New to campus and don’t know where your classes are? We got you covered – and you’re definitely not alone.
As a senior, I’ve figured out all the shortcuts and secrets to navigating the hallways. My freshman year, I noticed two major things: the hallways can be very crowded and some classrooms aren’t where they should be. So let me save you some time: here’s where to find the secret classrooms.
The most classroom confusion comes from the second and third floors of the A-Wing. Think of it as a square figure-8. There’s two sides of the figure-8, each of which have their own staircase that connects all three floors. You might notice a sign saying “interior” or “exterior”– but that can make navigation even worse. The “interior” classes don’t have windows and end in even numbers while the “exterior” classes all typically have windows and end in odd numbers. However, some classes seem to be missing.
For example, A314 and A214 aren’t next to A312 and A212. The 14’s are just gone, nowhere to be found. Or the mysterious C-Wing that only holds one classroom, C203, in the upper foyer.
The E, G, F, and B-Wings are much simpler than Platform 9 ¾ from Harry Potter. The halls are more traditional with straighter paths. Unlike the A-Wing, not all wings have their own staircases. The E-Wing has to share staircases with the F-Wing, G-Wing, and A-Wing. With only nine stairwells throughout the main building, they can get pretty crowded during passing periods.
The most heavily trafficked areas are the staircases where multiple wings intersect. One way to bypass these trafficked areas is to use an alternative staircase. Besides those junction staircases, there’s also the foyer stairs, 2 A-Wing stairs, 2 G-Wing stairs, and one other F-Wing stair at the back. All of these staircases besides the junctions and G-Wing goes all the way up to the third floor.
As a quick rule of thumb, the nearest and clearest stairway is always the fastest. For example, instead of taking the A/E/F-Wing junction to get upstairs from the A-Wing, try using one of the A-Wing stairs, it may be closer than you think. There’s no right or wrong way to get to your class and you can always change your path if it gets too rocky.
But don’t be the person everyone hates to be behind. Don’t stop to tie your shoe or get something out of your bag. Wait until there’s a clearing or when you’re in class; it’ll just stop everyone and cause a buildup. And don’t stop to talk with your buddies either. It’ll trigger a whole reunion and you may even get in trouble with administrators. Speaking of which, always use your hall pass for good, not evil. Just go take care of your business and get back to class, don’t meet up with a friend in the bathroom; you may get in trouble with the admin…again.
Basically, if you’re constantly late to class, try changing your route and try to avoid the busy junctions to the best of your ability. Keep an eye out for the secret classrooms; some are easier to spot than others. Don’t contribute to the busy traffic throughout the halls; there’s over 3,000 students on campus, everyone is trying to get somewhere. Don’t be the slow walker during the passing periods we all rage about. And of course, always use your hall pass.
