Alumni Share Their Favorite Campus Spots

As Lafayette prepared for the inauguration of Nicole Farmer Hurd on Oct. 1, students shared their favorite locations on campus with President Hurd as part of the College’s “My Spot is Here” initiative.  Many students filled out a “My Spot is Here” card on Oct. 1 for President Hurd, naming their favorite “spots” on campus. Several alumni also joined in the fun by sharing their favorite locations and memories as undergraduates:

Mike McClintock ’71

Favorite Spot: Scott Hall (formerly Phi Delta Theta Fraternity House)

“I lived in the house of the Pennsylvania Alpha Chapter of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity (established in 1873) with my Brothers for three years of my time at Lafayette. There I lived with many of my football and baseball teammates, got to roll out of bed for 8 a.m. classes as a Biology major across the street at Kunkel Hall, had my first date and fell in love with a wonderful Muhlenberg coed named Linda who became my wife of 50 years, and developed lifelong friendships, especially with the four Brothers who served as groomsmen at our wedding. I am grateful to the College for preserving our historic home that was built in 1907, and allowing our alumni Brothers to gather there on special occasions.”

Matthew Pagano ’09

Favorite Spot: Visitation Office in Markle

“I worked there for all four of my years at Lafayette. Lots of memories, laughter, and fun.”

Jan Klocke O’Sullivan ’77

Favorite Spot: Watson Hall

“I lived in a suite in Watson Hall during my junior year. On days when the wind was blowing in the right direction, we could smell the crayons from the Crayola factory on 611. Opening the window was like opening a new box of 64 colors!”

Henry “Dan” Tuck ’64

Favorite Spot: 1. Sitting with a date in the stands in the band on a clear fall afternoon. 2. Third floor of Old South Center.

“Try it. Self explanatory. Particularly when girls on campus were a weekend treat. Date should be wearing a suit, heels, and a giant mum you bought her.

Lafayette is my spot because….[It is] “Where I started college. And the great view of Easton and the hillside before all those new buildings blocked the view.”

Allen and Janet Haddad ’78

Favorite Spot: Colton Chapel

“Colton Chapel is where we were married in 1982.”

Betsy Hughes Phillips ’85

Favorite Spot: The bench in honor of my parents, Jean and Frank Hughes ’51 right outside Pardee

“When visiting campus, my family loves to sit and watch the world go by with all kinds of comings and goings on the Quad! It’s a great place to reflect on the many happy times we’ve all had at Lafayette and how much the Lafayette experience has meant to four generations of our family! My grandfather, Walter Robbins, was Class of 1927, my dad, Frank Hughes ’51, was Class of 1985, and my daughters, Caroline Phillips ’21 and Leslie Phillips ’23 continue the tradition! (P.S. My University of Richmond graduate husband Charles Phillips is a good sport about all the “Leopard Love!”)”

Leslie Ann Howard ’76

Favorite Spot: Hogg Hall, the “Steps,” and the Library

“Loved being at Hogg because that’s where we practiced for our choral performances with Dr. Raymond. The steps down and back from downtown Easton were fun and a good way to stay in shape! A certain seat next to a small sculpture in the Library where I always went to study. (Wonder if it’s still there?)”

Norman Gauss ’61

Favorite Spot: Porch of Kappa Sigma Fraternity house and the steps of Pardee

“This vantage point overlooked much of the city of Easton, the Delaware River, and the river’s Easton bridges. SAE and Kappa Sigma houses, which were ultimately torn down for dormitory space, were adjacent to the Zeta Psi house. All three of which provided a vista not available in other campus locations.
The steps of Pardee Hall also provided much of the same view and was the location in 1960 where Kappa Sigma won the annual Step Singing contest with a sparkling rendition of “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes.”

Jeff Ruthizer ’62

Favorite Spot: the 1870 Civil War Soldiers Monument on the steps leading down to Easton

“It’s a stark reminder of how close Lafayette came to succumbing during the Civil War a few years earlier. Its student body was down to a few dozen. Faculty loaned it thousands of dollars to stay afloat. Hundreds of Lafayette men fought in the war. 16 died to preserve the Union. Their hallowed names are on the side of the 1870 monument. We walked past that monument on the steps going down to Easton as freshmen hundreds of times – not really knowing in our day what it represented.”