The Berkshire Quad, more commonly known as the "Odd Quad," is a quad in the southeast part of campus, next to Route 2 and between WCMA and the Spencer Studio Art Building. It is surrounded by East College and Fayerweather Hall on the west, Currier Hall and Fitch House on the east, and Prospect House on the south, as well as the Hopkins Observatory on the north, next to Route 2. All of the dorms are upperclassman dorms, although East and Fay used to be freshman dorms (prior to the start of the 2006-2007 school year).
How the Odd Quad got its name is a mystery shrouded by time. In the 1970s it was known as the Sophomore Quad. Some (e.g., some campus tour guides) say the moniker "Odd" arose simply due to having five dormitories (i.e. an odd number). Others suspect it has more to do with the nature of the inhabitants, as the Odd Quad tends to be home to the campus's largest collection of freaks, geeks, nerds, and people who generally consider themselves to part of a Williams subculture of oddness. If you brought a cape to college "just in case," you're likely to fit in well there. (Cape-wearers are still a minority, but a slightly more visible one in this quad than elsewhere on campus.)
Odd Quadders tend to eat their meals in Driscoll, the most convenient dining hall, located just off the southeast corner of the quad, next to Fitch and Prospect. Driscoll was known a few years ago for the Driscoll Deviations, a popular series of pranks pulled during dinners by a large group of students that named themselves the Deviants, after their own practice.
Some of the best features of the Odd Quad are the Currier ballroom, which features arguably the best (if the most beer-soaked) piano on campus outside of the music building; the roof of the observatory, which has a truly lovely view; and the perfect-for-snowball-fights Eyes sculpture located on the western side of East, in front of the Williams College Museum of Art.
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