The reason why I chose to focus on “ Why our Lounge?” and not the other topics is that I realized they all have a common pattern, but this topic kind of ties things together. The common pattern that I noticed was the fact that everyone I talked to has mentioned at least once that the reason why they do what they do in PCM is that it’s a extremely comfortable and warm environment where you can escape to and we all really need a place like PCM in college since it’s such a stressful time in our young adult lives and having a place to destress really helps us a lot. I feel like if I didn’t have PCM I would spend most of my days in my dark dorm just doing nothing productive. Along with PCM being a homey environment it pushes you to be productive because of how welcoming and productive it is.

Most days, PCM is used to have fun light-hearted activities between the residents of the fourth floor, but I noticed that really serious conversations tend to take place there. Why?

I asked a few residents I’ve seen hold very serious conversations in PCM why they choose this setting. I spoke to first-year transfer student Emma Gilman about why she has most of her important conversation in PCM. She said

“ The Pop Culture and Media lounge is so comfortable and homey, I feel comfortable speaking to people about things such as why our relationship has been strained lately to conversations regarding checking up on your friend’s mental health. Even though it’s original intent is to be a place to relax between classes, but PCM is more than that, in my opinion. It’s a safe place where you can openly talk and come to when you’re feeling some type of way”

I’ve noticed what she meant. PCM is filled with things that make it feel like another home to the point where you feel safe. It truly is a safe place for everyone. I find myself coming in here on my darkest days just so I can talk to my friends about what’s been bothering me. It truly is a safe haven.

I’ve noticed residents of the other floors sometimes try to spend their time in PCM and not their own lounges. I’ve watched residents from the third and second floor roam the halls looking to see if anyone is in PCM so they use the space for their own. I interviewed two students who were in PCM doing their own thing.

The first person I interviewed was Ashling Dennehy. I asked her why she journeys from the second floor up to PCM just to hang out. She responded with :

“The fourth floor have the most unbothered people who are so chill that they don’t care that you’re a random person from a different floor in the lounge. I feel more invited in PCM then I do in the honors lounge. It’s such a study only area in my opinion”.

After hearing this, I took the liberty to explore the other lounges to see what he meant. I can confirm that PCM is more inviting than the other lounges. They all feel so cold and aloof, while PCM feels nice and everyone in there act as a family in a way.

Nursing student Emma Petras, who is a resident of the third floor was caught studying in the corner of PCM. I asked Why she in the nursing lounge studying and she responded with this:

“ When I’m in the nursing lounge I feel so much pressure to study because it’s a competitive major and we have to do a lot just to stay in the nursing program. The lounge just puts me under so much pressure it’s impossible to study without being super stressed. PCM is more relaxed and laid back so I come up here to study without feeling like I’m going to crack any second”

I noticed that the common pattern with the visitors of PCM is that they all find comfort in PCM and it’s like an escape from other things.

During my first observation in PCM, I discovered that this environment attracts a lot of nappers. I witnessed 5 people (including myself) collectively take a nap on each couch/chair. During the day you tend to see people sprawled out on the comfortable blue couches in PCM just sleeping for hours I wondered why we were so comfortable sleeping out in the open where everyone can see and anyone can come in and out. I asked myself “ Would I be comfortable sleeping in any of the other lounges in Alumni?”. The answer was a fat no from me and those who’ve also slept in PCM. I think the reason why I’m so comfortable just sleeping in a lounge is that I feel safe. I know the people I live with well enough to know that I’m safe and okay just sleeping in the lounge we all share. I spoke to some fellow nappers of PCM and they basically said the same thing. I asked fourth floor resident, Genexis Arias-Gomez why she takes naps in the PCM lounge and not in her own room. She responded with:

” Sometimes, my roommate and I just don’t get along so I barely go to my room and just escape to PCM where I can take a nap in peace. It’s a place where I feel comfortable and safe”

The others in the room fully agreed and so did I. I did notice that I tend to stay in PCM just to get away from my dorm when I’m also feeling uncomfortable.

For my blog post’s. I decided that the space I want to observe is the Pop Culture and Media lounge aka PCM. PCM is a pretty important space in my opinion. There, everyone come together and treat it like their little home. The reason why I choose PCM is because I feel like everything I’ve ever experience in my dorm building has happened in that room and I feel like other residents on the fourth floor can agree with me. To the residents of Alumni, PCM is a safe space for everyone who has found comfort in the lounge. Despite the fact that PCM is just a lounge, it has a bigger impact on those who are constantly in and out of the lounge.  From my observations, I hope to understand why the residents- even those from different floors- of Alumni Hall find the Pop Culture and Media lounge so comforting despite the fact that each floor in alumni has 2 lounges.