Ross Marvin, an intern in the Office of Communications, returned to Union this fall as a sophomore and a member of Blue House in the College's new Minerva House system. We asked him to give us an insider's look at all the changes.
Throughout my first year at Union many rumors circulated about the new Minervas. On one side were those who glorified the unveiled Minerva houses. I remember one particular tour guide who compared the plan for Union to the residential system found in the popular Harry Potter books. I'm still not sure what this means, but for a long while I associated the Minerva system with myth, full of wizards, sorcerers, and Union students. On the other side were those who were convinced that the system would push fraternities underground.
As the Minervas began to shape up, I wanted to separate myth from legend, fact from fiction-to find out what people, particularly my fellow students, felt about the Minervas. So during the opening weeks I spent a lot of time talking to different types on campus. Overall, I found optimistic, forward-looking thinkers who were dedicated to being involved with their houses in an effort to improve both social and academic life on campus.
September 4: First-year arrival
The weather on the day the first-year students arrived was fantastic. Does the College have a benefactor who ensures beautiful weather for freshman arrival and orientation? I doubt anyone could dislike Union's campus when the temperature is in the mid-70s without a cloud in the sky.
First stop was Golub House, where Chi Psi used to be. A smiling upperclass girl sitting at a table in the great room welcomed us and told us to feel free to browse the building. Though I had seen floor plans of the new buildings online and had a general idea that each house was going to be equipped with the same basic amenities, I was anxious to see my first house in person.
The great room was a nice bright room with hardwood floors that one could envision as a good meeting place for house governance. The sunny atmosphere of the entire house gave a welcoming feel. I saw a bright, yellow kitchen, equipped with beautiful stoves, tons of cabinet space, and a large refrigerator. On the fridge, someone had scribbled a note in bright marker that read: “Sodas and freeze pops inside, help yourself!” Though my oversight of breakfast had left me both hungry and thirsty, I left the goodies for the freshmen, but the sign had already made a strong impression on me. I felt like the people at Golub House were extending a hand to the incoming students. They were saying, “What's yours is mine, and you are a part of this house.”
Down the hallway, I found myself in another room that would satisfy any college student's desire to “hang out.” The den of Golub House was equipped with a gigantic flat screen television surrounded by armchairs and ottomans. On the floor was a funky area rug, and on the wall a built-in-bookcase held a stack of board games that should ensure late night fun throughout the year. Down another hallway bulletin boards welcomed the incoming freshman and announced house activities. The nearby seminar room, equipped with a blackboard and two long tables, would rival a law firm's conference room. Here, students will be able to plan house activities and hold house government meetings as well as study sessions.
I was thoroughly impressed with the layout of the house, and felt a little perturbed that I hadn't applied to live in my house if this is what all the buildings were going to be like. [Although every student is a member of one of the seven houses, only 300 or so students live in the houses.-Editor].
We walked down to South College where we visited Yellow House. Yellow had opened last fall and was considered the “flagship house” of the Minerva system. We ran into Elizabeth Buck, a sophomore, who attended a party at Yellow House in the spring and fell in love with the building: “I lived in Davidson last year, and it was a nice place, but Yellow House is a definite step up. It's the place I want to be.”
Elizabeth politely excused herself to give Tom Mazzarino, a freshman from Long Island, a tour. On the way, Tom told me that though he hadn't really known that much the Minervas, he viewed them as an added attraction at Union. Elizabeth took Tom through rooms that were similar to those I found in Golub. She also showed him her room, to give him an idea of what the rooms in the houses look like. Her double room was beautiful. Equipped with brand new furnishings, the white walls and hardwood floors gleamed in the sun. The place even smelled new and fresh and brought a grin to Elizabeth's face as she walked in. “Here's what you have to look forward to,” she said to Tom with a laugh.
It was now about 10:30 a.m., and parents and students were scurrying about trying to make sure they were in the right place at the right time. One freshman caught my eye. Bilal Mahmood was a year behind me in high school and had been a friend of mine for a few years. We talked for a little while about his first impressions of Wold House, which is located in North College.
“It's really amazing to me that they were able to transform this old building into something that really looks brand new,” he said. “And having a nice TV like that will insure that the place is packed whenever a big game is on.”
I agreed that with the right snacks, the houses would be packed to standing-room-only capacity on such nights, and then waved goodbye to Bilal, who was in a rush to get his picture taken for his student I.D. I walked across campus in search of some upperclassmen, and in Wold House I met Jaime Werner, the house communications committee chair. A senior, Jaime has always been involved in campus activities and wanted to ensure that her house got off to the right start.
“I'm in charge of the house's website, publications, and documentation of the year's activities,” she said. “The documentation is particularly important since we are truly setting a precedent for how the Minervas will be integrated into campus life. In my opinion this integration will determine whether the Greek system will survive or die.” Mary Annese, a senior who is the House Council Chair in Beuth, poses a counterargument. “Most of the partying at Union during my time here has been fraternity related. It's going to take a lot of work to change the atmosphere here to incorporate the houses into the social life here. Don't get me wrong; I'm glad the fraternities are still around. They are an integral part of the Union tradition, but I hope there is room the Minervas as well.
As I exited Beuth House, I noticed a father taking his daughter's picture, and I decided to ask them what they thought of the new house. I immediately bombarded the girl with several questions in amateur reporter fashion.
“Pretty nice isn't it? Are you a freshman? What's your name?”
“Ha,” laughed the brown-haired girl. “My name is Jacqueline Young, I'm actually a senior, but he still does this to me every year. Yeah, the building is really fantastic. I'm going to be living here this year.” Dean of Residential Life Tom McEvoy had told me that not many upperclassmen had signed up for Minerva housing, but I had already met several who would be calling a Minerva their home. Jacqueline said that several of her friends would be living with her in Beuth.
Jacqueline's father, Ed Young, graduated from Union in 1972, and he seemed impressed by the renovations to these buildings on campus. “There is a great feeling of potential coming from these buildings. I just wish they could have refurbished the old Delta Phi building, where I was a brother. It's sad to know that building is no longer here but at the same time spectacular to see renovation across the campus on this scale.”
I waved goodbye to the Youngs and walked back to my car after a long day. I would find out what the Minervas would be like as a social space when I returned to campus the next night for the House System's opening night of orientation activities.
September 5: First Night
When I got to campus in the early evening hours, I was eager to see the incoming students meet one another in their new houses. Each house had its own activity planned for First Night, and the weather was, once again, spectacular.
The first thing I noticed was several students wearing ponchos, which would make one think I was mistaken in my judgment of the weather. However, a more careful look revealed what was going on. I noticed paint smeared all over the ponchos. Sure enough, they held cans of paint and were flinging paint with great care at a canvas. Ah, yes! This was the Jackson Pollack party sponsored by Wold House. Even Dean Tom McEvoy got in on the action, using a stunning blend of colors to create his masterpiece. The idea seemed to be a hit with several students gathered around the canvases waiting their turn as “artist.”
I heard commotion all over campus. Golub, Beuth, and Orange Houses were putting on quite a party themselves. Golub House sponsored the ultimate meet and greet-sumo wrestling and a sticky wall! In their huge suits, new roommates and new acquaintances got to know each other by stepping into the sumo circle. Orange House was busy tie-dying Union College tee shirts that were given out as freebies to the participating freshmen-savvy, given a college student's love of free giveaways. Beuth House was sponsoring the ever-popular bungee run-a huge inflatable platform, which allows two people to test their strength by running as far as they possibly can before succumbing to the force of the bungee.
Just as a freshman was snatched from his feet and jolted backward by the bungee chord, I noticed my friend Greg, who lived in West College with me last year. It turns out that he was living in an oversized single in Beuth House. His room, in his words, was “insane.” He had brand new furniture, hardwood floors, and an impressive personal bathroom. Because he was on the first floor, Greg had a nice social option. In the evening he could step outside and watch the big-screen television or listen to the deluxe stereo system, and when he was tired he could walk about ten feet to his room. “It really feels like this is my house,” laughed Greg, who has made a habit of taking his shoes off before entering Beuth House, a habit he formed at his own home.
Greg thinks the House System will be great for campus life. “Although there are a lot of good hangout spaces here on campus, the Minervas provide another option. Plus, you get to use a great kitchen, an amazing stereo, and feel like you really have a say in the place that you live for the year.”
I thanked Greg and headed back down campus in the direction of South College to see what was going on in Green and Yellow Houses. In Green, the smell of popcorn lured students in. I asked three freshmen about their impressions. While all three agreed that they hadn't really considered the House System in their decision to come to Union, the night's events made them realize what an added bonus they were in store for.
When I walked into Green, the lights were turned down low and people sat on comfortable couches in front of a projector screen where student films were being shown. Freshmen seemed particularly receptive to the film fest. It was an opportunity to look at the work of current Union students and realize that they were now a part of this community.
Yellow House also took an artsy approach to First Night. Union's house rock band, Unknown Element, was playing a spirited set to a large crowd that transformed the building into a sort of hipster coffee house. Sprawled out on couches, beanbags, and at tables, the freshmen enjoyed coffee, refreshments, and drinks in a comfortable concert setting. “This place is awesome,” exclaimed an enthused first-year girl who swayed to the sounds of the song “Hard to Handle.”
At my own Blue House, the party was in full swing by the time I got there. President Chris Macomber had painted himself a vibrant shade of blue and was banging on pots, pans, trashcans, and anything else in sight with a pair of drumsticks a la the Blue Man Group. This was Blue's theme for their opening night, and the crowd was responding well. I saw Bilal, my high school buddy, with a group of friends in the main room. He told me that he had five minutes until the next marshmallow-eating contest. While he stretched his jaw, I took the time to introduce myself to his two friends, Dave and, oddly enough, another Bilal. Both seemed really motivated about their Minerva. They live in Richmond, just a stone's throw away from their House in North, and they planned to take advantage of it.
“I had no idea the houses would be like this,” said Dave. “I wasn't unaware of the system, and, in fact, when I heard about it I thought it was great, but honestly I didn't think the places would be this spectacular. I can definitely see myself hanging out here.”
After my friend Bilal won the marshmallow-eating contest (he hit 30), I decided to take off for the night, having seen lots of people enjoying themselves.
September 7 : Opening Convocation
Two days later, I had moved into my room in Potter House and was getting ready to go to dinner with my Minerva House on another beautiful day. By the time I got to the wonderfully-catered picnic tables between the Nott and West College, it was hard to find a seat. Students were mingling with faculty and administration, and you could actually sit back and watch students introduce themselves to each other. My sophomore friends were also impressed. “Boy, this is a really nice setup we have here,” said Ross Williams, who lives across the hall from me in Potter. “This place already seems like a tighter community.”
I overheard professors talking about their upcoming classes over dinner and students fondly recounting their summers to their teachers. Union's goal of a “living and learning environment” seemed to have been reached.
Following the dinner, President Roger Hull addressed the students in his annual Convocation speech. The students in attendance seemed anxious to hear what he would say about the dawning of the new Minerva System.
“We have…sought to maintain and expand our on-campus opportunities for students to live and interact,” the president said. “However, it is the Minerva System, now underway, that will provide additional residential and social opportunities to complement theme houses, fraternities, and sororities and that will enrich the intellectual life on campus. In the process, the Minervas will serve as a national model.
“The Minervas will go beyond being merely a social outlet, though. Since all of our faculty members have a house affiliation, and since faculty will work with house members to plan and organize educational and cultural events, the houses will become a major academic force. Study after study has shown that a student's contact with faculty outside the classroom is one of the most important aspects of a college education. The Minerva Houses build on those experiences. By bringing faculty to student houses, the Minervas will enable students to have more and better contact with faculty. Through formal classes in the seminar rooms built into the houses and informal conversations, the intellectual life of the campus will be enhanced.”
As the president finished his speech, I noticed several members of fraternities and sororities in attendance. In fact, a small but enthusiastic portion of the Greeks are involved in leadership positions in the Minervas. Brian Selchick, a brother at Sigma Phi and co-chair at Golub House, has been dedicated to making the Minervas work at Union.
“I have felt the intrinsic need to break down the barrier between Greek life and Minerva life,” says Selchick. “To me, each system has many similar aspects and together could truly create an innovative and educational environment.”
Selchick believes that the Minervas will cater to people who like to attend coffee houses, student forums, and guest speakers. For Selchick, the Minervas are also a more relaxed place to meet with and get to know faculty. He also believes that the Minervas have a lot to learn from Greek life on campus. “I strongly feel that the Minerva system should attempt to harness the long-honed party throwing skills of the Greeks. Fraternities are used to dealing with setup, security, crowd control, and cleanup, and the College should make an effort for the Minervas to learn these skills.”
Mid September
After a few weeks of class, the Minervas already seem to have been adopted as a part of campus. Every now and then a friend of mine at one of the houses will invite me over for a barbeque, which I gladly partake in. At these dinners, I have recognized people who are involved in many different aspects of campus. Greeks, Minervas, jocks, intellectuals, and sometimes faculty get together to enjoy a bit of Indian summer and hamburgers. These people aren't as strictly grouped as rumors make it seem. Over the course of this assignment, this reporter has learned one thing above all-Union students are friendly, motivated, and take a great deal of pride in their campus.
While some resentment still exists among Greeks, especially those that left their buildings on campus, the numbers of sophomore rushes and pledges are certainly not in decline this year. Both Sigma Chi and Theta Delta Chi fraternities have an exceptionally large pledge class, at 27 apiece. Greg, my pal from Beuth House, is in his second week of pledging at the fraternity Fiji where, like Brian Selchick, he hopes to strengthen the relationship between the Minervas and the Greeks. The Minerva system is a myth no longer. Kudos to everyone who spent their summers preparing for a major change and doing such an amazing job. Though it has only been a few weeks, an unknowing observer would think the Minervas have always been here, and hopefully they will.
“There will be a lot of pressure this year on those in leadership positions in each house to come up with interesting activities,” she continued. “Luckily we have a nice budget of around $35,000 to work with to create a fun atmosphere here. Plus, we have a motivated and optimistic group of people.”