If These Dorms Could Talk
By: George Chapman Jr.
The dorms of Howard University not only house its diverse student body, but for years have helped create a platform for the array of myths and rumors associated with many of the structures. Many passed down from class to class, the myths and stereotypes of the different dorms add zest to the yard, conversations to lunch tables, and may even divide students whose pride for their dormitory is like no other. In the eve of the University’s spring “Res-Fest,” the rumors concerning each dorm have reached all time highs, thus everyone wants to know what really happens beyond the lobby!
The Quad, home of the majority of freshman females has gotten an infamous rep for their widely known "Booty Wall." The negative connotation of the booty wall has been that the mini wall surrounding the Quad's entrance acts as a meeting spot for more than studying and spades games. “Now it’s cold, and the lobby is warm and safe, so no one stays outside, but during freshman week[booty wall] its used to socialize, not to get picked up,” says freshman computer science major Sydney Sears. On the residents of the Quad being promiscuous, and “easy,” freshman broadcast journalism major Alyssa McLendon responded, “Not true! the quad girls are just more fun and more sociable and guys love the quad because it’s more comfy, the annex is like a library!” The Resident Assistants of the Quad chose not to comment on the myths, but 2008’s Ms. Quad, freshman Broadcast Journalism major Fredericka Ransom, believes “it’s a travesty, its insensitive and highly inconsiderate.”
Directly down the street is the Bethune Annex, a diverse dormitory which houses the many classifications of Howard females. Unlike the Quad, the Annex is often referred to as the snobbish, and anti-social all female dorm. “We are not stuck up! We are just a little more reserved, but we still hang out,” commented freshman radio, tv, and film major Diandra Davidson.” Sophomore, political science major and annex RA, Olivia Robinson, elaborated on the myth offering, “The Annex is not anti-social and we are not stuck up! We just have more amenities and are set up differently we are not as intimate as the quad but we are still as social. The girls on my floor are never in their rooms. They communicate with each other! They may not be in each other’s room as much as the quad, but maybe that aspect is just a quad thing.”
Somewhat different from their female counterparts is the co-ed dormitory, Meridian. In recent years, Meridian has been dubbed the ebony sex palace. Like many of the other myths and rumors associated with the University’s vast amount of dorms, the newly named m.dot, is a two sided debate. It has been said that at any given time there can be moans and squeaking bed noises heard from any one particular room.“That’s funny, but it’s not true! That is way overrated. People party and have sex yes, but it’s just because it's co ed. They are gonna do what they do. I mean many of them are upper classmen; they’re grown,” thought sophomore biology major, Brandy Hall. Agreeably, freshman biology major, and fellow sex palace resident Tallas Saunders, chimed in, “Honestly this is a co-ed dorm and it happens to be filled with sexy black people, so when duty calls they handle their biz.” He continued, noting “I’ve heard squeaking beds before, unfortunately no moans to go along with it (laughs), but as far as where it takes place I can’t really disclose that info.”
Similar to their fellow off campus “howardites” the men of Carver Hall have developed quite a name for themselves as well. From a slew of past residents, the stereotype of Carver Hall has been all but polished. Aside from being negatively compared to their brothers in Drew Hall, the guys in Carver have been labeled homosexual. Not surprisingly, the brothers of Carver, like all the dorms who have developed a stereotype, have something to say about their buzz on campus. “The stereotype that Carver Hall houses a lot of homosexuals was formed based on past years at Howard University and Carver Hall gets new residents every school year so to pass the stereotype on a dorm that isn’t even consistently the same each year is ignorance beyond stupidity,” and when asked if the stereotype affected him, freshman political science and sociology double major Dominic Spencer continued, “No! its just reminds of a line in a rap song, BIG UP'S TO ALL MY HATERS!.”
At Howard University, the diversity amongst its students is like no other, and the ability for each student to grow from their interactions with one another is something in which this elite campus was founded on. As each year continues and the myths and stereotypes of the different dorms change, the legacy of the residents and their contributions to Howard’s campus are everlasting.
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