The Perch
It's no secret that The Perch, the supposed student hangout of the campus, is usually as dead as a doornail. Barely anyone ever uses it at all, and when they do, the average opinion on the place is that it is one of the last places anyone would think to hang out.
On average, the perch hosts less than a handful of students. Said handful usually go there counting on the fact that there will almost no one else there and that they will be left alone. These people usually use the silence and near total privacy to hammer out some schoolwork or (far more commonly) take a nap. On rare occasions that people use the Perch to meet with people for projects or just to meet friends, their stay is often very short, many opting to go to Campion, DB, or the Library instead.
For special events, such as shows conducted by the Student Theater or visiting entertainers like comedians, The Perch has usually been described with one word as a venue. "Awful." Pillars sits smack dab in the middle of the room in front of the stage, often making setting up seating difficult and obscuring the view of many who come to see whatever is being put on. As a participant in the student theater myself, many of those who plan our events often complain about just how inconvenient it is for our shows. And having been in attendance to a number of comedian sets there, if you aren't in the front three or four rows,your view of the stage is obstructed terribly.
The Perch does offer free drinks coffee, but they are only available in a three or four hour time slot during which many people are still in classes. On top of that, providing these drinks is rather redundant given that Campion is only a few steps away and is where most students get their drinks anyway.
Occasionally, you can catch a few people playing pool or ping pong. However, said players are usually members of the staff that go there on their breaks. The only other time you'll catch people playing is late at night while they wait for a party at a nearby townhouse to start. A while back, there were some arcade games in the back right corner that would draw attention. Sadly, they have since been removed and there is no sign of them ever being returned.
"But what about commuter students?" you may ask. "They use The Perch all the time. Surely you see them there." Well, yes and no. Most of the commuter students keep to themselves in a stuffy back room. They rarely venture out unless on their way to a class, to get a drink, or to use one of the bathrooms. That said, its clear to see they add little life to The Perch.
Overall, the place is an empty, quiet spot. But that's okay. It gives people a place to put up their feet and chill before another class. However, if you're looking for the bustling party center of the campus, you're better off looking elsewhere.