Jessica Pacetti
Staff Writer
Senior year has come for some while others are just starting out their experiences at North Central College. For over 150 years the College has grown as a school, including some changes have even occurred within these last four years.
Some may not know, but the College has gone through several makeovers since my freshman year in 2011. Two major changes were Kaufman Dining Hall. Kaufman used to have blue walls with “I” posters plastered onto the walls which are posters of students’ pictures with blurbs of what they accomplished or learned from the College.
There was neither a baking station nor a pizza oven. After 2011, the dining hall changed its walls from blue to red to show some school spirit while adding new furniture and updating new posters of campus life. It was not until this school year that the baking station and pizza oven were finally put in.
Though Kaufman has been improving their look over the years, what it really needs is more space. With more student residents empowering the College, Kaufman needs to knock down more walls and extend the building. In this way Geiger Hall can actually have a lounge space instead of losing it to the dining hall during mealtime.
WAC also embraced a serious makeover. To paint a picture, the current seats located in the back by the NCC logo were the original front desk and commuter lounge. The only place to sit was by the food. It was a tight space. Now the Alma Mater is painted across the walls and the WAC desk and commuter lounge were moved to create more seating for students. Even the TV menus were just added not long ago. Some may remember when there were just signs hanging from the ceiling. Just like Kaufman though, WAC may have improved some, but desperation for more seating options are increasing for the ever-growing student body.
Another change is the new student walkway, which is only about three years old. Back when the current seniors were freshmen the walkway was a lot different. There were barely any lights running down on it and no benches. It was just a slab of black concrete running from Student Village to Pfeiffer Hall. Not exactly a pretty site. Before the 2012 school year, the walkway was torn up to be replaced by its current look. It might have been a small change to the campus but it was one that was well needed.
One of the most exciting experiences of coming in as a student in 2011 is not as visible as the construction on campus. In 2011, the College turned 150 years old and current students and alumni joined together to celebrate Homecoming on 11/11/11. How neat is that to say when a homecoming was? Then in 2012, students celebrated Homecoming one last time with former President Hal Wilde and then celebrated with current President Dr. Troy Hammond’s first Homecoming last year. These were all milestones in the College’s ever-growing history and it was neat to be able to experience them firsthand and be a part of it all.
North Central College is always growing and expanding. No full academic year is ever similar, nor is one experience. The College is ever-changing even now as a new dorm is being built and a record high of incoming students is flowing. It will be interesting to see how much the campus has changed by the time the current freshmen reach their senior year.
