During my first-year at WashU,  I was flabbergasted by how difficult it was to find alone time. I was assigned a traditional double in a six-person suite, which left me relatively pressed for space with privacy. Gone were the days of doing homework in total isolation in my bedroom, screaming along to music in my car, and choreographing elaborate ballets in my bathroom mirror. 

The little moments of zen, when I was allowed to act completely insane in solitude, were a thing of the past, but being the resourceful WashU student that I am, I scoured the South 40 for secret spots to guarantee minimal surveillance from my peers and the @washudog lady. 

There are so many reasons why you might feel the need to seclude yourself, and all of them are perfectly valid. Whether you need to escape your suite, find a place to cry, or discover somewhere to study in peace, I present you with my personal favorite places to be antisocial outside your room. 

Lee Basement

The amazing Lee basement. (Bri Nitsberg | Managing Photo Editor)

I cannot hype up the Lee basement enough. No one is ever down there because it’s Lee, and all people expect from it are communal bathrooms and gloom. They don’t expect multiple TVs, a plethora of study rooms, a music practice room with an out-of-tune piano, and the most comfortable couches on the South 40. When I got locked out of my dorm once at 2:00 a.m., I went down to the Lee basement and had one of the most splendid sleep of my life on the couches. 

There is something magical about the lack of windows that inspires an unmatched level of productivity within me. Ten-page Comparative Literature essay due? Time to get on that subterranean grind and head to Lee. It’s the closest thing to solitary confinement you will find on campus. 

Tietjens Practice Rooms

One of the things I missed the most in coming to WashU was being able to belt along to music in my car on my way to school. Singing in the shower was not really the vibe in my suite, so I found the perfect method of satisfying my craving for a sing/scream-a-long by frequenting the Tietjans Hall practice rooms. 

In each room, you will also find a piano, where you can tap some keys and make lots of joyful noise in total privacy. If you go during the school day, it’s especially empty.

Mudd Library

Located on the first floor of Mudd, this quiet study space has gorgeous windows and bookshelves exuding intellectualism and the deepest of focuses. Especially if you’re a first-year, this is a great place to rat out and hide because Mudd is a sophomore dorm, meaning you will recognize NO ONE (hopefully). 

The library also has gothic-looking light fixtures dangling from the ceiling that make me feel like a sophisticated young woman on top of her schoolwork (something I am most often the opposite of). If you’re looking for the same locked-in feeling as the third floor of Olin but not looking to be surrounded by the masses, I would recommend Mudd Library. 

Fourth Floor Umrath Lounge (The Plant Room)

I should preface that this recommendation is only an isolation station during the day (as it gets packed during the evenings) but it is a study oasis anytime before 6:00 p.m. It’s the kind of place that was designed for listening to Lo-fi, drinking warm drinks, and enjoying learning. Plants in glass jars line the window sills, cleansing the room of negativity and self-doubt, and the midday sunlight makes you forget you’re indoors. 

Walk off campus

If you really need to be alone, sometimes the only cure is a walk off campus. Plug in an audiobook or a playlist full of your personal jams, and go look at some trees. Even if you just exit the South 40 through the brick wall behind the butterfly garden and walk around that neighborhood, you’ll likely encounter zero people. A Forest Park jaunt is also a wonderful indulgence (although, one time I saw my WUSA shirtless on a run, which was anything but an escape from WashU).