On any given day at Mercy University, students move through a familiar set of spaces that quietly shape campus life. Some sit outside Main Hall between classes, others pass through Hudson Hall, and many spend long hours in the library depending on the demands of the day. Over time, these spaces become less about physical location and more about routine-places where students reset, socialize, or focus between responsibilities.
Outside Main Hall, junior Cassandra Sanchez sat in one of the lawn chairs facing the center of campus while students moved steadily behind her. The flow of foot traffic never fully stops, with students crossing between buildings, carrying backpacks, coffee, and lunch as they transition from one class to another.
“I always sit here,” she said. “I sit here when I don’t have class because it’s nicer out here.”
For Sanchez, the space is not about studying or productivity, but about being outside and taking a break from the pace of the day.
“I like just looking at everything,” she said. “I like getting air.”
When the weather changes, so does her routine. Like many students, she shifts indoors, often relying on the library as a quieter alternative.
The library is one of the most consistently used spaces on campus, especially during exam periods and long academic weeks. Inside, students move between silent study zones, group tables, and computer stations depending on their needs.
Freshman Madison Terry said the flexibility of the library is what makes it useful.
“My favorite place on campus is probably the library right now,” she said.
She explained that the space allows students to choose the level of noise and interaction they need.
“There’s a quiet zone and then there’s places you can chat with your friends at the same time,” she said. “It’s not all just one place.”
Terry said she often studies with friends but moves into quieter sections when focus is needed.
For sophomore Kiara Ward, Hudson Hall stands out for a different reason. It is one of the most active and social areas on campus, combining food, seating, and student activity in one central location.
“It’s just the environment,” she said. “The Starbucks is there so I can get food or drinks and I’m usually just there with my friends.”
Throughout the day, Hudson remains busy with students coming in and out between classes, grabbing meals, or sitting together in groups. Campus events and student organization activities also contribute to the steady flow of movement in the space.
“There’s games and people laughing around you,” Ward said. “It makes for an enjoyable environment.”
Mercy University also offers a wide range of clubs and student organizations throughout the year, and those activities often feed into the energy of shared spaces like Hudson.
Meetings, events, and informal gatherings give students additional reasons to remain on campus outside of class time.
Still, Ward noted that access to certain spaces can feel uneven depending on whether a student lives on campus or commutes.
“If you’re not a dormer, you don’t have the lounges,” she said. “Sometimes you’re kind of just limited.”
Her comments reflect a broader divide some commuter students feel while navigating campus life. While resident students often have access to dorm lounges and housing spaces, commuters frequently rely on public campus areas to spend time between classes.
Another sophomore, Kaylee R, pointed to the same issue, suggesting that more shared spaces could help bring students together more consistently.
“I feel like they could expand even more to make everybody come together,” she said.
Even with those concerns, students consistently return to the same campus locations day after day. Some choose quiet corners in the library, others sit outside Main Hall listening to music, and many gather in Hudson surrounded by conversation and movement. Upstairs in Victory Hall and downstairs in the café, students line up for food between classes while conversations overlap around crowded tables.
Together, these routines create the atmosphere students associate with Mercy University. The campus is shaped not only by classrooms and academics, but by the spaces in between them – the places where students study, socialize, recharge, and move through the everyday rhythm of college life.
