This story has been updated.
In an email that President Chapdelaine sent to students, “I have heard continued concern from some students regarding potential change to the traditions of Hood. With regard to the banners in Whitaker, there is no plan to remove them. The only current consideration is whether we should find a second location to hang banners, as the space in Whitaker is insufficient for all of the banners, many of which from earlier years are already in storage. Let me reassure you that the administration and I are committed to preserving Hood traditions, a cherished and important part of our community.”
Dean White, Dean of Students, said, “We are looking to coordinate with the Hood College archives, alumni house and art department to preserve and rotate the class banners in Whitaker as we are currently out of space to display them along the railings. The oldest hanging banner is from the Class of 1985, and we do not want the paint to deteriorate. Students have not yet completed their design for this year’s class banners.”
The Blue and Grey talked with Thrumond Maynard II, Director and Chief of Campus Saftey, about the concern of safety of students with the banners, “I do not think they pose any significant safety or security threat to the community.”
This news article headline has been corrected.
Katie Misuraca is the Editor-in-Chief. Contact her at kem18@hood.edu
Each class at Hood decorates a banner every year and adds an event of importance to it, these banners are hung in Whitaker, this is about to change.
It has become a newer tradition for the banners to be hung in Whitaker year round. “We know that one summer I believe the Alumnae House put them in Whitaker for reunion weekend and they stayed. It became part of tours, people point them out, but we’re running out of space,” said Director of Student Engagement and Orientation Gretchen Nonemaker.
Executive Director of Marketing and Communications Dave Diehl also expressed that the banners have not been a permanent fixture in Whitaker, the tradition used to be that the four current banners hung in the dining hall. That had been a tradition since he started here in 1998, however, the banners are no longer hung in the dining hall.
The suggestion of taking the banners comes from the Marketing Department according to Nonemaker. In addition to running out of space for more banners, it has also become a safety concern, especially on the third floor, she expressed.
“I feel like someone could duck behind there, with stories about shooters on campus we are trying not to give anyone space to do that,” said Nonemaker.
Both the Marketing Department and Nonemaker believe that the banners should be preserved and the tradition should be continued so that the banners can be put out at reunion weekends and things like that.
Diehl expressed that the college likes student feedback to shape the traditions based on preferences and concern. “Like anything else, traditions are shaped by student input. Admin has always been receptive of students and traditions, current and past administration has always respected that,” he said.
Students expressed some disinterest in the removal of the banners. Melissa Cairo, vice-president and traditions chair for the Student Government Association, believes that this will negatively impact the tradition and that students will not put as much effort into the banners.
On behalf of the Student Government Association, “Hood College SGA recognizes the efforts of the administration to increase and preserve the safe nature of our campus, however, we would be derelict in our duties if we were to ignore the dismantling of our community’s traditions. We are committed to enshrining class banners as a permanent fixture on campus in a manner that contributes to Hood’s sense of safety and community.”
Additional Reporting by Katie Misuraca
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