Langston University has a big campus with plenty of open fields, three nice lakes, and places to walk around. But for many students, something simple is still missing: seating. There aren’t enough outdoor tables, benches or shaded spots for students to study, eat or hang out.
This might not sound like a big deal at first, but students say it makes their day-to-day lives harder.
“Wouldn’t you love to just sit outside and do your homework one day?” Skyelar Simpson, a senior corrections major, said. “That would actually be fun to do. But where could you do that at? Unless you live in Commons, you really can’t just walk out of your building and find a table and a bench for your homework.”
That’s the main problem. The Commons has some spots to sit, but other housing areas like Scholars Inn don’t have anything close by. Yes, there are a few benches here and there, but most students agree that benches aren’t enough. You can’t set your laptop, notebook, or a stack of papers on a bench. You need a table.
Simpson also brought up how loud roommates or crowded dorm rooms push him to want other options. Sometimes people just want to get out of their rooms, feels the sun, and still be able to do their work.
“Not everybody always wants to go in the house,” Quinzaria Tatum an alumni said. “Sometimes your roommate is loud. Sometimes you just want to feel the breeze or the sun. But you can’t really do that at Scholars. Nowhere. Unless you live in Commons.”
What makes it worse is that there is plenty of space to add tables and seating. Across from Scholars is a huge field that hasn’t been used for anything in years. There’s also space by the parking lot and, of course, the campus lakes. Students say these areas could hold gazebos, picnic tables, or shaded study areas.
“We have hella space just around Scholars, but nowhere to sit and just chill and just be around each other,” Simpson said. “If we had something like gazebos with tables and seats, I wouldn’t be in my room so much. I think I would know more people, because it makes people come outside.”
That last comment shows the bigger issue: without outdoor spaces, students don’t have many chances to connect with each other. People say the campus sometimes feels empty, but that is partly because people don’t have places to gather. If more seating areas were added, students believe the campus would feel more active and social.
Beyond social life, there’s also health. According to studies show that being outside helps reduce stress and improve focus. Even just sitting by the lake could help students recharge before classes, but right now, there aren’t many places to sit and enjoy these spaces.
“We have a really pretty lake, but we have nowhere to sit and look at it,” Tatum said. “If there was places to hang out, we’d be more interactive with each other. Why can’t we walk out and see our classmates under the gazebo instead of just the caf?”
Students believe the university has the chance to change this. Even small investments, like a few picnic tables and shaded areas, could make a huge difference in how students experience campus life.
For now though, the wide open fields are mostly empty. Students are asking for something simple: a place to sit.
Christavia Solomon
Christavia Solomon is a junior broadcast journalism major
