Students walk through snow

Time for a Study Break

Written by Josh Bailey

It is seven o’clock in the evening. You are holed up in an obscure corner of the library as you plug away at an English paper due in two days. You have come to the point where your frontal cortex can no longer construct a coherent sentence, let alone piece together a detailed analysis of Dostoevsky. Looking at your friend, you recognize the same glassy-eyed look in his face.

“Well, enough of this. Let’s go do something.”

“What are you feeling?” asks your friend.

There comes a point in every college student’s week when a fifteen-minute break scrolling through Instagram just does not cut it. Because we are no exception to this rule, here is a list of the myriad activities that both the College and city provide students who need relief from the rigor of Hillsdale College academics.


First things first: are you hungry? Yes? Then check out some of the nearby eateries.

Checker RecordsChecker Records
If you want quality coffee and pastries in a cozy, musical environment, mosey on down to Checker Records for a break from the grind.

Handmade Sandwiches & Beverages
Try a handmade sandwich, cold brew coffee, soup in a bread bowl, or any other number of fresh goodies at Hillsdale’s newest sandwich shop.

Coneys and Swirls
If it’s a nice day for ice cream, grab a buddy and choose from the bevy of flavors available at Coneys and Swirls downtown.

The Palace Cafe
Are you awake at an ungodly hour looking for cheap but good food to drown your studying sorrows? The Palace Cafe is open twenty-four hours on the weekends and provides copious amounts of breakfast food at low prices.

Dutch Uncle
Still awake at an ungodly hour, but this time with an insatiable sweet tooth? You had better find a few good friends with a reliable car and make the thirty-minute drive over to Coldwater. Open twenty-four/seven, Dutch Uncle Donuts is every broke college student’s ideal for cheap yet satisfying confections.

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Do you need to get some energy out? Try some of Hillsdale’s many sporting activities.

Hayden Park
If you like a good game of beach volleyball, grab your Bluetooth speaker and a gang of friends and head over to the sand volleyball courts at Hayden for some sandy recreation.

Ping Pong ClubThe Union
Need more indoor competition in your life? You can test your ping-pong and pool skills out in the student union. Perfect for a study break.

IM Sports
Enjoy organized sports without the commitment of club or varsity athletics. Join one of the numerous, seasonal intramural sports put on by Campus Rec.

Frisbee
On pretty much any sunny afternoon circa four o’clock, you’ll find a gaggle of friendly Frisbee players on the quad. Lucky you, they’re probably looking for additional participants to start a pickup game.

Kayaking or Paddle Boarding
Want to experience as much nature as possible while getting out that energy? Borrow paddles from the union and drive down to Baw Beese Lake for some time on the water. There is easy access to kayaks and boards on the dock.

Mountain Biking
If you’re feeling adventurous, hike out to Hayden Park to pick up one of the mountain bikes in the shed and explore the trails that wind through the woods.

Shooting
Do you have exactly 1,776 minutes of freedom? Exercise your Second Amendment rights out at the Hillsdale shooting range.

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For those hankering for some relaxed social time:

Baw Beese Lake
From fishing to swimming to picnicking, Baw Beese Lake affords an opportunity to get away from campus and enjoy the outdoors.

Stargazing
Do not miss the chance to go out to Hayden Park or Baw Beese with a handful of friends and count shooting stars on one of many crystal-clear Michigan nights.

Keep It Classic
In the mood for a classic pastime? The City of Hillsdale offers some fun recreation centers such as a roller-skating rink, a movie theatre, and a bowling ally.

Cooking
Find a family of friends to cook with, or for, in one of the many kitchens around campus. You will find kitchens in the dorms, in off-campus houses, and Greek houses.

BonfiresBonfire
Light up a fire in one of the fire pits behind student housing and invite your friends to come warm up. S’mores optional.

Statue Golf
If you’ve wondered what it might be like to lob foam balls across campus while brushing the bronze shoulders of some of the greatest thinkers in American history, by all means, take up statue golfing. This is a uniquely Hillsdalian activity that involves golfing around campus using the statues as holes.

Student Activities Board Events
Attend one of the numerous events put on by the Student Activities Board. These include, but are not limited to: Garden Party, bubble soccer, and the color run.

Improv
Is it Thursday evening? If yes, head down to the lobby of Olds Dormitory and burst your sides laughing at some of the most quick-witted students on campus.

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If you feel pent up by the arctic Michigan weather, defy the elements! Brave the cold! Participate in some winter activities!

Ice Skating
Even if you are not a wonder on ice, that doesn’t mean you can’t check out a pair of skates at the union and have some fun on Baw Beese Lake with some good friends.

Sledding
Let the snow bring out your inner child. Dig up some sleds, find one of the hills on campus, and go sledding with your squad.

Thatcher Ball
Is it after midnight? Join some of the craziest individuals on campus in a rugby game on the quad that happens only after a heavy snowfall.

Snow Ball Fight
Need a short break to get the blood flowing? Challenge your study buddies to an old-fashioned snowball fight outside the library.

Cross Country Skiing at Hayden Park
You can grab skis and poles from the shed at Hayden Park and explore the trails by ski. Who doesn’t need a little exercise while enjoying the winter wonderland?


Josh BaileyJosh Bailey, ’19, is a marketing major from the back roads of Iowa. A volunteer program leader, intramural athlete, and dedicated student, he can usually be found either busy with a project, sweating in the gym or buried in a book in the corner of the library. In his free time he enjoys adventurous shenanigans with the guys in his dorm.


Published December 2016