Burruss Hall is named after our 8th school president- Julian Burruss. He was the first alumni to become president and his claim to fame is convincing the board of visitors to allow white women to attend the college.
Much of the money to build this came from the New Deal. Several other buildings were finished around this time including Eggleston (now dorms and offices), Owens (built to replace the aging mess hall, now an a la carte food court) and Squires (now includes classrooms, diversity offices, SGA, Breakzone- bowling and pool, Au Bon Pain, Sbarro, two ballrooms... known as the hang out place on campus) to name a few. The main part of Burruss was finished in 1936. By the 70s both the east and west wing had been completed. there is a 3000 person aditorium on the lower level. The rest of the building is mainly offices (including the President Steger's office) and some classrooms (mainly for architecture). Anytime someone visits the college with their kids, they start off with an info session in Burruss Auditorium. I'd have to say even before Lane Stadium, this one building is what our campus is identified by. That's clearly shown by the placement of the April 16 Memorial right in front of Burruss.
I remember my first week of classes I had to go to the horrid pits of hell- otherwise known as the Math Emporium. Buses run from Burruss straight to the empo. One of the girls on my hall told me to just wait in front of Burruss and the right bus would come. I got there half an hour early just to make sure I wouldn't miss it, I was so nervous!
At different times throughout the day Burruss plays music from its tower. My roommate and I sophomore year would always make jokes about it walking across the drillfield to our 8am. I've never been able to figure out exactly what it is, but I think it has something to do with the cadets.
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