Senior mathematics major Jonah Ankrom uses a computer in the CyberCafe yesterday afternoon. Ankrom said he comes to the CyberCafe to get away from his apartment and relax. SAMANTHA RAINWATER | DAILY KENT STATER

Credit: Carl Schierhorn

It’s the only place on campus where you can drink honey vanilla chai tea, sit by the fire and surf the Internet at the same time.

The CyberCafe, located in the lower level of the Student Center, is a place where students can use computers, study, drink coffee, play pool, sit by the fire, watch television, sleep, fax, make copies and buy balloons.

“Using the computers at the cafe is better than running across the giant wind tunnel to the library,” said Terry Alexander, freshman justice studies major.

Alexander said he has been coming to the CyberCafe a lot recently because he needs to get his computer reformatted.

While some students come to the cafe to use the computers, others come just to get out of the cold.

Shaneece Hudson, senior political science major, comes to the CyberCafe every Thursday during her break.

“It’s quiet and relaxing,” said Hudson. “The lighting and furniture make it really comfortable down here.”

The cafe offers all-night study sessions during finals week, and Hudson said she tries to come to the sessions every time they are offered.

Although the atmosphere at the cafe is usually quiet, Woods said sometimes groups of high school kids are too loud and offered some advice to the students.

“If it’s quiet, be quiet,” she said.

Matt Maneri, who has worked at Jazzman’s Cafe for five years, said students come to the CyberCafe because it is not as busy as the upstairs of the Student Center.

“The atmosphere is pretty relaxed down here,” he said.

However, there are other reasons students spend time at the CyberCafe.

“I come down here because The Hub is too busy, and the library is too quiet,” said Carolyn Koch, senior fashion merchandising major.

Koch likes the honey vanilla chai tea from the cafe. Koch said the cafe would be nicer if the computer keyboards were cleaned more often.

“I wish they would clean the keyboards at night because people eat at them and lick their fingers and then start typing again,” she said.

While some students come to CyberCafe to study or to use the computers, others come for the free pool.

Nick Long, junior business management major, comes to the cafe every day to play. Long likes the convenience of the cafe because it is located between his class and where he lives in Centennial Court B.

“I’d like to get some music going in here, something to make it more upbeat,” Long said. “Maybe jazz.”

Contact academic computing reporter Megan Whinnery at [email protected].