-
8 Best Study Spots on Campus
Study spaces come in all shapes and sizes at Syracuse University, whose campus brims with libraries, cafés and lounges. “Sometimes I want to chill with my friends between classes. Other times, I need to be alone to study,” says Isabelle Lenée ’25. From the elegance of Carnegie Library to the laid-back charm of People’s Place, the University offers something for everyone, she continues. “Everyone needs a place to call their own.” -
For the Fantasy Buff
The Safire Room Is an Enchanting “Gryffindor Room”
The Safire Room on the sixth floor of Bird Library offers a panoramic view of campus. Named for the late Pulitzer-winning author and columnist William Safire H’78, the space exudes a quiet sophistication. No wonder it’s affectionately called “The Gryffindor Room”—a nod to the many rows of wooden book-lined shelves. A trustee who donated personal books and letters to the University, Safire was a member of the Class of 1951 and a 2006 recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. His room holds more than 2,800 volumes about the Civil War, political history and language, along with a rich assortment of dictionaries.
For the Vintage Lover
Carnegie Library Is an Iconic Study Spot with an Academic Aesthetic
Almost anyone who enters Carnegie Library is struck by the spaciousness of the historic Reading Room. With its high ceilings, open arches and domed skylight, the room bathes in natural light and Victorian splendor. “Carnegie Library is one of the most iconic places on campus to study,” notes Dean of Libraries and University Librarian David Seaman. “It also reflects our rich architectural heritage.” Made possible by a matching gift from industrialist Andrew Carnegie, the building opened in 1907 and, for the next 65 years, was the main library on campus. Today, it also houses the Department of Mathematics.
For the Caffeine Fiend
People's Place Café Is the Boho Brewhouse Backing Good Causes
People’s Place Café has been brewing a sense of community for more than 50 years. Based in the lower level of Hendricks Chapel, the student-run business serves up coffee and conversation with casual bravado. Credit student manger Willow Keith ’24 for keeping the menu diverse and inclusive. “Special promotions like ‘Vegan Monday’ are popular with students,” she says, adding that many of the café’s baked goods and fair-trade coffees come from local vendors. Meanwhile, tips go to local nonprofits and charities with guidance from Hendrick’s engagement team. Aside from the occasional art show or poetry slam, People’s Place is chill personified, Keith adds. “It’s my favorite place on my campus.”
For the View-Seeker
Link Hall Is a Campus Vantage Point
There’s no shortage of quiet study spots in Link Hall. In addition to walk-in lounges (one for graduate students, another for undergraduates), Link boasts a top-floor hallway with a postcard-like view of Shaw Quadrangle. “Students will idle away the hours in the hallway, just reading or hanging out,” notes a professor in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, which uses most of the building. Dedicated in 1954, Link Hall was the University’s biggest structure until Bird Library opened almost two decades later. The industrial-style complex is named for Edwin A. Link H’66, inventor of a flight simulator that revolutionized pilot training.
For the Cozy-Craver
Mower Passage Is a Sun-Kissed Comfy Spot
Eric ’66, G’68 and Judy Mower ’66, G’73, G’80, G’84 have been bleeding Orange since the 1960s, when they met as students. The Florida-based couple has six degrees between them from the College of Arts and Sciences and the Newhouse School of Public Communications, on whose advisory board Eric serves. The Mower Passage, which connects Newhouse 1-2, is a physical expression of his and Judy’s commitment to fostering community. “It’s a cozy, peaceful place drenched in sunlight,” observes one student, noting the lounge’s soft padded chairs and floor-to-ceiling windows. Eric and Judy—life trustees in the communications and organizational development fields, respectively—appreciate how the walkway attracts students in all academic majors.
For the Homebody
Panasci Lounge Is Syracuse’s Blissful ‘Living Room’
Newly renovated Schine Student Center is called Syracuse’s “living room” because it has all the amenities for student life. The center owes much of its popularity to Panasci Lounge, a glass-filled space on the second floor facing the Hall of Languages. The lounge is so quiet that you can “hear a bag zip across the room,” says Jamey Bulloch G’22. As a result, students come here to “bliss out” or to “crank out” assignments, she continues. The room is named for the late Henry Panasci Jr., a longtime trustee who co-founded a chain of regional drugstores. Many consider Panasci Lounge a prescription for happiness.
For the City Lover
The Underground Gives Five-Boroughs Vibes
Another hotspot is The Underground, located on the bottom floor of the Schine Student Center. The Underground includes a lounge whose low-slung chairs and rich, warm lighting attract visitors late into the night. “It’s intimate and inviting, with a New York-style vibe,” notes one student. Feet away is an eponymously named venue that is part of Syracuse lore. In the mid-1980s, The Underground was a discotheque called the Milky Way—a non-alcoholic response to the famed Jabberwocky Café. (Located in Kimmel Hall, the now-defunct “Jab” presented such acts as James Brown, Cyndi Lauper and the Talking Heads.) Today, The Underground venue holds up to 400 people and is used for meetings, banquets, lectures and concerts.
For the Wallflower
Eggers Café Is the Spot for People Watching
Great food is not the only thing on tap at Eggers Café. Housed on the third floor of Eggers Hall, the glass-lined eatery, adjacent to Maxwell Hall, serves up some of the best people-watching on campus. “It’s strategically located but, at the same time, out of the way,” says Michael Roberts ’23. Hence, Eggers Café earns points for charm and intimacy. Food service is provided Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. with vending options and seating available to those with all-hours building access. Another 24/7 study escape is the Academic Village, located on the opposite end of Eggers Hall on the second floor. The building’s namesake, Melvin Eggers H’91, retired from Syracuse in 1991 after 40 years of service, half of which were spent as chancellor.
