Susie’s is a space for students to socialize and relax.
Susie’s, more commonly known as The Den, offers a space for students to relax and socialize. Located in the west basement of Paresky Commons, The Den that we know today is the product of a long process of graduating classes and renovations.
Paul Murphy, a member of the graduating class of 1984 and current Instructor in Mathematics, noted that the most substantial change to The Den was during a renovation in the early 2000s. As a member of the team that led the project, he provided more detail on its logistics.
“There’s always been a kind of grill down there, [with foods] like burgers and pizza, [but it was] a very small space down underneath [Paresky] Commons. There was a lot of feeling that we needed to renovate [Paresky] Commons or just change what we were doing in the entire building… One of the big ones was to expand the space down below which is now Susie’s, [so] the space down there was increased by about 50 percent. [Also] the patio that goes down to Susie’s wasn’t there before so we dug out that area so you can get to and from Susie’s without going upstairs. The windows were expanded [because] there wasn’t as much light down there at the time either,” said Murphy.
According to Andover’s archives, prior to its renovation in 2009, The Den used to go by the name of the Ryley Room in honor of James Ryley, a soccer coach who passed away in 1946. Ryley was commemorated in the Spring 1947 “Phillips Bulletin,” which underscored his leadership abilities.
“Having joined the Department of Athletics in 1912, he was Andover’s only coach of organized soccer. A man of nationally recognized eminence in his field, he inspired boys to work beyond their normal powers, for he represented the spirit of Andover. He will be remembered most for his wise counsel and kind nature,” wrote the “Phillips Bulletin.”
Due to the size of the project, Murphy recalled that Paresky Commons had to be closed for a significant chunk of time, displacing the normal eating routine on campus. He mentioned that even though the renovations to The Den certainly altered its dynamic, its use and social purpose remain quite similar to that of when he was a student.
“We reopened in 2009, and I think that the renovation was around a year and a half. We were closed for the ’07, ’08, and ’09 years. We opened commons in the summer of 2009. I do remember we were able to bring the class of ’09 into [Paresky] Commons for the first time in the spring of their senior year… You couldn’t get in from the outside of the building, [so] it was basically a stairway [from] commons upstairs. I remember coming and going from The Den, or the Ryley Room at the time, on Saturday nights. It was super busy and crowded, [with] kids on the stairs coming and going at all times. Like a regular Saturday night, people kind of in and out of that space,” said Murphy.
In 2012, The Den was renamed “Susie’s” in honor of Suzanne Elson, mother of charter trustee Louis Elson ’80. In a 2012 issue of The Phillipian, Suzanne Elson spoke of her appreciation for the renaming.
“I am so thrilled to have this beautiful honor done for me. I am very excited about it. [Andover is] a marvelous school and it’s been close to my heart for a long time, and this means a lot to me,” said Suzanne Elson in the May 6, 2012 issue of The Phillipian.
Kele Gregory ’26, a new Lower, expressed his opinion about the importance of Susie’s for students. He noted that The Den is a great place to catch up on work and host weekend events.
“Depending on the time, [The Den] can be good to hang out [in] with your friends or a good study space. I think that the [weekend activities] are a great time honestly. The open mic was a great idea and a lot of my friends and I look forward to having more of those and more activities in the den,” said Gregory.
Paul Murphy ’84 pointed out that while The Den is suitable for Andover’s current needs, its functionality should be continually re-evaluated as Andover’s campus evolves. He stressed the importance of prioritizing students’ needs in deciding the space’s future.
“I do think as a member of the community that there should be a kind of regular review every three to five years about what happens down there. Do we need tables, do like booths, do we want more video, what’s the menu down there? Are people kind of happy with what’s happening down there and does it attract students on a regular basis or not? I don’t know the answer to that question but I think that we should always be asking that question,” said Murphy.
