Students and alumni are urging the university to reconsider. Dozens of students protested on campus Thursday with handmade signs reading “Save the ‘Stead.” The Homestead has 12 available beds, all occupied this semester.

The community began in 1977 as a live-in experiment in environmentally sound living, launched by biology professor Bob Alrutz and students. Residents tend gardens, keep chickens and chop firewood, while choosing a more hands-on, lower-tech lifestyle.

Denison Vice President for Student Life Ric Hall said the university made the decision several years ago. He cited reduced student participation over time and the significant long-term investment needed to maintain the program and its facilities. The university is still discussing options with students and alumni, Hall said, including ways to honor the Homestead’s history and preserve its spirit.

Current residents dispute the suggestion that interest is lacking. Senior Noa Holland, who has lived at the Homestead for two years, said residents hosted several events this year that drew more than 150 students. They also hold weekly dinners for the wider student body.

Holland called the planned closure a blow to the community’s history. Junior Lily Meyer, who has lived there for three semesters, said the experience has become central to her identity and helped prepare her for the future. Meyer said the Homestead was one reason she chose Denison, and described it as a distinctive part of the university’s appeal.

University officials and student leaders have also raised practical concerns. Student government Vice President Zacc Greene said the university lacks funding for the staffing and maintenance the cabins require, and that participation has fluctuated. He also pointed to safety risks, including students walking to and from the site alone at night or in hazardous weather. A cabin burned down in 2000.

Meyer said Homestead residents have tried to work through the university’s concerns and consider compromises, including asking residents to sign liability waivers. Greene encouraged students and alumni to focus on possible alternatives, such as finding another location or identifying funding.

Homestead alumni are scheduled to meet with university administrators next week to discuss a path forward, Greene said. For the current residents, the question is whether a community built around shared work and sustainable living can continue in a form the university is willing and able to support.