Image Source: Howard University
The Harriet Tubman Quadrangle, comprised of five freshman girls’ dorms, is a staple of Howard University’s campus. The dorms stand for so much more than just a living space. I lived in Truth Hall, one of the five dorms that make up the Quad. I had a great roommate, shared a bathroom with at least thirteen other girls and made friends with a bunch of the girls on my floor. Although the dorm, as well as the rest of the dorms in Quad, were a little rough on the edges, I wouldn’t have wanted to live anywhere else. The experience was something that made my freshman year as memorable as it was. Watching Quad stroll compete and hearing the girls yell “Q-U-A-D” multiple nights was what made having to deal with cold showers, no heat, bad smells, etc., worth it. I could not imagine having Quad be closed during my freshman year so here are a few ways closing Quad will affect Howard:
The dorm is getting much needed repairs.
The dorm was built in 1956, quite a while after the university was founded. Although there were minor renovations like replacing floors and some tiles on the walls in a few buildings, the rest of the buildings have been neglected for decades. The constant cold water, broken walls, busted pipes, etc., will no longer be a problem for future classes. This closure will be giving the dorm some much needed TLC, which will hopefully bring in some much needed money for the school.
Girls will be forced to live in cramped conditions.
Because Quad is closing some girls are going to be forced into triples and doubles. Since the freshman are taking over the Annex dorm, sophomore girls are going to be in cramped spacing with lack of room accommodations. This is also impacting the Howard Housing crisis since it’s mandatory for freshmen and sophomores to live on campus.
Freshman girls will lose the sense of sisterhood.
Living in Quad felt like being in a family. I saw all the girls on my floor everyday because there weren’t too many of them. A lot of girls feel like being in Quad was the reason they made friends quickly. Girls on their floors were all so close. Being in these dorms where more people live on your floor and you probably don’t see them as much is going to take away from that sense of sisterhood. It’s going to lose a part of that freshman year feeling girls before them were able to experience.
Check out this video from Howard’s own Spotlight Network on student’s reaction to Quad’s closing.
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