Looking to find a place to stay in between classes? Trying to find the best room to watch a movie? Well, look no further! From a commuter’s perspective, here are the top five empty classrooms to hang around in when you’re bored or when McKeldin suddenly shuts down due to an angry bear attack.

5. That one room tucked in the basement of the physics building

I think this room is called PHY 0405. Before you can enjoy the room though, you’ll have to find it. I won’t give any hints, so figure it out. It doesn’t have the automatic projector screen, meaning you have to stand on top of a wobbly desk, clamber your way to the top, and try not to fall off before using your strength to latch onto the screen. Bonus points if you faceplant onto the floor and yank the screen off the ceiling at the same time!

4. Atlantic 2324

Yes, I’m aware that the lecture hall is being shut down for renovations! But who cares? You might be able to sit in one of the chairs, study at the five dorm desks packed in there, and stare at your food in the classroom’s somehow functioning microwave as you realize you have three midterms coming up…

Did I forget to mention that the classroom is locked? You might want to try some lockpicks first. Or just bust the door down and get a whiff of that abandoned classroom and paint smell.

3. Bio Psych 1234

Yippee! This room is in the middle of absolutely nowhere! There’s also no computer in this room, by the way. You can instead use the time to imagine about the olden days, when your great-great-great-great-great grandparents started living and studying at UMD alongside dozens of extinct species.

2. The Armory lecture halls (provided class isn’t in session)

Remember the place where you or your engineering friends had a multivariate calculus lecture? Remember how the ceiling literally shakes because ROTC is conducting military drills upstairs? Yes, those small chairs with the even smaller folding tables are so comfortable to sit in during your down time. 

Also, this liminal space is only a 3600 hour walk to your precious dorms, making it so nice and convenient for you lucky resident students.

1. Any of the discussion rooms in Kirwan Hall

Ah yes, the pinnacle of comfort! Wooden chairs that feel like elementary schoolers should be sitting in them, not college students. MTH 0301 is my top pick. There’s that random document scanner chained to the table and also no projector? Sweet! Time to have the most exciting time of our lives sitting in a stripped down classroom for two hours!

Have fun and happy room-hopping!

Image Credits: Madison Shields