From the Archives – The Drop-in Center

Here in the Archives, we are often asked the story of the unique cottage-style building that serves as home of the Drop-In Center.

Construction on the building began at the close of World War II. It overlooked the upper playing field, and was known as the Recreation Building and later the Recreation Lodge. It contained a recreation room, a storage balcony, a fireplace at one end and a kitchen and lavatory facilities at the other. According to the 1948 -1950 Undergraduate Course Catalog, the Recreation Building was used for club meetings, recreation courses, and similar functions.

In 1972, the Drop-in Center staff asked the Board of Trustees to use the Recreation Lodge as a new location. There were administrative difficulties, and a tent was put up in 1973 to draw attention to the Center’s lack of official space. The Drop-In Center started as an SGA-sponsored activity that sought to provide a place for students to bring their personal problems.

At the time, the Lodge was occupied by the Dean of Fine and Performing Arts. After a brief struggle with College Administration, the Drop-In Center settled into its permanent home in the Recreation Lodge in September, 1973.

As a dedication to its history, a founder and director of the Drop-in Center, William A. Kwasnicki, is memorialized on a plaque above the fireplace.

Today, the Office of Health Promotion runs the Drop-In Center and provides a variety of services to promote a healthy campus community.