Trailer life not too shabby
Commentary
Jeff Dennis

Call sociology majors all the names you want, but just don’t call us trailer trash. At least, not just because the sociology department is located in a portable, uh, building.

It is apparently frowned upon by the university when this “building” is referred to as a trailer, but obviously the word just slips out from time to time. After all, the building used to be located between the Sid W. Richardson and Bass Buildings, that is, until plans were made to build the new Tucker Technology Center. What was to be done with the sociology department? Well, it just so happens that they hooked it up to a truck and pulled it to its present location behind the library. So it’s understandable that the building is often referred to as a trailer.

But always in an affectionate tone, of course.

It should be noted that sociology is not the only department located in a portable building, as it in fact shares the building with the criminal justice department. A few yards away, economics has its offices in another portable building, completing the trailer park them.

So what does this mean for the sociology department, as far as its place on campus? For one, maybe it means that sociology majors don’t make very much money. After all, the business department generally gets new buildings (see Sarah and Steve Smith Entrepreneurs Hall) when alumni donate a few million dollars to the program. Maybe sociology majors do get rich, but they are so devoted to social problems, they donate all their money to worldwide humanitarian efforts. At least that would be the noble reason.

It’s hard to expect the university to provide buildings for all the departments, but it is a little discouraging that campus tours visit the business building and talk about its wonderful state-of-the-art features while the sociology building is probably pointed to in passing. I don’t recall much mention of the sociology building when I toured campus, but then again, what would they say?

“To your left we have the sociology and criminal justice department offices. They have recently acquired central heat and air conditioning, and they project to have running water in the very near future.”

Honestly though, maybe it’s not such a bad place overall. Aside from a little joking around, the sociology professors generally speak well of the social atmosphere the building provides. All the offices are along one hallway, and in my experience, you can go in needing to talk to one professor and end up staying longer than you’d planned because you almost always see other professors you know walking the halls or in their offices with the doors open.

Another positive aspect is that the building is in good shape. From what I’ve heard from various professors, Reed Hall is not necessarily the best location for an office right now. I won’t elaborate, but let’s just say some of the bathrooms on the upper floors have some leaking problems.
Maybe one day I’ll end up rich and decide to drop a few million on a new building to house the departments now living the trailer park life.
But more realistically, I might be able to pitch in to get them a new double-wide.

Jeff Dennis is a senior sociology major from Gail. He can be reached at (j.a.dennis@tcu.edu).

credits

TCU Daily Skiff © 2003