If you spend any time at all talking to a first year Bio grad student, you will undoubtedly hear mention of a place called "The Pit". If you talk to this first year student on a regular basis, you will observe that he or she seems to spend most of his or her waking hours in "The Pit". You may ask yourself, "What is this 'Pit' that I hear so much about?" A study hall? A refuse dump? A recreation room? A pool hall? A poorly lit, subterranean lair? In fact, The Pit is all of these things, and more. It's a way of life, a state of mind, and the inner sanctum of MITs first year biology students.

The Pit is the place where first years can relax and (occasionally) study, far from the prying eyes of faculty and older students. Physically, The Pit consists of two medium sized rooms on the first floor of the biology building. It contains everything a grad student could want in a home away from home. It has two refrigerators, a sink and a microwave for all your subsistence needs. It has three aging but hardy computers, one demon-possessed copier, and a collection of journals and references in case you decide to get some work done. Better yet, it features one much loved pool table, a ping-pong table, and various games and puzzles to help you whittle away those countless hours of freetime. And better still, there's a combination lock on the door to keep those who are not first-year bio grad students out.

The Pit is the meeting spot of the first year class. It's where we eat lunch, it's where we meet to go out, it's where we study. It's where we check e-mail, it's where we play pool, it's where we party, an, occasionally, it's where we sleep. It's where we go when we want to be among friends. The Department makes a big deal about the first year being a bonding experience, and there is a lot of truth in this. The Pit is the place where it all happens.