William and Mary is full of history. Since its founding in 1693, the College has changed drastically and is yet to undergo more change in the coming years. Our Homecoming last month made me think a lot about this issue of change. This year I’m living in the Lodges, a unique on-campus housing option to William and Mary. Built in the late 1940s, the Lodges were the College’s original on-campus fraternity houses.
After doing some research on my own, I found out my Lodge -- Lodge 6 --belonged Pi Kappa Alpha until 1968. Because they are located right in the center of campus, I have the pleasure of living in a house, but also within close walking distance to all my classes. As a sophomore, I feel incredibly lucky to be living there when students usually only live in the Lodges during their junior or senior years.
On the Friday of Homecoming weekend, friends and I sat on our front patio watching students and alumni go by. One alumnus from the class of 1955 approached us and wistfully remarked, “I got my worst grades here,” and smiled about the good memories he had here. Throughout the rest of the weekend, I heard more stories from the visitors who dropped by, who spoke about all their wonderful memories of living in the Lodges. Talking to these alumni made me realize and learn new things about the Lodges and their history that I had never known before.
At the end of last semester, I was distraught to learn that they were tearing down the Lodges after this summer. According to the College’s massive Master Plan, they hope to replace them with an Integrative Wellness Center, which is supposed to be resource for students to overall improve their physical and mental health.
A recent article from the College’s newspaper, The Flat Hat, expressed support in favor of the installment of the Integrative Wellness Center. Although I do not think the Lodges are an efficient use of space, I am not thrilled about their demolition for a wellness center. With the shortage of housing on campus, I think the space would be better suited for housing students instead.
Most of all, however, I am upset that I will never have the opportunity to return to these Lodges when I come back to visit the school. I will never be able to reminisce with my friends about our memories in the Lodges, nor will I be able to visit and interact with the new students who will live there.
I realize that change is inevitable, but it is especially hard for me to accept this instance of change in particular. Living in the Lodges has been one of the best parts of my college experience thus far. As a sophomore, I feel a special amount of privilege to be living here now, instead of a one room dorm like most of my classmates. I will be sad, but I'm incredibly thankful to be here, now, writing this article in my Lodge.
