Badger Alumni

What memories do you have of your college years at Wisconsin, or your visits here? Do you remember the "first" Student Center - a three-flat with the house parents' apartment upstairs and rooms on the third floor for "house boys" who took care of the building maintenance?

Do you remember the excitement of the "new" Student Center, which opened in 1970, with seven dorm rooms with lofts, so that fourteen students could live at the Center, two to a room? And women as well as men could live there?

Do you remember the warmth and camaraderie of "Org" meetings? Heading over to Vilas Park or out to Tenney Park for ice-skating? Going to Helen White or Memorial Library to study for exams? Going to the Union Terrace to eat Babcock Hall ice cream and hear your favorite band? Cheering for the Badgers at the stadium - they had some pretty bad years, but also some really great ones. Bicycling at the Arboretum?

What's new since you were last in the Student Center?

While changes have taken place over the years, today's students are still engaging in those same grand activities, still finding friendships, direction, and commitment from their time at the Student Center. It is an important part of their lives, a place to share and reaffirm their values.

So, what are some of the changes?

• The residence is now known as Concord House.
• The seven rooms are now singles, which means that seven students live at the house instead of fourteen, as in the first years.
• Though our primary commitment is to Christian Science students attending the University, Concord House is open to students of other faith traditions who are interested in participating in our program focused on living and valuing spiritual ideas. 
• The Christian Science Organization is known as the "CSO" rather than "Org."

 

Why stay in touch and involved?

Think back to your college days. Maybe you remember praying about the time that you were overwhelmed by that looming term paper? What about paying for college and the deep prayer that you gave to financing such an endeavor? Or how about just surviving on a campus with 44,000 other students in an urban environment - not to mention the social scene?

What a great concept to have a community where Christian Scientists and other spiritually minded people can gather and encourage one another. Christian Science has a vital place on campus as it offers prayerful and practical solutions to real-life problems and BIG questions that need answers.

As alumni and friends of the Student Center Foundation, you are part of the precious legacy of our organization, and your active support of our work with students is fundamental to its success going forward.