Elmina Castle, built in 1482, sits largely intact on Ghana’s coast as the oldest European structure in Sub-Saharan Africa. In its prime, the castle was used to protect gold trade and hold enslaved people waiting to be shipped to the Americas. Now, the castle is part of a UNESCO-protected world heritage site and a focus of Rochester’s Digital Heritage of West African Monuments Field School. 

By the end of Rochester’s spring 2016 semester, Grant Dever ʼ16, ʼ17 (T5) was ready for a break. Serving as president of the Students’ Association Government had him feeling a little burned out. He also felt a little hollow. 

Dever missed his friends, but more than that, he missed being part of a community. 

Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Gleason Library never sleeps. Since 2007, the library has been used by students round-the-clock as a work and meeting space, a dining hall and lounge, and sometimes a bedroom.

After 13 years of continuous use, Gleason is tired.