So that student organizations may remain fully functional while Talley Student Center renovations begin, organizations are relocating to Harrelson Hall. The common knowledge among students is that Harrelson Hall is best described as an architect’s mistake. This round monstrosity has housed a wider variety of classes than the RBC Center has had different shows. With its new purpose to serve student organizations, Harrelson will act as the temporary student center until the completion of the new Talley in late 2014. Along with this, administrators encounter the problem of making this revolting eye sore welcoming to students. This problem is not only an administration issue, but as students, ours as well. While the main determining factor of judging Harrelson Hall is based off its level of attractiveness, the true factor should be the name behind the building.  

While students constantly complain about walking to their various GEP classes up the steep ramp, many do not know the meaningful history behind this structure. According NCSU’s facilities website, Harrelson is the first cylindrical classroom built on a university campus. The name comes from the first N.C. State alumnus to serve as its chief administrator, John William Harrelson.

Harrelson was a mechanical engineer, as well as president of his senior class and the Mechanical Society while at N.C. State. He was also captain of the student military unit, class historian and business manager of State’s yearbook, the Agromeck. As if that wasn’t enough, he was the valedictorian of his 1907 class. This type of involvement defines the student experience and describes students today. As students, we are constantly busy with various extracurricular activities, but we maintain our focus on the success of our academic career.

Upon graduation Harrelson taught mathematics at N.C. State, and then served as a Colonel in World War I and Deputy Chief of specialized training in World War II. Like many alumni, Harrelson was able to take the education he received from N.C. State to better improve the University as well as the nation. Since he touched so many lives, Harrelson’s name felt like the best-suited name for such a different type of classroom when the building was constructed in 1961.

Knowing the history, students should realize Harrelson Hall is not merely any old building, but a symbol of the involved student. Before complaining about the lack of attractiveness of the building, students should embrace the meaning of the name of such a structure. Students should appreciate the symbolic history of the building rather than limit their opinion based on its physical appeal center. As the Harrelson’s biography describes, his building is meant to inspire students to be the best they can be, both academically and extracurricularly. So if anything, a building with such meaning should be used as a student center.

While Student Centers Board of Directors, Administration and Campus Marketing are trying to find more ways to make this monument appealing for students to utilize it as a resource, it is ultimately up the students to use it. John Harrelson was the essence of the success that we would like to achieve while at N.C. State. Because of this, it only seems fitting that the building in honor of him should be used as a student center.