By Jalyn Sneed/reporter

In the SE Campus hangout area known as The Hive, students can relax, socialize, play games and even watch TV during the school day. 

Throughout the week, SE student Matthew Auchenbach often goes to this area to interact and play games with his friends.

“I come to The Hive every Monday, Wednesday and Friday,” Auchenbach said.

In The Hive, students will find vending machines, comfortable couches and sitting areas with round tables, a place to hook up video games and a microwave to heat up meals.

Auchenbach said that what makes The Hive stand out to him is the relaxed setting.

“I love the space and the comfort of it,” he said. “The chairs really have a home feeling.”

When Auchenbach goes to The Hive, he usually plays a card game with his friends called Yu-Gi-Oh.

“I like Yu-Gi-Oh because it increases the ability to create competition,” he said. “I usually play it with four or five of my friends.”

While The Hive is a fun and interactive place for students to hang out, it often gets crowded during certain times of the day, usually in the afternoons.

“Usually between 1 and 3, everyone floods in here, and it can be hard to find a place to sit,” Auchenbach said. “I think if there were at least two more places like this on campus, it would help with the crowding. Also, there would be less noise.”

SE student William Weide says he often goes to The Hive every day during the school week.

“I like it here because you can just walk right in,” Weide said. “A lot of people come here. There’s also a lot of gaming.”

The Hive was originally called The Bistro, but the name was changed at the beginning of the spring semester. Some students haven’t adjusted to the new name of the hangout area, including Weide.

“I think the new name is ridiculous, but I don’t really care,” he said. “I just ignore it.”

SE student Mykah Ramirez hasn’t gotten used to the new name either.

“I don’t really like the new name,” Ramirez said. “Nobody calls it The Hive. They still call it The Bistro.”

Ramirez, who often goes to The Hive twice a week, said she goes mostly to be around her friends.

“I usually come here in between my classes in the evenings,” she said. “It’s normally just to hang out.”

Ramirez loves The Hive because the students there usually aren’t told to “be quiet.”

“I like the fact that you can be as loud as you want,” she said. “Nobody’s shushing you, and we’re not disturbing anyone’s education.”

SE student Emily Pena also goes to The Hive during the week. While Pena goes once a day in the afternoons, she said overall it’s a place to take her mind off of studies.

“It’s a good place to talk with friends,” she said. “It takes the stress of class off of you. Usually, there’s a lot more action in this area, and it’s more comfortable.”

Auchenbach said that overall, he loves that The Hive is a place for interaction among students. As for the new name, he doesn’t see a problem with it.

“I think it’s pretty accurate,” he said. “It does ‘buzz’ in here a lot!”