Douthit Hills Redevelopment
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
CLEMSON UNIVERSITY STUDENT AFFAIRS MAGAZINE SPRING 2016 DOUTHIT HILLS REDEVELOPMENT FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT J. B. DOUTHIT JR DOUTHIT HILLS PROJECT EXPERIENCE: ALUMNI 1 SPRING 2016 YOU CAN HELP clemson.edu/studentaffairs From the VICE PRESIDENT TABLE of CONTENTS for STUDENT AFFAIRS From VICE PRESIDENT Dear Friends of Clemson, DR. ALMEDA R. JACKS 3 It is an exciting time in Clemson University’s history — a time of growth as well as immense Overview of the DIVISION change. While some of these developments are of STUDENT AFFAIRS 4 internal and may go unnoticed by those outside of the campus community, there are some ABOUT this major projects on our campus that would be ISSUE 5 hard to miss. The University is expanding and making room for future generations of Tigers, HISTORY of who are sure to carry on our traditions and CLEMSON HOUSE 6 Clemson students for years to come. You will maybe even start new ones. also read about fellow Clemson alumni and their experiences on campus. PROJECT In the next few years, the landscape of Clemson DOUTHIT HILLS 8 University will change, but Student Affairs’ The Division of Student Affairs is truly efforts remain the same. We will continue to JR. thankful for the support we have received. We J. B. DOUTHIT 12 put students first, especially when it comes look forward to seeing our efforts in University to the improvements and new initiatives in Housing & Dining facilities come to fruition residential living. The division is committed Why and hope you are just as eager to see what GIVE? 16 to providing services and facilities that enrich is to come at Clemson University. each student’s life and improve their experience at Clemson. EXPERIENCE: ALUMNI 18 We are excited about the coming changes and Almeda R. Jacks, Ph.D. HISTORY OF the ability to extend opportunities for growth DOUTHIT HILLS Vice President for Student Affairs 6CLEMSON HOUSE 8 PROJECT and development to even more students. Living on campus teaches students respect, expands their support network and allows them to form relationships that often last well beyond the years students spend here. We look forward to seeing our achievements continue to make Clemson even stronger. In this issue of experience, you will learn the history of the Douthit Hills space, including the University’s historic Clemson House, the current plans for the Douthit Hills development project and how it will impact 2 SPRING 2016 clemson.edu/studentaffairs SPRING 2016 clemson.edu/studentaffairs 3 Overview of the DIVISION of STUDENT AFFAIRS ABOUT this ISSUE Clemson University’s Division of Student Known for student engagement outside of the Clemson University’s history is visible the Affairs is a large division within the University. classroom, the Division of Student Affairs also minute any student steps on campus. The We currently employ more than 400 staff provides a variety of avenues to seamlessly blend experience magazine aims to highlight Student members across 19 departments, supporting the academic component of University life Affairs projects — programs or services that fuse student life around the clock. Led by Vice together with cocurricular learning. Whether campus history with modern programming, President Dr. Almeda R. Jacks, Student Affairs living alongside academic majors and professors construction and services. In this issue of at Clemson is a network of individuals who are in one of 23 living-learning communities, experience, we address our need for new on- committed to the safety, health, well-being and interning on campus with an area that matches campus housing, which will attract graduate success of our students on a daily basis. students’ personal and professional interests, or students and other upperclassmen as well as joining a Creative Inquiry, Clemson students Bridge to Clemson students. Providing students opportunities for are empowered to shape their own personal involvement, Student Affairs offers more Student Affairs experiences. The changes that will take place in order to than 400 student clubs and organizations from resolve this need will improve involvement which students can join. From religious groups and learning, while also enriching social to Student Government to special interests opportunities. There are many benefits of living such as backgammon and disc golf, student on campus, such as convenient access to dining organizations are more than just a chance to halls, sporting events, the library and student relax. These activities are the way students programs. We invite you to read the coming discover leadership skills, make new friends pages to discover our goals, which showcase and enhance their college experience. the effort we are putting forth to make the University a more welcoming and inclusive place for all students. 4 SPRING 2016 clemson.edu/studentaffairs SPRING 2016 clemson.edu/studentaffairs 5 HISTORY of CLEMSON HOUSE The history of the Clemson House dates back featured a large open lounge, a restaurant, to the time before Clemson University became The Saber Room, and the Tiger Tavern, which a coeducational institution in 1955, when it sold non-alcoholic beverages. Upon its initial was an all-male military school called Clemson opening, the Clemson House served as a place College. Before 1950, the Clemson Club Hotel for students to relax and hang out. It was not stood in the place of our current Clemson unusual to see students playing cards in the House. The hotel was a large boarding house open lounge or going to Tiger Tavern after that provided rooms and apartments for faculty classes were over. The house-hotel also featured and their families. During this time, the college a “Radio House” until the 1980s when WSBF hosted formal dances where the student cadets Clemson 88.1 FM evolved from a progressive invited female “chaperones” from surrounding to an alternative genre of music. A number of colleges and towns to join them. In addition South Carolina governors and United States to housing faculty, the Clemson Club Hotel senators, former U.S. Secretary of State Dean was used as a place for the young women who Rusk and violinist Yehudi Menuhins, among attended the dances to stay overnight. others, have all stayed at the Clemson House. Although the Clemson Club Hotel served Currently, the Clemson House is comprised of its purposes very well, by 1948 it was time seven floors of rooms and apartments, housing for a renovation. Former University President first-year students and visiting faculty, as well Franklin Poole received a report that called as a three-bedroom penthouse. It has a variety for an apartment-style hotel to be built in of rooms that may function as meeting and place of the older hotel. The house-hotel would conference rooms. There is also a barbershop provide meeting rooms, a large lounge and a located on the first floor, a free laundry room more modernized and upscale look. On Nov. 1, and a workout room on the lower level. 1950, the Clemson House opened for business and has been serving students, the University For more than 60 years, the Clemson House and the community ever since. The purpose of has provided a home to Clemson students. this new facility was to house faculty, staff and The Douthit Hills project will continue to retired faculty. The new project hoped to attract give students an atmosphere of comfort new, young faculty by enticing them with the and a place to create lasting memories. option to live in convenient on-campus housing. The Clemson House was once known as “Carolina’s smartest hotel” and employed students as luggage carriers and servers after the University became coeducational. It 6 SPRING 2016 clemson.edu/studentaffairs SPRING 2016 clemson.edu/studentaffairs 7 DOUTHIT HILLS PROJECT The land at the entrance to campus, running Programs said, “We are extremely excited The project’s cutting edge and modern features UNIVERSITY BOOKSTORE alongside S.C. Highway 93 and behind the about the potential impact Douthit Hills will will reinforce the University’s efforts to further Bookstore lines during the first week Clemson House was used in the past for family have on Bridge students. The one statement innovation and development on campus. of classes are a familiar sight on college housing and most recently for employee and we consistently hear from Bridge crossers is, ‘I campuses everywhere. Although this can student residential parking. However, this site is wish I had gotten more involved with activities Douthit Hills will be anchored by a central sometimes seem like a tedious task, the transforming into something the University has on Clemson’s campus during my Bridge year.’ hub, which will include a 450-seat dining hall, Clemson Bookstore has always tried to needed for quite some time now, especially with Living at Douthit Hills, Bridge students will Barnes & Noble® Bookstore, Starbucks®, a make the process as quick and easy the growing numbers of incoming students — a have much easier access to get involved. We convenience store, a satellite student fitness as possible. mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented area that will believe this access will help them feel they are center and a full-service, sit-down restaurant, target upperclassmen and Bridge to Clemson truly part of the Clemson Family. In addition, which are sure to showcase the activity of During the initial years of Clemson College, the institution attempted to handle the students from Tri-County Technical College. since the students will be closer to Clemson student life in a new park-like, on-campus sale of textbooks on its own. However, by resources they will hopefully make greater use setting. Seven residential buildings in the 1900, a contract with the New York firm The Bridge to Clemson program is a of those, so we anticipate even higher success housing portion of the project will add almost of Hines and Noble was established in partnership with neighboring Tri-County rates than we currently experience.” 1,700 beds to on-campus housing, a much- order to get the books.