Mark Hudson would like to call himself a dreamer.

With the 100th anniversary celebration for Housing and Dining coming up soon, he has the idea of implementing a Web site for residence halls.

“Sometime in the future I want to launch a site to show history, to share experiences,” said Hudson, director of Housing and Dining.

Hudson said the website would reflect the university’s history.

“With the 100th anniversary, we are collecting very interesting things from Pemberton (Hall),” Hudson said. “People are sharing items and stories.”

This site will be made for current students, prospective students and alumni.

Hudson said one of his goals is to make the site available directly from the university’s main page for easy access.

Chelsea Fredrick, assistant director of Alumni Services, believes this is a great idea.

“This is a great idea for students,” Fredrick said. “For those alumni who cannot make it to the 100th anniversary, it will be good for them to still be a part of the history.”

She said she couldn’t believe the relationships current students and alumni have made in Pemberton Hall.

“I think it’s important to honor the past and where we came from,” Hudson said. “And when you do that, it gives a richer experience you will have now.”

Fredrick said she believes Pemberton is more than just a residence hall and should be known for its history and accomplishments.

“Pemberton was the first resident hall on a campus and once it was pushed by legislation, other universities started to do it,” Fredrick said. “Eastern has really paved the way on campus housing for campuses across the state.”

The Web site will allow viewers to post and read stories of experiences they had in Pemberton. Hudson’s goal is to allow people to connect with one another and show pride in where they lived on campus. He also wants the Web site to show the history of the building and why the structure is significant to campus.

There have been scrapbooks preserved from the early 1960s kept in Pemberton that are currently being digitalized in University Media Services for the site.

“This will allow alumni to digitally flip through,” Hudson said.

Right now, Hudson said they are in the conceptual stage and no timeline has been set until the actual celebration, which will take place during Homecoming weekend.

Brittany Mackowiak, a sophomore resident assistant in Pemberton, thinks this is a good idea.

“I think this is a good thing for current students and older students,” Mackowiak said. “There is a lot of history to it because when you walk in, it’s unique.”

Mackowiak said when girls view this Web site they are surely going to be attracted to it by the structure and uniqueness. By reading the stories and viewing photographs, it shows Pemberton really meant something to the alumni, Mackowiak added.

“I hope the girls utilize it. I know I will,” Mackowiak said. “I know girls who love this building, and they show pride.”

She added this Web site will allow students to connect to alumni.

“A Web site is such a quick way to communicate and opens doors for people who used to live here,” Mackowiak said. “And you couldn’t get that in a letter.”

Brittni Garcia can be reached at 581-7942 or at bmgarcia@eiu.edu.