Feb. 23, 2007
 
HODGES HALL: Old Residence Hall Set To Come Down; Had Bit Part in 'We Are Marshall'
 
By Tony Rutherford
Huntington News Network Writer
 
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Remember the scene in "We Are Marshall" where Matthew McConaughey (Jack Lengyel ) yells at two of his players as they leave the dorm? The scene, filmed outside of Hodges Hall on Marshall’s campus, drew a large crowd to watch McConaughey in his striped jacket bellow out to Reggie Oliver (Arlen Escarpeta) and Nate Ruffin (Anthony Mackie) during a conversation with President Donald Dedmon (David Strathairn).
 
In fact, during the filming, Gov. Manchin made a visit to the set to make director McG and McConaughey honorary citizens of the Mountain State. McConaughey, a method actor, asked the governor to return in one half hour after he completed the scene in front of Hodges.
 
Previously, Hodges had been used as a dorm for “athletics,” particularly before the construction of new campus dormitories. Now, students living there have been told it will not be available for the 2007-2008 academic year.
 
The dorm will be torn down as part of the preparation for construction of the Health and Wellness Center, which will also lead to the demolition of 20th Street Baptist Church later this Spring.
 
In addition, the Campus Christian Center will reportedly be leveled to make way for the construction of a new campus Christian facility without a chapel.