It has long since been rumored that a system of secret, sealed-off, underground tunnels is plunging through Butler’s underground. This rumor is simply a rumor; a true rumor. Yes, Butler does in fact have an underground tunnel system and I, BUJoe, Blogger in the field got to infiltrate these tunnels.

Butler has two tunnel systems. The larger one connects Schwitzer Hall to the back of C-Club in Atherton Union’s basement. The second connects the Sunset Ave./Hampton Dr. corner of Ross to the Parking Lot/ 44th Street corner of Ross.

The tunnel in Schwitzer was built as a food service tunnel. Back in the day (no idea when “the day” was) men and women at Butler separately; men ate in Atherton Union and women ate in the basement of Schwitzer Hall. (This is interesting because Butler was one of the first colleges to admit women on an equal basis as men, and Butler has always been a Coed school- so meals and living [and sports, of course] were the only divided activities.) The meals were prepared in Atherton’s large kitchen and then taken to the women using the tunnel system. After eating became a coeducational activity at Butler the tunnel was no longer needed, it not of use to students because it connects directly to the storage areas in the back of the kitchen. The tunnel runs directly under the pathway that one would take to go from Schwitzer to Starbucks.

The tunnel in Ross is home to a large Basilisk and the Heir of Slytherin, false.
The tunnel in Ross was strictly for maintenance. The Sunset/Hampton corner of Ross was built first and stood as its own building for several years until the Parking Lot/44th corner could be added. When the new section was built a new boiler room was built as well. The tunnel connects these two areas and runs diagonally through the courtyard. As I understand it, the building runs on only the new boiler room now, so the tunnel in Ross is also obsolete.

 I have many pictures from the tunnels and from sealed off chambers in Schwitzer’s basement in my photos section. I left the Ross Hall tunnel unexplored so who knows what dangers could be growing in its darkness at this very moment. To get to the tunnel in Ross a student would have to go through the Boiler Room. Which I don’t think can be done (hmmm..) and a Schwitzer resident can find the locked door to the pre-tunnel chambers right beside their basement kitchen. (which makes sense) This door is locked, of course, but all you have to do is “Speak Friend and Enter” (in elvish, of course) I would advise students not to try to enter these places, not because it is wrong or dangerous, but because if you have ever read a book besides Thomas the Tankengine - nothing good ever happens in tunnels, and I fear you will unleash a great evil upon the Campus.