Best places to hide from your roommate on campus
Need a break from your crazy roommate?
Rumor has it that college roommates can either become your best friend for life or your enemy from hell. Although this is somewhat accurate, no matter how close you become to your roommate, everyone needs their space. Sleeping just feet away from a stranger as well as getting to know the gory details of each others’ daily routine can make a person go insane without a break.
Even if you have an overbearing roommate, there are plenty of places on campus where you can study in silence or just hide for a couple days. Most people choose to go to Marston Library, but that is an easy place to be spotted if your roommate’s stalking abilities are up to par. Lucky for you poor souls with the scarier suite mates, there are plenty of less widely known study spots all around the UF campus to lay low in and finally get some work done.
Ustler Hall (3rd Floor)
…is there someone hiding in the corner?
The gender studies building, located next to Moe’s and the Student Recreational Gym, has a cozy study area where you can catch up on your reading, study, or scroll through Instagram in peaceful silence.
The Architecture and Fine Arts (AFA) Library
Did I just see my roommate behind me??
Not only does the Arts library, located in Fine Arts Building A, have plenty of space to hang out and do your work, but it also has two-story nooks to study in. If you don’t think that is cool as hell, you need to rethink your life. You climb a ladder to get to the second story study areas. A LADDER. The nooks are comfy and are big enough to stretch out your legs as well as give you room to hide if you see your roommate walk in.
Turlington Hall Courtyard
I hear someone breathing behind me…
Nestled between Rolfs Hall and Turlington is a nice table to hang out at in between classes where you can study until your roommate has left the dorm. Even better, the hall of vending machines is just steps away. Eat your heart out, kid.
Weimer Hall (3rd Floor)
I don’t think I’m alone in here
These cool couches just scream comfort. If you’re over studying and checking Twitter, sit at the nice high top chairs and have a grand old time judging the students running late and panting like a maniac (it’s usually me).
The Hub
Who just said “bless you” when I sneezed?!
The building behind Marston Library also houses the forever crowded Chick-fil-A, Starbucks, and Einstein Bro. Bagels along with this huge room filled with sofas. If you want to hang out with your friends or drink an overpriced cup of coffee before you endure the wrath of your roommate, The Hub is the place for you.
Smathers Library (Library East)
Why is everyone staring behind me?
Appropriately located beside the more popular Library West, Smathers Library looks like a vintage train where you can sip your tea and pretend you are traveling to Hogwarts instead of crying over your immense workload and upcoming midterms. The library also has many interesting exhibits you can walk around and look at once your notes start to look like gibberish. Hopefully, this overlooked building will also be overlooked by your crazy roommate.
Library West (‘Hidden’ First Floor)
If I don’t look over then maybe she isn’t actually here
Library West is usually packed, but if you go full spy mode, you will find the glorious ‘hidden’ first floor. After going up the escalators, take the elevator down to the first floor and you will find yourself in a nice little study area with computers and tables as well as books upon books to peruse at your leisure. If your roommate manages to find you here in this secluded spot, I hate to break it to you, but you are royally screwed.
Pugh Hall (In Between Floors)
I must be seeing things, my roommate is NOT sitting next to me, right? Right?!
Another great place to study and relax is Pugh Hall, located between Newell and Dauer Halls. There are so many great spots in this large and gorgeous building, but the booths next to the stairs are by far the best. You can bring friends to study and lounge around with while keeping an eye out to see if your roommate has found you.
Plaza of the Americas
Did the tree just giggle?
Although this area gets busy and hosts many events, this huge outside area is beautiful and a perfect place to fall asleep in a hammock (not by yourself because safety first, friends). There are also plenty of benches to sit on while you eavesdrop on the lives of more interesting students.
Hopefully, these spots make for good hiding places from some of the stranger roommates as well as gives you motivation to get out of the dorm and explore the wonderful UF campus!