Best Places to Take a Zoom Meeting On Campus
photo credit: Anna Shvets
by Kristen Adams ‘25
The clock is ticking – you grip your laptop and scout for a spot to take your Zoom meeting. Your meeting starts in a few minutes, so you don’t have time to reserve a room in Leavey or rush back to your room. Where are the best spots to plop down, plug in, and join a Zoom at USC?
Here are my top four places that I can always trust to take my Zoom meetings on campus.
Verna and Peter Dauterive Hall (VPD)
Tucked in the corner of campus, adjacent to the Marshall School of Business and behind the Sol Price School of Public Policy, is Verna and Peter Dauterive Hall, better known as VPD. It’s a hidden gem because it houses 5 floors with tables and chairs encircling each floor, with access to outlets and just the right noise level for Zoom calls. It is a new building, with clean facilities, large restrooms, and comfortable seating in the lower level. VPD also has a beautiful glass art structure that runs from the ceiling, providing a gorgeous backdrop for your Zoom meeting.
School of Cinematic Arts (SCA) Balconies
If it’s not too cold outside, the SCA balconies provide the perfect backdrop, noise level, and aesthetic for a Zoom meeting. To access an SCA balcony, head inside any of the SCA buildings and go upstairs. Then, check each floor until you find an empty balcony. My personal favorite outdoor spot is the balcony in the SCI building, closest to the Lyon Center and Webb Tower. The SCI balcony faces the rest of the Cinema Complex and has tables that are comfortable to work at along with access to outlets, which can be a game changer if you’re looking for a quiet, picturesque place to plug in and study for a few hours.
The Law School Cafe
While the outdoor courtyard of the Law School Cafe is not necessarily large, if you are lucky and get a table outside, it is a great spot to take a Zoom meeting. The outdoor courtyard is a little, cozy spot that is fenced in and is often a little quieter than inside, where people often study, eat, and catch up with friends. However, be wary of the WiFi connection! I have experienced some poor connection in this spot in the past, most likely due to the fact that the Law School Cafe is located in the basement – though I have only experienced this problem in the outdoor courtyard, and not inside.
Tutor Campus Center (Upstairs)
While TCC is a busy, vibrant place – often a popular spot for lunch with friends – you can head up the Steps of Troy, or alternatively take the elevator to the second floor, to find an entire corridor of tables and chairs calmly above the mayhem. If the weather is nice, taking a Zoom meeting along the corridor can come with a beautiful view of TCC, Bovard, and Hahn Plaza. There are also restrooms that are conveniently located in the same corridor.
Given that we are located in sunny Los Angeles, practically any outdoor spot with a good connection can be a great spot to take a Zoom call. However, if you are looking for a quieter place that is a bit more removed from large crowds for some privacy for your meeting, any of these four spots can be a safe haven for you. While USC has a ton of hidden gem study spots, as well as beautiful libraries, it is important to know the key spots where the noise level is just right for you to join a meeting since you never want to be that person who starts talking in the library. Happy studying!
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