By Rut Labrada, Arts and Entertainment Editor

The VSU Honors College announced that it will move to the Communication Arts Building, marking the college’s first move since the former presidential residence was given to the college in 2007.

The college announced the move, which is expected to happen in November or December, at a regular meeting on Sept. 24, but the idea was first brought to the college’s Dean, Michael Savoie, in late July as part of a goal to increase enrollment in the honors program.

“The general idea to move the Honors House came from former Interim President Crowe,” said Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Sheri Noviello. “He met with Dean Savoie and communicated the priority to increase Honors recruitment even before we started talking about moving its location. He felt that it needed a space that was more accessible to campus with more room to grow as Honors enrollment grew.”

Dr. Noviello said that the idea came around at the same time as the English and Communications departments merged.

Because the communications classes were going to be moved to West Hall, Dr. Noviello and Dr. Crowe believed that the first floor of the communications building would be the perfect space for the Honors College.

Dr. Savoie noted his excitement at the transition, stating that he wants the new space to allow the Honors College to collaborate with other on-campus organizations and departments.

“We work across the university, so we are represented in all the different colleges,” said Dr. Savoie. “Since we do that, we should consider this an extension of their needs, and we’re happy to do that. We’ve been doing that at the building here; I’d like to continue that trend over there since we have a lot more space over there.”

Currently, the Honors House is located at a two-story building on Georgia Avenue, near the Student Health Center and the Center for International Programs. The house boasts the iconic red door, which has become a central part of the Honors College’s identity.

No decision has been made regarding what the building will be used for after the Honors College moves out. According to Dr. Noviello, the decision will be completely up to the university’s Facilities Planning group and VSU President Donald Green.

Before being home to the Honors College, the building was the designated presidential residence, where the university’s leader and their family would live during the president’s term.

The last president to live in the location was Dr. Hugh Bailey, who ran the school for 23 years, from 1978 to 2001. Dr. Savoie said that the house still has many reminders of the former presidential family, and he hopes to see the house put to good use.

The possibility of moving to the communications building has caused some students to worry that the traditions of the college will be lost, said Dr. Savoie.

Namely, the Honors College is well known for its Lighting of the Honors House, a yearly event during the holiday season featuring food and musical performances. The event pays homage to Dr. Bailey’s family tradition of lighting the Christmas tree at the presidential house for the VSU community.

Currently, it is not certain whether the tradition will continue after the Honors College moves to the Communications building, but Dr. Savoie hopes the move will make room for new traditions to be created, or even for old ones to return.

“My favorite activity that we don’t do anymore was chocolate day,” said Dr. Savoie. “Valentine’s Day can be a sad day for people—especially if they don’t have a significant other or partner. We created this day where everybody brought chocolate and everybody was welcome to partake. That’s one I’d love to see come back.”

Dr. Savoie also mentioned that he would like to make the new space a welcoming environment for students to study or lounge in.

“The one thing I really want for that space more than anything is a multi-use collaborative space,” he said. “My hope is that we build this center for innovation over there that everybody can use. I don’t think you need to be in honors to benefit from what we’re doing, and I think the facility needs to reflect that.”