For donors, quad's end is bittersweet

While this summer's slated demolition of the often-ridiculed Butler College quad probably doesn't sadden too many students, a small group of alumni are concerned that the memory of their Princeton classes will be bulldozed along with it.

In recent months, members of the classes of 1940, '41 and '42 — who funded the dorms' construction — have come together to discuss how the contributions of their classmates can continue to be remembered long after the construction of the new Butler College is complete.

Conversations with a number of alumni suggest the University is planning to construct individual commemorative plaques for the classes of '22, '40, '41 and '42. The plaques would likely be placed on the wall of the Butler dining hall, while a new pathway through Butler would be named the Lourie-Love walkway. University recording secretary Kirk Unruh '70, who was present at a meeting yesterday between members of the classes and the University, declined to comment on the details of the memorial.

At least one alumnus, though, is not satisfied with the plan. Lynn Tipson '41, who attended yesterday's meeting, said that he does not believe that a plaque would properly honor the classes' legacies. "Having spent much of my life promoting the Class of 1941, I find it difficult to have [the dorms] erased," he said in an interview.

Tipson stressed he is not opposed to the dorms being torn down but believes that more should be done to make up for the loss. "The way [the University] is talking about recognizing the class is to put a plaque on the wall, and in our opinion that's very nice, but we can look at other classes such as '37, '38 and '39 who will still have dormitories," he said. "With all due respect, you can say there is a notice on the wall about our dorms, but how often when you walk by a plaque do you look at it?"

Dedicated as a memorial to members of the classes of the early 1940s who died in World War II, the Butler dorms first opened to students during the 1964-1965 academic year. Five of Butler's six existing dormitories are scheduled to be torn down this summer and replaced with two large dorms as part of the University's introduction of the four-year residential college system. Bloomberg Hall, which currently houses some Butler College students, will officially become part of the college and contain only Butler residents.

Former University President Robert Goheen '40, who attended the meeting with the class members, said there was a sense of "anxiety expressed by some members of the class whether there was going to be due recognition of their class in the new reconstruction."

Not everyone is complaining, however. Bill Kelley '40 said that in recent conversations with his classmates he has heard little opposition to the University's efforts to remember the classes. "I have not received anyone's complaints or bitterness about that happening," he said. "I think there was a general understanding that the campus is changing over time and there are more people, and they needed the room."

Robert Young '42, who serves as class vice president, echoed this sentiment, saying that "there is a general recognition that Princeton has to keep growing and that our little dormitory can't stand in the way."

Goheen said tearing down the dorms is in the best interest of the University. "I think the current dormitories were proving inadequate," Goheen said. "If you look back in time, many fine buildings have been removed and replaced. It's part of the continuing process [of updating the campus]," he added.

Class secretary Bruce Merrifield '42 said that the notion of his class' dorm being torn down is bittersweet. "I'm a little disappointed that our class name on a building will no longer be there but they are now being replaced with something more aesthetically pleasing," said Merrifield. "That's fine, we helped out a little. That's what we do, that's what classes do."