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By Carolyn Lorenz Utech
Chapin Hall enabled me to enter — and remain at —NU. Aside from receiving one half of my room and board from the WEAA’s residence hall, I learned from living with the smartest group of women I have ever known. The scholars helped me and encouraged me so that I really could thrive at NU.
We signed up for jobs at Chapin Hall that fit into our school schedules — dusting, cleaning bathrooms, helping the cook, etc. If nothing worked during the daytime, we could always get on one of the dish washing/drying crews. (There was no automatic dishwasher at the time.) The camaraderie of that crew was accompanied by singing together or playing intellectual games and, always, much laughter. Everyone was expected to work. Another “job” was serving dinner to the other Chapinites. Most of us were required to serve correctly every few days. Seniors were hostess of each table except the housemother’s table. (I was also a little scared when I first served at her table.) There was a server at each table who brought the food from the kitchen to the table. When that was accomplished, she could eat with the others at that table. We all learned manners.
Women who lived on campus had hours in which they had to be in their dorms. At Chapin, we took turns signing the others in. However, on weekends, some of us cut our room and board costs more by waiting up until 2:00 a.m. to sign in the last scholars who stayed out until then. My senior year, all the seniors received keys, effectively eliminating hours and causing great rejoicing.
In addition, we had a jobs board — mostly babysitting. Those jobs provided pocket money to whomever took them. Chapin women were known for doing good work.
A very special bonus for us was our Sunday “tea” which was actually an early buffet supper. We were allowed to bring a guest, which made us very popular, because none of the dorms served meals on Sunday after breakfast.
The WEAA board was always available for mentoring and problem solving. Yes, we worked, but we also learned and grew and encouraged each other. Chapin Hall was a most remarkable place, one that I cherish very much.
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