TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — Florida A&M University is tearing down four residence halls that have stood on campus for decades.
As our Stephen Jiwanmall explains, the Rattlers who lived in those dorms have plenty of memories.
The shock is real, and so is this. Crews are demolishing Diamond, McGuinn, Cropper and Wheatley Halls.
"It just kind of made me feel nostalgic," said Raenikqua James, McGuinn Hall Resident from 2013-14.
Students who lived in these dorms spoke with WTXL ABC 27 about what they remember most.
"Seeing our nametags on the doors and just like hitting up all the girls that we met on social media, like, 'Oh, my gosh. We're in the same dorm," said Adrienne Floyd, McGuinn and Diamond Hall Resident from 2013-14.
"We used to go hallway surfing. So, we would get our mattresses from our beds and take all the sheets off and then go down the stairs," said Kori Andrews, McGuinn and Diamond Hall Resident from 2013-14.
The dorms will be torn down to make way for a new student amphitheater. Graduates we talked to said they hope the project is worth it, because what really needs to go there is better housing.
"I feel like we have enough places on campus to host shows and those sorts of things," said James.
FAMU says students are helping pay for the amphitheater and more than 100 parking spots.
"We have a great opportunity for our students to interact with each other, collaborate, but we wanted to have some green space in the middle of the campus," said Sameer Kapileshwari, Associate Vice President of Facilities, Planning, Construction & Safety.
The university says the four residence halls should be cleared by August.
Meanwhile, FAMU will break ground on new housing on the south side of campus next week.
