Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Trailer Trad Living: I Graduated from MWC, Which Stands for "Many White Columns"

I went up to VA with Lil' Bean for my nephew's wedding. While there, I went by the alma mater to check it out. They have more new buildings than useful majors. The newest, the student center, is a palace. Shown below, it's clear that no expense was spared. To their credit, it's a beautiful building that fits in seamlessly with the other older, 1930s-era academic and dormitory buildings joining it on Ball Circle.
An old academic building (I can't remember which department was even housed in it) was leveled to make way for a new structure. They may have also wanted to take down the architecturally significant Seacobeck building located in a beautiful glade next door. Seacobeck, the student dining option spanning back to the 1930s, currently has a 1990s era renovation job that is so-so but back when I was in school, the dining hall was very elegant and every table had a linen tablecloth, china and silverware, as well as a fresh floral arrangement each day. Unfortunately, the food was also kind of old school Southern cafeteria and not quite as elegant although the fried chicken, shrimp, and steak nights were great!
The old campus is a quiet, almost monastic, enclave that really is the picture of Old Virginia--ancient hardwoods, weathered Georgian brick structures and rolling lawns.



7 comments:

Bucky said...

The little bean must be very proud!

Trailer Trad said...

She had no interest in seeing it.

-tt

Otis said...

Doesn't Bucky have a building named after him at MaWaYew?

Anonymous said...

Is that the University of Virginia? I read somewhere that the University of Virginia used to be someplace else and called something different. Is that possible, like if it was in Ohio or Chicago could it still be called the University of Virginia. Unless they moved the whole thing? Either way, that place is very pretty, Mr. Trad, I bet you had a lot of fun there even if it wasn't in Virginia at the time. But it looks like Virginia in the pictures anyway.

Anonymous said...

No buildings were injured in the making of the student center. Please don't chain yourself to buildings in the future when they aren't going to be torn down in the first place.

Trailer Trad said...

Anon 12:38,

Thanks, I did have fun there. And it was (and remains) in the Old Dominion. Which is more than I can say about the University of Virginia. While Thomas Jefferson established UVA near his home at Monticello, the campus and programs will all be relocated to be closer to the homes of the majority of its students and, hereon after, the name will be changed to "UNJ." As a bonus, T.J. spinning in his grave will be harnessed and used as an alternative energy source on campus.

Anon. 8:15,

I'm glad they didn't tear down Seacobek. The campus looks lovely but a little moribund, as usual though.

-tt

Anonymous said...

I vote that they re open the pub and feature the infamous "Gene, Gene, the dancing machine" but please stopping throwing coins at that poor guy