Greek students honor McKaig with Dunn's Woods bench

IU’s Old Crescent is covered with reminders of the University’s past and present, from the statue of Herman B Wells to the Rose Well House. A new memorial was added Wednesday, putting a permanent monument in place to retiring Dean of Students Dick McKaig.

Now at the top of the Old Crescent, in the shadow of Dunn’s Woods, is a bench engraved with the words “Dr. Richard N. McKaig, Dean of Students 1991-2009, With Gratitude from IU Greeks.”

The bench was unveiled by McKaig and his wife at a ceremony Wednesday commemorating McKaig’s service to IU’s greek community during his years as an administrator and dean of students.

“Over your life at Indiana University, all you’ve done is give and give and give,” said Judy Palmer, president of the Alumni Panhellenic Association. “You always had a way of making us feel like we were number one.”

Leading the ceremony was Alumni Interfraternity Council President and Pi Kappa Phi member Phil Summers, who was joined by current and past members of IU’s greek system as well as several of McKaig’s family members and colleagues.

“He’s been such a big advocate of the greek system for 18 years,” said Sean Damer, vice president of Pi Kappa Phi. “It’s the little things. He’s inspiring, but respected, and he was there for the high times and the low times.”

Several students spoke at the ceremony, including Interfraternity Council President Colin Nabity and Panhellenic Council President Annie Raeder.

“It’s been really cool to be able to go talk to him any time,” Raeder said.

Wednesday’s ceremony was just one of several so far this summer for the outgoing dean of students, who will retire July 31. Joined by his wife, McKaig pulled a red “Cream and Crimson” IU flag off the bench, revealing the inscription. McKaig joked that after retiring, he could set up a new office at the bench, complete with a desk.

Calling the bench “special,” McKaig smiled wistfully, leaving those in attendance with little doubt that, though he’s retiring, he will be a part of IU forever.