George Washington Atherton's family said he would have wanted to be buried in a quiet place on campus.

But almost 86 years after his death, the University's seventh president lies not only six feet under, but about six feet away from one of the busiest roads in the center of campus.

Atherton's grave, marble tombstone and memorial lie beside Pollock Road, next to Schwab Auditorium -- a sedate place in 1906, but now a hubbub of campus life.

"He wanted to be buried in a nice quiet place and now it's not quiet anymore," said Jill Paulikas, a Lion Ambassador.

Built in 1903, only three years before his death, Schwab was Atherton's favorite building, his "crown jewel," said Roger Williams, director of University Relations and author of a recently-published book on Atherton.

Atherton was an influential president who loved the University and was loved in turn by the students, said Lion Ambassador John Hoebler. That pride in the University is a good reason for Atherton to be buried on campus, Williams said, adding that Atherton's family determined the burial site.

Williams said that when he was a student 18 years ago, the tomb was all but hidden by bushes. But Rose Oswald, wife of then University President John W. Oswald "rescued" the grave and headed a movement to add the marble wall and bench that now grace Atherton's resting place, Williams said. All the money for the project came from private contributions, he added.

Hoebler (junior-management information systems) said he doubted the bench's usefulness.

"You never see anyone sitting on it," he said.

Lion Ambassadors don't pass Atherton's grave on their tour route, so Paulikas (junior-secondary education/English) said she doesn't usually mention it. But the tomb requires a second look for many, she added.

"A lot of people don't really believe he's buried there -- but he is," she said.

"I didn't think there was a body there, I thought it was just a shrine," said Travis Ross (junior-education).

Since the University put a blue historical marker beside the site, Williams said he has seen many visiting prospective students and their parents stop to read the information.

"I think they're surprised," Williams said of people's reaction to an on-campus grave.

Nancy Coar (junior-speech communication) said she hadn't known Atherton was buried on the spot, but added, "I think it's nice."

Echoing Coar, Michelle Betts (senior-English literature) said she first heard Atherton was buried next to Schwab when she was a freshman but didn't believe it.

"I thought it was one of those college myths," Betts said, but added, "If there's actually a body there I think it's kind of morbid."