It was about a year ago, on a cold February morning, that Michigan State University dedicated Morrill Plaza, a park-like piece of land that pays homage to Morrill Hall, which once stood on that spot.
The plaza also pays tribute to MSU faculty, both present and past, in the form of a kiosk. Located at the southeast end of the plaza, the interactive kiosk allows visitors to learn about the faculty member and his or her contributions not only to MSU, but also to the state of Michigan and beyond.
Equipped with assistive technology, the kiosk contains two touchscreen panels. All a visitor needs to do is touch the screen and follow the spoken and written instructions.
When the plaza was formally dedicated on Feb. 11, 2014, there were perhaps a dozen faculty featured. Today there are more than 130.
The faculty range from Maude Gilchrist, who served as dean of women at what was then known as Michigan Agricultural College from 1901 to 1913; to Barnett Rosenberg, a professor of biophysics who in the 1960s developed cisplatin, one of the most successful cancer treatment drugs in history; to Rodney Whitaker, currently a professor in the College of Music who helped build MSU’s jazz program into one of the top in the nation.
Morrill Plaza is located on the site where Morrill Hall stood for more than 100 years. It features benches and trees, as well as a walkway that sits almost exactly where the hall’s main hallway existed.
Constructed in 1900, Morrill Hall first served as a women’s residence hall. In 2013 the building was vacated and demolished after it was determined that it had suffered irreparable deterioration.
For more information, visit http://morrillplaza.msu.edu/kiosk/web.html#.