Granskou Remarks

Early visions of a commons building
I am leaning strongly to the conviction that we ought to exert ourselves to the utmost to build a commons building. It should, in my way of thinking, include recreation rooms, parlors, an auditorium to seat four or five hundred students, with theater equipment, at least one cafeteria, and two or three dining rooms. The parlors in the building should be quite ample to provide the space for larger crowds.

— C. M. Granskou to Architect A. I. Raugland, Nov. 24, 1943

On the dedication of the building
A few years ago a group of students began planning for the future of St. Olaf. They felt the need for a new center on this campus with improved dining and recreational facilities. Instead of just talking, the students acted and assessed themselves a fee to start such a program. With the impetus of student action, St. Olaf turned to her alumni and friends, as she had so many times, for support. The alumni answered the call with a splendid effort in the form of the St. Olaf Development Fund Appeal.

Today we see the results of their appeal. The beautiful St. Olaf Center has already changed living patterns on the campus by uniting dining and recreational activities into one building for the first time. Funds from the appeal have augmented other efforts in faculty salary improvement — a program that has raised salaries more than 60 percent since 1954.

— Oct. 8, 1960