Out with the H's, in with Rodin College House

One of Penn's trio of high-rise dormitories is about to lose its 'H.'

Hamilton College House -- which along with Harnwell and Harrison college houses forms the heart of Superblock -- will be named Rodin College House starting next fall, officials announced at a reception yesterday. The building on the north side of Locust Walk will take its name from former University President Judith Rodin, who helped to create the College House system during her tenure. Rodin served as the head of the University from 1994 to 2004.

Rodin said she felt particularly honored to have her name attached to Hamilton because she had played an integral role in planning the building's renovation, from "analyzing paint chips" to choosing furniture.

"When we finished [Hamilton], two parents came up to me and said, 'I feel like I'm in the lobby of a W Hotel,'" referencing a chain of modern luxury hotels, Rodin said.

However, she added that she views her accomplishment in turning Penn's dormitories into College Houses as a more significant part of her legacy than any one building, recalling that at the time, the dorms were only 80 percent occupied.

"There was no focused life on campus," Rodin said of the atmosphere when she first took office. "We tried to animate the living experience."

Sue Smith, a spokeswoman for College Houses and Academic Services, said that the University trustees were informed of the building's renaming prior to the reception for their annual fall meeting.

"It's been highly confidential," Smith said. "They wanted everyone to be surprised. We seized this opportunity because the trustees will be here for Homecoming."

President Amy Gutmann said that she made the decision to name the building after Rodin in concert with the Board of Trustees. She is also hoping "to build on the base" that Rodin created with the College House system.

"I'm really delighted we can honor Dr. Rodin in a way that reflects the importance that student life and housing has here," Gutmann said. "It's a symbol that represents what we believe needs to be a priority moving forward."

Jay Reise, Hamilton's faculty master, called Rodin a "pillar of Penn" and was happy that the University has chosen to honor an active, living member of the Penn community.

"She's an inspiration to everybody," Reise said.

Hamilton College House was completed in 1972 and named after William Hamilton, a member of Penn's Class of 1762 who owned much of the land that the campus now occupies.

When the new name goes into effect, Rodin College House will become the second high rise to carry the name of a former University president. Harnwell College House is named for former President Gaylord Harnwell.

Daniel Bienstock, a College junior, believes Rodin is a better name for the building than Hamilton and was happy that former President Rodin is being honored in this way.

"It will commemorate the work of a very important person," the Hamilton resident said. "I've heard she was an excellent president."

College sophomore Laura Black, however, is not impressed with the change, in part because Rodin house will be the only high rise with a name that does not start with an 'H.'

"When I read the e-mail, I was kind of taken aback," Black said. "It doesn't really matter to me, though, because I'm not going to live here next year."

The last college house to be renamed was Riepe, which was called Spruce until this March.

Name game - The last house to be renamed was Riepe, which was known as Spruce

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