As third-year Engineering student Brian Edmonds thought about what life would be like next year living at 15 West Lawn he quietly commented, "There's no way I won't be taking my rocking chair."
Almost 35 years ago, Lawn room 15 was endowed in memory of Gus Blagden. Blagden was a student who stood out not because of his academic or athletic skills, but for his work ethic and quality of character. He died several years after graduating from the University.
Since 1968, a group of students and faculty have come together to review written nominations and choose an undergraduate to live in the "Good Guy" room during his or her final year at the University. According to 85-year-old Mrs. Frederic Scott, who originally endowed the room along with her husband, the selection should not be based on scholarship but on a student's generosity of heart.
Edmonds, who is the president of the National Society of Black Engineers and the chaplain of Black Voices, said being chosen for the room "makes me think more about how I live my daily life and wonder if I'm being nice to everyone every day. I'm representing an amazing man."
This year, the selection committee received over 150 letters nominating 60 different people to live in the Gus Blagden room.
"Brian's charisma stood out in all his nomination letters and in conversations with people we interviewed," said fourth-year College student Eric Hutter, who now lives in the room and was on the selection committee.
Along with the current room resident, the selection committee always includes the Dean of Students, the housing director, the outgoing Inter-Fraternity Council president, the outgoing Inter-Sorority Council president, the king of the IMP Society and the king of the Z Society.
Former Dean of Students Robert T. Canevari, who headed the selection committee from 1968 to 1998, said former University Dean BFD Runk decided the makeup of the committee. The ISC president was added later, as there was no ISC at the time the room was endowed.
Fred Scott, one of Blagden's former fraternity brothers, said he does not remember Blagden involved in any of the organizations with representatives on the committee.
Canevari said he thinks those specific groups were chosen because, "in those days the University was a very different place and those specific groups played much more significance in students' everyday lives."
Selection committee members have said affiliation with these groups does not influence selection for the room.
Recent occupants of 15 West Lawn that belong to groups represented on the selection committee include IMP Society member Christopher McLean (1994-1995), IMP Society member Scott Cook (1998-1999), and the 1999-2000 resident, who is a Z Society member. Hutter, the current resident, is an IMP Society member.
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