It seems the Grinch has yet to sneak off with Ohio University’s holiday cheer, as warm sweaters, bright lights and stockings are replacing the typical dorm decor — giving Buddy the Elf a run for his money.
While the town begins to transform into a city of lights, OU students such as Ryan Carrigan and Erika Williams finally have a chance to join in on the festivities.
“I love Christmas and decorating and surprising people,” said Williams, a freshman Jefferson Hall resident studying English. “I wanted to surprise my roommate by decorating over Thanksgiving Break, since I live in Athens and she went home for the break.”
With the transformation, Williams was able to surprise not only her roommate with tinsel, ornaments and stockings, but the entire dorm as well with a special wreath hung on their door and a basket of candy accompanied by a sign reading, “Santa was here! Have some candy!”
“People seem to be responding well,” she said.
Carrigan’s alterations to his small domain were a bit more extensive, as his dorm has morphed into a warm winter wonderland that cost $50 to create.
The decorations include a fake fireplace, a Christmas tree complete with lights and ornaments and more than 28 stockings.
“We just really feel it boosts some morale around the dorm going into the finals season,” said Carrigan, a freshman studying journalism who resides in Read Hall. “It’s a really good way to keep spirits up.”
Carrigan added that the elfin activities are far from over, as he hopes to add a chimney to the fireplace, a few more stockings and whatever else comes to mind.
“It’s definitely nice to be able to get into the spirit even though we are away from home,” he said.
Though students are raising spirits, Residential Housing officials warn residents to keep a few rules in mind.
Madison Schoephoerster, a resident assistant in James Hall, said that she has seen a multitude of decorations taking over the dorm, the most popular decorations being stockings and gift-wrapped doors. She added that she even saw a room where the resident’s closet doors and dresser drawers were covered in wrapping paper and ribbon.
“It’s important for residents to remember that extension cords are no longer allowed for use in residence hall rooms, so I recommend plugging any Christmas lights they want to hang into a surge protector or power strip,” Schoephoerster said. “And hanging lights can be tricky. You don’t want to use any kind of adhesive that may strip the paint off the walls. I find that getting a bunch of Command strip hooks works really well, as it looks nicer, too.”
With just more than a week left for students to enjoy the merriment before the semester’s end, plans to take down the decorations have yet to be considered.
“I haven’t really thought that far ahead yet,” Williams said.
lf328610@ohiou.edu
