Don’t miss the last bus

Alumni pushed together two tables to accommodate a large group of Golden Flyers men and their partners. What do they have in common? A shared, unconventional first-year housing assignment 5 miles from campus more than 50 years ago.

In spring of 1960, the University of Dayton acquired the Thomas Hospital at Gettysburg and Germantown Pike and turned the former tuberculosis hospital into male dormitories and classroom spaces to help manage a sharp increase in the student body. The building, known as University Hall, became UD’s West Campus.

The 400-or-so all-male students residing in “U-Hall” quickly formed a tight-knit community as they were distanced from typical university life, said Art Elias ’75:

“It was definitely a bonding experience, and we all keep in touch after 50 years.” 

Those who didn’t have the luxury of a personal vehicle to make the commute rode the bus provided by the University. 

“The buses stopped around 10 p.m., and if you missed it, you were stuck on campus for the night,” said Ralph Alparone ’75.

Bob Kohorst ’75 remembered missing that last bus to U-Hall a few times: “A couple of nights I slept in the Campus Ministry office,” he said with a laugh. “They had the comfiest couch!” 

During the school day, the students had favorite hangout spots. 

“I spent a lot of time between classes in the Flyer Radio room watching The Brady Bunch,” said Steve Kovacs ’75. 

James Brothers has heard many of such stories as a chief fundraiser for the School of Business Administration. He also knows many of the West Campus men didn’t make it past their first year. 

“They didn’t have that ‘on-campus’ experience,” Brothers said. But many of the men who did return for their reunion. “These are the ones who stayed, and the strength of their friendships formed that first year are clear.”

What could have been an isolating first-year college experience instead formed strong friendships to last a lifetime — as long as you didn’t miss the bus.

photos by Sylvia Stahl