Rice Cribs nails the gentlemen's shot

By Alex Bisberg     2/14/12 6:00pm

A clever living arrangement and a lot of Duncan College charisma has gone into this next crib, or should I say the next three?

The social sophomores of Room 421 transformed two fifth-floor doubles into triples this year, leaving the room downstairs cleared of all the usual accoutrements. In the place of beds and desks are two portable couches, a small TV, a bar and possibly one of the most elegant beer pong tables ever created.

The sounds of tapping on Nintendo 64 controller buttons filled the air as I pushed the door to Room 421 open. A few of the room's overseers sat on a lightly built black couch in front of a TV playing Super Smash Bros. Zack Carlins, Evan Austin, Charles Danan and Justin Winikoff welcomed me to their not-so-humble abode. Posters and drawings of all shapes and sizes covered the entirety of the walls.

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The men explained how each member contributes these various posters to put on the wall. Before every party, Austin said, they cover the walls with paper inscribed with inside jokes and funny sayings.

The most prominent piece of this exceptional dwelling is a fully lit, handcrafted table used for playing beer pong or other such games. One side of the plastic-topped table has a silhouette of the Rice University owl and glows blue, while the other side houses Duncan's crest and illuminates it with a green glow.

"My grandfather and I made it last summer." Clarins said.

These sophomores created an excellent party room at the helm of the Duncan social scene.

After visiting Room 421, we climbed a flight of stairs up to the men's living spaces. I stepped into the triple and was immediately surprised. There was space to move; the room didn't even feel cramped. Three beds surrounded by even more posters fit comfortably in the double. "We want people to know that it's really not that bad," Austin shared. This living arrangement seems easily replicable for any students willing to follow suit.

Room 421 has already hosted many a shindig and the roommates have big plans for the rest of the year. Individually, the rooms may not be as spacious as most, but having Room 421 more than makes up for the pitfalls with its pure partying potential.

Rice Cribs explores various dorm designs around campus. If you would like to suggest a roomto be featured, email Alex Bisberg at ajb7@rice.edu.

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