Everett Dick Building Amphitheater renovation finalized

Students can now attend class in comfort and style

Many students remember their first time taking a class in the basement of the Everett Dick Administration Building. It was a memorable classroom. The amphitheater was the largest classroom on campus, but it wasn’t impressive when it came to comfort. The alternating red and yellow (or ketchup and mustard, as many called them) chairs with folding desks were packed so tightly together that it was difficult for many students to get comfortable during class. For those who were taller or heavier, it was a nightmare.

The long rows with no outlets in between made it difficult to make a trip to the bathroom or water fountain. Students risked disrupting a long row of classmates as they struggled their way down the aisle, possibly hitting someone’s head with their backpack as they tried to leave in peace and quiet. As the dawn of classroom technology hit in the 21st century, this proved to be a problem for the amphitheater as well. The tiny folding desks were too small to facilitate laptops and notebooks, and the projector screen was hard for people sitting in the back to see.

Thanks to the generosity of Union College donors that contributed to the Learning and Living Campaign project, students will no longer have to stuff themselves into their seats or juggle study items over a small workspace. The Dick Building Amphitheater has been completely renovated and refurbished for a new generation, now looking very similar to the layout of Lang Amphitheater in Krueger Center. The classroom now sports three large television screens instead of the old projector, a huge whiteboard replacing the chalkboards and rows of tables complete with built-in outlets for charging devices.

Replacing the long rows of cramped chairs, walkways were installed down the middle to make running out for a quick drink or bathroom break easier. While seating capacity has been sacrificed in the renovation, the added comfort and accessibility outweighs the inconvenience.

Union College faculty, staff and students celebrated the grand reopening of the amphitheater on March 23, 2023. Since then, many larger classes have transitioned into the new room popping with the cardinal red and anthracite gray colors of our college’s branding.

As students once again make their way downstairs for classes in much more comfort and style than previously, let’s remember to thank our donors for the way they help make life on campus so much better.

By: Charles Metz