Drinking, smoking, sleeping and playing games with friends is usually a typical week in the life of a college student, but during the summer, it is only the beginning of an afternoon at Roland pool.

Roland Realty, a housing and apartment corporation based on campus for over 75 years, owns a pool located at 901 S. First St. that is reserved for tenets of their property and has become a daily hot spot for University students over the summer.

Roland’s pool is privately owned, unsupervised and almost rule-free, attracting students away from other University-owned pools like IMPE, and creating an atmosphere for another interpretation of “fun in the sun.”

“It’s basically the place to be from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.,” said Lisa Przybysz, junior in ALS. “You always know people are going to be there and it’s such a nice break from class.”

Students swarm to the Roland’s pool in huge groups each day, kegs and coolers in tow, foregoing classes and work to relax poolside with their swimsuit-clad friends. Last weekend during Greek Reunion, Roland pool tallied almost 300 people on Saturday alone.

“This summer has been so hot; sometimes it’s nice to have a cold drink while you lay-out,” Przybysz said. “It’s almost like a mini-spring break in the middle of the week.”

While Roland pool debatably has its downfalls, students argue the freedom it offers outweighs any negative aspects.

“Even though Roland is smaller and honestly, dirtier, then the University-owned pools, its much more fun,” said Dani Mrazek, junior in LAS.

Guys and girls alike favor what Roland has to offer, claiming these daily festivities are what summer is all about. While some students are basking in the sun on a lawn chair, others are floating on rafts in the pool or playing sand volleyball on a court ten feet away. It seems Roland pool’s carefree atmosphere has something to offer everyone.

“What college student would choose a slightly cleaner pool over drinking in the middle of the day?” said J.D. Strode, sophomore in LAS. “Roland wins, hands down.”