The Range
The Range is part of the original grounds of the University of Virginia as designed by Thomas Jefferson in Charlottesville, Virginia, USA. The Range buildings run parallel to and face away from the Lawn, and are separated from the Lawn by a series of ten gardens (five per side).
There are six "hotels" on the Range, three on each side. Originally used as dining facilities, the hotels today fill a variety of purposes, including administrative office space, home of The Virginia Quarterly Review, home to the Jefferson Literary and Debating Society, and a reception hall.
The Range rooms serve as student housing for accomplished graduate students. They are furnished identically to undergraduate Lawn rooms, but are larger area-wise. Previous well-known Range residents include Edgar Allan Poe (13 West Range) and Woodrow Wilson (31 West Range). During his residence in 13 West Range, Poe allegedly etched his initials into a pane of window glass – a pane that has since been shattered. Visitors to the West Range can peer inside Poe's room, which is furnished in the style of his era and maintained by the Raven Society, and listen to a brief recording that describes Poe's time at the University. A glass doorway preserves the historic quality of the room. Thirteen West Range is open to the public once each year during Historic Garden Week.
The Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity was founded in 47 West Range on March 1, 1868.
There are 52 rooms consisting of the Range, and all residents comprise the Range Council. Each academic year leadership is chosen from amongst the residents.
Past Range Chairs for the modern iteration of the Range Council include:
Ilon Weeldreyer (Graduate School of Arts and Sciences) - 2010-2011
Jack Thorman (Curry School of Education) - 2011-2012
Clifford Cutchins V (School of Medicine) - Present
External links
This rooms endowed to the Kappa Sigma and Pi Kappa Alpha fraternities on a rotating yearly basis.