It’s the only place you can get a Slim Jim at 2 a.m. and the best-kept secret study spot of campus: the Old Snack Bar. 

There’s nothing quite like the OSB, and in my humble opinion, there is no better study spot on campus than the former snack bar. Now converted to a multipurpose space, its complete with restaurant-style booths to make yourself at home in and every mouth-watering snack you could desire available for purchase. 

My affinity for the OSB dates back to the beginning of my sophomore year, after I had frequented A.J. ‘s and the Grewcock Student Union so often during my freshman year that I couldn’t stomach being there for more than five minutes any longer. I also spent nearly the entirety of the previous semester’s finals week in the library, and was burnt out on that, too. Plus, the color scheme in the Skittles room really gave me a headache. Who thought that chartreuse green and deep red were a good combination?

To put it simply, I was never returning to study in any of these locations, which was unfortunate for me, as they are objectively the most popular and accessible study spots up the hill, with close proximity to food from the counter at A.J.’s when you need some fuel and the printer in the library when it’s time to turn in your hard copy. So, I began my search up the hill for a new study spot.

I wrestled with my remaining options, such as a classroom in Lane or Kendall halls. But after spending the majority of my days in these buildings for my classes, that felt redundant. A study spot in Strosacker was immediately out of the question, as a humanities major like me is clearly allergic to any STEM adjacent area. Alas, my heart could not find contentment. 

Until one day, when a dear Kappa sister suggested a new option to me: the Old Snack Bar. I gasped when she presented the idea to me. Had I finally found my new study spot home at long last?

What began as a few late-night study trips up the hill with friends to this new and mysterious spot quickly blossomed into a true love; the OSB was my study spot match made in heaven. 

The vibes were immaculate. The OSB was the perfect combination of being isolated enough to truly focus on work but in the heart of campus at the same time. The dingy lighting always made me slightly uncomfortable enough to motivate me to finish my work fast, but proved to be kind to my eyes when I found myself stuck in a booth at 3 a.m. still struggling to come up with a thesis for my American Heritage paper or eavesdropping (or eaveswatching, should I say?) the swing dancing taking place right next to me on a Friday night. 

And, don’t even get me started on the snacks — a whole wall of them, with something for everyone. Microwavable burritos, a vast array of energy drinks, the underrated but phenomenal Nerds Gummy Clusters, and of course, coffee. Study fuel at your fingertips! 

I found the architectural layout appealing as well — with one wall of booths, and the other a floor-to-ceiling window leading into the abyss of nothingness between the end of the OSB and the Dow building. 

And the best part of all: time is not real when you are in the OSB. Existing within the bounds of this place makes one minute feel like one hour and one hour feel like one minute. Time is but an illusion, and any weird thing you may see in your time in the OSB you can also just chalk up to being an illusion. At least that’s what I do, and it works perfectly every time.