In response to your editorial “Commend University decision on Usen Castle” (Feb. 2):

I’ve been shocked at how passively people are accepting the University’s decision to remove most of Usen Castle. The year I spent in the Castle was the best I had at Brandeis; it was a place of infinite mystery and adventure, full of unexpected nooks, passageways and staircases. It is magical in addition to iconic, and it embodies the unorthodox, quirky spirit that drew me to Brandeis in the first place. That experience shouldn’t be mine alone; future students should be able to share it.

Anyone who complains about the loss of this historic campus landmark is being met with a seemingly unanswerable defense: it’s falling apart and just not safe. Disagreeing with the decision to remove it is therefore treated as impractical and irresponsible. We Castle-lovers just don’t understand that the administration’s duty is to keep people safe; they insist it gives them no joy to have to take it away.

But it is false to say that this is about safety. If the administration adored the castle but were concerned about its risk, they would be planning to build a new castle or to rebuild the old one in accordance with modern building codes. 

Because they have given no indication that they intend to do this, it is clear that they simply do not care very much whether the University has a castle or not. But everyone thinks Brandeis should be a special place, a place with true character and history. The truth is that our administrators simply don’t care about these things very much, or they’d have architects drawing spires and turrets at this very moment.

Brandeis, I beg you, do not let them get away with this. If they care about safety, ask them why we can’t have a new castle. The administration’s response will tell you where its true values lie.

—Nathan J. Robinson, BA ’11, MA ’11