I would like to thank Donna Emma Edzards for bringing us her ten part series on the History and Traditions of WPI. Each week I have looked forward to this column which gave an insightful look at the unique history of this institute. Her stories ran the gamut from the Tech Carnival to the Red Vector.
Most of her articles centered on events, items, and people which have passed and are only memories. However, she also wrote of traditions and artifacts which still remain alive today, like the Winter Carnival and the Alden Laboratories. As members of the WPI community it is important to participate in those traditions and explore those artifacts, if we are to full appreciate our interesting history.
It is for that reason, that I read Edzards last article with much interest. In that article on the "Magnetic Laboratory" she wrote of a building that is very much a part of this Institute, but is in fact closed to the general community's view. Since entering WPI, I have often wonder why this part of our history has been shut out. I have much respect for the senior honor society, but have trouble understanding their secrecy with this building.
There is no other building on this campus which one cannot tour if he asks the right person. Perhaps it is a simple building, but as Edzards pointed out in her article it is still an important part of the history of this school. I would challenge the Skull to open its doors for at least one day each year. Perhaps they could provide a historical tour during Traditions Day.
In closing I ask, how can we begin to understand the past, if we are not allowed to explore the artifacts that still remain?
Respectfully,
Gregory R. Snow
A proud member of the WPI community and the Class of '98