Pasquerilla West Hall (University of Notre Dame)

Pasquerilla West is one of the 32 Residence Halls on the campus of the University of Notre Dame and one of the 14 female dorms. It is commonly known as PW or P-Dub. It is located on Mod Quad, between North Dining Hall and its twin dorm Pasquerilla East Hall.

Pasquerilla West
Residence Hall
University of Notre Dame
Coat of arms of Pasquerilla West
Campus quadMod
Coordinates41.703887°N 86.235007°W / 41.703887; -86.235007
NicknamePW, P-Dub
MottoPeace, Love, P-Dub
Established1981
ArchitectEllerbe Associates
Architectural styleModernism
ColorsPurple and white    
GenderFemale
RectorEmily Orsini
BenefactorFrank and Sylvia Pasquerilla
Undergraduates256
ChapelSaint Clare of Assisi
MascotPurple Weasels
Interhall sportsTBD
CharitiesTBD
Major eventsQueen Week, PDub's Closet, Women's Empowerment Week, Carnation Sale
WebsiteSite
Map
Location in Notre Dame, Indiana

History

Pasquerilla West Hall was built in 1981 as a gift from Frank J. and Sylvia Pasquerilla to their daughter.[1] Their donation was the largest in the school's history by a living person. Initially, he wanted his gift to the university to be anonymous, but Fr. Theodore Hesburgh convinced him to disclose his name since it might attract other donors.[2][3]

Pasquerilla West

Frank J Pasquerilla was an entrepreneur of Italian descent from Johnstown, Pennsylvania. He was the president in 1953 and eventually sole owner in 1961 of Crown American construction company, and later invested in shopping malls and hotels[4][1] Frank Pasquerilla was a philanthropist for many cultural institutions in the Johnstown areas such as the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown and for many Catholic colleges, including Georgetown University and St. Francis College and was Knight Commander of the Order of St. Gregory the Great.[5]

The current rector is Emily Orsini, who graduated from Lourdes University with a Bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and the University of Toledo with a Master's degree in Higher Education.[6]

Features

Pasquerilla West was the first dorm that was built to house women from the very beginning together with its twin Pasquerilla East. Originally, the two dorms were planned to have a shared chapel, but the idea was scrapped and the chapel in the hall was carved out of a common area. It was also the first dorm to be equipped with air conditioning. Its inhabitants are known as "Purple Weasels", but before the 1990s they were known as "Plaid Wave" or the "Pink Wizards".[7]

The chapel is dedicated to Saint Clare of Assisi, and an entire wall of stained glass depicting the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Assisi, Italy was completed in 1998.

Traditions

Pasquerilla West's signature event is called Queen Week. Every section of PW participates in a number of events and at the end of the week, a freshman in the winning section becomes the queen of the dorm.

Another event PW has is PDub's Closet. Every fall, members of the dorm collect gently used clothes from across campus, and students who donate can choose to get some new-to-you clothing items or win some raffle prizes. All proceeds and unexchanged clothes, along with all winter coats, are donated to the local homeless shelter.

PDub’s carnation sale is the longest standing tradition in the dorm. During the week of Valentine’s Day, ND students are able to purchase carnations to be delivered to anyone on campus’s door. All proceeds go to St. Margaret’s House.

Women's Empowerment Week, the newest signature event, is held throughout a week in March to celebrate and empower women across campus.

Notable residents

References
  1. Trust, Crown American Realty. "Frank J. Pasquerilla, Crown American Chairman and CEO, Dies at the Age of 72". www.prnewswire.com.
  2. "The Pittsburgh Press from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on November 23, 1980 · Page 323".
  3. By MILT FREUDENHEIMAPRIL 27, 1999 (1999-04-27). "Frank Pasquerilla, 72, Builder and Benefactor - The New York Times". Nytimes.com. Retrieved 2017-02-23.
  4. LaGumina, Salvatore J.; Cavaioli, Frank J.; Primeggia, Salvatore; Varacalli, Joseph A. (2 September 2003). The Italian American Experience: An Encyclopedia. Routledge. ISBN 9781135583330 – via Google Books.
  5. "Frank Pasquerilla's Obituary on The Frederick News-Post". The Frederick News-Post.
  6. ENR, ZCR // Marketing Communications: Web // University of Notre Dame. "Pasquerilla West Hall // Division of Student Affairs // University of Notre Dame". Studentaffairs.nd.edu. Archived from the original on 2017-05-25. Retrieved 2017-02-23.
  7. ENR/PAZ // University Communications: Web // University of Notre Dame. "Hall portrait: Pasquerilla West // News // Notre Dame Magazine // University of Notre Dame". Magazine.nd.edu. Retrieved 2017-02-23.
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