Jessica Wright
Editor-in-chief
This past July, Shorter signed the contract to officially acquire the Darlington, or Thornwood, Campus that lies adjacent to the Hill. What used to house elementary school students will now be the new home to many of Shorter’s growing programs.
Dr. Donald L. Martin, Jr., executive vice president and provost, expressed his and other faculty members’ excitement to have more land so close to campus.
“Any time you can get property adjacent to what you already have when you’re landlocked, that’s hard to pass up,” said Martin.
Martin stated there is already a classroom being used for nursing students in the Thornwood Campus, and the entire School of Nursing will officially move to the building starting in January. Now these programs, along with the School of Education, will be brought on campus, which Martin says is beneficial from both a financial and accessibility standpoint.
“The School of Nursing and the School of Education will soon be moving to the academic side (of the Darlington property),” said Martin. “It will actually help us save money in the long term.”
Martin stated that some things, apart from the academic side of the building, will be “for more of a general use.” Intramural sports will be able to expand and use the field and gymnasium, and activities such as Zumba and fitness classes have already started on the new campus, but now with a larger variety of options and times than last year.
Senior biology major Neil Wiseman is one of these students who is still in confusion concerning the use of Thornwood Campus. Though Wiseman questioned if the purchase of that particular property was the best option for Shorter as opposed to offering a better workout area for non-athletes, he was still looking forward to the growth of certain programs such as Insanity as well as intramurals.
“I’m still just confused why we bought a place like that before buying out the old Club Fitness facilities to use for a type of Wellness Center for non-athletes,” said Wiseman. “But I am excited it will boost intramurals and give a field that is better for playing than the front circle.”
Many of Shorter’s programs have continued to develop and the school has had nowhere to put them— until now. The addition to campus will create many changes for students on the Hill after the proper repairs and refurnishes have been made in the building. According to Martin, there are three areas off campus where Shorter has to pay rent, including the buildings for the School of Nursing and where cheerleading and wrestling practice off campus.
Shorter has already implemented the use of the property and hosted a school-wide slip and slide on the Thornwood field. Sophomore psychology and English major and SGA representative Sarah Geil said she was excited to take part on the slip and slide and is enthusiastic about Shorter having the opportunity to expand.
“I definitely enjoyed attending Shorter’s slip and slide on Darlington’s soccer field,” said Geil. “I know intramurals and classes will really enjoy the campus one day. Shorter is such a special place, and I am glad we have this opportunity to grow.”
