Scottish Rite Dormitory

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Scottish Rite Dormitory
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Scottish rite dormitory 2007.jpg
The Scottish Rite Dormitory in 2007
Location210 W. 27th St
Austin, Texas, USA
Coordinates30°17′33″N 97°44′22″W / 30.29250°N 97.73944°W / 30.29250; -97.73944Coordinates: 30°17′33″N 97°44′22″W / 30.29250°N 97.73944°W / 30.29250; -97.73944
Built1922
ArchitectHerbert M. Greene
Architectural styleColonial Revival
NRHP reference No.98000404
RTHL No.15644
Significant dates
Added to NRHPApril 23, 1998
Designated RTHL1967

The Scottish Rite Dormitory (SRD) is a private women's dorm for the University of Texas built and operated by the Scottish rite of Freemasons in Austin, Texas. Located just north of campus on 27th Street and Whitis Avenue, the colonial revival style building was completed in 1922 during a housing shortage on campus and was intended to provide housing for the daughters and relatives of Master Masons.

Since its origin the building has relaxed its entry requirements somewhat, but is still well known among UT students for its strict rules only allowing male visitors during certain hours. Many girls are wait-listed for entry to the dorm beginning in high school or earlier.[1] Residents are often referred to as SaRDines. The dorm also employees young men as waiters and dishwashers.[2]

The dormitory was designed by Herbert Miller Greene, a prominent Dallas architect and active member of the Masons who in the early 1920s was chosen by the UT Board of Regents to become the university's official architect. Over the course of the next decade he designed a number of buildings for the Austin campus in the prevailing Mediterranean-influenced Beaux-Arts style, among them Garrison Hall, Littlefield Dormitory, the Biology Building, Gregory Gymnasium, the Chemistry Building, and Waggener Hall. Scottish Rite Dormitory was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.[3]

Old jokes about poor institutional food, especially in dormitories have never applied to SRD. Girls who have lived there usually mention the food first when expressing their feelings about the dormitory. One special dessert every SRD alumni nostalgically remembers is Chocolate Crumble Balls (CCB's). In addition to daily meals, the kitchen staff prepared special refreshments for birthday dinners, pajama parties, and other special occasions, such as the spring formal. [4]

Controversy[]

In November 2018, dormitory director Mary Mazurek and registrar Meshelle Bourne asked student Kaj Baker to meet with them to discuss guest rules. Baker was told she was no longer allowed to bring in guests for the rest of the semester after spending nights studying with her girlfriend in the SRD lounge. Baker claims Mazurek and Bourne took action because some of the residents in the dorm were not comfortable with Baker's sexual orientation despite no rule violations.[5]

Scottish Rite Dormitory investigated the concern and came to an amicable resolution.


External links[]

References[]

  1. ^ 1915-2017., Berry, Margaret C. (Margaret Catherine) (2007). Scottish Rite Dormitory at the University of Texas : a history: 1920-2007. Nortex Press. OCLC 226371733.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ editor., King, Amie Stone, compiler. It's a sardine's life for me : a memoir of the Scottish Rite Dormitory at the University of Texas at Austin. OCLC 857586771.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  3. ^ "TSHA | Greene, Herbert Miller". www.tshaonline.org. Retrieved 2021-07-12.
  4. ^ 1915-2017., Berry, Margaret C. (Margaret Catherine) (2007). Scottish Rite Dormitory at the University of Texas : a history: 1920-2007. Nortex Press. OCLC 226371733.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ Menchaca, Megan. "Off-campus dorm increases restrictions on LGBTQ student".


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