Kevin Porter, CSOM '11, lies in a circle with a group of friends at the edge of the Dustbowl early Monday morning. It is approaching 1 a.m., and the exterior lights shining from McGuinn Hall are the only source of illumination – allowing Porter and his friends to wrestle playfully on a sliver of green.
"Order and progress, my friend," Porter said. "Order and progress."
In less than 24 hours, the Dustbowl on which Porter and his friends frolic will be enclosed by a chain link fence that won't be taken down until the spring of 2012, leaving a fraction of an area that has served as field space for the University since it moved to Chestnut Hill.
Other students gathered late Sunday night to commemorate the closing of the Dustbowl. For juniors and seniors, it's a farewell. For freshmen and sophomores, it's a "see-you-soon."
"It's not so much a celebration," Porter said. "It's more of a mourning."
The construction project for which the fence will be built is for Stokes Hall, the first major construction performed under the University's Institutional Master Plan.
Stokes Hall, which will be constructed on the side of the Dustbowl closest to College Road, will include 36 new classrooms and faculty offices for the English, classical studies, history, philosophy, and theology departments.
The building plan also includes a common area, coffee shop, conference rooms, outdoor gardens, and a plaza.
Jennifer Adams, A&S '13, sits near Porter and his friends as they jump on top of each other. The night invokes memories of freshmen year on the Dustbowl – the place where she met many of her closest friends.
"I understand why it's happening," she said. "I saw the plans online and it's going to look really nice. But it's going to be a long time."
Anna Han, A&S '14, was walking back from the library while students were playing Frisbee and relaxing on blankets.
Han said that, since she has been at BC, she has regularly read in the Dustbowl, studying for her biology classes. "I remember going to all the freshmen barbeques, too," she said.
"We had all our games out here. I knew they were going to do construction, but I didn't think it would last that long. I really can't believe it."
is a member of the 
Be the first to comment on this article!