Barnard College - Mortarboard Yearbook (New York, NY)

Page 30 text:

On our return to Barnard in the fall of ' 53 we were delight- ed to see a new Barnard. Al- though the exterior was the same . . . the dignified iron gates in front of Barnard Hall, the stone benches along the paths, the ivy on the columns . . . the interior had been mod- ernized. Three gleaming brass doors replaced the impractical single door at the entrance of Milbank. Entrance to Milbank Hall 1 r 1 Barnard Hall in Spring The atrocious friezes along the stairways, no longer regarded as fine art, had been defty removed. Classroom walls were bright- ened by cheerful yellows, blues and mauves, fluorescent lighting and even green black- boards! Seminar rooms were equipped with attractive, modern tables and chairs, and — at last — enough ashtrays for the chain smokers. To meet the demands of day students, lounges were furnished with functional comfortable chairs and sofas. The outstand- ing accomplishment in this department was the transformation of the dingy Barnard Hall cafeteria into the sunny James Room. Gay linoleum, blonde wood tables beautiful chairs upholstered in eye-catching colors and a radio-phonograph console were part of the miracle. Now Barnard commuters have a cheery spot to meet their fellow stu- dents and to bring their men friends.