[/media-credit]Professors Grigsby and Brennan converse in an office in the new Lippman Building. Lippman was a restoration of the old Social Sciences building, which professors described as “old and depressing.”
The clean wood, the open classrooms, the student accessible computer labs, and the organization of the offices to group each department of economics, political science, history, and sociology, combined with the energy of classes being conducted and students and teachers busy working away allows Lippman’s architectural modernity to find a place in the college’s antiquity and studious lifestyle.
Of course, no one understands Lippman better than the residents of Lippman themselves, so we decided to ask a few of our favorite professors about their adjustment to the building, their feelings about their new offices, and their thoughts on the new classrooms and gadgets to better understand what it means to enjoy Lippman Hall.
The first thing Lecturer Denis Brennan of the history department told me was, “I do not miss anything about the old place!” when I asked him about the differences between Lippman and the old Social Sciences building.
Brennan focuses on the antebellum era of the United States, a second career he called it, and was really pleased with the new Lippman building’s accommodation of nice and spacious offices for all professors and adjuncts.
For Professor Brennan, having an office makes things feel more permanent, like he can really “set up.” He also likes the separating wooden display between the main classroom and his office because he can keep his door open and still have privacy from the flow of students that pass by the other side of the display.
[/media-credit]Professor Madancy of the history department prefers Lipmman to the old Social Sciences building with the belief that Lippman has made offices more personalized.
Like Brennan, Madancy smiled emphatically while describing the differences the renovations have made to her time spent in the office.
“There were so many issues with the old building—plumbing problems, paint peeling off of the ceiling, heating issues. It made the place really depressing,” said Madancy.
She also really enjoys having a window and being able to personalize her office.
In fact, Madancy explained that each professor got to pick an accent color for one wall in their office and the variety of colors they chose (ranging from greens, to hot pink, to her garnet red) really show the diversity in personalities in Lippman Hall.
Professor Janet Grigsby of the sociology department said, “What’s here that’s not to love? The office spaces are very comfortable and it is nice to be back with my department again.”
Sometimes, departmentalization causes each group to idolate themselves and the silence in the building is often unnerving.
When I shared this thought with Grisby, she commented that she is convinced that the sterile, empty feeling will change with time.
Grisby said, “The character of the old building is something Lippman does not yet have.”
However, with more use, interaction, and adjustment, she believes it can happen.
For now, Grisby and the rest of the professors here ask the campus to come use Lippman and enjoy its new facilities.
