McBride's former office now reading and studying room

Photo by Abby Bellow

Bailey McBride’s legacy and passion for literature and learning continues to influence students as his former office is converted into a place of quiet and learning.

McBride served the Oklahoma Christian University community for 50 years as a professor in the Department of Language and Literature.

Senior Jace Huser said students have fond memories of McBride’s time on campus.

“He would always either be at chapel on Wednesdays or be walking through the department,” Huser said. “He would always say ‘Hi’ and stop to talk to you a little bit.”

When McBride retired in the spring semester of 2014 his office was left vacant. Department of Language and Literature Chair Cami Agan said she and other faculty members decided to use the space to commemorate McBride’s work and passion in a way that could also serve students.

“He left us quite a number of his books when he moved out,” Agan said. “That sparked the idea that we could make it into a mini library for the department and include a lot of the required texts that we might want to keep around… I thought this could be another place another space for students to go who wanted to work quietly on their papers [and] could be surrounded by books and ideas and maybe even find some research in the process.”

The department is in the process of transforming the room into an old-world library complete with wooden ladders, Agan said.

“What we hope for in the future is to have the stereotypical library that you imagine with wooden bookshelves and ladders that go up to the ceiling,” Agan said. “That’s the kind of atmosphere a lot of students that are readers and thinkers would love to have.”

McBride said he hopes the books he left behind will influence students in positive ways.

“Nothing stimulates your brain like [reading and learning],” McBride said. “The most important thing we’re learning is who we are and what we can do to change the world.”

With the collection of books left by McBride, the room was not full. Peter Patton, adjunct professor of mechanical engineering, heard about the need for literature in the reading room and donated more than 100 books, including literature in multiple languages.

“I’m in the process of giving away about 6,000 books… but I was looking for a better home for the literature and for the literary criticism books,” Patton said. “I thought those would naturally work best in a reading room for language and literature students…They’ve given me so much pleasure and they’re all in very, very good condition.”

Laine Weatherford, freshman English writing major, said she is looking forward to enjoying a quiet place to study and read.

“I think the reading room is going to be a lot more serious and an opportunity to crack down and get some work in without any distraction, and I think that is going to be really useful,” Weatherford said. “We don’t have a lot of super quiet places where we can just focus.”

Huser said English students were informed about the new room and told to be silent while in the reading room.

“They’ve encouraged us to use it but not as a hangout room,” Huser said. “That is not what it’s meant for… It’s not supposed to be like another lounge where you can sit and talk with friends. It’s supposed to be for people who want to get stuff done. “

Agan said she wants the reading room to help establish an environment that promotes learning and intellectual depth.

“I hope it’s kind of a [library or] independent bookstore on the second floor,” Agan said. “I would love for that idea for the reading room to kind of be integrated into the design for a coffee shop and sort of the whole floor be for studying and thinking and reading.”

Weatherford said she plans on utilizing the space throughout her time as a student.

“When I have some really dense reading that I need to get through that I need silence to focus on, I think it’s going to be useful,” Weatherford said. “I’m certainly planning on taking advantage of it.”

Huser said he thinks students will enjoy having the reading room and that it will effectively represent the legacy of McBride.

“He cared a lot about the students, and I know he cares a lot about literature,” Huser said. “I think this is just a great way for him to kind of give the students another opportunity to explore literature and read a lot of the books that he has enjoyed over the years. I think it is very much a part of him.”

McBride said he was honored that his former office is to remain a place dedicated to reading.

“I spent so many years teaching and working at Oklahoma Christian that I still feel like it’s my home,” McBride said. “When I go back and see that room, I’m reminded that, that used to be my office, but it’s still a part of OC and I’m still a part of OC.”

McBride’s Reading Room is located on the second floor of the Mabee Learning Center in room 217.