Successful Opening of the PASA/OLAS House

ARSHI HUSAIN ‘26 (SHE/HER) FEATURES EDITOR

PC House #12 officially opened as a communal space under the names of the Pan-Asian Student Association (PASA) and the Organization of Latinx American Students (OLAS) on Thursday, April 13. After a year of conversation s between the two organizations and the school administration, PASA and OLAS celebratorily opened the doors to the house.

Looking back at how the repurposing process for the old Kappa Alpha house began, a team was created from student applicants and staff across campus, representing a diversity of opinions and perspectives in fall of 2021. They relied on IdeaTrek, an idea submission and evaluation platform with parameters for submissions, comments, and feedback and a timeline for moving forward. This committee invited the campus community to give suggestions on how the space should be utilized. By the end of the semester, it had identified the OLAS/PASA house as the best possible usage.

Simultaneously, the PASA and OLAS executive boards expressed a need for the house. In a letter to the Activities Tax Council (ATC), they wrote, “We desire a place where we can form a community and leave a legacy to pave the way for future students. The house will be used for a variety of events for hundreds of students, allowing them to reconnect with their cultural roots.” These events include movie nights, information panels, cuisine socials (such as boba, Cafecito, or hotpot events), trivia, book clubs, and study halls to promote learning and inclusion.

PASA and OLAS, both equally large affinity groups on campus, have worked together for several months to talk about the nuances of the layout of the house.

“PASA and OLAS are very united, and when it comes to the house, we all work together,” said OLAS House Manager, Israel Cabeza Diaz ‘26.

They have moved through the process democratically, voting on what color the rooms should be, what kind of furniture the house needs, and how the house should be used for events.

Both affinity groups also took turns touring the Black Student Coalition (BSC) house and took guidance from BSC executive board members. Similar to the BSC, the PASA/ OLAS house will be a dry house and members will be charged a $15 fee per semester, or a $25 fee per academic year.

Other student groups may use the house as well.

“Any organization is open to use the house, but they must sign up by filling a form,” Diaz said. “OLAS and PASA take precedent over other organizations to use the house.”

The PASA/OLAS house stands as a physcial manifestation of dicersity on campus.

“Students will be given the opportunity to see ethnic and cultural representation on campus and connect with a community that allows them to nurture a vital part of their identity,” Diaz said. “It will provide a safe space for all students at Davidson who support and encourage diversity.”

ATC Chair Bryce Anthony ’23 shed light on how the ATC and administration helped facilitate the conversion of the house,

“As far as the ATC’s involvement goes, Mike Goode played a crucial role in getting the house to where it is today,” Anthony said. “He’s been there throughout the entire process and made sure that it was done in the best way possible.”

According to Anthony, the year-long wait for the house to open was necessary in ensuring that it would serve its purpose adequately.

“Technically the OLAS/PASA house could have been moved into right after they settled on the idea but [Mike Goode] kind of slowed things down and made sure that when OLAS and PASA moved into the house, that it would be done in a way where these organizations could really love everything about the space and want to/be able to use it for many years to come.”

The opening of the house marks a significant moment in the history of the college.

“This was a really unique opportunity,” Anthony said. “The only other project on campus that has been similar to this one was the construction of the Spencer Weinstein Center [for Community and Justice].”

The PASA/OLAS house will continue to grow.

“This was [only] phase one of the house,” said PASA President Audrey Meigs ’23. “It included putting in new shelves, getting the rooms painted, cleaning out the basement…”

“The big thing for the summer is putting a ramp at the front of the house for accessibility and getting the bathrooms remodeled to make them gender neutral.” Diaz added. “We want the house to become a place of unity here on campus, a space where people can be themselves.”

The house already is being utilized for events and by various organizations. The Davidson Lambdas, for instance, reserved the space for their New Member Celebration. Similarly, PASA is taking full advantage of their new space by planning Asian alumni events at the house.

Meigs further emphasizes on the need to have a space that connects different affinity groups on campus.

“The house is going to be a really important space for affinity groups to be in dialogue with each other,” Meigs said. “We need that.”