One of my favorite parts about Drew are the small and vibrant pockets of community that make up Drew’s larger campus culture. One opportunity for such pockets to exist is within the department houses.
Department houses are unique in that they provide a space where both faculty and students can exist outside of the classroom. By spending time in the common areas of these buildings, students get to build stronger connections with the faculty and meet other students with similar academic interests.
Especially as a commuter, I find the additional space to exist in between and after classes extremely helpful. I’ve found the lounges of both Sitterly House, which contains English department offices, and Gilbert House, which contains the offices for the history and sociology departments, to be places where I can focus on a project as well as have engaging conversations with both peers and professors.
I’ve also personally found that existing in these spaces makes me less hesitant to attend professors’ office hours, and I find it much less intimidating to ask for help when I need to.
I talked with other students who feel similarly about the importance of department houses as community spaces.
Katelyn Rohlf (‘25) said that during her time at Drew, “Gilbert was invaluable in developing a cohort with shared experiences,” as she “found community and support while writing her honors thesis and completing graduate school applications.” Rohlf also emphasized the benefit of sharing a space with both peers and mentors.
Also talking about Gilbert House, Erin Kerr (‘27) explained, “I’ve made friends the fastest while hanging out here.”
Creating these kinds of community spaces takes intentional effort from the members of the community. I don’t think this is something that the institution can create — the school can provide the spaces and resources, but it’s up to the student body to actually fill those spaces.
In Gilbert House, the space is usable for schoolwork and socializing because of the furniture, which is provided entirely by faculty. Dr. James Carter, who provided much of the furniture that fills Gilbert, explained that there is “not institutional support for these kinds of things.”
It is not only the physical space that takes effort; intentionally spending time in these areas is a necessary part of developing a community space. Jocelyn Freeman (‘25), who hosts her Writing Fellow office hours in Gilbert, commented that “When I first got here freshman year, these spaces did not exist explicitly and they were something I had to seek out and forge in order to enjoy them in this capacity my senior year.”
“Students need to be willing to go through the uncomfortable experience of engaging with staff and faculty to learn how to be a part of their community and students need to learn to engage with people outside of their age group in order to make the space a valuable connection between two bodies on campus,” said Freeman.
Dr. Angie Kirby-Calder commented that she tries to “foster a supportive environment among the students. People know they can come in here and get work done, and they also know they can come in here and problem solve.”
Drew should support these organic pockets of community. However, earlier this semester, Drew took away the water dispensers that previously supplied water to the houses, replacing them with a filter on the faucet. Students and faculty are hesitant to trust that the filter is enough, and some walk to Brothers College to get water instead. “Even though we’ve been told that our drinking water is safe, we have also been told the exact opposite. No one trusts that, and so no one’s drinking it, and it’s essentially the same as having no water,” explained Carter.
Drew should not only bring back the water, which made students feel more comfortable in the space, but should recognize department houses as important community spaces. Though the energy needs to come from students and faculty, Drew can provide the physical resources that make people want to spend time in these places, such as furniture that is comfortable, clean, non-harsh lighting or a kettle so students and faculty can make themselves a warm beverage while they work.
It is impossible to discuss this topic without acknowledging Drew’s recent land sales, and fears around campus about the security of department houses. It is important to appreciate the value of the physical spaces that the department houses provide, and the pockets of community that exist within them.
Katie Carmichael is a senior majoring in English with a creative writing concentration and minoring in teaching.
