The Slum
A Grinnell Cross Country Institution

Located at 1027 Elm Street the Slum has been a home to members of the Men's Cross team since 1985. Since its origin the Slum has played a central role in both the social and historical aspects of the Men's cross country program. The Slum is famous for its excellent parties, spaghetti dinners, and social gatherings and as a meeting place of common ground for current and alumni runners. The walls of the Slum are covered in pictures, trophies, and other artifacts left behind by residents and teammates which preserve the history of the Grinnell Men's Cross Country team and inspire the oral narratives of history passed on from one generation of runners to the next.

A Brief History of the Slum -- cataloged by academic year.

1985-86
Residents: Jim Rasmussen, Steve Harrold, Mike McNamer
Gravity Darts tradition is born.
The unofficial mascot of the Purple Roo is brought to the Cross CountryTeam.
Slum begins tradition of hosting team spaghetti dinners.
It's like a funnel - Legend of the Piano

1986-87
Residents: Steve Harrold, Andrew McKean, David Wisdom, Mike McNamer
Wheezer chases Andrew with a golf club; a key duck leaves a hole only in the wall, not a head.
A prospective student wanders into Steve's room at 2 A.M. and wants to know the meaning of life.
The sink falls out of the wall.
More team spaghetti dinners.

1987-88
Residents: Some Soccer and Football types!?!?
Ceiling caves in.


1988-89
Residents: Jim Duncan, Jeff Nassiff, Scott Hamilton, Jonathan Lave, Kent Koth
Green Weasel is brewed for the first time.
Slum haircuts leave many heads on the floor.
Star Trek, Mountain Dew, and Mac and Cheese
The Weasels are born.
The toilet overflows and water runs underneath the piano and down the stairs.
The sink falls out of the wall again.
More spaghetti dinners

1989-90
Residents: Jonathan Lave, Scott Hamilton, Nick Hopley, Kent Koth
Food fights.
Trek, American Gladiators, and other wasted time.
Watermelon fights, and Kent's clean side result in tense moments
A lot of SLEEPING
More spaghetti dinners

1990-91
Residents: Kate Nassiff, Dave Hammond, Anne Hollister
Dave and Anne begin a relationship that leads to marriage.

1991-92
Residents: Guy Potter, Chris Garman, Byron Johnson, Anne Hollister,
John Marciari
Stairs are painted gold by alumni.


1992-93
Residents: Byron Johnson, John Marciari, Jeff Brown, Mark Beilstein
Slum gets a dog. The dog is named "Shakespeare."


1993-94
Residents: Mark Beilstein, Mike Nawrocki, Jim Mills, Chris Mills, Peter
Morrison, Suze Pallinski, Jon Greenberg
Slum expands to include half of downstairs and houses 7 happy slummers.
Whiffle-ball is first played at the Slum.
The Slum is renamed "Bad Mother Goose"-a change which does not survive the year.

1994-95
Residents: Scott Newstrom, Peter Morrison, Brent Stinski, Doug Demarest,
Chris Mills, Jon Greenberg
Downstairs addition is dropped, the slum regains it's penthouse status.
The slum buys a keg of Guinness for a party.
Slum hosts it's first 2 keg party.
Slum gets a new refrigerator, a new stove, and a new railing for the hallway.

1995-96
Residents: Andy Nassiff, Anthony Scotto, Austin Ramsland, Steph
Hitztaler, Ronnie Weed
Direct line to Will's house is installed.
Main bathroom is remodeled.
Pull-up bar is installed at the top of the stairway.
Slum actually makes money from parties, spawning the creation of the Slum Fund.

1996-97
Residents: Andy Nassiff, Ronnie Weed, Austin Ramsland, Bryan Rebar, Andrew Jacobsen
A new landlord takes over the slum.
A new roof is installed and a clause is added to the lease prohibiting partying on the porch roof.
Slum Fund disappears and is forgotten.
The slum hosts the first end of season dodge ball party.
The dodgeball game also saw the creation of Black Death, a drink sure to put anyone (notably Josh Ward) on their ass.

1997-98
Residents: Matt Rhoades, Kevin Notheis, Andrew Jacobsen, Jarrod Becker
Second bathroom and entryway are remodeled.
Pull-up bar is removed by landlord.
"Jizzy Weasel" is born a brother to Green Weasel. DNA tests confirm Matt Prekker as the father, or was that Klassy Massey. A Cowles quad names itself "The Ghetto" and makes a feeble attempt to rival the Slum.

1998-99
Residents: Matt Rhoades, Jarrod Becker, Reid Bauer (Fall), Casey Miller (Fall), Neil Gipson (Spring), John Edel (Spring) The "Casey Miller Subscription" starts
This was a boring year


1999-2000
Residents: Camarin Bailey, Rob Park, Tony Stubblebine (fall), Derek Wilke, Reid Bauer (spring)
Slum gets a gas grill
Ted Massey and Matt Prekker live in nearby "Sewer."Scotty "Bam$Bam" Barkley moves into Skid
Row
Official Slum Movie: Orgasmo
Official Drink: Night Train and Will Freeman Sour Mash
Official TV: Monday Night Football
Slummers show at 28 straight Taco Tuesdays
Dan proposes to Camarin
Honorary Slummer: Dan "Mad Puker" Madigan


2000-2001
Residents: Rob Park, John Aerni, Jim Hackett, Tony Stubblebine (fall), Todd Kimball (spring), Paul Bendich (spring)
Official Scandal: Wafflegate

2001-2002
Residents: Jim Hackett, David Perry, Tom Beaudin, Dusty Gerth
The $lum becomes an official student group; gets e-mail and a plan
Wiffleball leagues form for successful fall and spring seasons
Wiffleball forced to move to Spanish house due to neighbor’s complaints
The $lum gets klean
The $lum goes to Harris
Joey Browner rules.

2002-2003 Residents: Brian Menaker, Thomas Parr, Courtney Sloger, Ben Dyer (fall), David Creasey (fall)
$lum rug gets powerwashed
The $lum gets a PS2
"Sketchy Bathroom at the top of the stairs" gets renamed "The Hotbox" in honor of the downstairs neighbors.