Peters rededicated this weekend

Remembering everything from Sock Hops to classrooms to meeting their future spouses, Alumni, Trustees, students and faculty are converging on Oberlin this weekend to celebrate the rededication of Peters Hall.

Peters Hall was originally dedicated in 1887 and has been an integral part of the Oberlin campus ever since.

"It is the one building that connects us best with the past, not just because of its location but its magnificence," said College Archivist Roland Baumann.

In the early 1980's, however, the building had become essentially "unusable" and "dismal" according to Professor of French Janice Zinser. With the first major renovation since the building's ground-breaking in 1885, however, Peters "has taken on a new life," Zinser said.

"This is a proud and happy moment," said Baumann.

Renovations included structural and cosmetic improvements, making 11 new classrooms available, adding a new entrance, creating safer access to the Kornblith Stargazing Deck and adding another floor to the building, as well as the addition of the new Paul and Edith Cooper International Learning Center. The Learning Center will house the latest audio-visual and computer equipment to facilitate the teaching of Western languages and Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Hebrew and Arabic.

Thomas R. Pickering, undersecretary of state for political affairs, began "A Celebration of Peters Hall" with an address titled "American Policy Challenges Ahead," this afternoon in Finney Chapel.

The Celebration will continue through Saturday with a lecture entitled "History of the Hall" by Danforth Professor of History Geoffrey Blodgett at 9:30 a.m. and Dedication Ceremonies at 10:30 a.m. in the Great Hall, followed by an open house and a reception. "It will be as much of a celebration as we can manage to honor those who have supported us," Zinser said.

Some students are upset that these festivities conflict with Yom Kippur, "the holiest day of the Jewish year," according to Erica Seager, co-chair of Hillel. "It's a time for internal reflection."

Senior Melissa Prager, co-chair of Hillel said, "This is a really huge event and something I want to take part in and I can't."

Yom Kippur, a day of repentance, lasts from sundown on Friday through sundown on Saturday and conflicts with all Saturday activities, including the re-dedication.

"I apologize for that. It shouldn't have been scheduled then," President of the College Nancy Dye said.

"We realize it's a mistake and we're concerned as to why it occured and if it could occur again," said Seager.

Originally scheduled for March of this year, the re-dedication was delayed due to Pickering being named undersecretary of state. While being confirmed by the Senate, he could not make public addresses.

"This is an artifact of Pickering's availability. We were lucky to get back on his calendar," said Zinser. "When we were in the initial planning stages we didn't realize that these conflicted. If there were some way to re-schedule we would."