When I was in college — granted, a long time ago — my favorite place was an on-campus coffeehouse that served all sorts of coffees and teas and odd snacks in a cramped space with wobbly tables, funky artwork and interesting music. It was always packed; both students and faculty met there and it was a favorite spot for people to go at night. Sometimes there were poetry readings or political speeches on the small stage in the corner; sometimes there was live music. More than anything, the atmosphere made me feel like I was a college student in an institution of higher learning — because what I remember most about the time I spent there are the conversations about issues and ideas, trying to solve the world’s problems through discussion.

That’s why we need a coffeehouse at Ithaca College, one devoted to the long and wonderful tradition of humanities and sciences. There are plenty of places on campus to get a cup of coffee, but a coffeehouse can be much more than that. It can be a place to share common ideas, to argue about perceptions or to celebrate the academic part of college life. The coffeehouse could have displays of artwork and paintings, created or selected by members of the Art and Art History departments. Plants from the biology greenhouse. Research posters created by students in the social and natural sciences. A small stage where there could be poetry or short story readings, theatrical presentations, and political speeches. Menus in multiple languages.

It would be open to everyone, of course. But all of the other schools have their own buildings, while H&S quietly trudges on with no space to call our own. We deserve a place that can provide community for students and faculty.

And here’s where this coffeehouse should be: on top of Textor Hall, in that big open space between Muller and Friends, with that big, round silver sculpture called “The Fish.”

That space is right in the heart of Humanities and Sciences on campus. It’s central to campus life, just like the role H&S often plays in providing service courses for all of the other schools. Architects and members of the physical plant who are working on the Textor Hall renovations say that the building is likely to be able to support a new structure on top of the lecture halls. It could have glass windows all around, with views of the lake and an outdoor terrace with tables for the summer months.

We should call it “The Fish.” It’s the perfect name for H&S. Fishing for knowledge. Fun In Science & Humanities. With a large aquarium. We should keep the silver sculpture, of course.

And it should be open all day long, on weekends, and late at night, until midnight. Right now there’s not a single place on campus where students and faculty and visitors can go in the evenings after a play, a concert, a speech or special lecture, to have a cup of coffee and talk about the wonderful things we saw and heard. We need that kind of place.

Could we really make this happen? Yes. Faculty and students and alumni could come together to talk, raise money, convince the powers that be that H&S needs a coffeehouse of its own.

And in a few years — when you come back to IC for Homecoming or Reunion — I’ll meet you at The Fish.

Cyndy Scheibe is an associate professor in psychology. E-mail her at scheibe@ithaca.edu.