Ah, finals! The time of the semester that at once fills me with anxiety and excitement returns again. With the 1Ls preparing for oral arguments, 2Ls in the midst of the heated battle for moot court supremacy — pitting such gladiators with the gift of gab as Jill “Hot Topic” Moenius against Benjamin “Golden Voice” Winters in the semifinal round — and perhaps some studying in everyone’s future, I am glad that you made the prudent decision to read the KU Law Blog.
In homage to Nathan Behncke’s best study spots entry from last semester and with the genuine desire that some of you will benefit from stress relief (and a word of caution from my favorite fount of sagacity, Spider-Man’s uncle: “With great power comes great responsibility”), I give you places of refuge for those who are weary from studying in this finals season.
Rec Center
1740 Watkins Center Drive
Lawrence, KS 66045
The Ambler Student Recreation Fitness Center is the meat-and-potatoes option for law student release. Although you are likely to see law students on the basketball courts and in the weight room — and everyone’s favorite sports law teacher, Professor DeLaTorre, on the elliptical machine any time of year — when papers are due and finals near, law students flock to this mecca of exercise on KU’s campus.
Pros: This option gets high marks for convenience because of its proximity to the law school and for price because it is free to law students. Also, the gym offers some mental clarity that is much needed this time of year.
Cons: Bring your own lock for the locker room, and it can get busy around finals.
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Royal Crest Lanes
933 Iowa Street
Lawrence, KS 66044
The bowling alley offers a convenient location to blow off some steam. Located just a few blocks away from the law school, Royal Crest Lanes has a large number of lanes, a bar with drinks and greasy food, and an arcade — a veritable one-stop shop to sate all of your hunger for vices.
Pros: relatively inexpensive, proximity, and switch-blade-style combs for the winning.
Cons: risk of frustration from all the gutter balls your atrophied muscles produce.
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Starlight Theatre
4600 Starlight Road
Kansas City, MO 64132
The Lawrence area is home to many of the premiere music venues in the region. Aside from the Bottleneck and the Grenada in town, Kansas City regularly hosts local and national indie, country and pop music favorites. For example, Starlight Theater, just one of these venues, just brought Arcade Fire to town.
Pros: As one of my favorite KU Law professors told me, you should study hard then go do something enjoyable like taking in a movie to help relax your mind; I think this fits the bill.
Cons: longer time commitment and price.
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Clinton Lake
798 N. 1415 Road
Lawrence, KS 66049
This recreation and wildlife area sits just west of town. There are several paths that you can hike around the lake.
Pros: not far from campus and fresh air serves as a nice contrast to your study carrel.
Cons: risk of twisted ankle, poison ivy, and sunburn (especially for my ghostly complexion).
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Sadlers Indoor Racing
325 N. Mur-Len Road
Olathe, KS 66062
This indoor race track offers the possibility of hopping in your car and satisfying your thrill-seeking side in an afternoon venture over to Olathe.
Pros: Like the bowling alley, there is an abundance of mediocre pizza and arcade games to occupy you between stints on the track.
Cons: For some reason, the track employees will black flag you and ban you from the course if you aren’t careful.
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Advanced Laser Tag
2026 E. Santa Fe Street
Olathe, KS 66062
I know, I know. I, too, was skeptical about laser tag. I was cut from the traditionalist leisure suit fabric of throwing around the baseball, playing golf, and partaking in the Bosnian favorite, cornhole.
In fact, I had been to the laser tag place before and chickened out because I thought it would be too jejune for a refined law student. And I was right, but I finally gave in. You can learn a lot about a person in the confines of simulated battle. I’m not necessarily advocating shooting teenagers in the eyes or knocking away their weapons in close quarters, but it can’t hurt (or so I’ve heard). If you only have time for one study break, I recommend spending it running around like a fool and shooting people in an artificial urban combat zone.
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James Carter, 2L and Student Ambassador