![]() On looks alone, Clark should definitely go between Dorsey and Schow - its plain looks and questionable couch are nothing special. Ok, I’ll have to admit my bias on this one. Plus, the Routt browsing room in particular has some interesting books (including an absolute monster of a dictionary), which warms my inner bookworm heart. Their proximity to each of the hall’s laundry rooms also makes them convenient places to study while waiting on a load. The furniture seems clean enough, and the long table makes it so that multiple people can study there at once. Despite their lack of character, their interiors are clean and simple (without feeling ugly), and large windows keep them light and airy. I rank this slightly higher than Schow solely because of the decorative windows, but other than that there is little to distinguish the two browsing rooms.Ĭonsidering the unappealing nature of Routt and Frankel themselves (thanks Mudd!), their identical browsing rooms are… fairly decent. Much like Schow Hall, GJW’s browsing room is somewhat disappointing considering the residence hall surrounding it. While it’s a good study space and I could get work done, unfortunately, it’s nothing special. The walls are adorned with interesting paintings that match those of the GJW browsing room. It has a nice view of Tiernan, complete with large windows that keep the room feeling bright and airy. Schow Hall’s abundance of courtyards, balconies, and overall Schow-ness always captivate me, so I had high hopes for the browsing room - high hopes that were unfortunately dashed. Definitely a cozy study space for a small group of friends, but probably not many more than that. Plus, it has a decent selection of science and economics textbooks (unfortunately nestled alongside some outdated/ unnecessary college prep books). It’s tidy and doesn’t have any odd odors, plus it has a window overlooking the Browning/ Dorsey courtyard and the rose garden. But for the most part, the Dorsey browsing room is cozy and clean. The vibrancy of the carpet gives the impression of being un-intruded on (although perhaps this is due to the work of Scripps’ excellent janitorial staff), the ceiling is low, and the fireplace, oddly enough, has the shape and appearance of a pizza oven. Upon entering the “library,” as it’s labeled, the room felt fairly small and unused. With its darkened, silent atmosphere, the Kimbo/Wilbur browsing room feels like a liminal space, similar to a gas station at night or an abandoned mall - a place where time doesn’t seem to exist and where dreams perish.ĭorsey’s browsing room was quite the upgrade from Kimbo/Wilbur (although that is an admittedly low bar). “Someone has died in here,” I scrawled in my notes as I hurried out. Everyone talks about how the Toll or Browning or Clark browsing rooms are haunted, but the Kimbo/ Wilbur one has an even eerier vibe. The yellow-ish fluorescent lights only make the room feel even more inhospitable. Unlike any of the other browsing rooms, the windows have a tint placed over them, making the room feel dark and uninviting. The furniture was inexplicably purple, the art deco mirror and fireplace felt too grand and yet not grand enough, the bookshelves scant, the painting of Kimberly herself seemed to be staring into my soul. While the entire hall felt like an old recreation center or hotel, I was still taken aback to find the browsing room itself had all the charm of an unused hotel library. Time seemed to fade away as I circled the building, trying to locate the browsing room and get out as soon as possible. A deep silence permeated the building, and there was an eerie lack of other students in the hall. Although it was a sunny day (side note: Southern California and climate change work in weird, weird ways), upon entering Kimberly, the interior was almost completely dark save for fluorescent hall lights. Having only been to the Wilbur kitchen, I didn’t know what to expect when entering the hall from the back door facing Tiernan. Ok, I know this is technically a browsing room ranking (and not a residence hall one), but it’s crucial that I set the scene with my Kimbo/ Wilbur experience to explain why I ranked it last. As follows, here is the definitive ranking of every single browsing room Scripps College has to offer. But history aside, what exactly are the vibes of each browsing room? On a sunny (and sweaty) afternoon, I explored every residence hall’s browsing room to answer that very question. These study rooms are part of what makes Scripps so unique, with photos documenting their legacy and word-of-mouth documenting the tales of the hauntings that (allegedly) took place in their hallowed halls. ![]() Located in every residential hall, Scripps’ browsing rooms are part of the campus’ history and an essential portion of the school’s tour.
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