Tucked behind Hand Art Center, this small field has been used for commencement ceremonies, theater performances and holiday programs. Students often use the quiet space for studying, relaxing and working on group projects.
This grassy area is historically known as the Forest of Arden. The name dates to early years of the university, when theater professor Dr. Irving Stover staged outdoor performances of Shakespearean works in the area near the platform. At the time, the location was heavily treed and came to be known as the Forest of Arden because of the theater performances. Through the years, many of the trees outlived their life spans and were removed, new buildings were constructed, and the exact location of the Forest of Arden space shifted slightly south and east. However, the name persists in university lore. Today, the Forest of Arden is generally considered to encompass the open, grassy area ringed by young trees south of the platform, and the grassy area east of the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Space where some mature trees still remain.