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From dances to dust

Demolition of old Student Center is complete, but the memories of Howdy Weeks and Greek Rush remain.

From dances to dust

Demolition of old Student Center is complete, but the memories of Howdy Weeks and Greek Rush remain.

It was a poignant moment for Mary Ruth Jones ’58. The place she had spent countless hours as both a student and staff member was finally gone.

Jones had been in the first class of students who made the 53-year-old Brown-Lupton Student Center their de-facto ­living room — meeting friends and future spouses at dances in the ballroom and other events including Greek Rush and Howdy Week. After graduating, she later worked in Residential Services’ offices in the building.

“Just to see that last wall fall and all the dust, I thought, wow,” she said. “It was a special moment.”

The final blow that knocked down the south wall facing Frog Fountain came just after noon on July 16. The Alma Mater played on the Robert Carr Chapel bells, tolling at straight up noon.

A massive metal claw atop an excavator gave a final push that sent the last wall toppling over. Some 50 people gathered on the Campus Commons lawn for the photo op applauded then moved out of the way of the massive dust cloud kicked up by the demolition.

A new 74,000-square-foot building to be called Scharbauer Hall will be constructed in its place and a courtyard will be developed between it and Reed Hall. It will house the John V. Roach Honors College and AddRan College of Liberal Arts. Estimated completion is December 2009.

For a video of the final 45 seconds of the Student Center, click here.