Susan Anderson's blog

As I started my walk my definition of center and border changed.  I began planning out my journey by choosing the Thomas cloisters as a geographic center and the areas near the roads surrounding Bryn Mawr as its borders.  However, as I walked another interpretation of center popped into my head.  Biologically, organisms clump themselves around where there are the most resources.  Typically, there is the most life where there is the most water because most organisms need that to survive.  Humans have partially removed themselves from this practice.  Because we have tools that bring our necessities to us, we look to go to places that satisfy our social or academic needs.  So, as an academic institution, the people of Bryn Mawr center themselves around the buildings where they have classes.  The whole campus is set up with academics at the center.  This is where the most activity happens on week days.  Then, on the weekends, the center shifts to the dorms as students seek to fulfill their social needs.  As the human mind is complex, an idea like center is more complex than mathematical proportions.

Here is my ranking, from happiest place to unhappiest place:
1. Morris Woods
2. Dalton Staircase
3. Park Science Lab
4. English House
5. Parking Lot

I absolutely loved the Morris Woods.  Once I found my way into the woods, I felt like it was a great, peaceful place.  I felt that the plants surrounding me provided this calm, protective bubble from rain and the sometimes pervasive noises of humanity.  I felt like I had to keep going down the path to discover what was at the end of it, which I am glad that I did because I thought the graveyard and the bench were really cool spots to explore.  Plants would be happiest here because their growth is unrestricted by humans and because their basic survival needs are most available there.

I felt good in the Dalton Staircase.  There was a lot of sunlight streaming into it and there was a feeling of clarity and openness that I liked.  Plants would be maybe second happiest here because of the sunlight pouring through the glass, even if they would be confined to a pot.