Since its founding in 1940, Iona University has gone through many changes. This week, I sat down with my mother, Kathleen (Sarnik) Filosa, to discuss how Iona has changed since she graduated in 1991.
What were the best hangout spots on campus, if any?
“The football field, Spellman Hall, the green in front of Cornelia. Commuters all hung out in the parking garage. Off campus, we only had the bars on North Ave. Garry’s, Bumpers, Specs, Marty and Lenny’s…Dad and I would go to Beechmont together. We sat in the same booth and had the same waitress every time.”
How different was Greek life for you than it has been for me?
“We had to pledge, so we had to go through a semester of pledging (4 weeks). We went to a meet the Greeks type of thing…and you decided who you wanted to pledge and that was pretty much it. I decided on DTB. We had to follow all kinds of rules like no smoking or drinking …We had sorority tables in the cafeteria and when somebody wanted something you had to get it for them. And then you were in!”
How did Iona players differ from the productions now?
“We used to do our shows in Doorley. I don’t know why we didn’t do them in Murphy. We never did anything in Murphy.”
What traditions or events did you guys have that are not here at Iona anymore?
“Airbands was fun. All of the groups on campus would choose a popular song and dress up as the band and lipsync. It was a whole performance.”
She also noted football, kickline, and rugby games at the park.
What was the dining hall food like? Were there fewer options than what we have now?
“Oh my gosh, yeah. You walked into the dining hall with a tray, you put your tray up and they slapped on whatever they were serving…It was the same exact dining hall as yours in Spellman before the new dining hall. Nothing had changed.”
What was housing like for you? Were there stricter rules, curfews, etc.?
“There was no housing. There was Rice Hall, and it was all boys…Everyone else had to live at College of New Rochelle or Concordia. Once people got past freshman year, we had off campus housing. I found a house on Hilltop and that became the DTB house. It housed eight girls, and we kept passing it down. There were no curfews or anything.”
What’s one thing you are glad has changed since you were a student?
“Housing options. I would hate for you to have to find a place to live. My sophomore year I lived in a very sketchy area. As a mom, it’s nice knowing you have safe housing options in a secure campus.”
What do you miss most about being at Iona?
“Everything! Go Gaels! But the friendships, the professors I had are probably all gone but I loved them.”
Though Iona has changed, the Gael spirit remains the same. Go Gaels!
