Last semester I had a friend visit me, and when looking for places for us to hang out, I noticed a distinct lack of third places. Wilder Hall was always crowded, the dining halls didn’t offer the most consistent seating, and taking over a random lounge didn’t seem very appealing. After much discussion and the promise of a sweet treat, we settled on hanging out in Mudd Center. As we approached, my friend immediately expressed disgust. She bemoaned the Brutalist nature of the building, and I couldn’t help but agree with her.
My friend was far from the first person to express this; it was a common joke among my friends to lock yourself away in Mudd like it was a prison. The structure was so intimidating that my first year Creative Writing class was challenged to take something modern and turn it into an ancient artifact, and many of my peers chose Mudd. College third-year Sam Kennedy described it in his assignment as “some kind of fortress.”
This large and imposing concrete that helps enclose Wilder Bowl has ironically become my most frequented study space. I spend my time preparing for my classes and chatting with my friends. Mudd has been there for me when I needed it most, providing me with motivation to resist the temptation of going back to sleep. When Wilder Hall was smelly, it provided me a place to have social meals. Mudd has been the birthplace of many of my closest friendships, and I can always rely on Azariah’s Café for a sweet treat to keep me satisfied.
The problem is that the story of this building and its visitors is not told by its exterior. The cold exterior harshly juxtaposes the experiences I and many others have had within the space. After speaking with other students, I have come up with a few ideas to make Mudd a more appealing place for all students.
Firstly, the exterior needs to change. Although I personally am not a fan of Brutalism, I think there are a few simple ways that we could improve it.
“[Mudd] needs some tapestries, maybe a paint job,” College third-year Jordan Tully said.
I think this is a great suggestion, as the changes would be quite simple and not require a complete remodel of the building. Beyond this, I think that incorporating the school colors of red, white, and yellow would bring some much needed warm tones to the gray building. These touches could be small, with just a couple of banners or even a mural that represents the spirit of Oberlin and its student body.
Secondly, I think we should consider adding more greenery both inside and outside of Mudd. I remember an era where there used to be plants lining the walkway to the first floor, and seeing them always brought me joy. I think if we brought back these plants, and maybe added some more in other areas around the building, it would look more lively. I also think the interior could use some more plants as well. I often find myself in Azzie’s, and I always found the plants comforting. This would bring so much more life into the space and has the potential to foster a more communal vibe.
Thirdly, I think embracing a warmer color scheme would improve the atmosphere. I am sitting in Azariah’s Cafe as I write this article, and I have come to recognize that I am drawn in by the warm and convivial atmosphere. There is music playing in the background as I type, people having conversations around me, and everyone is in such close proximity to each other that the air practically buzzes with energy. Although I understand that not every floor of Mudd should be like this, I think the one part of Azzie’s that should be carried into the rest of the library is the warm color scheme. The table I sit at is a warm red surrounded by a ring of light brown wood. The seats around me are shades of brown, red, and yellow that I have always associated with comfort. I think making the other areas of Mudd less cold in terms of color scheme would improve the feelings of community that a third space requires in order to thrive.
Oberlin is a place that lacks welcoming third spaces, and with the amount of common areas that have been converted into dorm rooms in recent years, the need for more grows every day. Mudd is one of few spaces that allows people from all over campus to come together with a common purpose without needing an appointment, and having such an essential space look more intimidating than welcoming only serves as a detriment to the Oberlin community. It does a disservice to the beauty of the connections we make here and does not reflect how the library is a safe space for all. Despite my friend’s apprehension, we spent most of our time in the library. She got to meet my friends and get to know some of the most important people in my college journey here. If we fix the atmosphere, more people will be able to experience their own beautiful Mudd memories, this time in a more beautiful place.
