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DAVIDSON, N.C. (AP) — For 90 years, students at Davison College have not had to go home to get their laundry done.
But the school says that will change next year, when it ends free laundry service for the 2,000 students.
The Charlotte Observer reported (http://bit.ly/Ru6RBu) that Davidson has been washing, drying, folding and ironing students' clothes for free since 1925.
The private liberal arts college is well-known around the country for its academics, but the free laundry service has distinguished the school on Internet lists of special student benefits at colleges.
Laundry supervisor Richard Terry said Wednesday that ending the service next year gives the private school north of Charlotte time to find jobs for the dozen or so workers who have handled laundry duty.
The move will save the school $400,000 a year. President Carol Quillen said she wants to use the money for things like scholarships, internships, research and other programs.
Quillen also said no one enrolls at Davidson for the laundry service.
The move doesn't sit well with everyone.
Larry Dagenhart, the 1953 class valedictorian, was shocked.
"We gave up vespers, we gave up chapel, we went coed, we even gave up the marching band, but dad-gum-it, we can't give up the laundry. What is this world coming to?"
Of course, students still might not be bringing their laundry home on the weekends. Davidson plans to add more free washers and dryers to those already available.
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Information from: The Charlotte Observer, http://www.charlotteobserver.com
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