Lauren Groulx

An Ode to Blobby

As a Dartmouth student, I spend a lot of my time studying and catching up with my friends. This term, I have become increasingly fond of one location to combine both of these pursuits: Reiss Hall, otherwise known as "Blobby" (the Baker-Berry Library lobby).

Dartmouth's website calls Blobby the "crossroads of campus." I don't think I can come up with a better way to describe the space, especially as the chilly winter weather drives students away from the Green (the outdoor center of campus).

Blobby is not the most glamorous study location–although it is pretty. It's not the most conducive to "locking in." It doesn't even have the best seating options, although I have become quite fond of the cluster of chairs in my favorite corner. 

But what Blobby lacks in practicality, it makes up for in its other aspects (at least in my opinion). 

When I plop down in the corner of Blobby, I can almost guarantee that I will see friendly faces walking by as I work. As someone who studies better in the presence of others, I value this space that allows me to be surrounded by my fellow students. 

Blobby is also conducive to spending time with friends. Its seating options consist of tables and groups of chairs, which invite passersby to plop down and work for a while. Even if your friends are studying completely separate things from you, Blobby provides an atmosphere where you can all get some work done while also catching up.

My favorite Blobby moments are incredibly mundane, and that's part of what I love about the space. I love looking up from my reading to see my friends deep in thought (that's part of the reason I wanted to come to a school like Dartmouth). I love hearing our laughter echo off of the high ceilings and bounce off the checkered tile floors. I love flopping down on one of the slightly uncomfortable couches after a long day to talk about anything and everything. 

Not to get too poetic, but I think Blobby is a good represenation of Dartmouth as a whole. It facilitates community, provides a sense of place, and has led to so many learning moments. In addition to my homework, I've done a lot in Blobby. I've watched movies with friends, played board games, learned how to solve a Rubik's cube, ate a few meals, and had countless conversations. 

This term, I've learned a lot about myself and how I want the next few years to look. In my vision for the rest of my time at Dartmouth, I've definitely carved out a lot of time for "Blobbying."