Merrill also gained a reputation as a campus center of openness and acceptance for gays and lesbians; in 1991 it established the Vito Russo House in one of its student residences.

In 2006, the History Department, and many affiliated faculty, left their longtime home at Merrill for the new Humanities Building next to Cowell College.

Unlike the first colleges, Merrill does not consist of Bay Regionalist or Mediterranean buildings centered around formal quads.

Instead, its structures present three key features: starkly modern and Scandinavian design, orientation around the redwood trees that once were the focal point of the site (removed in Spring 2013 for a redesign), and playfully historical components such as the bridges to the residential towers, balconies with lattice railings, and the bell tower above the dining hall.

Merrill prominently features blue metal roofs for nearly every building, with the exception of the two main residence towers.

One contains the Charles E. Merrill Lounge, another is an annex of faculty offices and home to the Center for Justice, Tolerance, and Community; and lastly, the Casa Latina.

Two smaller houses, Chavez-Menchu and DuBois (C and D), are located to the East of the college circle and Ming Ong computer lab.

Near the college are buildings housing the Lionel Cantú GLBTI Resource Center, KZSC radio, and the campus Peace Corps office.

Its freshman core course includes readings by authors from Cuba, Morocco, inner-city Los Angeles, and most recently Darfur.

Merrill College also houses the faculty and administrative offices of the Politics Department and the Legal Studies Program.

Along with painting over the old murals and starting the new ones, the even includes activities put on by the RA's (Residential Assistants) and a barbecue for Merrill Students.