Mallet Assembly

The Mallet Assembly (renamed the Druid Collective^[1]) is a living program at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Mallet was established in 1961 by John Blackburn.

The Mallet Assembly took its name from the fact that it was originally housed in a building known as Mallet Hall, which no longer exists. Mallet Hall itself was named for John Mallet, head of the Central Ordnance Laboratory of the Confederate Nitre Bureau. The group occupied Byrd Hall from 1972-2007, then Palmer Hall until 2014, and is now located in Highlands Building C.

The Druid Collective is one of the few self-governing dormitories in the US;^{[citation needed]} much of its internal operation is coordinated by elected student officers. Mallet (not Druid) is listed by the University of Alabama Office of Residential Life as a Special Living-Learning option, and is also a member of the Coordinating Council for Student Organizations (CCSO).

The Assembly was traditionally a men's residence. Although they accepted applications from female students since 1980, women were admitted as "out of dorm" members (although some women Malleteers were able to reside in the building during summer semesters). In 2007, Mallet became a co-ed living option with men and women living in the same building.^[2]

In 2011, the 50th anniversary of the Assembly was honored in a resolution of the Alabama House of Representatives. ^[3]

In Spring 2022, members of the Mallet Assembly renamed the organization "Druid Collective," drawing inspiration from the nickname "Druid City" given to Tuscaloosa. This change came about when the majority of members expressed their dislike of the Assembly being named after a Confederate. This change was in line with a similar trend by the University which renamed several buildings to "remove racist namesakes from the UA campus."^[4]

Notable Mallet alumni include:

Mark Childress, author of Crazy in Alabama
Alexander Sotirov, computer security researcher
Virgil Griffith, American Programmer

Honorary members include:^{[citation needed]}

William Shatner, actor, gave a University-sponsored talk in 2000

References

Citations

^ "The Druid Collective". Archived from the original on January 19, 2024.
^ "June 20, 2007". Archived from the original on May 10, 2008.
^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved April 14, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Alabama House Resolution 232
^ "University of Alabama System renames The Ferg, Moore Hall". Archived from the original on January 27, 2022.

Other sources

Childress, Mark (October 14, 1978). "Alabama's Own Animal House". Birmingham News Saturday Magazine.
Chinn, Dustin (August 9, 2007). "Crimson Tide Courts Colbert With Shameless Campaign". Comedy Central Insider.
Jones, Adam (August 9, 2005). "UA tears down waterfall outside dorm". Tuscaloosa News.
Jones, Adam (May 18, 2007). "UA reins in Mallet Assembly for fall". Tuscaloosa News.

External links

[1] "The Druid Collective". Archived from the original on January 19, 2024.

[2] "June 20, 2007". Archived from the original on May 10, 2008.

[hr232-3] "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved April 14, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Alabama House Resolution 232

[4] "University of Alabama System renames The Ferg, Moore Hall". Archived from the original on January 27, 2022.

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