By Olivia Fischer
CCC Journalism Program
BLACKWOOD – Students disclose the best and worst places on campus to study and socialize after recent renovations.
When students returned for the fall 2024 semester, they were met with a completely renovated cafeteria in Madison Hall. What once had many rustic wooden tables and hightop chairs now had bright white and orange pod chairs and a few white tables. This is a new look that second-year student Annabella Torriero deemed “aesthetically pleasing to look at but not super practical.”
The practicality of the new setup posed concern for several students. Much of the student body has classes in Madison as the hall mostly carries prerequisites, such as English composition and math. Madison Hall also is the main hub on campus for dining, which leads to overcrowding. By taking away tables and replacing them with cozy lounge chairs and arcade games, the atmosphere of the cafeteria drastically changed.
Second-year student Maximilian Staff found the changes to the space great when it came to socializing with friends on campus. During gaps between classes, he felt the crowdedness and new social elevation of the cafeteria allowed him to have fun. Although he misses the original space, he still finds himself there often.
However, he said he finds studying in the cafeteria, not ideal. “When I want to get a lot of work done, I like to go to the third floor of Halpern Hall or the library.” He noted the third floor of Halpern can have a social aspect unlike the library, but it is much less crowded than the Madison cafeteria.
Students in the last year have found new places to hang out on campus. Because Madison gets so much traffic throughout the day, they have searched through other buildings to find a nice spot. Halpern is a relatively quiet building that has many seating options. Another spot to be noted is Lincoln Hall, the fine and performing arts building on the opposite side of campus from Madison Hall. Because of its location and a smaller student body in the fine and performing arts program, it is a quaint spot to get homework done.
First-year theater major Hunter Bolton finds Lincoln Hall to be the best option. While the seating is much less than Madison or Halpern, he thinks it is a nice undercover spot. He said Lincoln Hall is the most comfortable for him to talk with his fellow theater major friends and look over lines.
For homework and studying, the classic choice among those interviewed was the library. Because it is academically focused, the library is a controlled, quiet place where everyone has an understanding that they are to keep to themselves and learn. Articles from universities such as Montclair State University and Princeton University ask the question, “Is the Library the Best Place to Study?” Students from Camden County College and Princeton both agree, yes, the library is the best.