A Complete List Of Things That ODA Got Rid of Because “Not Enough Students Used Them”

By Juliana Daigneault

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The ODA community is constantly growing and developing, and with this comes a lot of new changes. We are constantly improving in many ways, and though it is important not to dwell on the past, we have an interesting opportunity to hear about how life was for the students before us. 

 

1. Classes for French and Japanese 

   • Currently, ODA only offers Mandarin, Spanish, and Latin. It could be interesting to see these options reintroduced in the future, perhaps the year after you graduate.   

2. Build Your Own Burger Station in the Commons 

   • Students could choose from a variety of toppings, never running out of choices for lunch.  

3. Pool Table in the Library

   • The pool table was donated to ODA in the 1960s by a philanthropic family. Though overcrowded at first, the pool table lost popularity after the 8 ball was stolen. 

4. Mini-Aquarium in the Arts Building

   • Though it wasn’t exactly removed due to a lack of use, the mini-aquarium had to be taken out of the building after a glass-shattering incident involving a chorus student reaching too high of a pitch.

5. Policy for Paying a Teacher $10 to be Moved up a Letter Grade

   • Now, with the policy gone, this only works with a few of the teachers. 

6. VIP Room in the Student Center

   • The VIP room was shut down after complaints from the English class next door. The room is now an office.

7. Option to Take a Private Jet Instead of a Bus

   • The private jet program only existed for a couple of months before students that couldn't afford it raised concerns about “ethicality” and “the environment.”  

8. The Fountain of Eternal Youth

   • We’re still searching for why the project was abandoned, and where it could have gone.