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1950s: Tunneling Around the Campus
The University's population exploded in the early 50's as the WWII veterans
took advantage of the G.I. Bill. The gymnasium was very small and could
accommodate no more than perhaps 1,000 to 1,100 spectators to watch the
varsity basketball games. As a result, the University was forced to limit
attendance by issuing A and B passes that allowed students to attend only
every other game.
A group of twelve students, mostly veterans living in the Men's Dorm (Scott
Quad), came up with a plan: Perhaps we could traverse the campus from the
dormitory to the gym by entering the underground heating tunnels. This was
easier said than done because, once underground, it was not possible to
tell the direction we were going. But after a number of vain attempts, we
found the correct route. We swore to keep the secret and, for a while,
never missed a home game.
But, somehow, word got out. A group of other students used our system to
visit Bryan Hall, a women's dorm, in the middle of the night. Needless to
say, this visit created quite a sensation in Bryan with the result that
several students were reprimanded, and the heating tunnels were secured
against all future excursions.
William Demoyne, '51
