Contact: Jeff Hinz, Division of University Housing, (608) 890-1531, jeffrey.hinz@housing.wisc.edu ; or Collin Price, Ho-Chunk Nation, (715) 299-5456, collin.price@ho-chunk.com,
MADISON – “Dejope,” a word that the Ho-Chunk and other American Indians have used to refer to the Madison area for thousands of years, will be the name of the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s new lakeshore residence hall.
Dejope Residence Hall, located on the west side of campus near the Lake Mendota shore, will become home to 408 students starting on Aug. 26.
In the Ho-Chunk language, Dejope means “Four Lakes,” a reference to lakes Mendota, Monona, Waubesa and Kegonsa, which are connected by the Yahara River. This area contains many archaeological sites, evidence of the thousands of years that the Ho-Chunk and other American Indians have lived around these four lakes.
The name was selected after consulting with members of the Ho-Chunk Nation and others in discussions that started last summer, says University Housing director Paul Evans.
“We worked with the Ho-Chunk Nation on a name for this facility, because this area was home to the Ho-Chunk for thousands of years,” he says.
Last May, the Ho-Chunk Nation Legislature passed a resolution allowing University Housing to use Dejope as a residence hall name. Part of the resolution stated that “it is in the best interest of the Nation to support and promote the education of its members and the education of others about the Ho-Chunk Nation…” The Ho-Chunk Nation did not provide funding for the project.
The residence hall will have features that recognize the influence and importance of tribal culture and of the lakes.
A fire circle will be located on the building’s north side facing the lake, with bronze plaques representing the 11 Indian Nations in Wisconsin. Inside, on the first floor, embedded in the terrazzo floor, will be images of four of the campus effigy mound groups; Observatory Hill, Willow Drive, Picnic Point and Eagle Heights.
The building will also have artwork displayed that depicts the lakes. In the 300-person Lake Mendota room there will be a 12-by-10-foot layered acrylic of Lake Mendota. The work, created by local artists Gail Simpson and Aristotle Georgiades, shows the varying depths of the lake.
In the east hallway will be a 42-inch-by 6-foot fused glass-and-metal artwork showing an image of the four lakes of this area created by artists Shawn Trentlage and Darcy Ferrill.
The building includes a University Health Services clinic/office, a classroom, technology learning center, TV lounge with fireplace, and a music practice room. Resident rooms will be carpeted double rooms with air conditioning, and most bathrooms will be shared by a cluster of 10 residents.
The building will also feature the Four Lakes Market, a dining marketplace that will offer eight food venues with a wide variety of custom menu choices. Outside of the Four Lakes Market is Flamingo Run, a convenience store that offers a variety of items including; groceries, school supplies, health and beauty aids and snacks.
The Bean and Creamery is another stop inside Dejope Residence Hall, featuring custom Starbucks coffee drinks, smoothies, Babcock Dairy and Ben and Jerry’s ice cream treats, baked goods, beverages, sandwiches and snacks.
