Spring HIll College is yet to demolish Walh Hall, despite the demolition being originally scheduled for October 1st, 2024.In light of recent decisions by the school, this is a situation that worries many students, however many members of the administration reason this problem is beyond the control of Spring Hill.

The historic renovation of Walsh Hall was set to help the school transition into a new area of innovative, STEM focused research. However, the 35 million dollar renovation has been stalled indefinitely. Spring Hill College’s Chief Financial Officer, Brian Courtney, explained that the reason behind this delay is “The Federal Agency that administers the grant, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has not given us the green light to start the demolition. As you can imagine, the change in [the U.S. presidential] administration has slowed down everything at the federal level while they sort through the various executive orders and changes being implemented.” These bureaucratic issues and the age of the building stand as the main reasons for the building’s continued survival. In a recent address to the student body, President Mary Van Brunt explained that Walsh Hall, which is Spring Hill’s second oldest permanent building besides Byrne Hall, is labeled as a “historical site.” Van Brunt explained, “This designation has required many additional steps, with the final requirement being a thirty day public notice. The notice was scheduled to begin last week, but has been paused by HRSA due to an Executive Order.” While the school is at a stand still, the administration has begun to work towards a new date for Walsh’s Hall demolition. 

President Van Brunt has additionally conveyed her intentions to mitigate these issues. “I was on Capitol Hill on February 3 meeting with our Senators/Congressmen to advocate for an exemption and am hopeful that this will be granted soon.” While this assurance by the president may seem to help those who are worried, many students- especially those in the maths and sciences- still are understandably disappointed by the situation.

Anna Kate Driver, a sophomore Health Sciences major, was supposed to have her last year of studies in the new building, she recounts. “As a health science student I was really looking forward to the new Science and Innovation Center. I was told it would be done by the spring semester of my senior year and that my class could be one of the first health science students to graduate after using the new labs/amenities”  However, due to the delayed demolition, it looks like she will no longer get the privilege of experiencing this state-of-the-art building. Driver continues, “I understand there’s probably valid reasons for the delay of breaking ground, but I will admit I’m a little disappointed. ”While the disappointment of many students and faculty is not going to hurry the possibly long and arduous process of bureaucracy, it at least gives time for more goodbyes to Walsh Hall.

After 94 years of service to the lively culture and community of Spring Hill, Walsh Hall’s continued defiance of power can serve as a reminder to all students at Spring Hill College: to stand tall in the face of adversity and live with great tenacity.

Van Brunt:

Thank you for reaching out. I am meeting with the President and Vice President of SGA tomorrow and will definitely discuss with them – they had not mentioned before that students were concerned at all about the building and we meet regularly.  There were many Environmental requirements from HRSA after Walsh Hall was declared historical that have caused delays coupled with this latest Executive Order. I was just on Capitol Hill yesterday meeting with our Senators and they assured me that the dust should settle soon and the delays lifted. I will be sending out a communication to the campus once that happens and we can move forward with this exciting project.

Brian Courtney:

I hope all is well.  The Federal Agency that administers the grant, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has not given us the green light to start the demolition.  We are not able to start anything until they give us the final go ahead as a condition of the grant.  As you can imagine, the change in administration has slowed down everything at the Federal level while they sort through the various Executive Orders and changes being implemented.

As soon as they say we can start, we are ready to get going.  Once we hear from them, President VanBrunt will send out a communication to the campus community with the timeline on the demolition and the anticipated start date of construction for the Health and Science Innovation Center.

Anna Kate Driver:

As a health science student I was really looking forward to the new Science and Innovation Center. I was told it would be done by the spring semester of my senior year and that my class could be one of the first health science students to graduate after using the new labs/amenities. I understand there’s probably valid reasons for the delay of breaking ground, but I will admit I’m a little disappointed.

It has been a crazy start to the Spring semester. I hope you enjoyed the “Snow Week” and are engaged in your studies.  Over the last few weeks, I have been traveling a lot to meet with donors, connect with our Jesuit UCS Provincial group, and most recently, to attend the AJCU Board meeting and the ACCU annual conference in DC.  Below are three campus updates I want to share:

⮚     As you are aware, the new presidential administration in Washington, D.C. has issued a variety of orders whose potential impact is not at all clear. We understand this current environment may be unsettling and lead to confusion or fear – particularly for those concerned about potential impacts on their studies, work, safety, families and the communities they serve. Please be assured that Spring Hill College leaders are thoughtfully analyzing each directive and development to better understand the specific effects and identify the appropriate next steps. Please do not hesitate to bring your questions or concerns to trusted faculty, staff or counselors.

⮚     We have encountered several delays in our pre-construction phase of building the new Health and Science  Innovation Center.  During the Environmental Assessment required by HRSA to begin demolition/construction, the Alabama Historical Association designated Walsh Hallas an historical site. This designation has required many additional steps, with the final requirement being a 30 day public notice. The notice was scheduled to begin last week, but has been paused by HRSA due to an Executive Order. I was on Capitol Hill on February 3 meeting with our Senators/Congressmen to advocate for an exemption and am hopeful that this will be granted soon. That is our last requirement before we can begin abatement and demolition of Walsh Hall.

⮚     We received a request last year from our Provincial, Fr. Tom Greene, SJ for our five Jesuits to consolidate their living quarters from five houses to two houses. Our Jesuit community is now residing in the white house on Old Shell and College Lane, and the main Jesuit house on College Lane and Loyola Lane.  Subsequent to the move, we engaged in discussions with St. Paul’s Episcopal School regarding the 3 acres and 3 homes that had been vacated. St. Paul’s has been an excellent neighbor, and we are excited to partner with them as they expand their campus.

I continue to appreciate the collaborative partnership with the SGA in supporting the students and look forward to seeing many of you during the upcoming Mardi Gras Events.  Our Board of Trustees and prospective Badger students will be on campus at the end of this week, so please do your part to ensure our campus looks its best.

Walsh is set to be demolished October 1,

2024. After decades of being the foundation for lifelong friendships and creating history amongst hundreds of students over the years, Walsh Hall’s story is coming to an end. As part of Spring Hill College’s redevelopment, a new STEM building is set to replace the remote and eerie building that was once a beloved dorm across campus. The college was offered a $35 million grant for the new building which is very promising for the new developments happening on campus. This offers all students who study under science, technology, mathematics, and engineering a place to gather and complete their future classes. The new building has a modern look which can be very appealing to incoming freshmen or

transfers when looking for what school they want to go to. It will contain many windows and be a more open building. This is very different from the other buildings on campus. With the addition of the new art and science building as well as the loss of Walsh, the first wave of the transition has already been set in motion. The mail room has already been successfully extended into the book store.

A date for construction of the new building has not been set in stone, however, the current upperclassmen at Spring Hill will not be around to see the completion of this exciting new addition to campus, as it is set to be completed around 2026.

Walsh Hall was the second permanent building installed in 1954 after Byrne Hall in 1931.

The decision to tear down the building was made after there was much concern for the structure of the

Walsh Hall standing proud before deconstruction.

Picture by Greyson Goddard

building no longer being of any use for future projects. After being vacant since 2020, the building has not been kept up to standard for the past four years and it no longer aligns with the long-term goals of the campus’ growth.

To honor the building and the history that it has brought to our campus, an Irish Wake will be held to allow the alumni to say their goodbyes and find closure. An Irish Wake is a celebration of life to honor the

‘deceased’ at one last party.

The party includes food, drinks, and the sharing of memories over the years.

Typically an Irish Wake can last up to two days, this fully allows the people participating to spend one night with the

‘deceased. Although Irish

Wakes are usually for people, the old dorm has resonated with so many students over the years that it feels appropriate to celebrate this monumental occasion. The building has left such a huge impression on campus, that some of the bricks of the walls to the building will be sold to the alumni after the deconstruction. There will be 500 bricks for sale and they will be sold by the advancement office. Information will be sent out to alumni, donors and information will be posted on the website for those who are interested. They are still finalizing the pricing.

With its iconic red brick

walls and long narrow hallways, this building holds so many nostalgic memories for current students and for the many who have come to Spring Hill years prior. Walsh represents many different things to many different people.

For some, it symbolizes their first home away from home, and the beginning of their young adult lives. Senior Rory Davis lived in Walsh Hall her freshman year and has reflected on the time she has spent in the building, “I would not trade my freshman dorm for anything in the world. The community we built as students out weighed all the bad. I remember one night I accidentally locked myself out of the room and this girl Claire lived right across from me and allowed me to stay in her room and we talked until the

RA came. Ever since we have been the closest of friends.” Alumnus Joe Studt, class of *24, was also a resident in Walsh throughout his career at Spring Hill College, “I made so many friends for life in that building, although Covid made it difficult for me to build relationships.

I understand why Walsh means so much to many different people. For my class, it was where a lot of us bonded and went through the highs and lows of moving away from home for the first time.” The building means a lot more to people than meets the eye. To some newer students, It is just a rusty, old abandoned building, however, the upperclassmen’s connection to the dorm runs far deeper. All will have the opportunity to say goodbye and find closure with the beginning of this new chapter for Spring Hill.

Spring Hill College will hold a farewell ceremony on the afternoon of October 1st at 12

p.m. to honor Walsh Hall’s concluding chapter. The event will allow alumni, current students, and professors to reunite and share their memories of the building. The ceremony will include a brief program with thoughts from former inhabitants and a symbolic farewell as the demolition crew begins their work.