There are two types of college students: those who say they “don’t nap” and liars. Between classes, assignments and whatever existential crisis hits around 2:17 p.m., sleep becomes less of a luxury and more of a survival tactic.
And while Richland wasn’t exactly designed with napping in mind, that hasn’t stopped anyone from turning it into an art form.After extensive (and very serious) field research, here are the best places on campus to accidentally fall asleep on purpose.
The library not-quite-basement couch
You know the Learning Commons entrance: stairs up, stairs down, confusion immediately. Go downstairs. Not all the way into the depths, but just enough. There’s a tucked-away seating area with a couch and a table in front of it.
It’s weirdly private. Suspiciously private. This spot is perfect for the kind of nap where you didn’t mean to fall asleep, but your body made an executive decision. The table in front of you acts as a dignity shield, so if your mouth falls open or you start snoring, congratulations, no one can fully see you.
The book aisles downstairs
Further into the lower level of the former library, past the normal seating, into the actual library part, you’ll find rows of books that no one has touched since approximately 2007.
Between these aisles are quiet study spots that double as elite-level hiding zones. Foot traffic is basically nonexistent. It’s silent. It’s dim. It’s giving, “I disappeared and no one noticed.” If you’ve ever wanted to vanish for 30–45 minutes and wake up slightly disoriented but healed, this is your place.
The Honors room
Yes, you technically have to sign in. Yes, it’s meant for studying. But it’s also one of the quietest, calmest spaces on campus. There’s something funny about taking the most peaceful nap of your life in a room called the Honors Room. It feels prestigious. Academic, even.
Fannin’s third seating section
Walk into Fannin, pass the main theater and then keep going until you hit the seating areas divided by walls. Now ignore the first two sections. Too obvious. Too exposed.
The third one is where things get interesting. There’s less natural light, barely any foot traffic and most importantly, an outlet right next to the seating. This is for those that need to watch ASMR videos without their phone dying in order to fall asleep.
The bench circle by the V lot (Cult classic)
Across from Fannin, near the V parking lot, there’s a grassy area with benches arranged in a circle. No one knows why they’re arranged like that. No one questions it. But what it does create is the perfect group napping formation.
Everyone gets a bench. The nap becomes … collaborative. The more people in the circle, the stronger the nap. At some point, it stops being a break and starts feeling like a ritual. If campus folklore ever develops, it will start here.
Sabine second floor bathroom lounge
Upstairs in Sabine, near the classrooms, there’s a bathroom with benches and chairs right outside. During the spring and summer, the sun hits the glass just right and turns the whole area into a warm, slightly questionable nap zone.
Two chairs pushed together can function as a makeshift bed, especially if you’re on the shorter side. Is it unconventional? Yes. Will people walking into the bathroom see you mid-nap? Also yes. But let’s be honest, if they’re headed into a bathroom, they have bigger priorities than judging you.
Library study rooms (For “studying”)
Study rooms are, of course, meant for studying. And you absolutely should study.
But if, hypothetically, someone were to study … and then rest their eyes … and then accidentally fall asleep for 20 minutes … who’s to say that isn’t part of the process? Technically, you need more than one person to check one out. Which, if you think about it, just turns this into a team-based napping opportunity.
Crockett Hall empty classrooms (High risk, high reward)
Crockett Hall has a suspicious number of empty classrooms at any given time.
If you happen to find one open, lights off and abandoned … well. You didn’t hear this from me. Just maybe set an alarm. Getting locked into an academic time warp is not fun.
Final thoughts
Napping on campus is about strategy. Timing. Location. You have to know exactly where you can disappear for a moment and come back slightly more human. I’m happy to help.
So the next time you feel your eyes closing midday, remember me. And if anyone asks, you were just … resting your eyes.
