Most students here at Connecticut College are probably ignorant of the green building that stands amidst some trees, a playground and The Sprout Garden on the edge of campus near Crozier-Williams. Some might have a vague idea about what goes on inside this building, occasionally hearing loud noises bursting forth from the ominous building as they pass. But for the students on campus who play in bands, “The Barn,” as it is ceremoniously named, is a veritable haven for musical expression and growth.
Open to any band or individual interested in practicing their music, The Barn creates a space that transcends its physical presence. Musicians are able to jam, practice and experiment with their sound however they choose: a crucial step towards musical progress in a group. Due to the recent crumbling state of The Barn’s roof and floors however, parts of the musical experience started to diminish. This past summer, the administration rolled out plans to restore the hallowed grounds, a move that reflects President Bergeron’s “Think.Do.Lead” ideology.
The organization that oversees The Barn consists of a mixture of campus musicians and leaders. The group, Musicians Organization for Bands Rights on Campus (MOBROC), is led by Co-Presidents Caitlin Kullberg, ’16, and Joseph Gray, ’15, along with Vice-President Connor Storms, ’15 and Treasurer Jesse Guterman, ’16. They work closely with the Office of Student Engagement to plan shows, manage funds and maintain The Barn.
Though these students appreciate the importance of The Barn, Storms noted, “the condition of the space … began to take its toll on not only the structure, but also the equipment and in some cases the morale of members of MOBROC.” While it was a valuable space for meeting, last year Storms acknowledged that, “the leaking roof harmed a lot of our equipment, which was particularly devastating since the equipment we use is quite expensive and the funds we have to replace or repair this equipment are limited.” Unfortunately, The Barn has been deteriorating for several years now, which has left students frustrated yet determined.
Enter Jeanette Williams. Towards the end of last year and continuing into the summer, Williams worked closely with the Co-Presidents of MOBROC to outline a plan for renovating and refurbishing The Barn. Gray defined the timeline of the renovations: “The whole process started at the beginning of last year when I made a push to get our chronically leaky roof fixed. Jeanette contacted Physical Plant…[but] it was nearly Christmas before they had a chance to check out the damage…When Physical Plant went into the barn they (bless their sweet, sweet souls) decided to implement more extensive repairs.”
Kullberg admitted, “The Barn has been in great need of repair for years now… With the new roof, the replaced floorboards, the new doors, and the repainted walls, The Barn has become a much safer and more functional practice space for student musicians.” Not only has The Barn been repaired but because it is now up to code, MOBROC can also host events on campus; an exciting contrast to the prototypical Saturday Night Cro-dances (though I have been known to frequent one or two in my day.)
While the maintenance was a much-needed service to sustain the integrity of The Barn, some students maintain that the renovation is not enough. Drew Andre, ’16, a member of the campus band Montreal Protocol, along with the a cappella group Co-Co Beaux, extoled the hard work of the administration and Physical Plant: “The renovation is the dawn of a new era for the culture of MOBROC. The old Barn had character, but it also represented the state of the organization. With the new Barn, it’s almost like a blank slate.” But, while The Barn’s renewal is a step in the right direction, Andre hopes “the administration follows through with the renovation by allocating a little more funding. They gave us a nice space, but we still have equipment that holds us back.” Andre lamented that it “may not be important to the administration, but if you’re in the heat of the moment of playing, and you can’t hear yourself, or something goes wrong, it’s not okay, it’s not manageable.” Hopefully with Katherine Bergeron at the helm, this space for musical creativity can be improved and preserved for future generations of Camels.
Despite the shortcomings in MOBROC’s equipment, the group is unanimously excited about the newer, safer Barn. Despite the “old” Barn’s charm and eclectic aesthetic (student artists had decorated the walls over the years, giving the space an authentic and sacred atmosphere), the new Barn holds the promise of an alternative social space for members of the community to gather and listen to student music. With a little more work, MOBROC could, as Andre remarked, “revolutionize the social scene of weekend nights.” •
