ZZZ’s Get Degrees: Why Students Nap on Campus

When you enter Cohen library or other common spaces at City College, one thing is certain — someone is always napping. Whether sprawled out on couches or with their heads on tables, students are finding a way to get some shut eye in between classes. “I nap in school because I’m barely getting any sleep at night between studying and work,” says Ava Newell, a sophomore in the advertising and public relations program. “It’s the only way I can stay awake for the rest of the day.” 

Like Newell, who naps on the couches in the Media and Communication Arts department, many other students are finding time to get some sleep at school.

Students have always reported feeling tired from heavy class schedules and pulling all-nighters. Some colleges have responded by creating sleeping pods for students to nap in. With no plans for a similar response at CCNY, tired students are taking matters into their own hands, sleeping when and where they can. As napping students become more common, this raises concerns about how it affects students’ grades and well-being.

A student rests her head on a desk in the Cohen Library at the City College of NY in November 2024. Photo by Isabella Seeley.

“It’s enough to make me concerned that I’m not communicating properly,” says Professor Ed Keller, the director of the Ad/PR program. Most of Keller’s classes are held in the Media & Communication Arts department of Shepard Hall, where it’s not uncommon to see students napping, specifically on the three couches in the common area. “It’s a lot more than I would like.” 

For many students at CCNY, the library has become a place to catch up on more than just homework. “It’s not enough, I get probably three or four hours of sleep.” says Khalyl Lee, a freshman studying psychology, who sleepily answers my questions after her nap in the library. “It’s hard to find time, I have an hour commute and a lot of work.” 

Sarah Cohn, the head of reference in the library has noticed the dozing trend. “I see students sleeping daily,” she says. “It’s quiet and warm, and commuting students are looking for a place to rest.”

Not everyone is quite as understanding. Alex Martinez, a senior studying engineering, finds this frustrating. “I get that people are tired,” he says, “but it’s a library and this takes up space.” 

But as a busy student with challenging courses, he also gets it. “It’s not ideal,” he says, shrugging his shoulders. “But I understand if it’s the only rest they get.”