On Wednesday, I attended the Rose Cafe where Dr. Blalock led a discussion on the history of West Campus and then gave a tour of two hidden areas on West Campus: the underground tunnels connecting Becker and Rose houses and the War Memorial Room in Lyon Hall.  Dr. Blalock explained the motivation for Cornell investing hundreds of millions of dollars to construct five new dorm buildings on West: to address Cornell’s housing needs and to rival other top universities’ residential college programs, while creating spaces to extend learning to where students would live.  

Blalock also gave an in-depth tour of two areas that most Cornell students never see.  I was surprised to hear him explain the constant flow of food deliveries through the Becker-Rose tunnel which enables Cornell Dining to serve thousands of meals each day.  We saw where all the food is stored and later prepared in the two kitchens.  The last stop on the tour, the Lyon War Memorial Room, is only open a few times a year.  It houses a list of fallen soldiers and a related letter from President Hoover.  When I lived in Mennen Hall last year, I passed by the door to this room nearly every day, not knowing what it was until this cafe.  

Throughout the tour, Dr. Blalock reflected on his time as Rose’s House Professor Dean, as his term ends this semester.  He talked about many of his experiences at “House 5”, the name for Flora Rose House while the five buildings were under construction.  He identified one of his lasting impacts on this campus: installing electric gates on both ends of Gothics Way (the road that runs through the middle of West Campus).  He identified a problem that he believed was crucial to solve to ensure student safety: delivery vehicles were barreling through this road that nearly every student crosses to enter West Campus.  His efforts were met with opposition, yet he fought until his proposal was implemented.  I was surprised to hear that a gate was not present since the inception of that road, and I now have an even greater appreciation for all Dr. Blalock has done to improve student life on West Campus.  

Overall, I really enjoyed this cafe as it enlightened me on the entire process which ends with food being served to students.  I look forward to future Rose Cafes that continue this theme of examining the hidden aspects that keep Cornell running smoothly.