By Sarah Krumholz

Location: Basement of Campus Center
Hours: 12 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
It’s 10 p.m. on a Wednesday night and you just got out of night class. Only one thought enters your head: free popcorn. You trek from Carnegie to the bright, welcoming lights of the Campus Center, a beacon in the cold night air. The comforting warmth of inside rushes out. Only a brief descent into the basement, and like Harry Potter, you find yourself in the closet under the stairs. But this closet is unlike any other. Rather than being full of broomsticks or cleaning supplies, it is an inviting hangout full of earth-tone couches and endless entertainment possibilities.

Unlimited ping-pong and pool table use, Direct TV, endless board games, play station, and all the popcorn you can eat is all available in the student lounge. Open between 12 pm and 12:30 a.m. any day of the week, this optimal equipment can be exploited free of charge.

Aside from the great variety of games, the lounge is a great place to study. It lacks the suffocation of the library and is not flooded with light like the top of the CC. Nor is it costly and noisy, like most of the local coffee shops. With the dimmed lighting and a mellow mood it is a great space to go to get some low-key work done.

You won’t feel overwhelmed by people because there are usually a small number of people occupying the space. There are even couches with the perfect amount of give inviting lots of naps. A variety of music, ranging from the Beauty and the Beast soundtrack to Bob Dylan will lull you into a relaxed mood.

Occasionally, the lounge will even host excellent events. Some of the most recent include an art show and a concert by the Muskies. A pool tournament will happen in late April and prizes include a variety of movies. If you are interested a sign up sheet is currently located in the lounge.

So next time you feel like your energy and motivation to continue with college withers and approach the brink of death, just imagine the buttery, salty popcorm.