Nothing ruins the college experience more than a bad roommate. Whether they’re loud, rude or smelly, the art of escaping them can be delicate, but extremely good for the body and soul. From sports to exploring campus, there are alternatives to sitting in your room with sound-canceling headphones.

With all sorts of intramural sports available on campus, from the likes of table tennis to co-ed kickball, joining a team can be a way to hone (or show off) your sports skills, stay in shape and forget about how bad your roommate smells.

Signing up for Binghamton University’s gym, FitSpace, is another idea that has worked out well for many students. Yi-Ting Wang, a junior economics major, has been using the gym as an escape since sophomore year.

“It’s a little far from where I live and I end up staying there for a few hours each time I go,” Wang said. “And I can go day or night, whenever my suitemates are getting on my nerves.”

BU’s own Nature Preserve is the perfect place to go when dodging the roomie. Whether you end up going there alone or with others, the nature preserve is a great place to roam and explore while you try to forget about the presence that shares your living space. With flat and uphill trails, a pond and an array of wildlife, the 182 acres of natural, undeveloped land is an experience that every student should take part in.

The preserve is especially gorgeous in the fall when the trees start dressing in their fall colors. Walking in the nature preserve, keep a lookout for beaver dams, salamanders, porcupines, turtles, woodpeckers and much more. Who knows, you might even see the infamous bear.

And of course, the best and most productive way to escape from “Rowdy McEvil,” aka your roommate, is to grab your books and walk over to the library, find a quiet corner (preferably with a comfy chair and a window with a nice view) and study. You are in college, after all.