Bruce Hall (University of North Texas)
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! colspan="2" | Bruce Hall, University of North Texas
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| colspan="2" style="padding: 1em 0; text-align: center;" | [[Image:Bruce Hall Roach.jpg]]
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|'''Full name'''
|style="padding-right: 1em;" | Bruce Hall
|-
|'''Mascot'''
|style="padding-right: 1em;" | Roach
|-
|'''Type'''
|style="padding-right: 1em;" | [[Fully-catered]], [[co-educational]]
|-
|'''Named after'''
|style="padding-right: 1em;" | Dr. William Herschel Bruce
|-
|'''Established'''
|style="padding-right: 1em;" | 1947
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|'''Association'''
|style="padding-right: 1em;" | Bruce Hall Association
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|'''Website'''
|style="padding-right: 1em;" | http://web2.unt.edu/bha/
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|}
:''This article is AbOUT the residence hall at the University of North Texas. For alternate uses, see [[Bruce Hall (disambiguation)]]''
Bruce Hall is a co-ed [[residence hall]] located at the [[University of North Texas]] in [[Denton, TX]]. Opened in February [[1947]], it is the oldest facility on that campus still operated as a dormitory.
==Layout and Structure==
Bruce Hall is located at the center of the [[University of North Texas]] (UNT) campus, on the corner of Avenue C and Chestnut Streets. The building was designed by architect [[George Dahl]], best-known for numerous buildings and monuments in Dallas, TX, including the [[Neiman-Marcus]] flagship store and [[Dealey Plaza]].
The building contains eleven wings of mostly resident rooms, mixed with various activity areas, utility rooms, and lounges. Each wing is unisex and features a centrally-located community bathroom with an average of five toilet stalls and five showers. Two [[handicapped-accessible]] rooms are found on the A200 wing. A [[resident assistant]] lives in a room at the center of the hallway as well as there being both a Housing Ambassador and Facilities Assistant on staff living in the building.
Unlike other buildings on campus, Bruce Hall features a pitched roof instead of a horizontal flat surface. This reddish-brown roof is broken up with small windows that lead into the attics on top. It was originally considered two dormitories within one building and divided internally into northern and southern halves. Additionally, a series of renovations have replaced a variety of public area rooms and added new ones, such as the [[Sherwood]] Lounge, which originally was a minor study room and is now a [[multimedia]] entertainment room.
==Wing Names==
At the beginning of each semester, each resident assistant is encouraged to coin a nickname for their wing. This is done to generate identity and a sense of community. Over the years, some of the wings have utilized traditional names that date back a number of years:
{| border="1"
! Wing !! Nickname
|-
! A300
| BΣT
|-
! B100
| The Highlands, The Legendary B100
|-
! C300
| Archer Ave.
|-
! D300
| The Rebel Alliance
|}
==Traditions==
===Organizations===
A number of student organizations have been based at Bruce Hall during its existence. Currently, the Bruce Hall Association (BHA) is an in-hall organization recognized as official by university administration. All members of Bruce Hall are automatically members, who annually elect four officers to represent them in the campus-wide Residence Hall Association (a fifth officer is appointed by the remaining four). Each year, BHA organizes a number of traditional annual programs, including the Bruce Jam and the Haunted House.
At one time or another, the following in-hall organizations were recognized as official, but such status has since expired:
* BΣT: based on the A300 wing was founded in 1977 as the Country Club.
* The Rebel Alliance: based in the D300 wing with its bathroom being known as "Echo Base", its membership was limited to its male residents along with their partners. Because of its adjacent location, female residents of the B300 wing had also been traditionally included
* The Highlands: based on the B100 wing, RA Brenton Thompson painted the end posterboard with a signature combination of the UNT green and the [[St. Andrew's Cross]] that makes up the flag of Scotland. Known for such later contributions as the [[Caber Toss]] to the Bruce Hall Olympics, the Highlands are often renamed based on the attitude of the current community. Due to its location in the basement, it is often considered to be a relaxed and mellow atmosphere.
* Sucky Movie Night: the students would rent the worst movie they could find, gather in the TV room called the Red Room, watch and then discuss the film.
* Craft Mafia: held in the concert hall, residents would learn about and create a variety of arts and crafts including knitting and crocheting.
Finally, there exists R.O.A.R., an unofficial student organization in the style of a mock-[[secret society]], the name of which is an [[backronym]] for Royal Order and Army of the Roach. Founded in 1996 by Elder Hesters and Elder G., members dressed themselves from head to toe in black clothing, going so far as to completely hide their faces with black masks and hoods. They portrayed themselves as the nameless embodiments of the community's spirit and could often be found at hall association meetings around campus, offering both comic relief and support.
===Programs===
Resident hall assistants and residents organize programs to help build community and awareness around the resident hall. Also, all were done because those who were involved and had attending had a great time running it and seeing all those that came out to make it what they were. Here's a list of some programs over the years that have made Bruce Hall what it is:
*Bruce Hall's Haunted House - annual program where the first floor basement area surround the laundry room and practice modules are converted into a multi-room Haunted House. Many of the residents and resident assistants and at times, members from other resident halls participate and help to create a great program. In recent years, the Bruce Hall Haunted House has drawn large crowds, with over 1,000 people visiting over the two days it stays open.
*T.A.G. (The Assassination Game) - first purposed in 1977 as a B200 wing program, a simple game of TAG as we have all played as children has been converted to a resident hall-wide program that has had as many as 100+ participants. Simple premise - kill or be killed. The more "kills" you attain, the higher ranks you rise, and thus, you get "powers", such as Boobie Traps, Ninja Death Cards, The Lightsaber of Doom, and of course, Words of Power like "SPAM!" and "YOU'RE NOT MY FATHER!"
*King Koopa's Video Game Thingy - first introduced in the Fall of 2001, was proposed by three resident assistants (Jason Ford, Matt Sandate, Andy Leake) and help from the board of Bruce Hall Association made King Koopa one of the most successful programs in Bruce Hall's history. In its first semester of existence, it drew crowds of over 350+ participants as people came by the Bruce Hall Lobby with their video game systems, ranging from "old school" Ataris, NES, and SNES, to (at the time) new systems like Dreamcast, Playstation, and Nintendo 64. Live entertainment is generally provided in the form of local DJs.
===Awards===
At the end of every spring semester, the Resident Hall Association presents the Hall of the Year award to that dorms hall association that has created the best community not only in their own hall, but all around campus. Attendance, participation, originality, and uniquness are among the many qualities that make the hall of the year. Each hall that wishes to be nominated must submit a written bid and present a presentation (live and/or prerecorded). Another award presented on the same day as the Hall of the Year award is the Most Improved Hall. Bruce Hall Association (BHA) has won both these awards a number of times in its history.
==== Hall of the Year ====
''1996'' - <br />
''1999'' - Advisor Matt McGarity, President Brad Moseng, Vice President Nan Little, Treasurer Mike "slappy" Schurpenberg <br />
''2003'' - Advisor Billy Roussel, President Son Nguyen , Vice President Bill Close, Secretary Ben Roman, Treasurer Derek Gates, RHA Rep Patrick Stewart <br />
''2004'' - Advisor Billy Roussel, President Derek Gates, Vice President Ben Roman, Secretary Amanda Martine, Treasurer Patrick Stewart, RHA Rep Jordan Pokladnik
==== Most Improved Hall ====
''1988'' - <br />
''2002'' - Advisor Billy Roussel, President Nate McGraw, Vice President Son Nguyen, Secretary Laura Jones, Treasurer Bill Close, RHA Rep Sarah Lundeen
===Ghosts===
Bruce Hall has a local reputation for paranormal activity thanks to its famous ghosts. Wanda and The Boiler Room Ghost (Boiler Room Bill) have garnered the most regional acclaim (Wanda is said to be found behind the always locked attic door next to room D418), although residents have reported encounters with additional spirits.
===Naming Conventions===
A variety of places within the dormitory are named in seemingly arbitrary or contrived manners. The tradition, however, dates back to at least the early 1990s. When an RA or Hall Director left the hall to graduate or pursue other interests, they were given the option of naming an area in a style befitting the area or its identity. Names include the Sherwood Lounge, the Jon Collins Concert Hall, The Ford, The Czech Stop, DK's Honeymoon Suite, The Red Room, and more. As of late the tradition has fallen into obscurity as the university no longer provides the appropriate placards for the official naming, and fewer areas exist to be named.
In October of 2007, it was announced that the Bruce Hall front desk will be renamed the Jessica Birge Front Desk or simply put, "The Birge," after the tragic death of former Resident Assistant Jessica Birge in August of 2007.
===Mascot===
The Roach became the mascot of the building in the 50s when an abundance of roaches became a badge of courage. The assertion was made that [...] roaches was off limits as they were a protected species, and hence their vast numbers. The installation of air conditioning units scared a majority of them away, although all old buildings on the campus are plagued by roaches, crickets, etc. While the above reason is most likely the true cause of the roach mascot, a more popular rumor states many years ago, Bruce was infested with roaches and nothing the administration could do could fix the problem. After failing to rid themselves of the roaches, the residents decided that acceptance and coexistence might be a better solution. Upon the official adoption of the roach as the mascot, the problem ended and the roaches left the hall alone for the most part. The roach has been the mascot ever since.
The unofficial symbol for the community is the “Celtic Roach”, so-called because its intricate design evokes the weave patterns found in Celtic symbols. It was originally designed by former BHA Treasurer Rebecca Watkins.
==Miscellaneous==
Outside of Bruce Hall on its southwest corner is a [[time capsule]] buried during the building’s 50th anniversary celebration. It contains one item from each resident and staff member. Its marker states it should be opened April 9, [[2047]].
Because of its proximity to the music and art buildings, Bruce is known mostly as the artists' and musicians' dorm. There are music practice rooms in the bowels of the building, and many eccentric residents have lived there over the years, constructing interesting art projects in the lobby and environs, expressing themselves with free spirited dress (kilts and combat boots, anyone?), and juggling Jell-O in the cafeteria. The folks who hang out in the lobby became know years ago as the "lizards", short for "Lobby Lizards." However in recent years the phrase "Lobby Rats" has also been used to describe the students in the lobby.
For many years there was no air conditioning in the dorm, but ceiling fans and window units began arriving in the late 80s and early 90s to the relief of the residents. Bruce was the last dormitory on campus to allow smoking inside the building, but that privilege was revoked starting fall of 2001.
==Famous Alumni==
===Individuals===
* [[Norah Jones]] (lived in C319)
* [[Meat Loaf]] (unconfirmed)
* [[Don Henley]] (unconfirmed)
===Bands===
* [[Last Rites]]: members of this band eventually went on to form other bands such as [[Slow Roosevelt]], [[Ugly Mustard]], [[Caulk]], and [[Goo Goo Dolls]]
* [[Mugzu]]
* [[Mingo Fishtrap]]
* [[March Arc]]
* [[Masato]]
* [[Super Grover]]
* [[The Tenacious III]]
==External links==
* [http://web2.unt.edu/bha/ Bruce Hall homepage]
* [http://housing.unt.edu/housing/halls/?hall=Bruce%20Hall Bruce Hall at UNT Housing and Residence Life homepage]
* [http://media.www.ntdaily.com/media/storage/paper877/news/2002/10/31/UndefinedSection/Haunted.Helpers-1886107.shtml NT Daily Article about the Bruce Hall Haunted House]
* [http://www.unt.edu/northtexan/archives/s03/swbruce.htm Story about how the Red Room turned Blue]
* [http://www.spamboy.com/stories/wanda-the-bruce-hall-ghost/ Story about Wanda the ghost]
* [http://www.baboonland.com/sstories_paranormal2.htm Another Wanda story]
* [http://dapsghost.com/videos.html Denton Area Paranormal Society videos inside Bruce]
* [http://youtube.com/watch?v=WvboWLvl1jo Partial recording of Bruce Hall's 2003 Hall of the Year winning presentation]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGQZICFIvjA Bruce Hall's 2007 Hall of the Year presentation]
[[Category:Denton County, Texas]]
[[Category:Paranormal]]
[[Category:University and college dormitories in the United States]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges in the Dallas-Fort Worth area]]
[[Category:University of North Texas]]