Graduate Student Lounge
301 Philosophy Hall
854-2889

     The GSAS Student Lounge is one of the few spaces on campus still used for the purpose for which it was originally intended. When the McKim, Meade & White-designed Philosophy Hall opened in 1912 to house the Graduate Faculty of Philosophy, this spacious two-story tall room became a lounge for female graduate students. In the fifties the room became a lounge for all GSAS (then called Graduate Faculties) students regardless of sex, and so it has remained. In 1992 the room was refurbished to duplicate its earlier splendor. Now many of the ceremonial functions of the Graduate School, as well as other University functions, take place there.

      The Lounge is open from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm, Monday through Thursday, and 10-5 on Friday. It serves students in many ways. You may study or relax, check your e-mail, CLIO or the Internet or bring lunch and chat with your friends. The New York Times is delivered daily and we subscribe to various magazines. Books by GSAS alumni and faculty are also available. The lounge has two pianos, and students are always welcome to stop by to give impromptu recitals.

      The GSAS Lounge is an ideal place to meet other students, especially for afternoon tea and cookies (Oreos© and Nutterbutters© are current favorites), every Monday through Friday from 3-5 pm during the school year.

      The Lounge is also available for rental and after-hours use by the Columbia community. Faculty and departmental receptions, poetry readings (Allen Ginsburg, James Merrill and Derek Walcott have read here), musical events (Barnard,Columbia and Juilliard student recitals), and student conferences (the Medieval Guild and the East Asian Languages Deptartment annual meetings) have been held here. It is the site of the new student orientation, the holiday party and post-commencement celebration. Monthly jazz parties supported by the Graduate Student Advisory Council have been particularly enjoyed in the last two years.

      It is a source of information for on-and off-campus events. Our hallway bulletin board contains information about student groups, announcements from the Graduate School, job postings, information about museums, concerts, sublets and apartment shares, tutoring and rides.

      The desk in 301 serves as an information center, distributing an array of materials, such as the GSAS newsletter, FACETS and subway and bus maps. We can also answer many of the questions you may have about the University and the City.