A Southern alliance

By Katie Williams
The Belle of the Townhouses
October 18, 2006

Historian's Note: Printed below is one of many missives written during the time of the conflict. The author is Katie Williams, who, though not a citizen of South Campus, pledged her and the Northwest region of campus known as the townhouses’ support to the Southern war effort. She outlines the reasons that St. Miguel had for allying with South Campus, and attempts to parry the criticisms of the North. Pay special attention to her defense of the townhouses’ supposed “easy living,” as it counters, directly, Northern scoffing of the Southern cause. The letter was graciously donated to the Institute through the benefaction of the Williams family.

As a representative of the citizens of the St. Miguel townhouses, I declare that we pledge our support for an alliance with South Campus. I am sure that this statement will come as a shock to most Lasallians, as St. Miguel’s location is deceptively close to North Dorms. In actuality, the townhouses are far removed from the dormitories. Our complex inhabits its own isolated territory, hidden behind the library, and often forgotten by the rest of campus. This leaves the inhabitants forced to make do on their own, a fact that leads us to put aside any loyalties that would otherwise have formed from our proximity to North Dorms, and instead think about what is the best course of action for St. Miguel’s survival.

I know that the critics of South Campus, as well as the critics of St. Miguel, will argue that we have only allied with them because of the similarities in comfort levels of the two areas. Yes, the townhouses are, arguably, one of the nicest abodes on campus. We have carpeted floors, a full kitchen, dining and living room, as well as air conditioning. It seems, then, that the inhabitants of St. Miguel live in luxury, and are siding with the only other equally luxurious residence on campus—St. Basil. Our critics would say, I’m sure, that we are merely being aristocrats, snubbing our noses at the tiny, smelly, un-air conditioned buildings that make up North Dorms. They would say that we are attempting to preserve an old-fashioned class division.

This, though, is simply not true. St. Miguel needs to ally with the South for a very precious, and life sustaining, reason: cheesesteaks. That’s right: cheesesteaks and hamburgers and everything else Treetops offers.

You see, most of those living in the townhouses do not have meal plans, or if they do, have very limited ones that require the students to feed themselves most of the time. And to cook for oneself is, in a word, uncivilized. This is why Treetops’ new delivery program appeals to us so. Not only do we not have to be responsible for our own meals, but we don’t have to walk anywhere, which will come in handy in the coming winter season. It is vital to the survival of the townhouses that the trade routes between the North and the South remain open. The students of North Dorms have forgotten us. They can easily feed themselves at the Blue and Gold and be satisfied. But the other children of the North—the townhouses, the La Salle Apartments, Teresa Court—we have no such luxuries. We need the Treetops delivery program, and so, we need South Campus.

Perhaps then, as our critics suggest, we have forgotten how to exist in normal college society. Perhaps. But I say to those who look down on us for this choice that to deny us our trade routes, our salads, our french fries, is to deny us our dignity! And so St. Miguel pledges its faith, arms and parents’ money to the South Campus cause! May Creepy Statue be with them!

williamsk1@lasalle.edu