By Tyler White | Staff Writer
What defines the legacy of Collins Hall? Is it the rich history of the building, or is it something deeper? With the recent renovation and reopening of Collins, some may wonder how much of the legacy will be impacted by these changes.
Two years ago, Baylor posted on Facebook about the opportunity to purchase personalized bricks to be used in the Collins renovation. On the post, hundreds of former Collins residents commented about their room numbers, old roommates and unforgettable memories from their time in the hall.
“In 1958-59, room 347 was home away from home for me,” Facebook user Fran Rankin Lucas commented. “Freshman granddaughter took a photo of the door of 347 in Collins. She’s in S. Russell. Grandson is a senior living off campus. Great memories!”
These comments show the widespread impact of living in Collins, which has been described as a “home away from home” for many Baylor students throughout the years. The first-year residential community’s history connects women across generations.
Stacey Beckham Lake Gould, a 1981 Baylor graduate, lived in Collins her freshman year in 1977. She said she desperately wanted to live in Collins because her sister had lived there, and she wanted to be a part of its legacy.
“When I filled out my preference, my housing preference card, you put down three choices,” Gould said. “I put Collins for No. 1, put Collins for No. 2 and put Collins for No. 3.”
Gould said the transition into Collins was seamless, making her feel right at home immediately. In the hall, she learned how important friendship was and began to form deep bonds with her fellow residents.
“We had wonderful memories of meeting our friends and then, in the spring, pledging together,” Gould said. “We all had made such close friends among ourselves.”
Gould said she made many fond memories during her time at Collins. One tradition she remembered was the “late rose.” She said when a date brought a Collins freshman back past curfew, he would have to buy a rose for every minute past curfew.
“If he got you in three minutes late, he better have three long-stem roses waiting at the front desk for you the next morning,” Gould said.
Another tradition Gould shared was the “panty raid” that took place at the beginning of the year.
“[Collins freshmen] would write their phone number on their panties and then throw the panties out the window, and the boys would run around and try to get as many pairs of panties as they could,” Gould said. “Then they would go home and call the phone numbers.”
Kristin Cole, a 1997 Baylor graduate, lived in Collins her freshman year in 1993. She said she didn’t have the same eagerness to live in Collins initially, and she wasn’t aware of the history of its legacy.
“I kind of came into it blindly, and my experience was, ‘Wow, you’re living in a building with 600 other girls,’” Cole said. “That’s a lot of people living under one roof, but I actually really came to enjoy living in the dorm life.”
When she became a resident assistant the following year, Cole said she began to find her niche in the Collins community.
“We were a staff of 12 [resident assistants], two directors and three office assistants, and that was just really great because we got to understand how to create a great atmosphere for our residents,” Cole said.
Cole said she still cherishes many good memories that took place in Collins. One tradition involved every wing in the hall nominating one man from the other halls to compete in a talent show, with the prize being the title of “Mr. Collins Hall.”
“The whole point of it was to bring people together, to bring your wing of residents together to work on something, but also to get out there and get to know some of the guys from the other dorms,” Cole said. “It was pretty hilarious.”
Although Gould and Cole had different introductions to Collins, they both experienced the same connection that Collins provides. During their time there, they formed lifelong friendships and memories that have remained with them to this day. Gould said she still meets with a small group of former Collins residents annually. They go to a country club in East Texas that reminds them of the community life in their first-year residence hall.
“We all say that God brought us together at 18 years old in Collins,” Gould said. “We loved each other then, but we had no idea that God brought us together at that point so that when we were in our 60s, we would be just as close. And we’ve all experienced life.”
Similarly, Cole said she cherished her time as both a resident and a resident assistant. Years later, she said she still keeps in contact with the friends and former staff she met at Collins.
“I have lifelong friendships with some of those girls that I met through Collins — living there and being on staff as an RA — and I still talk to them on a yearly basis,” Cole said. “I have a lot of fond memories there, a lot of fun memories.”
Despite the renovation, Gould said the changes don’t alter what Collins really is, as the legacy goes beyond the building itself.
“Over the years, we’ve seen changes, but it’s still Collins,” Gould said. “I think it’ll always be Collins. It’ll always be the hotspot. It’ll be the new and improved Collins, but the legacy is still there.”
Cole said the legacy is deeper than just the brick and mortar of the Collins building. She said the people who live there and experience its community are what define its legacy.
“It’s the heritage and the story and a life in the spirit behind Collins that carries on the legacy,” Cole said. “It’s not the bones of it.”
