Ann Marie Juarez/ The Johnsonian
Scholars Walk is a common meeting ground for students. It connects to academic buildings such as Kinard and Owens and also provides a pathway to DiGiorgio Campus Center.
Whether students are going to class, grabbing a bite to eat or riding the Comporium bikes, Scholars Walk is an integral part of the everyday lives of Winthrop students. The wooden pergolas, which once had swings suspended from them, are now home to benches and rocking chairs and provide space for students to hang their hammocks.
The wooden pergolas began to rot an unsafe amount last year, and the swings were taken down in addition to the swings becoming unhinged. Winthrop President Dan Mahony released a statement in 2018 explaining the temporary absence of the swings due to safety concerns. Community interest in bringing the swings back has been steadfast, and students have felt the shift in the dynamic of Scholars Walk.
“Scholars Walk doesn’t feel as open and inviting anymore. With the white swings, I was more tempted to sit down and chill before class and run into my friends than I am now. I literally just go to class and then back to my apartment,” said Ashleigh Scipio, a junior at Winthrop.
Students and alumni reminisced about their histories with the swings. “They’re amazing for the culture on campus. People would sit on the swings and converse with friends in between classes. People would study while swinging and enjoying Winthrop’s beautiful campus. They allowed students to enjoy being outdoors even for just a little while,” said Kimberly Elder, a senior at Winthrop.
“My personal experience both as a student and an instructor is sitting in the swings enjoying my Starbucks coffee while reading or studying between classes that I took and or classes that I taught. Especially in the fall, I enjoyed the cooler weather in the nice breeze,” said William Green, who graduated from Winthrop as part of the Class of 2014.
“During my freshman year, the swings are where I met some of my best friends and my current boyfriend, so it’s like for me the swings were a way of bringing us all together,” said Ashleigh Scipio.
Justin Oates, Winthrop’s vice president for finance and business affairs, reiterated that the removal of the swings on Scholars Walk was purely to ensure the utmost safety on campus. The issue with the previous swings had to do with the wood the pergolas were made from. Wood experiences damage after continued use. Oates mentioned the possibility of using a different material, such as steel, to rebuild the swings and ensure longevity and safety. Using higher-quality materials comes at a higher cost.
Oates said the swings have not been forgotten about, but other priorities took precedent such as restoring classrooms and refurbishing roofs. More projects in the works mentioned by Oates were the intent to repair the fence on Oakland Avenue.
In October, there will be discussion with board members on the swings of Scholars Walk. Oates addressed the importance of Winthrop’s students and alumni and how the final call on the swings will have a lot to do with student engagement and what is best for the student body, whether that is a similar swing structure or something different.
On Sept. 5, some of the rotted wood on the pergolas was removed to ensure safety though Oates said that the rest of the pergolas will not be removed any time soon.
The remaining pergolas have been deemed safe for hammock use and will continue to be monitored. While the remaining structures are safe, if the swings are brought back it will be at a larger scale and on a completely new structure. Updates and more conversation in the coming months about the swings are expected.
