An editor’s note was added to this article April 28.

Because of editing errors, the April 27 article “Students’ hearts live in Barton Hall” incorrectly indicated that Liz Beck, retired director of the honors program, attended a meeting in Freeman Hall involving former residents of Barton Hall.

The identities of the people at the meeting were inferences by Daily editors. The article should not have published without confirming the names of those present at the meeting. Publishing an inference as a fact is a violation of Daily ethical standards. The Daily regrets these errors.

The tall, columned building in the old Richardson Court Association is quiet at 10:30 p.m., like every night this year.

No music blares from open windows. No lights are on except for a few flickering fluorescent bars in the hallway. Two signs marked “Anders” and “Tappan” watch over vacant rooms.

Tonight, Barton Hall is silent.

Through most of its 87-year history, Barton Hall has seen much activity. In 1928, women rose at 6 a.m. to cook breakfast for their housemates. During World War II, Barton residents ran aid stations and organized war bond drives until they were displaced by the Navy Air Corps for a year.

Next door in Freeman Hall, a new generation of displaced Barton residents sit at their last house meeting without their building. Todd Holcomb, interim director for the Department of Residence; Ginny Arthur, director of residence life; and Liz Beck, retired director of the honors program, are there with carpet squares and paint samples in hand.

With the end of the year approaching, Barton’s residents and the Department of Residence are finalizing the specifics of this summer’s hall renovation. Last year, the department scheduled Barton Hall to be closed for remodeling during the 2004-05 school year. Former Department of Residence Director Randy Alexander said the closing would save $270,000. This year, the department said it has “saved operating costs” as a result of the closing.

Chris Hansen, senior in materials engineering, has lived in Anders house for the past four years. Hansen said he was the co-president of the house during the 2003-04 school year.

“We all got this e-mail out of the blue last year saying that Barton would be closed and that we would be relocated,” he said.

During last spring, residents of Barton, Lyon and Freeman halls held several meetings with the department about the relocation — a process Hansen said has gone smoothly.

“It appeared to us last year that [Randy Alexander] was concerned, and when we heard he was leaving, we were actually a little worried,” Hansen said. “The new administration has been very accommodating.”

Arthur said she was pleased by the communication through the process.

“The outcome is very likely to be productive,” she said.

Despite displacement for the year, most Barton residents said they feel positive about the process.

“We’re highly encouraged by the DOR’s efforts — they’ve helped us stay together through the renovation, and I hope we’ve helped set an example of how they can relate to residence halls next year,” Hansen said.

Retention in Anders remains above the residence hall average. Of Anders’ 23 women in 2004-05, 17 are returning and two are graduating. For the 22 men, eight are returning and one is graduating. This year, Anders House retained 25 of 36 residents from the 2003-04 academic year.

Statistics for the Department of Residence put the retention rate for all dorms at about 54 percent.

“We were so happy about moving back,” said Aubrey Allen, junior in mathematics.

Allen said she surveyed Barton residents about the design scheme that will be applied to Barton Hall. She said she was pleased about the level of involvement residents had with the department when selecting the new building’s appearance.

“Barton is quite old, and many people are protective of it and the way it is,” she said. “We wanted to have Barton classy and dignified again rather than knock down walls and change everything.”

One priority residents had was replacing moldy carpet and drapes that Allen said were “disintegrating” in Barton. This summer’s renovation will also include bringing in furniture from Wallace and Wilson halls.

Barton residents also said they are saving up for a piano for their parlor.

Some of the changes envisioned last spring may not be completed by the fall. Among the items the renovation is not expected to cover are new windows and roofing.

“Last year with the renovation, the DOR was dreaming big, but bigger isn’t exactly better,” Allen said. “Now, we’re ready to go home.”