At the dinner preceding the dedication of Hatfield Hall for the Performing Arts on November 9, 2002 I had the great pleasure of thanking Mike and Debbie Hatfield on behalf of the Institute and the Board of Trustees for their extraordinary gift. I would like to share some of my thoughts regarding the performing arts at Rose-Hulman and the importance of Hatfield Hall.

From the very beginning of Rose in 1883, there was an interest in the performing arts. By 1889 there was an Orchestra Club. A year later there was a concert by the Glee Club and the orchestra. A Mandolin and Guitar Club was formed and a public concert given in 1896 under the direction of President Mees. In 1903 a Symphony Club was formed. There were stage performances as well. A spoof called Red Riding Hood was performed in 1904, and several Gilbert and Sullivan operettas were presented, including HMS Pinafore and the Mikado.

The Glee Club was so popular there were varsity and associate divisions. Spring musicals were performed in Marshall and Paris, Illinois. World War I and the depression took their toll, but the Glee Club continued. There were performances over WBOW, the local radio station. The ROTC unit had a band which played at football games and community parades. In the ’50s there were choral competitions between the four fraternities. In 1964 the Drama Club was established. There were a fine art series under Dr. Benjaminov and the Engineers in Concert under Professor North. Over the years, touring groups, performers and speakers appeared at Rose-Hulman.

Prior to my enrollment in 1949, I am confident the facilities for the performing arts were very spartan. It is unlikely there was an auditorium. In 1949 there was no auditorium. The room that later became the auditorium had served as a dormitory for returning World War II veterans and then as a basketball court. The room was so small that it was difficult to go out of bounds without sustaining bodily injury from the closely spaced walls. Some called it "Splinter Hall." After Shook Field House opened, the room was converted into a classroom for mechanical drawing.

In the middle ’50s, Splinter Hall was converted into an auditorium. It was not air conditioned, so it was consistently uncomfortably hot, had wooden benches, no place for an orchestra and terrible acoustics. Someone said acoustically it was more suitable for testing air raid sirens than for musical and or dramatic performances. Although air conditioning finally came in the mid ’80s the poor acoustics remained. Despite all of these handicaps, the interest in the performing arts persisted. That interest was continuous from the beginning and to this day is a part of the educational experience at Rose. I am happy to say with the opening of Hatfield Hall the auditorium is being totally remodeled and will become a part of the Computer Science Department.

 In 1989 Dr. Hulbert announced the program we call the "Vision to be the Best." The program included the enhancement of the curriculum, student aid and facilities. The master plan included the remodeling of the Student Union, a new athletic complex, additional residence halls, additional laboratories and teaching facilities and a performing arts center. Some called it a vision, others called it a dream. At times the trustees wondered how we could get this done. Well, we found out – our alumni, the faculty and staff, the students, our friends, the local community, the foundations all bought into the Vision. The capital fund drives were over subscribed in less than half the allotted time.

At the dedication there were outstanding performances by the Glee Club, Drama Club and the Terre Haute Symphony. The acoustics and aesthetics of the auditorium and the entire facility are first rate. Hatfield Hall is an important contribution to the Vision to be the Best.