Grace Pearson Scholarship Hall: A Legacy of Affordable and Cooperative Living at KU
The University of Kansas (KU) is home to a rich tradition of scholarship halls, offering students an economical and community-oriented living experience. Among these halls, Grace Pearson Scholarship Hall stands out as a significant part of KU's history. This article explores the origins, design, and evolving story of Grace Pearson Hall, highlighting its role in providing affordable education and fostering a sense of community for its residents.
The Genesis of Grace Pearson Hall
The Kenneth Spencer Research Library blog notes that Grace Pearson Hall's story is intertwined with that of Douthart Hall. In fact, alumni gathered to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Douthart and Grace Pearson Scholarship Halls on the KU campus. While Douthart Hall was always intended as a scholarship hall, Grace Pearson Hall was initially planned as a general women’s residence hall. It was later incorporated into the scholarship hall system a few years after its opening. This transition reflects the growing need for affordable housing options for students at KU.
A Generous Donation Honors a Mother
Grace Pearson Hall is named in honor of J.R. Pearson’s mother. J.R. Pearson and his wife, Gertrude Sellards Pearson, generously donated funds for various residence halls at the University of Kansas. This act of philanthropy underscores the importance of private support in expanding access to higher education.
Architectural Symmetry and Strategic Location
Grace Pearson Hall was built as a reverse copy of Douthart Hall and situated between Douthart and the KU Faculty Club on Louisiana Street. This strategic location fostered a sense of community among the residents of the scholarship halls and provided easy access to campus resources. The architectural symmetry between Grace Pearson and Douthart Halls visually reinforced their shared purpose within the scholarship hall system.
The Scholarship Hall Concept: Affordability and Cooperation
Scholarship halls were designed to provide an economical place to live on campus. Residents assume cooking and cleaning duties to cut costs and foster a cooperative sense of community living. This model allowed students to significantly reduce their living expenses while developing valuable life skills and building strong relationships with their peers.
Read also: Queensland's Grace Lutheran College
Residents were selected on the basis of need, scholarship, and character. A 1954 KU News Bureau report stated that the first residents received room and board “for about $300 a year less than the outlay for comparable accommodations” and also received $300 scholarships when admitted to a scholarship hall. This financial assistance made higher education more accessible to students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.
Interior Design and Student Input
Von Tersch has overseen decorating and redecorating efforts for KU’s department of student housing for 20 years. According to Ken Stoner, director of student housing, "The trick is the balancing act. She has to work all those things out, and it requires a good deal of insight and understanding of issues and human behavior."
The men of Grace Pearson Scholarship Hall put together a wish list for von Tersch, who met with the students several times to pick out a neutral color scheme and modern furniture. Josh McBeth, an Oklahoma City junior and former hall president, said, “Most of the concern was that it didn’t end up being girlie. We didn’t want it to be a bachelor pad.” This summer, the hall is getting new furniture and curtains. That’s the typical process for a scholarship hall redecorating process, which generally focuses on the living room.
More commonly, students request pingpong tables or pool tables be put in their living room. “I totally agree with that, but I’ve had a little more experience,” she said. “You have to be pretty responsive to the students, because they vote with their feet,” she said.
Grace Pearson Today
Grace Pearson is a co-ed scholarship hall separated into single gender by floor. It offers four-person suites and is located across the street from Crawford Community Center, the gathering place for scholarship halls. The residents of Grace Pearson are a highly involved group. The hall features a large living room, a trophy case with a collection of basketball memorabilia, and a ping-pong table. The hall has an academic resource center with computers and study aids.
Read also: A look at Grace Christian University's past
Each four-person suite has two 2-person bedrooms and a common room. The beds are bunked. Beds in Douthart and Grace Pearson were changed in summer 2021 to extra long twins (36" x 80").
Student Activism and Inclusive Initiatives
After KU Housing removed a banner with the phrase “We are all Jayhawks,” fashioned in the colors of trans and non-binary identities, residents agreed that their First Amendment rights were potentially being suppressed. According to Michael Wieber, president of Grace Pearson, in the past, students have posted sticky notes designs on the windows of their dorm rooms without complaint from housing. Another instance would be Rieger Hall, an all-women’s scholarship hall at KU, having had banners in their windows without complaint throughout the school year.
GPeeps for GIA, an organization consisting of Grace Pearson residents and supporters of gender inclusive assignments, posted numerous fliers around campus in protest to Alvarez’s termination from KU Housing and to advertise the protest.
Read also: The Life of Ashley Flowers
tags: #grace #pearson #scholarship #hall #history
