An official naming ceremony was held Friday to name Eaton Hall after Gordon P. Eaton, the 12th president of Iowa State University.

Between 100 and 150 people were present at the ceremony.

Linsey Langkamp, Woodrow House president, gave a student perspective on living in Eaton at the ceremony. She said she was excited and relieved when she found out she was living in Eaton.

“[There is a] true sense of hospitality,” Langkamp said. It’s still a dorm room where students never seem to have enough room for their things, but she said residents of Eaton have the comfort of a private bath.

The social aspect at Eaton Hall is great and so are the academics, she said.

“Living in Eaton has been a truly wonderful experience,” she said.

Randy Alexander, director of the Department of Residence, began his speech by calling President Eaton the perfect candidate for the honor a namesake residence hall.

Alexander cited Eaton’s quote, which was printed in the program, as one of the reasons Eaton was so deserving of the honor.

“Our world is not the same today as it was yesterday, nor can our university afford to be,” Eaton said in 1987.

Under President Eaton, the first strategic plan was developed, Geoffroy said. During Eaton’s presidency, Iowa State experienced several changes, including the development of the ISU Research Park and a major push in agriculture-biological technology, he said. The goal of these additions was to make Iowa State become the nation’s best land grant university, Geoffroy said.

Eaton Hall represents how Iowa State is constantly changing to better students, Geoffroy said. Eaton has helped make the campus and university what it is today, he said.

Eaton and his wife, Virginia, were known for walking around campus and speaking with students, said SriRaj Kantamneni, Jones House community adviser in Eaton Hall and emcee for the event.

“[We have] a bushel basket full of memories,” Eaton said.

The residential suite building has 315 beds and a total of 75 student rooms. Eaton Hall is part of the Fresh Start program offered by the residence department. The building opened in August, 2002 and was originally known simply as Union Drive Suite Building 1.

Two similar suite-style residence halls are scheduled to open in 2004 and 2005, according to the residence department Master Plan.