International House Berkeley

Living at International House: A Setting of the Scene by Ingrid Borland W here to live while going to school at "Cal" was, of course, one of the big questions for any new student. The idea of staying at a place where students from many different countries lived under one roof was especially intriguing – and therefore many of us went to live at I-House. What a fantastic place it turned out to be! It opened our eyes to the world at large, to people and cultures from faraway places, to compassion and tolerance in a hostile world, to idealism, and to the hope that there would never ever be another war like the one we all had just experienced. The friendships we made during that time were not only very special in themselves, but many have endured and are still as warm and close and caring today, sixty years later, as they were then. Located on Piedmont Avenue at the very top of Bancroft Way, International House was as imposing a building then as it is today. Along with the University's Campanile as a landmark of Berkeley, the high Moorish dome of I-House was distinguishable from far across the Bay. It was founded by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. in 1930, as a place "dedicated to the promotion of understanding and fellowship among the peoples of all nations." I-House, and what it symbolized, took on special significance for all of us who came there to live right after the end of World War II. Everyone had experienced the war in one way or another, many under extreme conditions and unbelievable suffering. Students were much older than the usual college student. Most were in their early twenties, while some were in their late twenties or early thirties. Many were on full scholarships from their respective governments, including a great many American students, both men and women, who were on the G.I. Bill. All were very serious about their studies and all seemed to want to make a difference in the world in some way. The motto of I-House, "That Brotherhood May Prevail," was not just an empty slogan. The overwhelming feeling was one of optimism and hope for a better world in the future. Therefore, this period of time in the history of I-House, from 1946 to 1953, is now known as "The Golden Age." I-House provided room and board to about 600 students, half of whom were from foreign countries and half from across America. American students had to be enrolled in graduate programs, while foreign students could be upper division students. Contrary to what is true today, the living quarters of male and female students were strictly segregated. Women students were housed on the third and 9

• Cover