Photo by Matt Hembree
By Helena Kilburn
Staff Writer
Theme houses are just one way that Sewanee supports the diverse interests of its students. Over the past few weeks, many of these theme houses have opened their doors, so that students can learn about each house.
The German House was founded by Dr. James Davidheiser. The house was comfortable and crowded for the open house event, and there was authentic German food, courtesy of the baking skills of Leonie Weigt, the current German exchange student. Dr. Davidheiser is proud of the history and success of the house, and he strongly believes the cultural and language exchange is important for young students. He believes that theme houses are “a wonderful, wonderful thing.”
At the French House, there was an undeniably sophisticated feel to both the house and the company. Wine, cheese, and baguettes sat on the table, books lined the walls, and people stood in pairs or groups conversing in a mix of French and English. Teachers walked amongst the students, encouraging French conversations, though many of the students did not need the prompt.
Though different than the language houses, the Green House has its own wonderful cultural exchange. With live music, vegan snacks, a garden, and bunnies, the Green House brings together a group of interesting and environmentally conscious people. The house itself is charmingly eclectic, with a large porch perfect for the many gatherings that they host. It is a place everyone should stop by for a good time and great conversation.
The Community Engagement House had lights strung up in the backyard with a selection of food and drink available. The house’s dedication to community is demonstrated by the group of kind, genuine people gathered in clumps on the porch and the backyard.
Hadley Montgomery (C’18) is one of the many wonderful people who live here, and she shared her opinion as to why theme houses are an important part of Sewanee: “Theme houses give people another outlet… to have fun in their own way,” said Montgomery.
The theme houses of Sewanee represent the diversity of the students. Theme houses are so important because they bring people of similar interests together, so they can spend more time and energy focusing on these interests. This focus leads to action, so in many situations the theme houses are meaningful agents of change.