As students walk down the halls to their dorm rooms many are starting to realize this will be the last time that they will actually be living in some of Savannah State University's historic residential halls.
Bostic Hall, Bowen-Smith Hall and Peacock Hall will be missed by many students, but they are all in agreement that it is time for a change.
According to Danielle Brown-Williams, Bowen-Smith residential assistant, the dorms will be closing at the end of the semester.
Bowen-Smith and Peacock will only be re-opened as overflow dorms if needed for incoming freshman students who will not have housing in Indigo Pointe Apartments which will be called University Commons according to Brown-Williams. Berdy Jacques, a junior majoring in Biology, agrees that it is time for a change on campus, but he has some regrets. "The old buildings will be missed but the history of the buildings should be passed on to future SSU students," Jacques said.
Savannah State University was originally founded in Athens, GA under the name Georgia State Industrial College for Colored Youth (GSCI) as a result of the Second Morrill Land Grant Act of Aug. 30, 1890.
On Oct. 7, 1891, GSCI moved to its permanent location in Savannah, where the name of the college was changed to Georgia State College in 1928, then to Savannah State College in 1950 and finally to Savannah State University in 1996.
Bostic Hall is named after Melvin Bostic, an engineering technology freshman and army veteran, who was killed in an automobile accident. He was collecting money for a Savannah State College Scholarship Fund at the corner of Victory Drive and Abercorn Street in Savannah on Oct. 7, 1972 when the accident occurred.
Bowen-Smith Hall was named after Sylvia E. Bowen and Lula Smith. Bowen was a mathematics teacher at Savannah State College, while Smith graduated from Georgia State Industrial College in 1901; she was a member of the second co-ed graduating class. Smith was also a dedicated supporter of the Savannah State College Alumni Association and a retired teacher of the Savannah-Chatham County School System.
Brittany Broadnax, a sophomore majoring in mathematics and education, said, "The new buildings will bring more attention to Savannah State University and it will provide students with better and updated living accommodations."
But Casey Smith, a sophomore majoring in electrical engineering, thinks differently.
"I don't agree with the dorms closing there is too much history behind the dorms for them to just be torn down like they are nothing," Smith said, "I feel that they are forcing us to move into the University Village or into Indigo Pointe Apartments."
Dr. Jonathan Lambright, associate professor of mechanical engineering and computer-aided manufacturing systems, disagrees with Smith.
"The reconstruction of Bowen-Smith, Bostic and Peacock is a good thing as long as they are replaced with new living facilities in a timely matter." Dr. Lambright said.
