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Bursley Hall. Photo courtesy clickondetroit.com
"Dreaded" Freshman Dorm Holds More History Than You Might Guess
"Dreaded" Freshman Dorm Holds More History Than You Might Guess
by Aaron Lu
There is one thing that almost every University of Michigan freshman dreads: being placed in the Bursley Hall. This dorm is located on the university’s North Campus, a 20-minute bus ride away from many classes, and it also has a more limited social scene. However, behind the walls of Bursley, the biggest residential hall at the University, is a rich history.
Burlsley Hall opened in 1967 as UM's first co-ed dorm. "Co-educational halls had existed before, but never before had a residence hall been constructed with the intent of being co-educational" ("Burlsey Hall"). According to the College of Literature, Arts, and the Science (LSA)’s website, the building's official name is the Joseph A. & Marguerite K. Bursley Hall, which serves to recognize the contributions made to the University of Michigan by Joseph Aldrich Bursley and his wife, Marguerite "Margery" Knowlton Bursley. They were specifically chosen because the university wanted to recognize a couple in the name, being it was the first planned co-ed dorm.
Joseph Bursley was a professor of Mechanical Engineering. In 1921, he was appointed as U-M’s first dean of students (“Bursley Hall”). He also conducted various research projects during his tenure, most notably a book about advancements of heat engines, making him an established figure on campus (Allen and Bursley 3). Margery’s impact on campus was quite different from her husband’s. After graduating from U-M, she established several clubs and organizations, including the Ann Arbor Garden Club; she even created a scholarship program to “support Collegiate Sorosis members” (“Margery Knowlton Bursley”).
Fittingly, the name Bursley comes from the Old English word burgweard, meaning "castle keeper," according to Ancestry.com. The name Joseph comes from the Latin version of the Greek name Ioseph, which comes from the Hebrew name Yosef, meaning "he will add," according to BehindtheName.com. The name Marguerite also has an intriguing definition and history. According to an article published by Nameberry, Marguerite was originally a French name and has meanings such as “pearl” and “daisy.”
Bursley Hall now houses around 1,300 students, most of which are freshmen (Hummer). Bursley was the newest dorm on campus until 2010, when North Quad was opened (Freed). The building contains a convenience store as well as the only dining hall on North Campus, which received its first renovation in 2016 (Metwally).
Unfortunately, a tragic incident in 1981 changed the building, and the university as a whole, forever. On the morning of April 17, 1981, a student “threw several cocktail fire bombs” down a hallway on the sixth floor of Bursley (Frazer). The bombs lit the hall ablaze, triggering the fire alarm. As residents hurried to flee the scene, the student retrieved a shotgun from his room, killing two other students who were assisting others in the evacuation process. Many Bursley residents were reluctant to return to their dorm rooms after the incident, but Bursley remained open.
The Bursley Shooting. Photo Courtesy Ann Arbor District Library
Bursley Hall was named to honor a family that dedicated their lives to making the University of Michigan a better place for all students and faculty. Although the building was the site of a devastating incident, Bursley Hall plays a significant role in supporting the large U-M student population.
Works Cited
Allen, John R, and Joseph A Bursley. “Heat Engines; Steam, Gas, Steam Turbines and Their Auxilaries, by John R. Allen ... and Joseph A. Bursley.” HathiTrust, 1925, https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.b3759461&view=1up&seq=7.
“Ann Arbor Police Investigate Double Murder at University of Michigan Bursley Hall, April 1981.” Ann Arbor District Library, https://aadl.org/N094_0290_008.
Bruckner, Meredith. “U-M Housing Offering Students Refund Who Move out over Coronavirus Fears.” WDIV, WDIV ClickOnDetroit, 20 Mar. 2020, https://www.clickondetroit.com/all-about-ann-arbor/2020/03/20/u-m-housing-offering-students-refund-who-move-out-over-coronavirus-fears/.
"Bursley." Ancestry.com. https://www.ancestry.com/name-origin?surname=bursley
“Bursley Hall” Living in History. University of Michigan LSA. https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/naming-project/buildings/bursley/.
Fraser, Kelly. “Tragedy in Bursley.” The Michigan Daily, 17 Jan. 2007, https://www.michigandaily.com/uncategorized/tragedy-bursley/.
Freed, Ben. “University of Michigan Dorm to Get $4.35m Dining Room Upgrade.” Mlive, 14 Mar. 2016, https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2016/03/university_of_michigan_dorm_to.html.
Hummer, Genevieve. “Future of University Housing Renovations Uncertain.” The Michigan Daily, 2 Apr. 2015, https://www.michigandaily.com/uncategorized/university-invests-ongoing-housing-renovations/.
"Joseph." Behindthename.com. https://www.behindthename.com/name/joseph
“Margery Knowlton Bursley.” Living in History project, UM LSA. https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/naming-project/people/bursley/.
“Marguerite - Baby Name Meaning, Origin, and Popularity.” Nameberry, https://nameberry.com/babyname/marguerite.
Metwally, Camelia. “Regents Approve $4.3 Million Bursley Renovations.” The Michigan Daily, 18 Mar. 2016, https://www.michigandaily.com/news/administration/regents-approve-43-million-bursley-renovations/.
“Popular Baby Names.” Social Security Administration, https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/.
Richburg, Keith B. “Student Tosses Firebomb, Then Slays 2 with Shotgun at University of Michigan.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 18 Apr. 1981, https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1981/04/18/student-tosses-firebomb-then-slays-2-with-shotgun-at-university-of- michigan/da1e579e-14d3-4ea8-8d2a-d42b575317ef/.
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