PARC’s Lore:

The residential unit at 1838 Chicago Avenue that originally housed the Public Affairs Residential College was completed in the fall of 1980 as part of a $23 million South Campus project that included the construction of Jones Fine and Performing Arts Residential College, West Fairchild, 1835 Hinman, and more. Originally, the building was the home of the Residential College of Commerce and Industry (CCI), but in 1991 it was used to establish the Public Affairs Residential College, making PARC the most recently established residential college on campus. Under its first Faculty Chair, Professor Charles Thompson, PARC provided students a home which offered extended learning opportunities outside of the classroom, as well as enriched interaction with faculty. 

Under the guidance of current Faculty Chair Keith Woodhouse, the focus of the residential college has expanded to include public affairs of all sorts, from the more standard social/political debate to almost every other subject imaginable.

During the 2015-2016 school year, PARC was relocated to 650 Emerson Street, known as the North Mid-Quads, while the original PARC building went through renovation. North Mid-Quads served as the former home of actual royalty; Meghan Markle lived here during her freshman year, and the students say you can still feel the so-called “Markle Sparkle.” Statistically, residents here have the highest chance of becoming royalty. After it was deemed that the new, recently renovated building provided an overall friendlier and more welcoming environment for students, the Executive Board voted to remain in the building for future years. This is PARC’s current location.