My favorite part about going to Wesleyan is watching all of the different ways people on campus express themselves. Whether through their clothing, music, art, sports, or writing, students always find a way to let you know who they are. Of all of the aspects of casual college life that the pandemic has taken from us, I especially have been mourning the loss of seeing the way my peers decorate their dorms. I feel like nothing is more telling about someone’s personality than how their room is set up; there’s a unique quality to the way that each individual on campus occupies a living space, even if only temporarily. 

 

In an attempt to bring back some of the magic of discovering different dorms, I’ve decided to start “Wesleyan, Welcome to my Crib,” a direct rip-off from MTV. Each week, we will be highlighting a different Wesleyan student’s living space here on campus, starting with my own. 

Early in October of last semester, I moved from Writer’s Block to WestCo. I currently live in WestCo two down, which is honestly an ideal location for me. The first characteristic of my room that struck me was the big stone wall that covers one side of the room. I learned from Professor Barry Chernoff that the stone is actually called Portland brownstone and was collected across the river right here in Connecticut. The rock itself dates back to the Triassic-Jurassic period, meaning that dinosaurs quite literally walked on my walls! When I’m on Zoom calls, I get so many comments on my walls, much of which are now covered in chalk drawings. The barracuda was drawn by my friend Nick. 

Most of the art that I have in the rest of my room is a combination of magazine cut-outs, posters, photos, stickers, and a few pieces I did myself. The coolest picture on my door is definitely the cut-out of Pop Smoke. I’d like to think he’s guarding over the peep-hole. I love how the monochromatic feel of the door contrasts with the colorful wall across from my bed. I’m a huge fan of Megan Thee Stallion, so finding that picture of her and the quote above it was really exciting for me. You can tell which of the art is mine because of the colorful, watercolor aesthetic. 

Another essential part of any room is the view. I’m lucky enough to have a window facing the WestCo courtyard, so I get to look out across campus but still feel pretty secluded. I’ve watched the big tree change with the seasons and I can’t wait for it to start getting green again. When it was warm out, I would see groundhogs, squirrels, raccoons, and possums back here. On the other side, facing the big windows, I have my desk area, which is always totally back-lit. It’s nearly impossible to do Zoom calls without another lamp shining directly on my face. Although I wouldn’t call myself a messy person, my desk is definitely a mishmash of pens, makeup, books, my coffee maker, and different types of teas. I hardly ever actually work at my desk, but I’m always grateful for the additional surface area.

If you would like to see your room or living space featured in the Argus, contact Talia Zitner at tzitner@wesleyan.edu.