The Association Building

Most of the stories in this collection have been fun to write; this one is not. I write it with a bias which I should express at the beginning. You see, my grandmother, Myrtle Miller Stoner (class of 1893, photo at left) was the president of the college YWCA at the time the building was to be built, and as such was one of several to break ground. The building was built to house the college YMCA and YWCA organizations; hence the name "Association Building." It was financed in large measure with student contributions.

The "Sosh Building" was the scene of many campus activities over the years. It housed the Women’s Physical Education department until the Rike Center was built. At the same time (since Dean VanSant was a P.E. teacher) it was home to the office of Dean of Women. For many years the band practiced there. Many organizations met in its lounge. Especially, for many years, commencements ended with the graduates assembling on its steps, singing the Love Song, listening to taps being played (with echo), and then finally tossing their caps into the air.

When the Rike Center was built in the mid seventies, however, the college did not seem to think it would have a use for the building in the near future. There were departments which asked to be housed there, and there were community organizations (including even the YWCA) which asked to rent space there. All were given the same response: "We haven’t decided yet."

What followed was, in my opinion, one of the lowest points in Otterbein’s history. In late August, with summer school over, autumn term not yet started, and a large number of faculty and staff on vacation, the bulldozers showed up and in days the building was demolished.

As the deed became known, anger, even rage, seethed on campus and among alumni. It was not expressed loudly, for there was indeed nothing constructive that could be done, but it was felt deeply. I was asked many times, "How could they do this?" a question I have never been able to answer. I do know, though, that secrecy in an organization is all too often the root of evil.

I hope we learned a lesson, and I hope that by recording the events here I can help us not to forget that lesson.