A Love Letter to Pasquerilla West

In honor of Valentine’s Day, I offer this love letter to my home under the Dome, the best dorm on the best quad, Pasquerilla West. I’ve been thinking about dorm life a lot recently, as I currently live abroad in an apartment (with dudes, as in no parietals… is this what the real world is like?!) and am not moving back into the dorm next semester. I loved my time in PW and hope that is accurately conveyed here. 

My Dearest Pasquerilla West Hall,

When I first heard about you, I was skeptical. You seemed distant and a little brutish. Although your amenities outranked those of some older dorms on campus, I did not know how to respond to the claims of weasels living among your halls. Then, August of 2011 arrived and we met for the first time. I moved into the hallowed cinderblock walls of 4B and my life was forever changed. Gone were my doubts about the northeast corner of campus. Gone were my doubts about your 1970s architecture. Gone were my doubts about the questionable mascot, the lack of counter space in the kitchen, and the modular furniture. Pasquerilla West, you became a home to me. Within your walls, incredible friendships began. Panic attacks were had, relationships formed, and prayers lifted to the heavens. With your purple flag held high above all at pep rallies and flag football games, there were no qualms about my allegiance to you. I am proud to wear purple and declare myself a member of the “Better Pasquerilla” hall. For, all onlookers DO wish they were weasels, whether they know it or not.

And now, thousands of miles away, I am sad to say I know I will never reside in the comfortable space I once considered my own. My life, post-parietals, will never be the same. I miss your air conditioning and spacious elevator. I miss opening the door to the smell of baked goods, wafting down the hall. I miss checking my mail using the not-so-secret-always-unlocked back door to the mailboxes. But most of all, I miss associating myself with the best and brightest on Notre Dame’s campus, the winners of this year’s women’s interhall flag football championship, and winners of every Qwasted Week – the Purple Weasels of P-Dub. Although I know it is not possible to live in PW forever, no matter how much easier it would be than the alternative (aka the Real World), I will always be a Purple Weasel. And, PW, I owe it all to you.

As a former resident and lifetime weasel, I hope that my legacy lives on in 427 Pasquerilla West Hall. I cannot say I contributed much to the dorm, but I did contribute something. (I hope.) I will look back at my time in P-Dub with fondness and exhaustion, as any college student would. I expect as time goes on, I will become a distant memory to you, PW, but know that you will always remain in my heart.

Happy Valentine’s Day.

Love always,

Sara

Follow HCND on Twitter and like us on Facebook! 

Pictures provided by author