Student Life

Dorm Room Décor

More than places to sleep or study, dorm rooms provide outlets for creative expression and showcase the personality and interests of the students who occupy them. With that in mind—and more than 80 percent of our undergraduates living in ten residence halls to choose from—we found four rooms that captured the spectrum of students at Lake Forest College.

By Lindsay Beller  |  Photos by Chip Williams

The Student
Jared Fox ’09
Cleveland, Ohio
Politics & Metropolitan Studies

The Scene
Jared maintains an elaborate organization system in his Nollen Hall room that includes color-coded notebooks for each class, separate binders for groups and activities, Post-it notes with deadline reminders, a small library of resource books, and more.

The Story
As a gay high school freshman, Jared felt so ostracized by his classmates that he transferred to a new school where he started a Gay-Straight Alliance chapter—and a life devoted to activism that continues at the College. Jared’s campaign for General Assembly secretary, in which he incorporated his sexuality into campaign slogans on posters that were ultimately defaced, sparked a campus-wide debate about the level of tolerance on campus. Jared, who won the election, is also involved with Students United Coalition Against Sexual Assault, PRIDE, and College Democrats, and serves on the Academic Honesty Judicial Board and Conduct Board, among other groups. 

The Students
Pragya Upadhyaya ’07
Art
Kathmandu, Nepal

Tulaza Vaidya ’07
Biology & Chemistry
Kathmandu, Nepal

The Scene
Nepalese masks, calendars, bags, fabric, and the country’s distinct non-rectangular flag decorate this Deerpath Hall room, leaving no doubt where the two roommates call home.

The Story
Although Pragya and Tulaza went to the same high school in Kathmandu, they never met before moving around the world to attend the College. Here, their room celebrates a shared heritage with mementos from home while honoring their different academic interests. Pragya, an artist who exhibited her work in Nepal last summer, displayed her paintings of a beach landscape and figures around the room. Tulaza, who plans to go to medical school and helped start Eukaryon, the biology department’s student research journal, tacked up a Periodic Table of Elements on the wall for easy reference.

The Students
Rachel Ardrey ’08
Boston, Massachusetts
English Literature & Philosophy

Ali Hoefnagel ’08
Lombard, Illinois
Theater & Women’s and Gender Studies

Liz Huff ’08
Dodgeville, Wisconsin
Philosophy & Environmental Studies

Kendall Swett ’08
Akron, Ohio
Art History

The Scene
Wielding oil pastels in their Gregory Hall room, these four artistic sophomores vowed never to look at white walls and made good on their promise.

The Story
Their work on the walls (and the ceiling) is about more than adding a splash of color to the space; it is a form of stress relief for the roommates, who all lead busy lives. Liz holds down three jobs. Ali works behind the scenes on school plays. Rachel volunteers for Habitat for Humanity. Kendall is a champion diver who set a national record at the 2006 Women’s Swimming & Diving NCAA Division III National Championship Meet in March. The walls are more than an outlet for stress. As they all prepare to study abroad next year, the walls serve as “a catalogue of memories from the year,” says Liz.

The Student
Rob Flot ‘09
Chicago, Illinois
Politics/Physics

The Scene
Rob stores his guitars, bass, amplifier, and other musical accoutrements in his McClure Hall room, and he sometimes plays there too.

The Story
A Chicago native, Rob’s high school indie rock band Aesthetic Sense has already played at some storied local venues, including Metro, Congress Theatre, and Abbey Pub. While the band is on hiatus until summer, when members will return from their different schools, Rob is concentrating on his growing interest in social justice issues. He joined Amnesty International, United Black Association, and Arab Student Association. He also hosts a rock music show on WMXM 88.9.