The Olive Swann Porter Student Life Center is a memorial to the wife of benefactor James Hyde Porter, a trustee of Wesleyan College for many years. Mr. Porter furnished the beautiful foyer in 1942 to his exact specifications. Throughout the building, lovely antiques and paintings from Wesleyan’s extensive collections can be found.

The building underwent a year-long major renovation beginning in the year 2000. Adding to its existing beauty, an impressive new lobby area that encompasses the three levels of the Olive Swann Porter center creates a grand entrance. At the main floor level, the information desk can be found along with helpful staff to direct visitors to their appropriate locations.

The Burden Parlor, a formal parlor named in honor of the late Minnie Bass Burden and her husband, Richard Ferdillius Burden, was furnished in 1942 by Octavia Burden Stewart and her husband, T.J. Stewart, a trustee of the College. Mrs. Stewart redecorated the room in 1973, and her niece and nephew, Ann Maria and Richard B. Domingos, refurbished the parlor in 1994. It is an attractive space for College functions.

The College Bookstore, which carries college souvenirs, clothing, and gifts in addition to textbooks and trade books, is located on the ground floor. Along with restrooms, a cloak room, and the print shop, the college post office provides a full-range of postal service for the Wesleyan community.

Also included on the ground floor are the Belk Student Leadership Suites where student clubs and organizations maintain nine offices and a meeting room. Upstairs from this area are eight music rooms and a large room for student rehearsals.

The Reginald Roberts Trice and Frankie Raines Trice Conference Room, named in honor of Wesleyan’s former board chair and his lovely wife for their contributions and enhancement of campus life, is a welcome addition to the campus. It is utilized for both college and community functions.

Adjacent to the conference room is the Reginald R. Trice Recreation and Game Room. With its large-screen television, stage, and informal seating, it is used for many student activities.

The Admissions Office, the Financial Aid Office, the Office of Public Relations, the Student Publications Office, the Office of Computer Support, and the Campus Police Office are also housed in this building.

One of the most distinctive additions to the building is the portico that extends from the ground floor lobby out to the fountain area. The portico not only lends beauty to the building but also provides a perfect location for outdoor events.

The stately Anderson Dining Hall seats five hundred and is distinguished by the vaulted ceiling, large arched windows, and unusual matching mantels graced with landscape murals. The windows open on the beautiful, columned Mount Vernon Porch. The Anderson Dining Hall was named in honor of the late William Dickson Anderson, former chair of the Board of Trustees, and his wife, Linda McKinney Anderson, class of 1893. The dining hall is open to students, faculty, and staff. (Menus and more information about food services is available at www.wesleyandining.com.)

The Manget Dining Room seats eighty. In 1964, the Trustees named the room in honor of Jennie Loyall Manget, class of 1912, and director of the Alumnae Association from 1924 until 1947, and later a trustee. Exquisitely furnished and decorated, its focal point is the handsome 18th-century Waterford crystal chandelier and sconces from the Callanwolde House of Atlanta, a gift of Mrs. Charles Howard Candler, Sr.

The Hurdle Café, dedicated in 2001 to the College Chaplain, William Hurdle, is open extended hours. A popular place for students to gather, the Café offers grill and specialty items.