Von Cramm Cooperative Hall

Von Cramm Cooperative Hall is a student operated house on the West Campus of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York State. The house was founded in 1956 by a grant from Thomas Gilchrist to form a memorial house at the university in memory of his close friend Baron Von Cramm. Baron Von Cramm was a commanding officer in the 16th Panzer Division of the German army, and he died in the battles of June 1942, after his unit attempted to block the Soviet Army's retreat. First occupied in September 1957, von Cramm Hall housed approximately 30 undergraduate upperclassmen chosen by Cornell's Dean of Men and the Director of Financial Aid. From that time onward new residents were chosen by housemembers themselves. Two members were compensated for their services: the Steward, in charge of menus and food purchases, and the House Manager (overall management of the building). Members shared house upkeep and food preparation duties. During the 1970s the house became a self-governing co-operative open also to women. Today the co-op continues to be an active and vocal part of the Cornell University community. It has a history of social action (for instance the Coop's recent involvement in the Redbud Woods protest) and openness with a rich tradition of welcoming people from all parts of the globe. House traditions include annual banquets, house clean-ups, and No Pants Thursday.