Ever since I starting attending Mizzou, one of my only problems has been the lack of study space. This year, the problem has only gotten worse. Mizzou began renovating Jessie Hall in June of 2014, and everything that once took place in Jessie Hall had to be relocated to another place on campus. Many of the things were moved to Ellis Library, which already had a lack of study space.           

I tried to find a space to study at Ellis the other day and I was unsuccessful. Maybe I am too picky, but I have to study in a place that is quiet. There was not one open space that I could find. I even looked in the areas that were not “quiet areas” and still had no luck. It was not even finals weeks, so I cannot imagine how bad it is going to be then. I tried to go somewhere else to study. Memorial Union was completely full. The student center was also full. I even stopped by the rec to see if those study rooms were open, but they were not. Since Mizzou has more than one library, I tried to go to the Health Sciences library. But I found that it was closed to all students except for those in med school or nursing. I ended up finding an empty classroom in Middlebush to study at.   

In a school as wonderful as Mizzou, it blows my mind to see the lack of study spaces.  After all, Mizzou is a place of higher education. But somehow, athletic needs seem to come before the needs of students who are just trying to get an education, the very reason for the school. I love sports but it just seems like the school could try a little bit harder to meet the needs of the students as well.