When the 'lobby kids' come out
Common-space dwellers multiply in harsh temperatures
Kat Timpf
Issue date: 11/20/08 Section: Focus
As Hillsdale enters another frozen Michigan winter, students are seeing more of some things - such as mittens, scarves and 'lobby kids.'
Similar to a human's hat and mittens, lobby kids are every student residence's winter accessory. They're always there, watching television, doing homework and socializing.
"We've definitely been in the lobby more since it got colder because we used to hang outside on the lawn," freshman and lobby kid Elizabeth Jacobs said.
Although indoor activities may have a more widespread appeal, Jacobs said she does not expect to compete for lobby space with other students.
"We're actually pretty much the only group of people that hangs out in that lobby, so I think other people know that we own it," Jacobs said with a laugh.
Jacobs and her friends have certainly spent a decent amount of time in the Olds Residence lobby even before it became cold outside.
Freshman "Rachel Hannabass said she and her friends, including Jacobs, get together in the Olds lobby to watch The Office and House, and even spent four hours there watching the World Series.
"Sometimes we'll have food and we'll have games like Skip Bo and Bananagrams," Hannabass said.
Jacobs said she enjoys hanging out in the lobby because of its convenient location.
"It's close to your room, and you're close to all your amenities: books, food, computer," Jacobs said.
The Olds lobby crowd isn't just for female residents, however. Freshman Nick Youngstrom said he spends a good deal of his time in that lobby.
"That's where all my friends are and it's conducive to group hang out-ing," Youngstrom said.
Youngstrom added that he has sat on lobby couches in the Simpson, Galloway, Neidfeldt, Benzing, McIntyre and Olds Residences and has determined the Olds couches are the most comfortable.
However, not all lobby kids hang out in Olds. McIntyre house director Teri Martin said Mac has its share of lobby kids, too - kids bearing blankets, snacks and pillows. Martin said she will sometimes even "bake something if there's a crowd out there," to make students feel "comfortable… like they're at home."
Martin said that two years ago there were a group of guys who felt a bit too at home in the McIntyre lobby - so at home that they would hang out when the girls weren't there.
"One guy used to sleep under the coffee table," Martin said.
While that particular student has since found alternate sleeping arrangements, lobby kids are certainly here to stay.
"It's a big space, it's not like a room where it has an [early] curfew, and you can just fit a bunch of people," Jacobs said.
Similar to a human's hat and mittens, lobby kids are every student residence's winter accessory. They're always there, watching television, doing homework and socializing.
"We've definitely been in the lobby more since it got colder because we used to hang outside on the lawn," freshman and lobby kid Elizabeth Jacobs said.
Although indoor activities may have a more widespread appeal, Jacobs said she does not expect to compete for lobby space with other students.
"We're actually pretty much the only group of people that hangs out in that lobby, so I think other people know that we own it," Jacobs said with a laugh.
Jacobs and her friends have certainly spent a decent amount of time in the Olds Residence lobby even before it became cold outside.
Freshman "Rachel Hannabass said she and her friends, including Jacobs, get together in the Olds lobby to watch The Office and House, and even spent four hours there watching the World Series.
"Sometimes we'll have food and we'll have games like Skip Bo and Bananagrams," Hannabass said.
Jacobs said she enjoys hanging out in the lobby because of its convenient location.
"It's close to your room, and you're close to all your amenities: books, food, computer," Jacobs said.
The Olds lobby crowd isn't just for female residents, however. Freshman Nick Youngstrom said he spends a good deal of his time in that lobby.
"That's where all my friends are and it's conducive to group hang out-ing," Youngstrom said.
Youngstrom added that he has sat on lobby couches in the Simpson, Galloway, Neidfeldt, Benzing, McIntyre and Olds Residences and has determined the Olds couches are the most comfortable.
However, not all lobby kids hang out in Olds. McIntyre house director Teri Martin said Mac has its share of lobby kids, too - kids bearing blankets, snacks and pillows. Martin said she will sometimes even "bake something if there's a crowd out there," to make students feel "comfortable… like they're at home."
Martin said that two years ago there were a group of guys who felt a bit too at home in the McIntyre lobby - so at home that they would hang out when the girls weren't there.
"One guy used to sleep under the coffee table," Martin said.
While that particular student has since found alternate sleeping arrangements, lobby kids are certainly here to stay.
"It's a big space, it's not like a room where it has an [early] curfew, and you can just fit a bunch of people," Jacobs said.
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