Brown Commons

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Belonging, justice, empathy, acceptance, accountability, passion, and intellectual curiosity are the animating values of Brown Commons, established in 2017 and represented by the North American river otter.

Explore our Community

Students from all commons are welcome to join Brown Commons events and follow us on social media:

Brown Commons on Instagram

About Brown Commons

Shield with violets and compass roses

Mascot: River otter

Residential Spaces

Burke Hall

In this multistory residential facility, students reside in traditional double rooms on the three upper floors. Study lounges are available throughout the building. The first floor and ground level are dedicated to seminar rooms, classrooms, offices for the Residential Commons, and social lounges.  There is also a small kitchen with scheduled open hours.

East Hall

East Hall features primarily traditional residence hall double rooms with a small number of singles and triples. Laundry facilities are located on the first and third floors, and there is a lounge on the first floor. The Center for Women’s Studies is located on the ground floor, accessible via a separate entrance.

Andrews Hall

Andrews Hall features mostly suite-style living for its residents, featuring two bedrooms with a shared common space between them. Suites in this building consist of a small common room connected to bedrooms. The suite common rooms typically serve as the primary space where students study and socialize.

Gate House

Gate House is a two-floor residence hall featuring traditional residence hall doubles. Each room is individually climate controlled with heat and air conditioning within a pre-set temperature range set for the building. There are laundry facilities on the first floor and a lounge on the second floor.

100 Hamilton Street

100 Hamilton is a small two-floor residence hall featuring singles, doubles, and triples which houses the Sophomore Residential Seminar Program. There is a recreational space on the ground level, as well as kitchen and laundry facilities. There is also seminar room on the first floor. 

Creating Connections

The following faculty and staff direct the commons and support its living and learning goals. Feel free to contact them with any questions.

Co-Director

lfestine
Laura Festine
Director of University Grants and Sponsored Research

Co-Director

dmccabe
David McCabe
Richard J. and Joan Head Chair in Philosophy
105 Hascall Hall
  • M 2:30pm - 4:00pm (105 Hascall Hall)
  • R 3:00pm - 4:30pm (105 Hascall Hall)

Area Director, Residential Life

kcataldomurray
Kim Cataldo-Murray
Area Director of Residential Life

Administrative Dean

dchiarello
Doug Chiarello
Assistant Dean for Administrative Advising
116 McGregory Hall
ahenderson
Aurelius Henderson
Assistant Dean for Administrative Advising
116 McGregory Hall

Residential Fellow

mdsouza
Megan (Meg) D'Souza
Residential Fellow

Commons Program Director

apalko
Abby Palko
Director of the Residential Commons Program

About the Namesakes

Coleman Barr Brown
Irene Brown in academic regalia

Brown Commons is named after Coleman Brown, who joined the Colgate faculty in 1970 as a philosophy and religion instructor, and his wife, Irene Brown, a tireless community advocate awarded an honorary doctorate in 2011.  

Coleman Brown joined the Colgate faculty in 1970 as a philosophy and religion instructor. In addition to teaching, Brown served as university chaplain from 1974 to 1989; prior to his tenure at Colgate, Brown was involved in civil rights campaigns and a movement protesting the Vietnam War. He welcomed engagement with “seekers, believers, and doubters.” Although Brown Commons was initially named solely Coleman, a couple of years later, students and staff officially recognized his wife Irene as a secondary namesake to honor her plethora of work in support of women, education, and the community. Coleman and Irene exemplify a tradition of learning and service.

 

The Brown Commons Crest

Shield with violets and compass roses

With their heart-like shape, a symbol of love and modesty, common blue violets signify both Coleman Brown’s home state of Illinois and his personal sensibilities. Compasses, symbols of his moral guidance and teaching philosophy, sit across the center of the crest, which is anchored by his monogram, built around the formation of an “I” for his wife, Irene.