LSU students can often be found on the Parade Grounds with their faces toward the sun and their bodies lying in the cool grass. Backpacks become pillows, and the muffled noise of Frisbee players drowns away. It’s about 3 p.m. and these college kids are getting the relaxation they need. So at sheer convenience, students turn LSU’s beautiful landscape into a haven every now and then for naptime.
Most students adore the Quad or the Parade Ground’s comforting atmosphere, but as these areas become increasingly crowded, students are getting creative. The Middleton Library floors from top to bottom have become the perfect place to curl up in a chair and catch some z’s. A little farther away, the Union’s Art Gallery Lobby has even seen some snoozers.
The Greek Theater, according to accounting sophomore Fredy Chavez, isn’t a bad place to pass out either. Chavez claims he’s been in the Greek Theater a whole night before.
Pre-architecture sophomore Rachel Lagrange isn’t afraid of the unusual either. She claims to frequently use cardboard from Atkinson Studios to construct a comfy mattress of recycled goodness. Lagrange is fully aware of the snickers when she makes her comfortable palettes.
A few other popular napping places students enjoy include Stanford Park and the lake between Blake and Herget halls. It would appear that napping on campus isn’t so much about comfort as it is about convenience.
“It doesn’t really matter where I am, usually when I nap on campus. I’m too tired to go home, and I don’t really have time anyway,” said kinesiology sophomore Delaney Shea.
Students are seeking less crowded and prettier places to squeeze in siestas. The areas they say they prefer to nap are usually near water because of the beautiful scenery, serenity and fresh air.
“I guess you can nap inside your room, but that’s boring. I love being outside and just laying around wherever you want to,” said Gabe Hilliard, computer science freshman.
Rather than sleeping indoors, Hilliard and his roommate, photography freshman Michael Fuson, developed their own perfect napping method. Hilliard and Fuson started hanging hammocks in different places every day around 2 p.m. for their naptime. Fuson said every different place they have tried has become the best place— hammock or no hammock.
Anywhere could be your ideal napping habitat. It could be Evangeline Hall’s TV room or the Manship Holliday Forum. The dining halls between lunch and dinner and the Coates Hall bathrooms have been suggested for a mid-afternoon nap.
“LSU has the best campus for relaxation,” said mass communication sophomore Alli Bixler. “I’m thankful every now and then to just lay my head down and get some much needed rest.”
