You have certainly heard of third spaces. Though the term itself may be unfamiliar, there is no doubt that every person has some acquaintance with it in concept. At its core, a third space is a type of social environment, one separate from home or work. A third space is any other space where social interaction is encouraged, including cafes, gyms, bars, malls and libraries. In essence, its purpose is to serve as a community space that exists as an “escape” from the rigor of a workplace or from the dormancy of home. With this as the standard, there are almost limitless possibilities for what a third space could be. And yet, they are disappearing by the masses before our eyes. But why is that?
One of the main reasons for this is that the accessibility of these spaces is slipping away. Think of some popular gathering spaces: How many of these places that you think of cost nothing? Even in establishments that don’t inherently require you to spend money, there is often the silent expectation to spend to be “in” with the community. There may still be free third spaces, like libraries or parks, but how popular are these places? Usually, they aren’t. Buying coffee from your favorite chain or having a shopping spree is trendy and immensely gratifying, not to mention more stimulating than sitting around at the library. But frequenting these spaces isn’t sustainable. After all, it becomes increasingly difficult to get out and socialize frequently when each meeting requires a transaction.
Not only this, but the internet’s exponential growth has significantly contributed to the disappearance of physical common spaces. Especially during the times of the pandemic, when online communities served as a lifeline for those living in isolation, people have gravitated away from these physical spaces even long after concerns of the illness faded. Malls are perhaps the best representation of this, with the booming popularity of online vendors like Amazon leading to the closure of countless big brands of the past. It could be argued that the online world is far more convenient. Why spend hours in crowded shops when it’s possible to browse from the comfort of home? Why chat with friends in the park or library when it is infinitely easier to shoot them a quick text? The world has been placed at our very fingertips, so why must we make the effort to explore it on our own? The critical loss that few consider is that in the process, we are severing ourselves from the very heart and foundation of our community: each other.
The art of socialization is dying — we are actively destroying it — and our collective inaction as the pillars of our community crumble around us is twisting the knife. Prime meeting spots, our escape from the monotony of home or work and spaces that have seen countless interactions and formed connections, are unceremoniously disappearing. Yet few people seem to even notice or care.
Despite the dismal fate of these once-sacred spaces, there is still hope for third spaces. Surprisingly, we are actually in the prime position to save these critical social spots. College campuses are on the front lines of the fight for preserving common spaces. Few other locations have such a vibrant and buzzing population centralized around one unifying factor: our alma mater. With this privilege comes vast potential for building our community to be even stronger. Those little interactions that come with sharing a space are beyond necessary and worth fighting for. Without them, people are left in limbo between the toil of work and the solitude of home. We all need a place to simply be.
Thankfully, there are countless options in the form of events and physical spaces that serve as meeting grounds for people of all walks of life on campus. Especially with free university-endorsed events such as Late Night, the landscape of a college campus is perfect for recultivating these lost relationships. And with the many available physical spaces that the campus provides, every person is capable of contributing themselves to a more interlinked society. Through attending and hosting events like club meetings and performances, we bring ourselves closer to each other. Even the less formal meetups like movie nights, game nights and study sessions serve to unite us.
The main criteria for a third space is that it brings people together. The location doesn’t matter, really; neither does the activity. It is the community that supports the environment which truly establishes any ordinary place as a third space. In such a polarized and disconnected world, that sense of community is beyond worth protecting.