
Let’s face it: studying is probably the least amount of fun you’ll have in university, so you might as well make the most of it by finding the ideal place to get down to business. Thankfully, the university campus is abundant in ideal study hotspots—as long as you know where to look.
If you require dead silence, hundreds upon hundreds of shelves bursting with reference material, and perhaps a place nearby to grab a quick coffee, your best bet would be Morisset Library. Located in the centeral hub of campus, the library is not only accessible, but also has six floors to choose from—each one equipped with several conference rooms for private group meetings. You’d be hard-pressed to find a quieter place to finish writing that pesky essay.
If noise isn’t an issue and you like having your belongings—and yourself—sprawled out on a sofa, you might want to try the Jock Turcot University Centre’s couch lounge. It may not be an ideal study location during the day, but if you stop by later in the evening, it becomes less crowded and more alluring as a workspace. What’s more, you’re only a short walk away from the Pivik convenience store, which offers a wide assortment of sandwiches, salads, drinks, and munchies.
Maybe you want to meet up with a large group of people to discuss the details of your project, but they’re only available to meet during lunch hour. You can try to work on an empty stomach, but it’s hard to concentrate when all you can think about is that box of Twinkies in your room. You might as well make the meeting a luncheon and study at Café Alt, located in the basement of Simard Hall. Once you’re inside this quaint little café, you have the choice of either a booth or a table, and you can enjoy a wide selection of drinks and goodies as well. Sadly, it’s not always easy to find a free seat, but don’t let that deter you from checking it out.
Fresh air has been known to work wonders on a burned-out, word-blocked brain. At the very least, it’s a nice change from the same four walls and the stench of greasy pizza and week-old laundry. You can find a bench, a picnic table, or even just a patch of grass, and let the scenic view of the Ottawa River be your inspiration and motivation to buckle down and get shit done.
University is a time of exploration, and Ottawa is a prime location for doing just that. So, if you don’t mind strolling off-campus, there are a number of cozy little cafés, coffee houses, and eateries equipped with everything you need to get down to business. Cake lovers will want to frequent Oh So Good in the Byward Market. Order yourself a gourmet slice of cake and a hot beverage and hit the books while you await the sweet rewards of hard work.
There’s no shortage of on-campus locations to regain your focus, and although finding the right one can be a bit of a challenge, it will all be worth it when you bring home that A+.
