During Wednesday’s Rose Café, Professor Blalock talked to us about West Campus’s fascinating history and took us to the tunnel that connects Cook, Becker, and Rose. It is interesting that Ezra Cornell did not want dorms on campus when the university was originally founded. It is also interesting that West Campus was built to attract new students and offer some kind of on-campus housing like other universities. It is strange to think about a time where Cornell did not have dorms because I am accustomed to dorm life and would not know what life at Cornell would be like without them. It is also fascinating that the West Campus houses were not named after rich donors, but rather former professors.

Furthermore, before the Rose Café, I did not know that there were tunnels that connected Cook, Becker, and Rose and then another tunnel that connects Keeton and Bethe. I also never knew that all the food that we get in Rose arrives via the tunnel. It was very interesting to see how the food gets to Rose. I am very grateful for the staff who brings our food to the dining halls through the tunnel. If I see any of them, I will make sure to say thank you. It is amazing to learn about the history of the place that I call home during the semester and to understand how West Campus became West Campus. This Rose Café made me open my eyes more to West Campus and also made me want to learn more about Cornell and its history. I want to continue learning about more parts of Cornell that I have not heard of before and to discover new places on campus.