Group of Alfred University alums raising money for renovations at The Brick residence hall

The group—1975 and 1976 graduates who tout themselves the “Brick Broads”—resided at The Brick from 1971-72. They have established The Brick Restoration Fund, with a goal of raising $15,000 to refurbish the residence hall’s door and the main entryway on the building’s north side. To date, approximately $10,500 of the group’s goal has been reached.

Gail Olyha ’75 said the Brick Broads is a group of alumnae who lived in The Brick during the 1971-72 academic year—their first at Alfred University—when The Brick was an all-women’s residence hall which housed mostly first-year students. The group, which gets together regularly, was inspired to pursue their fundraiser after reading about a gift from Ann Moskowitz HD ’23 which was used last year to fund major renovations and the purchase of new furniture for The Brick. Moskowitz is a life trustee and wife of late longtime Board of Trustees member Joel Moskowitz ’61.

“We wanted to do something at The Brick since it represented such an important start for our time at Alfred,” Olyha said. “When we were at Alfred, the tagline for the university was “Majoring in the Human Experience.” The Brick, with its sense of community and welcoming, symbolized that.”

The Brick Broads has six members whose spouses are also Alfred University alumni, Olyha noted. Four of its members are nurses and six are educators/teachers.

“Brick friendships can last a lifetime, or at least in our case, 52 years!” she commented, noting that the group has been gathering each summer since their 25^th Alfred University reunion in 2000, meeting in Utah, North and South Carolina, Rhode Island, Maine, Cape Cod and in New York (Upstate and Downstate). This year they will reconnect on Keuka Lake.

Olyha encourages any alumnus who has called The Brick home during their time at Alfred to support the restoration project. “We hope all people who have lived at the Brick over the years, and know how special it was, will join in this effort,” she said.

To donate online, please visit this link. The group hopes to reach its $15,000 goal by June 30.