The M.O.P. Vaishnav College campus, tucked away in a quiet corner of Nungambakkam, Chennai, is buzzing with activity despite the busy week of exams and festivities they just had. It is a Monday, and students and staff are all back, bright-eyed and ready for another week of college. Some of the evening college students, who have come early, are chatting animatedly on the stairs by the Open-Air Theatre. Others, have their physical education classes going on at the ground adjacent to it.
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Bordering both is the canteen, which is always teeming with students (and staff) looking to grab a bite or just chat with friends. Dipti, first-year BBA student, says, “The canteen is a fun place. You can sit there and chat with your friends. There is also the adjoining Open-Air Theatre. If we come early, we sit there.”
But what immediately catches the eye on entering the campus is the town square-like (circular) structure called The Atrium. It also includes the circular corridor that runs around the edge, right above it. Asha, another first-year BBA student, says, “This is the best hangout spot on the campus. It is a green and calm spot; we prefer this to the canteen, which is always crowded.” Sanjana, a final-year computer science student, continues, “We sit here to study, eat, chat, click pictures, wait for exams to start. Anything and everything happens in this area.” The most interesting usage of The Atrium, however, is as a promotional space. Student Cabinet members take advantage of its central location to promote upcoming events, usually in the form of a flash mob.
Afiya, a first-year B.Com student, explains, “All departments can see this space from their balconies. So, the Student Cabinet uses it to invite us to events. They play music and dance to grab everyone’s attention so that students come out of their classrooms.” Rajshri, a first-year BBA student, says, “And whoever wants to, can go and dance with them too!”
