Alumni House has changed through the years
Hundreds of students walk past the David B. Haight Alumni Center on their way to Old Main, the Eccles Science Learning Center or the Living and Learning Center, but few students are aware of the history and purpose the unique building brings to USU.
Wallace Odd, director of the alumni center, said the house is the oldest state-built residence in Utah, and was built in 1890 before Utah even gained statehood. The house has changed little since then and has been used for many purposes.
“(Today), the house serves about 190,000 alumni, friends, faculty and staff,” Odd said. “It provides receptions for on/off campus groups, host lectures, wedding receptions, lots of official dinners for anyone on campus. It’s a living center that provides services in a myriad of different areas while housing the alumni staff.”
The home has nine bedrooms (now used as offices), a living room, a kitchen, a dining room for private dinners, a patio and a large reception area for events. Odd said the building was originally built to house the presidents of the university. He said 12 USU presidents have lived in the home, which only cost about $4,000 to build. The home was also used as a girls dormitory for a few years in the early 1900s.
Odd said USU President Stanford Cazier was the last USU president to live in the home and moved out in 1983 to provide additional space for the university. The department of language and philosophy used the building for a short period of time and in 1986 the alumni staff moved into the house just in time for Homecoming. In 1990, the alumni center received a donation from Huntsman Chemical Corporation and the home was remodeled and a wing was added. Odd said the addition was completed in 1991 and was named in honor of David B. Haight, a businessman, civic leader and member of the Council of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Odd said it is very unique for an alumni association to be hosted in a home.
“Other alumni centers are in office buildings for educators and administrators. The function is the same, except you’re in a home setting,” he said. “I go out and visit other administration buildings, and they’re nice, but you wouldn’t get to sit in a living room. (People) have put a lot of love in the house.”
Bernice McCowin is the chairman of the Friends of the David B. Haight Alumni Center, a new organization whose members are instrumental in the beginning of the alumni house and the ongoing programs. McCowin said the organization’s goal is increase awareness of the center.
“We want to bring more alumni and their friends to the center. We’re going to be having an alumni lecture series, cultural arts programs featuring some of our talented alums, honoring past presidents who lived here, and their families and hope to do some publications,” she said.
McCowin said the organization also hopes to gather stories about the historic home. Many stories have accumulated through the years as the presidents and their families who lived in the home.
“This was a home and through the years kids, were born here. Many dignitaries and noted people in the area of education have visited this home,” she said.
Odd said the alumni center is very involved with the Student Alumni Association. He said the group of 120-140 students meets and holds activities in the center frequently. Other alumni organizations and chapters are also directly connected to the alumni center. The chapters are responsible for the alumni center scholarships.
“These chapters funded nearly 100 scholarships last year to incoming freshmen,” he said.
Odd said students also work at the alumni center setting up and running events. In addition to this, Odd said an alumni association is very important to student’s higher education.
“When you look at a university, students look at tuition and fees as taking care of everything and it does not. The bricks and mortar have been funded and put in place with people who have a love affair with USU. They wanted to be here and they loved being here and give more than required,” he said.
McCowin said she agrees relations with a student’s university after graduation are important.
“Your university experience is such an important part of your life. As you get older you realize how much that it affected your entire life – your mate, life’s work, etc.,” she said. “Your university has such a major impact on your life. One way to remember those is to come back for various functions and be supportive. Many people want USU to be a part of their life.”
McCowin said students are welcome to visit the alumni center at any time to get a tour of the home or meet the director.
–karlie.brand@aggiemail.usu.edu