For the past several years, Drury students have had the option to live in theme housing, a housing option offering groups of like-minded students a house and possible engaged-learning credit. In return, students plan and host events and find other ways to participate in their department. Dozens of students have lived in houses like the Humanities House, Honors House, Rose O’Neill (arts) House, Social Justice House and Foreign Languages House.

Next school year, however, only two options will remain: the Rose O’Neill House and Honors House. Other buildings that previously had a theme will be offered as normal on-campus houses available for any students to apply.

The Mirror reached out to Holly Binder, the executive director of Drury’s housing and residential programs, to comment on the decision to cut back on themed housing for 2019-2020.

“Several years ago, I requested theme housing proposals from faculty, and there were quite a few who took advantage of the opportunity—Foreign Languages, Social Justice, Honors, Humanities and a variation of an art theme in the Rose O’Neill House,” said Binder. “The faculty who were committed to advising the houses over the past three to four years of existence have either left Drury or are the same go-getters who have since taken on additional responsibilities within their departments.”

Dr. Katie Gilbert, one of this year’s advisers for the Humanities House, has certainly cemented herself as one of these “go-getters.”

“While we will be sad to see the Humanities House move on to new uses, the Humanities & Ethics Center is looking forward to continuing to reach out and work with students… outside of the classroom through our Film Series at the Moxie, Reading Series, and Speaker Series,” explained Gilbert.

With Drury’s shift towards Your Drury Fusion, the engaged-learning credit offered by themed houses will become less enticing to students until the requirement is phased out entirely.

Because themed housing requires additional student participation beyond just living in the house, not offering credit to residents seems unfair to Gilbert. Residents of themed houses are expected to not only keep the house clean and maintained, but to also plan events, host them, plan and execute fundraisers and fulfill leadership roles.

“[While] not having the Humanities House feels like a letting go in some ways, doing so will also open up space for us to reach out to students across the Humanities in new and potentially expansive ways,” said Gilbert. “We are also so grateful for all the Humanities House resident-scholars who have lived in the house over the years. They have done so much great work to keep traditions in the Humanities alive at Drury. We plan to continue this collaborative spirit in the years ahead.”

“I’ve been so grateful for the faculty who committed years of time, energy and support to our students in themed housing,” said Binder.

For the 2019-2020 academic year, Dr. Richard Schur will continue the Honors House and the Rose O’Neill House will adopt an “Art & Architecture” theme. Its advisers will be Dr. Karen Spence and Dr. Jackie warren.

“Going forward, theme housing may not be tethered to a specific faculty member or academic focus,” added Binder. “I hope to find a solution that meets students’ desire for a more robust residential experience without requiring faculty or staff to overburden themselves.”

Written by Forest Swisher.