Holy Crap--I lived in the same tiny residence hall as our President-Elect!

[Bicoastal]

Haines Hall is considered one of the classier dorms on the Occidental College campus--it was built in 1940s, and in a city as young as Los Angeles, 70 years is old enough to be considered "classic." Each room had a sink, which was nice if you were extra-concerned about your pre-bathroom grooming in the morning. There were chandeliers in the lobby, as well as a grand piano and the all-necessary TV + DirectTV hookup. Other than that, I don't remember much about the dorm I stayed in sophomore year...

...and today I open up the Alumni Magazine to learn that Barack "Barry" Obama stayed at Haines during his two years at Occidental.

Up until now, Occidental's graduates have not included too many superstars (politician Jack Kemp, filmmaker Terry Gilliam, and poet Robinson Jeffers were really the biggest names we had when I applied). As you might expect, in the last few months Occidental students have gone Obama-crazy--this election was the biggest thing to happen to our unknown little school in so many years. After 4 years of post-graduate life, I considered myself to be pretty aloof and detached from any alumni-worship, but this latest info has really made me stop and think:

It's probable that a future POTUS hung out in the hallways late at night, talking with his dorm-mates about politics and philosophy, and music and movies as well. Probable too that he occasionally went down to the lobby to watch some circa 1980 TV. Hell, for all I know, he could have lived in the very same room where I lived, 20 years earlier than my time, and shared the same thoughts I did: thoughts about deadlines, girls, and the ever-looming Future that kept me awake long into the night.

I thought this sort of thing only happened at Ivy's like Harvard and Yale, but now it's come to my little alma mater as well. In 40, 50 years from now, I'll be able to walk on campus with my grandchildren and tell them proudly "See that building? I lived there when I was a student..."

"...and so did a guy who later became President."

PS: Barry Obama regularly ate at a pizzeria near campus that I also frequented, called Casa Bianca. Guess what that means in English?

[hisownpetard]

1. How cool!

[rvablue]

2. That's so cool! Maybe you guys shared the same room too! I think some reserach is in order?

One would think the college would have records of this and of course, would want to mark the room where he lived.

YOu've got to find out and report back...it is a cool revelation!

[cbc5g]

3. does it mean white house? I think the campus is located on a 1600 ave. as well

lol

[Bicoastal]

4. Sorta. The alumni magazine has a caption: "From 1600 Campus Road to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue!"

[peoli]

5. Casa Bianca translates into, "He who eateth here, dost wisheth to becometh leader of the land"

[Bicoastal]

6. WHITE HOUSE!

:P

[kwassa]

8. no, Casablanca is White House

not Bianca.

Humphrey Bogart knew better.

[Bicoastal]

9. Blanca means white in SPANISH. This Pizzeria is ITALIAN (big surprise)...

...and thus uses the Italian word for white: Bianca

(Remember, Morocco used to belong to Spain, not Italy!)

[crimsonblue]

7. big whoop

I took a dump in the same stall as Larry "wide stance" Craig. :D