Become an honorary Lawn resident and learn the pleasures—and discomforts—of being part of our living history.
The University’s Academical Village attracts countless visitors, many of whom have the same question for students after peeking into their austere Lawn rooms: “So, where do you shower?” While a Lawn resident’s outdoor walk to the bathrooms may seem terribly inconvenient to passersby, Lawnies of today appear to have few qualms about the process. “It’s just not a big deal,” says Blaire Hawkins (Col ’09). Given that Lawn rooms date back to the early 19th century, “there are some things that you have to get used to,” adds Hawkins.
For most Lawn residents, the honor of calling Mr. Jefferson’s Lawn home outweighs a short walk to the showers. “Because most of our experience living on the Lawn is so positive, [the bathroom situation] does not even put a dent in what we get out of it,” says Christian West (Col ’09), head resident of the Lawn.
Besides a few short hikes to the bathrooms, a day in the life of a typical Lawnie involves frequent interactions with the public. “I absolutely love talking to tourists, especially when the weather is nice and our doors are open,” Vinu Ilakkuvan (Engr ’09) says. “They’ll just poke their heads in and ask us questions.”
Many Lawnies even leave their doors open while they run to the bathroom. Upon returning, it’s not uncommon to find that a curious family has wandered into one of their rooms. After this happened to Christina Polenta (Com ’09), she says, “The best part was that we had a 20-minute conversation while I was still in my robe, which was pretty awkward.”
Despite the many encounters with University tourists, “A day in the life of the typical Lawnie is really similar to a day in the life of a typical U.Va. student,” Evelyn Hall (Col ’09) says. “The only difference is that you feel a desire to have your Lawn room open all the time.”
Whether a tourist stops by to chat, a dog runs in or a squirrel oversteps its boundaries, life on the Lawn is nothing short of dynamic. “It is cool to watch U.Va. wake up in the morning,” Hawkins says. Once a Lawn resident opens his or her door, U.Va. comes right in.
Illustration by Robert Ullman
“Because the Lawn has become the epicenter of the University, you feel like you are constantly involved and invested in the activities of the University,” Hall says. Those activities can range from people playing bocce outside to streakers sprinting down the Lawn, says Hall.
Some guests and their activities are less welcome than others. Such is the case with a certain squirrel, whom West calls the Lawn’s 55th resident this year. Named “Dr. Nibblybits” by Lawn resident Bowman Dickson (Col ’09), this squirrel has been known to wreak some havoc. After accidentally leaving the flue to her fireplace open one weekend, Hawkins returned to find that a squirrel had consumed apples, Fig Newtons and chewed at the wooden window frame. No evidence conclusively linked Dr. Nibblybits to the crime, but he’s at the top of the list of potential perpetrators. “There’s kind of a war going on, I guess,” says Hawkins. “I was just lucky he didn’t try to eat my bed.”
What remains unharmed by marauding squirrels are the traditions and history attached to each room. Some current Lawnies live in rooms once occupied by their parents. Living in her mother’s (Audrey Arrowood Hawkins, Col ’76) old room, Hawkins says, feels really special for her family. Though life on the Lawn has certainly changed, Lawn resident David Newsome (Col ’09) says it’s fun to be able to share this experience with his father, Kenneth Newsome (Com ’81, GSBA ’86).
Hall, who lives in her father’s (Curtis Hall, Col ’78) old room, says, “We lived very different lives at the University of Virginia, my dad and I—it’s nice to have this bond.”
Even those who are not related to a former resident of their room still maintain a connection to the room’s history. “When you start living in a room, you join a family, and that includes all the residents who have lived in your room before,” Polenta says. “Their stories become your stories.”
Another strong Lawn tradition is streaking, which, according to Lawn resident Zach Rowen (Col ’09), is “almost too normal” an occurrence. Some Lawnies have been known to spotlight, high-five and playfully chase streakers in a gorilla costume. “Part of the duty of having a Lawn room is to terrorize the streakers, and by terrorize, I mean make it fun for them,” says Bowman Dickson, a proud wearer of the gorilla costume.
Whether Lawnies are guarding their rooms from curious squirrels, running alongside streakers or just spending time together, the Lawn community is undoubtedly a special one.
“At the end of the day, it becomes a family,” Polenta says.
Comments
I spent a summer in the room at 21 West Lawn when Colgate Darden was the President of UVA. He stopped by to chat and told me that he had lived in that room when he was a student.
Whatever happened to the Lawn Chowder and Marching Society?Members really had a good time clowning around. For details, you can find a picture in the ‘56 yearbook.
Carroll,
You might be interested to know that a few of us have started a Face Book group called, “The Lawn, Chowder & Marching Society of the University of Virginia.” The intent is to have a virtual gathering spot for all people who were fortunate enough to have spent time on the Lawn or on the Range. Who knows, Edgar Allen Poe might have (and if his writings are any clue—may yet) joined as well.
The group is an open to any and all who want to join and to share in their memories of the Lawn. You can find it on-line at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=48057193054#/group.php?gid=48057193054.
Hope to see you there.
Phil Chen (8 East, ‘68)
Especially around this time of year when the tours swell with admitted applicants and prospective students ... it was a frequent occurence to step out, in a bathrobe, into hundreds of new friends gathered outside the room. I think the U Guides looked for opportunities to have a “Lawnie in robe” on display. Kind of like the bear that does tricks for the visitors at the San Diego zoo.
Thanks for the article and the memories (and thanks for the Facebook group info)
As a former resident of 21 West Lawn, I can say I had some of my best times at the University. Surrounded by friends like Jack Marshall, Tammy Stempler, Karen Zivi, and Lewis Brissman, there was never a shortage of things to do.
P.S. My French class was in Pavilion VIII,(later the President’s office), not V.as stated in my earlier comment.. What I do clearly remember is that it was a lovely place to have a class. Another correction is that the final year class was held there was during my first year"51-‘52 rather than my 3rd year.(The following two years of French classes were sadly held in less inspiring venues.)PBEchols,jr.
One morning in my bathrobe I met some visitors. As they passed me the young lady said “Boy he must have had a night of it.” I assumed that she thought I had been partying the night before because of my disheveled appearance. Actually I had been studying into the early ours. I really enjoyed my stay on the lawn during my fourth year. We did not have any streakers on the lawn then and all the residents were male.
Something went amiss with my comment of April 15, leaving only the P.S.// When I lived on the lawn there were 2 persons per room, with bunk beds. No open door policy, no women allowed in the rooms, coats and ties to class. This was in my third year in the College. The next year I started medical school and moved to Levering Hall where I had a parking space and an innside bathroom. My father,P.B. Echols, had lived on the West Range during medical school,graduating in 1925.We had many happy occassions with reunions, parties,receptions, Lawn garden parties and it felt like an extended family of kindred spirits. The year of living on the Lawn was a memorable experience. P.B.Echols,jr.
I liked this article soooo much better than its video counterpart—a banal puff piece compared to the article. I live in Boulder, CO, now, and streakers here are arrested for “indecent exposure” and risk being forced to register as sex offenders! I miss Charlottesville.
So what was the Lawn, Chowder, and Marching Society exactly? Revival?
Dear Rising Lawnie,
I am not a historian, but I apparently play one on Face Book, having been part of a group of ex-Lawnies who decided to start the “Lawn, Chowder & Marching Society of the University of Virginia” social group - so here goes.
The Lawn, Chowder & Marching Society is an ephemeral entity comprised of anyone who happens to live on the Lawn. As far as I can remember, our only meeting during the Fall of 1967 was to gather on the steps of the Rotunda to pose in outrageous costumes for our group photo. I suspect that being ephemeral, you can make it as real as your imagination can take you. So give it a try.
Apparently, certain traditions have evolved since I was on the Lawn, including streaking. However, streaking would have been decidedly uninteresting during my day as only males occupied the rooms on the Lawn.
There are those of us who, as a quirk, listed the Lawn, Chowder & Marching Society as a credential on our resumes. It does make for an interesting point during interviews.
It would be great if there was some magnificent history behind this group and someone wrote about it for the benefit of mankind.
Alternatively, maybe some brave and creative soul will one day weave a compelling and believable tale of the Lawn, Chowder and Marching Society and how it has shaped the fortunes of the University of Virginia. Alas and Alack, I do not have the talent to do that.
Notwithstanding this, you are following in the footsteps of many fortunate people, male and female, who have always treasured their short stay in this place. A line that stretches directly back through many years to Mr. Jefferson, who first conceived of his Academic Village and the society of scholars who would inhabit it. Maybe that is what it is all about.
As a rising Lawnie, I invite you and your classmates to join our Face Book group. It can be found at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=48057193054
Congratulations and enjoy your stay,
Phil Chen, 8 E. Lawn, Fall 1967
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