By Rosina Beritela ’22 Copy Editor
The character of Swank Hall is elusive, difficult to pin down. Located between South Cottage and Main Hall, two strong characters, Swank is often overlooked. Every other dorm seems to have a definitive type while Swank contains a unique and eclectic group of girls. The distinctive personalities that normally belong to the dorm as a whole come from the girls who live in Swank Hall. We are all so different that it is a challenge to state precisely what makes Swank what it is.
A few months ago, the prefects gathered to make a video depicting what it means to be a Mercersburg student. The angle was a Mercersburg take on the reality show, The Bachelorette. As a part of the project, the prefects decided on a persona that would represent their dorm. The other groups had a relatively easy time defining their characters. For Swank, however, the essence of our dorm was not as simply found. We struggled for much longer than expected before finally settling on an idea.
Swank girls are gregarious. The most prominent personality trait that these girls share is friendliness. Nine evenings out of ten, the common room is occupied by an ever-changing group of girls chatting about the day or continuing a discussion begun in class. Amelia Page ‘21 says, “I really like the relaxing environment Swank provides while still being a fun place to be.” No matter which faculty member or prefect is on duty that day, some time during the night a little group will gather to hang out. When I have a lot of homework, the common room turns into a bear trap. If I walk in and am not careful, I will get caught talking to someone without the willpower to leave and do my work. Sometimes my own hallway isn’t safe. I could walk out into the hallway, passing someone leaving the bathroom and be swept into a delightful conversation. We are so friendly that it can be to fault.
Eliza DuBose ‘20 frequently succumbs to all of this friendliness. She explains, “Our common room is the place to congregate. When you come down to check in, you end up staying and talking with the other girls or the faculty. We’re all friends. I talk with Mr. Brinson about books all the time.”
Being a dorm for upperclassmen, Swank is full of young ladies who are leaders on campus. While we know how to have fun talking and bonding in common rooms, we also know how to be mature. We rarely have problems respecting the rules of study hours, of being quiet and hushed. We also take competition very seriously. These are the proud, twice consecutive reigning champs of the Eco-Dorm Water Challenge that we are talking about. Katrina Lovegren ‘21 says, “The beautiful thing about Swank is being surrounded by prefects and faculty who are so supportive and kind. I feel like myself and I feel like I’m a part of not only a sisterhood, but a family.”
Swank may not be as defined in quite the same way as the other dorms, but we are a perfect mix of girls that have become incredibly close. As Lauren Besch ‘20 says, “There are so many opportunities to connect with other girls. The dorm is just a really positive place this year.”
We are always there for each other, whether it’s to listen to a frustration-fueled rant or to proofread essays written on three hours of sleep. The faculty is just as diverse as the young residents of this wonderful dorm. They range from the sweet Mr. Brinson to the outgoing Ms. Stephens. Periodically we have impromptu visits from Ms. Brewer’s adorable dog, Olive. If you are still not convinced that Swank is the place to be, just remember that we have the cheapest pints of ice cream on campus and the widest variety.