The winter winds of Lake Mendota whip across the water, and through the streets of Madison, fall hues drain from the leaves, sapping the smiles from Badger faces.
Students scowl as they trudge to class against the cold, the warmth of their layers growing with the coldness in their hearts.
The negativity of this emotional barometer indicates that finals season is upon us. As carefree, sunny weekends are abruptly replaced with anxious Friday nights locked in the cages of Memorial Library, it’s easy to let yourself get overwhelmed with emotion. It’s no secret that finals season is stressful.
In the midst of these trying times, don’t feel like you have to hide your feelings of misery and despair! Having a good cry is a natural and deeply cathartic practice, and some experts suggest it may even be beneficial for your mental health.
At the same time, one must exercise discretion with their weeping. It’s inconsiderate to your peers to disturb their studies with your racking, anguished sobs.
Luckily, we’ve compiled a concise list of convenient and secure places to let out your wails of desperation. Good luck with finals!
Geology Museum
While the Geology Museum in Weeks Hall is an excellent display of interesting rocks and minerals in its own right, the museum is rarely crowded and dimly lit, making it a perfect spot to let slip a few tortured wails. There’s free admission too, so you don’t have to pay to cry!
Sitting in Abe’s lap
Shhhh, there there. Hop up in the lap of our nation’s 16th president and let your emotions go. His strong bronze arms will cradle you in these times of sorrow, and you might just find comfort in his metallic eyes.
In the Bucky Badger costume
What better way to hide your emotions than behind the furry visage of our favorite mascot? It’s commonly known that any student wearing the costume is doing so out of penitence or punishment, and is sure to be silently weeping.
Riding the 80
Soundproofed from the outside world and sheltered against the December cold, the faithful campus bus will insulate your misery while whisking you away from the source of your troubles.
At the Chazen
Are you crying because of stress, or because you’ve been deeply moved by the Chazen’s collection of emotional impressionist pieces? Nobody will be able to tell. If confronted, simply explain that your choked sobs are performance art.
Deep within the stacks of Memorial Library
Follow in the footsteps of bygone Badgers by having a nice cry in this historic library. As an added bonus, the cavernous stacks provide a great setting for your sobs to echo through the room, adding a theatrical element to your sadness. Keep those salty tears away from the rare books!
On the steps of Agricultural Hall
As the setting for many finals, Agricultural Hall represents the most convenient option for having a cry. Go-getters can even start crying before they leave the building, and take a seat upon exiting! Depending on how well you think your exam went, these can be tears of joy or sorrow.
Happy testing!
