The Absence of On-Campus Housing

The First Students at the U

After the Civil War, there were only fourteen students at the University of Minnesota.¹ Because transportation in this era was very limited, most of these students lived in the Minneapolis - St. Paul metropolitan area. Being so close to the University, many students decided to live at home while attending school. For those who did not want to continue living at home, or did not live in the metropolitan area, students had to find off-campus housing and meal accommodations independently. Most commuting students lived in the neighborhood of St. Anthony Village that was to the northwest of campus.²

The University's Founding Moments during the 19th Century

Housing under the Folwell Administration

In August of 1869, the University of Minnesota's Board of Regents appointed William Watts Folwell as the first president of the University.⁴ One of his priorities as president was to reorganize the University after the Civil War. President Folwell created a committee tasked with the reorganization efforts; however, they did not focus on providing housing for students. This apathy toward on-campus housing was not only because there was a low demand for student housing, but also because the committee had a tight operating budget.⁵

The First Dining Hall

In 1895, the University of Minnesota constructed the first dining hall. It cost the university $42,500. The three-story dining hall served two main purposes for students:

• First floor: Provided students with kitchens and a dining room that held 450 people
• Second and Third Floor: Provided up to sixty-eight students with dormitory space

Not only did the creation of this dining hall provide convenient meal accommodations for students, but it also allowed students the opportunity to find convenient housing on-campus.⁶

The Push for On-Campus Housing

By the time President Northrop came into office, the University's administrators began to view student housing as an important issue for the University. At the time, many students were living off-campus, typically in coeducational houses or co-ops. Some administrators believed that men and women living together was deplorable for a woman's morality.⁷ Therefore, the University began discussing efforts to establish on-campus dormitories...