[OleMissGlitter]

October 9, 1996 © 1996-1997 The Daily Mississippian

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Honors College moving closer to having a home
By Jenny Dodson
Senior Staff Writer

The Honors College is moving closer to having a new home as renovation continues on the former Alpha Delta Pi sorority house.
Carolyn Staton, associate provost, estimates the cost at $800,000 and expects the McDonnell-Barksdale Honors College to be completed in December.
The building will house five classrooms, seminar rooms, a lounge, kitchen and offices. Vending machines and computers will be available for students' use 24 hours a day.
"We want the honors students to feel very much a part of a community," Staton said.
Gay Hatfield, interim director of the Honors Program, said she hopes it will be "a home away from home" for honors students.
"One of the positive things is that it (the new location of the Honors College) puts the honors program back in the center of campus so students can just stop by," Hatfield said. "That space will be utilized well."
Brad Davis, a sophomore honors student from Ripley, said the new location will be more convenient for him.
"I didn't use the old honors house because it was so far from my dorm," Davis said. "Now it will be much more accessible."
The honors program is currently located off campus in the Walton-Young House on University Drive. A $5.4 million dollar gift from Netscape President and Chief Executive Officer James L. Barksdale and his wife, Sally McDonnell Barksdale, made it possible to renovate the former sorority house into a facility for the Honors College."
Hatfield said the renovations will create a state-of-the art setting with "technology-advanced classrooms." A classroom consultant will be on campus this week to review possibilities for the Honors College.
"We're hoping it will bring together informal and formal activities," Staton said.
Ivy Huggins, a sophomore honors student from Southaven, believes the new facility will do just that.
"It will allow the honors students to meet each other more often and will offer a better studying environment," Huggins said.
The Honors College is currently undergoing review of its curriculum, and the Curriculum Committee has a proposal in the final drafting stage. Also ongoing is the search for a permanent director of the Honors College. The closing date for applications is Sept. 30, with the review beginning shortly after.
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Article from 1998 about ADII house being turned into the Honors College
The ASB has defended the sanctity of Sorority Row
Dear Editor:

Thank goodness our valiant ASB senators stood up for the all-important ideals of tradition and homogeny Tuesday night! How dare the tyrannical administration even consider breaking up "the homogeny of houses" to house something as frivolous as an academic department?

I'm thankful and ecstatic that our students and staff may continue to crowd together in aging classrooms and buildings because "livid" senators such as Kristina Brown would "rather have a sorority than have some business come in." I mean, really, it's bad enough that the once-glorious Alpha Delta Pi house is now occupied by that eyesore, the McDonnell-Barksdale Honors College! And we all know how little that institution has contributed to our proud, homogenous university!

I just want to commend our fine senators on their commitment to keeping Sorority Row happy. Way to go!

Ginny Bodenhamer
Sophomore
English