The Ralph L. Collins Living-Learning Center is full of history and the President's office is looking to erase a significant part of that.

Smith, Cravens, and Edmondson Halls all make up this historic quad. As the very first dorm on campus built in 1924, Smith began as Washington Hall and was renamed South Hall in 1925. North, now Cravens, and West, now Edmondson, were built in 1940, completing the Men's Residence Center, and given their current names in 1959.

What would become the Collins LLC was formed in 1972 and known as the MRC-LLC, the first LLC on campus. The quad was officially named the Ralph L. Collins Living-Learning Center in 1980, named for the first MRC headmaster, who also held many other positions at IU.

Over its long history, the Collins Living-Learning Center has evolved into what it is today. Not only is the quad residential buildings, but it is also a community and a home. Students who have graduated from IU have still remained deeply connected to the LLC, some have even come back to help as staff.

The President's office wants to change the name from the Ralph L. Collins Living-Learning Center to the Ralph L. Collins Residence Center without consulting the staff or students until after they had made the decision. While to some, the change may not mean much, but to many of the residents at Collins, it represents an erasure of Collins as a community. Many students have found a home here which has allowed them to meet new people and explore everything that Collins has to offer. 

The President's office wants to make this change the same year we are celebrating our 50th anniversary as a Living-Learning Center. The fact they did not consult anyone feels like a blow to our autonomy as a largely student-run organization.