So many silent study spaces at Saint Ignatius, yet such few collaborative places to chat with friends while doing work. The Library and McLaughlin are silent study spaces leaving students who want to talk and collaborate with others with limited communal space to work.
“I wish we still had that space behind the library because it helped me get my work done, but also have a fun time with friends,” said senior Tori Scott. There are nearby rooms behind the library that used to be collaborative spaces but have been closed off this year, leaving students with less space to do work with friends.
For students that feel more comfortable and productive when collaborating with friends while doing work, there are limited options. Some students say the spaces would allow them to balance social interaction with working productively during free periods.
If collaborative study spaces are too close to classrooms, for example, in McLaughlin, the background noise could be distracting for those lessons. Nearby, teachers and administrators would need to help determine whether the spaces could be created without interfering with the lessons near those spaces.
The designated spaces that allow students to talk and do work are Tully Hall, only when there is no lunch going on, Brunswick, and benches in the hallways. This is not nearly enough space for 1,500 students.
While some thrive in silence, others thrive from collaboration. “I love doing work while talking with my friends because it allows me to collaborate with others, ” said senior Meghan Tracy.