American Magazine: November 2013

memories
Excerpts from the Eagle archives
at theeagleonline.com/archives
1938
The men have the “ham house”—short for Hamilton
House (named for brothers Franklin and John, both
former AU chancellors)—so the Eagle calls for a catchy
moniker for the women’s residence hall. “We ought
to have something with ‘umph,’ something clever.”
Suggestions include “the hennery,” “the roost,” and,
simply, “the umph.”
1966
Giving new meaning to “spring fling,” McDowell Hall’s
feisty, female inhabitants toss their panties to a crowd
of male students gathered outside on a warm March
evening. Colorful underwear float out the windows to
chants of “We want silk!” before head resident Estelle
Kelsey breaks up the fun, dousing the panty raiders with
water and calling campus police.
1975
After a string of sofa heists, the Residence Hall
Association addresses the pressing problem of stolen
lounge furniture. Students are fined $10 for the first
offense and $15 for the second. A third offense results in
suspension from the dorms. Resident advisors’ “illegal
and intrusive” searches for hot furniture leave students
feeling cold.
RECOGNIZE
these students settling
into Anderson Hall during
the late ‘60s? Reveal their
identities at magazine@
american.edu.
2013
Once a parking lot, Cassell Hall, an eight-story structure
(with a sprawling, 8,000-square-foot fitness center)
nestled on the northwest corner of campus, opens
its doors to 360 upperclassmen. Across Mass. Ave., a
three-story addition to Nebraska Hall offers apartmentstyle
housing for another 150 students. The structures
are AU’s first new residence halls since Centennial Hall
opened in 1986.
WERE YOU A PANTY RAIDER
OR A RESIDENT OF THE ROOST?
Share your stories of life in Leonard,
Letts, and AU’s other residence halls:
email magazine@american.edu.
AMERICAN.EDU/ALUMNI 43