I enjoyed the readings for 9/29's class. I thought it was interesting to hear about the way in which Manitou Heights was chosen for St. Olaf College and they way in which American colleges and universities developed. For some reason I was surprised when I read in "The American Campus as an 'Academical Village'" that the "architect's job not only designs the individual buildings but the creation of a whole community."
The strong community here at St. Olaf is one of the main reasons why I'm here. I wanted the warm and welcoming atmosphere and a place I would be happy to live day by day in. I never really thought about how this community was put together. Did the architect's over St. Olaf's history think about this when they designed the campus? Is that the reason we have so much land (I've heard at least 300 acres) but all out buildings are close enough that I can get from Hoyme all the way to Old Main in 7 minutes? Big universities, as well as small colleges, are built over a long period of time. Have people been thinking about the community they build from day one of construction? Why weren't English universities built with this in mind?
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