A friend from my hometown of Shamokin, Pa., was already attending Penn State when I was an incoming freshman, and she lived in the Earth & Mineral Sciences Interest House in West Halls. At the time, interest houses were the only coed dorms on campus, and once you were in, you were guaranteed a room in that dorm for all four years if you so desired. Most freshmen weren’t aware of interest houses, and she encouraged me to select one.

Most IHs were focused on a course of study, but I had no idea what my ultimate major would be—I started as a biology major and ended up with a marketing degree—so it was hard to choose. Then I saw Renaissance Interest House, open to any major. Renaissance was located on fourth floor Leete in North Halls, and I chose to stay there all four years—in fact, I was in the same room, 404.

Each year, someone on the floor would design a logo, and we’d have shirts printed up. This is mine, circa 1984. It was designed by Carl Lohmann, another Renaissance House member. Note that the neck and waist were cut off—this was the age of Flashdance! -Margaret Hack Merlino ’85 Bus

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