College to fold a rare student perk: Full-service laundry

Generations of students have learned that with all the freedoms of leaving home for college comes at least one hassle: They must do their own laundry.

Except at Davidson College.

Students at the private liberal arts school in North Carolina for the past 90 years have enjoyed the rare perk of full-service laundry. They drop off a bag of dirty clothes at the laundering center. A day or two later, they pick up their laundry all clean and folded. The service is included in mandatory student fees.

Now the 1,850-student college is phasing out this luxury.

“It’s a tradition that obviously dates back to when the campus had a slightly different feel,” Carol Quillen, Davidson’s president, said Thursday. “We think it’s time to discontinue free and full-service laundry for our students.”

It will take a year to complete the transition, in part because the college wants to help the 14 people who work at its laundry find positions elsewhere.

By May 2015, Davidson will require students to do their own wash. However, they won’t have to pay when they use campus washers and dryers. Quillen said the college studied whether to go with coin-operated machines. “We decided that wasn’t the right move at this moment,” she said.

Of course, nothing at a college is really free. Davidson will charge $45,377 in the coming year for tuition and fees, plus another $12,769 for room and board.

Quillen said ending the laundry service will save the college about $400,000 a year, money that could be channeled into dozens of other academic and residential activities.

Davidson, a highly ranked selective college, is actually known for laundry. Quillen said alumni remember their “laundry numbers,” which are assigned to students to ensure that their bags of clothes don’t get mixed up.

The Fiske Guide to Colleges says the perk “is a reminder of Davidson’s days as an all-male school when such services were the only way to keep undergrads socially presentable.”

Davidson has been co-ed since the 1970s. Quillen said men use the service more than women, who rely more on self-service machines. She said she’s not sure why. “Women might prefer to wash their own clothes,” Quillen said.

The Washington Post asked Georgetown and George Washington universities about their laundry policies. GWU spokeswoman Maralee Csellar said the university does not provide laundry services to its students.

Georgetown spokeswoman Rachel Pugh said the same. “Students have access to community laundry rooms to wash, dry and fold their own clothes,” Pugh said.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Olivia Vanni / The Herald 
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County.
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mukilteo mayor vetoes council-approved sales tax

The tax would have helped pay for transportation infrastructure, but was also set to give Mukilteo the highest sales tax rate in the state.

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring gives the state of the city address at the Marysville Civic Center on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Marysville council approves interim middle housing law

The council passed the regulations to prevent a state model code from taking effect by default. It expects to approve final rules by October.

x
State audit takes issue with Edmonds COVID grant monitoring

The audit report covered 2023 and is the third since 2020 that found similar issues with COVID-19 recovery grant documentation.

Bothell
Bothell man pleads guilty to sexual abuse of Marysville middle schoolers

The man allegedly sexually assaulted three students in exchange for vapes and edibles in 2022. His sentencing is set for Aug. 29.

Larsen talks proposed Medicaid cuts during Compass Health stop in Everett

Compass Health plans to open its new behavioral health center in August. Nearly all of the nonprofit’s patients rely on Medicaid.

Snohomish County Health Department Director Dennis Worsham on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish County Health Department director tapped as WA health secretary

Dennis Worsham became the first director of the county health department in January 2023. His last day will be July 3.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Mukilteo in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
On second go, Mukilteo City Council votes against sales tax hike

A veto from Mayor Joe Marine forced the council to bring the potential 0.1% sales tax increase back for another vote Monday.

Community members gather for the dedication of the Oso Landslide Memorial following the ten-year remembrance of the slide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Daily Herald garners 6 awards from regional journalism competition

The awards recognize the best in journalism from media outlets across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

Two visitors comb the beach at Kayak Point Regional County Park on Friday, June 14, 2024, in Tulalip, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Nate Nehring and WSU Beach Watchers to host beach cleanup at Kayak Point

Children and families are especially encouraged to attend the event at Kayak Point Regional County Park.

One person dead in single-vehicle fatal crash near Stanwood

A 33-year-old male was found dead at the scene Monday evening with his vehicle partially wrapped around a tree.

Logo for news use featuring Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Snohomish Regional firefighters respond to nearly 90 calls on the Fourth

While crews stayed busy on Independence Day, it was far more peaceful than other years.

Vehicles travel along Mukilteo Speedway on Sunday, April 21, 2024, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Mukilteo approves 84-acre annexation east of Speedway

The annexation of unincorporated land is expected to bring new revenue to the city as it faces budget challenges.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.