Flora Milford, Op-Ed Editor
My dearest Beloit Community,
I write this long-awaited article with a bittersweet tone–bitter, for my body aches with the realization that these are some of my final words to grace the pages of the renowned Round Table Newspaper, sweet, for through them I can show my devotion to such a behemoth. There is however more bitterness, or perhaps just fear, that in sharing these words, I am exposing myself to the world of Beloit–naked as a newborn babe. Plus I’m a gatekeeper as fuckkkk… and now the world will be privy to my secrets. But for you all I will do it, my longtime readers and even friends (dare I call us that?) Alas, my secrets are unveiled–my sword unsheathed–these are not only my favorite, but they are objectively the best spots on the Beloit College Campus–there is no debate. Like a wind in your feathers, guiding your flight, carry these secrets with you, make good use of these spaces, and as you do, sing my name.
The first of these spaces is the white roof behind Pearson’s. Security does NOT want you to know about this one! But I do, so use it in my absence. You will find this roof… well… you’ll find it behind Pearson’s. When you arrive at it, you’ll find a rickety ladder at its side. Can this ladder bear the weight of its secrecy (or the weight of its climber)? I mean, thus far it has, but honestly, every time I climb it I do wonder if this will be the time it collapses below me. Once you’re up there, however, and until your descent, you will feel the kiss of the night breeze (I am placing this scenario at nightfall). The Rock River will transform itself into a thing of beauty, rocking itself gently back and forth. The red sign on the Rakuten building becomes a star in the night sky. You will feel, for a moment, completely at peace. There is also an alternative to this cursed ladder – an alcove where ground and building meet (where security probably wouldn’t be upset to find you.) Rather than climb the roof, seat yourself against its walls, dangle your legs over the edge of the building below, and let the beauty of this world surround you.
Following this one is not my top spot on campus, but a near and dear one. It has notoriously been forgotten by security (much to our excitement during early pandemic times). To get to this room, you need to cross through the liminal space between stair and room. I am, of course, referring to the Art Haus basement (or 840 basement if that’s what we’re calling it now…) This little room has been home to many an intimate gathering–from birthday parties galore to the location of my first stunt with alcohol-induced memory loss. It might not seem like much, but shut off those lights, string up some racier ones, and you’ve got yourself a bad lil vibe. With a dash of creativity, it can be turned into something magical. It is truly one of the superior spaces on campus for a lowkey party, a minute to win it championship, walk across dimensions (again referring to the wacky and massive room you walk through to get to it), or a night to forget.
Up next we have a space that after this semester, will never exist again. I guess it doesn’t matter whether I gatekeep or let open the gates, but regardless, it must live on in the infamy of this paper. I am here, referring to the unofficial living room in tower B of Wood–a space brought to life by my friends, that will die with us, too. Traverse through SPIEL, BSFFA, and many other a special interest house to find it, and you will be greeted by not one, but two kitties – the true gatekeepers of our dwellings. As PK nuzzles your foot and Bukowski stares awkwardly from behind Zeke’s door, take a sharp right. There you will find a solitary chair washed over in a warm yellow light. Take a seat in it and identify yourself as one of the creatures on the Germplasm of Domestic Animals of Taiwan–perhaps the scaleless chicken. It’s not much, but the housing lottery fucked us last year, so it’s what we’ve got. And boy do I love it. And boy do I love the guys that created it. And boy do I love the memories we’ve made there.
The next is a space that did not exist this year, but will exist next year again. You’ve guessed it, it’s the Library. This was the only space on campus truly conducive to productivity and I have felt in it’s entirety just how detrimental not having it has been. I hated the library, but I loved it. Going meant I had to do work, but going also meant I had to do work. It was warm, and comfortable. The lighting was just right. A rainy day by the big window quickly became a solace for me–plus it always guaranteed a poop. It also fostered a consistent flow of people to and from its doors at all times, which made the campus feel like a livelier place. I wrote entire midterms in just a few hours in its very chairs, I learned to love red wine in its study rooms, I did vile things to each of its bathrooms, and I miss it very much. I hope the changes to Beloit’s library do justice to what the building once was.
A space near and dear to my heart is the Poetry Garden. This is the first space I saw on campus that felt exciting to me. It’s a beautiful little pocket that bridges the gap between street and campus. It’s the perfect destination for a nighttime stroll, a nighttime scream, or a nighttime kiss. I’ve sat on its tables alone, with friends, for classes, you name it! And every time it’s lovely and warm (especially at night when it’s lit up). A favorite memory here is coming towards the end of my spring semester junior year with a group of friends. We read our favorite poems out loud to each other (how apropos, I know) and were a general nuisance until security came by and asked if we’d ding dong ditched Scott B’s house. When spring comes, it’s paved with flowers, and even in winter, it still holds warmth. I love this little garden, and if you haven’t spent adequate time there, I recommend that you do.
I want to give a fun little shoutout to the basement of the writing center. I stumbled upon this freaky little place during a tornado warning and boy is it fun. Take a trip down there and I promise it won’t disappoint (think Beloit backrooms but less liminal space.) And while you’re at it, enjoy the writing center, as well. It’s lovely.
Before I get to my final spot, I want to shoutout an obvious one that I couldn’t write this article without saying. Chaus, of course–need I say more?
Now comes the real reason I wrote this article – the holy trifecta of Beloit’s best places, all tucked into a sweet little corner. This one is obvious yet unsuspecting. I am, of course, referring to the third floor of Pearson’s; home the beloved paper I am currently writing in, WBCR, and of course, the 3rd floor Women’s bathroom. These are by far my favorite spaces on all of Beloit’s campus–each for their own unique qualities. WBCR was the first room on campus that felt comfortable to me. During my freshman year–a year jaded by covid–every space felt sterile. The campus felt like Bucc territory, and for a Beloiter like me, there was not a space that felt like my own. When I first stepped into WBCR, it was truly like taking a breath.
In addition to being a space of comfort, WBCR also brought me community. Until she graduated, I had a radio show with Hope Nelson’23, one of my now best friends. I should really call this a talk show, as that’s what it was–I remember one show where until 11:57, we hadn’t played a single song, lost in our gabbing. I knew the moment we met, Hope would become someone near and dear to me, but having “Monday Night Madness” (every Sunday night), and then “The Goodnight Show,” gifted to us by WBCR, solidified what was bound to be. In her absence, determined to carry on what our radio show had given to me, I continued with a show of my own. This show was a place to start my week off right (as it again was on Sunday night!) Within a few months, however, I met a very special person, and within 24 hours of our first interaction, he became an obvious co-host to “Floor Weasel”, my current show. Our show is not what mine and Hope’s was, it couldn’t be, but it is all as important. (Shout out Sam Shea’25, btw! Referring to you!) All in all, WBCR has given me a lot, and I hold it near and dear.
The next of this trifecta is the very place I am writing this article–The Round Table office. I am at a loss for words to encapsulate what this place is for me. It is my heartbeat, my breath. The Round Table has been the most consistent thing for me in all of Beloit, forcing me out of bed on a Sunday morning. Forcing me to write, and edit my page–even when I don’t want to! It is something unavoidable, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. My community on campus, my people, my guys! The office is warm and the vibes are immaculate. I could spend all day here (and on Sundays I do!).
This leads me to my final spot–the Women’s bathroom on the third floor of Pearson’s. I have done many a paint job here! In truth though, this has been a bathroom of comfort in all my time here–it’s big but it’s quiet. When I lived in a dorm where the bathrooms felt unsafe, this one was always a solace. I’ve gone on many a nighttime poop walk to end up sitting within the confines of its walls (this is completely serious. I probably do this thrice a week.) This is the location I have been most determined to gatekeep, but as I bid adieu to Beloit, I share this space with you all in the hopes that its bowls remain filled, and others find similar comfort in its walls.
Featured Image Credit: Flickr, Beloit Poetry Garden
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