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March 28, 2024

Students commemorate the one-year anniversary of the LaB

By TRISHA PARAYIL | February 15, 2018

LaB

FILE PHOTO

The LaB, serves food, along with hosting game nights and other activities.

The LaB hosted its First Birthday Bash in celebration of its first anniversary on Friday, Feb. 9. JHUnions, a programming organization under the Office of Student Leadership and Involvement (SLI), hosted the event. 

At the Bash, students got to try free samples of food and received Hopkins giveaways like posters, frisbees, cups and stickers. They also took pictures with the Blue Jay mascot. 

The LaB, along with Levering Hall and the Mattin Center, is one of three main spaces where JHUnions holds events.

In an email to The News-Letter, Caitlin Tumey, the coordinator of union programming in the Office of Student Leadership and Involvement (SLI), wrote that the LaB continues to serve as a late-night social space for students. 

“The LaB offers a unique atmosphere, dining options and programming that is not available at other campus locations,” she wrote.

According to Tumey, the anniversaries of spaces on campus are rarely acknowledged, so JHUnions decided to celebrate the first anniversary of the LaB’s opening. 

Since its opening, JHUnions has provided programming at the LaB, which includes weekly events such as JHUnions Trivia on Monday nights and gaming on Sunday evenings with Smash@JHU. 

At the beginning of the academic year, lounge spaces were removed from Nolan’s on 33rd as part of an effort to redirect programming towards the LaB and the FFC. Additions to the LaB this year include a shuffleboard table and a Nintendo Switch gaming console. 

Tumey wrote that in order to increase programming, JHUnions plans to increase collaboration with more student organizations. 

“This year, JHUnions have been able to work closely with several student organizations to host their events in the LaB,” she wrote. “Our goal is to continue to build partnerships across campus for students to take advantage of this space.” 

As an example, Tumey noted when the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) and JHUnions co-sponsored the Black History Month grand opening ceremony at the LaB.

While the Birthday Bash was some students’ first time at the LaB, others like freshman Mary Joseph, have gone before and enjoyed their experience there. 

“I went to the LaB for the first time during O-Week for trivia one night, and I really liked it. I’ve liked it since,” she said. 

Sophomore Peyton Adair frequents the LaB and enjoys its food and social events. 

“One time they had a karaoke night. I didn’t participate, but it was really entertaining to watch other people,” Adair said.

Students like senior Kaylynn Sanders also complimented the LaB’s various programs. 

“I liked the Stand-up Comedy Show that they did here,” Sanders said. “I remember them doing [a screening of] La La Land one day, that was fun.” 

However, she believes that the LaB’s location makes it difficult to go there and hang out with friends. 

“I don’t think a lot of sophomores come out unless they live in Homewood,” she said. “Commons has more students living in it, so everyone is centered there.”

Freshman Anisha Palasamudrum agreed that the LaB is a little far, but she nevertheless enjoys its atmosphere and food. 

“I remember we went there for milkshakes once, and we were only going to go for milkshakes, but we ending up staying there for a couple hours just sitting and talking,” she said.

Senior Rachel Mueller has seen many groups of students come to the LaB regularly, particularly Residential Advisors (RAs). Mueller uses the LaB as both a social and study area and finds its late hours convenient. 

“I’m not super productive in my house, so I like going somewhere else on campus,” she said. “This is a good, relaxed space for me.” 

Tumey looks forward to continue developing programming at the LaB. 

“We have seen great turnout and participation at events held in the LaB to include JHUnions’ weekly events and co-sponsored events,” she wrote. 


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