Stop 18 - Caleruega Dining Hall

Caleruega Dining Hall c.1959

Tour Highlights

• Built in 1959 by Howard Friedman and Henry Schubart (Alemany Library), Caleruega Hall is named for the small village in Spain where St. Dominic was born
• Caleruega houses the campus dining room, part of which is lined with a large collection of wooden class shields (known as the Shield Room) carved by Ludwig Marent since 1962
• It also includes the Patricia Bannan Cruden Creekside Room for receptions,lectures, and events

Caleruega Dining Hall Patio c.1960s

Dining Hall Opens

Caleruega Plaza

Dominican University has changed dramatically since it opened in San Rafael, particularly in areas of student life including campus activities and traditions, campus buildings and residence life, and adjustments to the athletics program. In 1921, a new music conservatory known as Angelico Hall was built. A few years after, in 1924, an event that would soon become a tradition developed. This tradition is known as “Shield Day” and is based around the original shield that the university had which is black and gold and depicts a hound carrying a torch. An activity that was considered a development in privilege was the addition of something known as “tea dances” which was a dinner followed by dancing for seniors only. Beginning in September of 1970, undergraduate admission was granted to males within the music department and then in the following year the entire undergraduate program was approved to be co-educational. Up until the 1970s, campus athletics included women’s basketball, field hockey, golf, tennis, and more. However, throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Dominican University added several men’s teams starting with the addition of men’s basketball in 1974. This was followed by men’s soccer and tennis in 1976. The school continues to make big changes such as these from year to year. As the school moves toward celebrating it’s 130th anniversary next year, they are continually growing, and there are sure to be further changes in campus life, activities, and athletics in the future.