As the fastest-growing major on Vassar’s campus, the Computer Science Department needs to expand. Students have been sharing a building for too long: first, the Old Laundry Building, and now, Sanders Physics. But this problem has been solved by a generous donation from an anonymous benefactor. They have donated $15.4 million to create a whole new center for computer science, the Grace Hopper Center of Computer Science.
The building is named after Vassar’s very own Grace Hopper. She was an American computer scientist, mathematician and United States Navy rear admiral. She earned a bachelor’s in mathematics from Vassar College and went on to receive her master’s and doctorate at Yale University. This dedication to Hopper inspired NVIDIA, a leader in artificial intelligence computing, to support the Vassar Computer Science Department as well.
Recently, NVIDIA has unveiled its newest and most efficient superchips, named after Hopper. To honor her great legacy, NVIDIA has donated new lab equipment equipped with these amazing superchips, designed to greatly improve the quality of education. This new lab will also offer high-speed internet access only available to computer science majors and not to the general public. To receive card access, make sure to contact the Chair of the Department, Professor Marc Smith.
Vassar and its buildings are committed to sustainability, which is why the Grace Hopper Center of Computer Science offers a rooftop garden that will grow vegetables and utilize solar power to help reduce the increasing cost of power. Smith notes, “This is an incredible addition that only this year’s Majors Committee could ever be fit to use.”
The NVIDIA computers will also be equipped with the best gaming and streaming tools, available for students to dive into the world of game design. Equipped with headphones, microphones, RGB keyboards and ergonomic mice, this new lab will be a gamer’s paradise. Like most buildings, the Grace Hopper Center of Computer Science will be completed with gender-neutral bathrooms equipped with showers so CS students never even have to leave the building.
To facilitate the building process, Noyes Circle will be closed from this summer until the Summer of 2026. Additional trees will be planted to minimize this loss of green space on campus. All of these wonderful advances will inspire a new generation of computer scientists studded with the technology to change the world. The liberal arts will grow to encompass even more computer science in an era of innovation!
A few trees being planted is NOT going to make up for this loss of space. The project will also destroy Noyes as a place to live, especially during construction. It is hard to believe there is not a better alternative.
Okay you rascals, you fooled me.