Southern Heritage Project- The University of Alabama

An Interview to Remember

I wanted to get an interview with someone who really knew what it was like to spend time in the mansion. I knew it was a long shot, but I thought “hey, it would be great if I got an interview with Dr. Witt.” Who would know more about living there than someone who lived there himself? Luckily, with the help of his assistant, I was able to get an interview with him on June 30th .
I arrived at the President's office at 1:30 for my interview. Even his office reminds me of the mansion. It had some older furniture, and a picture of every president we've had here at the Capstone. I must say, it was pretty intimidating. It isn't every day you can meet with the head of your University. President Witt came inside and we shook hands. After that, I really didn't see why I was so nervous. He's a very warm, inviting, down to earth guy. We went into the conference room and I explained to him the purpose of my interview. I told him that I wanted to get some background information on him, then to ask some questions about events at the mansion, and then what the mansion would mean to him once he left. I got some awesome answers.

Before the Penn State graduate was president here in Tuscaloosa, Dr. Witt held many positions in the University of Texas systems for thirty five years. He says,
“In the Spring of 1995, I was asked by the University of Texas system to go to one of the branch campuses at the University of Texas at Arlington and spend a couple of years. They were going through a difficult time and needed some stability and the plan was then for me to return to the UT in Austin... but while I was at Arlington I was approached by the University of Alabama and was interested in and excited by the opportunity here and joined the University of Alabama March 1, 2003.”

When it comes to the difference in life for Dr. Witt here at the Capstone as opposed to a school like the University of Texas, one big thing stands Alabama apart: Tradition. “I think that the biggest difference is the University of Alabama is much older, has a strong sense of traditional.. where as UT Arlington has been around since the 1960s... And obviously, being 100 plus years younger than the University of Alabama, the sense of tradition is not as strong.”

Dr. Witt's first memory of the mansion from the inside is when he met for the first time with the board of trustees here in Tuscaloosa in January of 2003. He said that he was first “struck by the beauty of the mansion, I think everyone is as they approach it. It's not just that the building itself is beautiful, the grounds around it are beautiful and well maintained.” He was also impressed that it was situated at the heart of the campus. When I asked Dr. Witt about how he feels about the president's mansion he said. “I think the president's mansion captures very well the strong sense of tradition of the University of Alabama when people realize it was completed 10 yrs after the University was constructed and that it has been in continuous use ever since then...I think it is one of the most recognizable buildings in the state of Alabama.” I think that encapsulates exactly what I feel when I think of the mansion.

Unfortunately, Dr. Witt was unable to move into the mansion as soon as he assumed the position as president on March 1, 2003 because they were working on the third floor of the mansion (the president's personal living quarters). So, he lived in the UA system guest house off campus for two months and then was able to live in the mansion. He lived there until a couple of years ago, and now Dr. Witt and his wife, Sandee, divide their time between the mansion. They spend most of their time at the private residence, “anything affiliated with the University is held at the mansion rather than [their] private home.”

Many events have been and are still held at the mansion, including faculty and staff luncheons, Christmas parties, and dinners. In fact, over the years, there have even been weddings at the mansion. Dr. Witt uses the mansion “very very heavily for entertaining.” They range from “small luncheons and dinners, to larger ones for up to 60 people.” They also hold ice-cream socials for visiting groups of students to the University, and award ceremonies for our many exceptional students here. A typical event for Dr. Witt varies. The day after my interview, Dr. Witt planned to have an event at the mansion for a reception for staff members in the evening. He said that he will typically arrive at the mansion 30 minutes early so that he can make sure that everything is in place and prepared for the upcoming event. So, how does President Witt feel about having these events at the mansion with all of the antiques and breakables? He doesn't really think of that, he is more concerned with the priceless fabrics on the antique furniture that could cost tens of thousands of dollars to reupholster. I was surprised, I had no idea that it could cost that much money to recover a couch! I suppose if you want to do it right, though, you would have to have the best fabrics and the best person do the job.
I knew that when I was touring the mansion, I already found my favorite part of the building when I opened the door: the massive chandelier in the foyer. But I was dying to ask what Dr. Witt's favorite was. His favorite part of the visitors' area is the parlor on the left side of the first floor. In that room he said there is “a pair of very comfortable wing back chairs. If I have a lot of reading to do or need to gather my thoughts... and need a change of venue I'll walk over to the mansion and sit in one of those chairs.”


I then wanted to know about the private quarters of the mansion: the one place I hadn't seen. He said that only a couple of hours before our interview, he went to his private floor of the mansion for lunch and made himself a sandwich! It was so funny to think of him in his home, making himself a sandwich and checking out what was on TV, but it just reiterated the fact that he is a very genuine, down to earth person. He (of course) likes the third floor of the mansion, because he and his wife helped to pick out all of the furniture of the living quarters. He describes it as a “very comfortable, convenient place to go.” In fact, he has donated everything on that floor to the University, so if the next president likes what he sees, he has himself a nice, comfortably furnished home.

The last question I wanted to ask Dr. Witt considered the end of his stint here in Tuscaloosa. I wanted to know what kind of mark, or legacy, he would want to leave at the mansion. His answer was great, because I think that this is what every president thinks of the mansion.

I must say that my interview with President Witt was enlightening. It really showed me that the presidents of our university care about the mansion as much as the University of Alabama family. As I wrapped up my interview, I thanked Dr. Witt for his time, and walked out of his office and to the mansion for one last look before working on my project. Now, whenever I look at the mansion, I see all of the work that has been put into keeping the mansion beautiful.

In Reflection
I learned way more than I thought I would about the mansion, and I have a greater appreciation for its history. It represents the unwavering traditions here at the University, and is the constant symbol of stability through our toughest times. Dr. Witt describes what the mansion is best. He said “I believe that the mansion is first and foremost a home, and not a museum. And it is a home that belongs to the University of Alabama, and the UA family, and the state of Alabama.” No matter where the alumni of the University go after they graduate, there is always a home here in Tuscaloosa for them to come home to.