Glass House Rocks Hits Lerner

The likes of Elvis, Peter Pan, and the Grinch made appearances at the third annual Glass House Rocks last night, at least in the form of costumes.

At first, the Grinch, the guise of Chad Miller, GS and vice president of student life, spoke only through his "translator," Michael Hennessy, GS.

"He's trying to make sure no one has fun tonight, but I think he'll just have to go home because of all the fun going on," said Hennessy, who also helped in planning the event.

Miller made sure to add a few of his own cracks about Whoville and heart sizes, ultimately voicing the original goal of the Lerner-wide party: to prove that the building can be the site of student-driven fun.

"It's just a party showing that Lerner can be a useful student gathering place," said Liz Strauss, SEAS '08 and vice president of student life.

"It's one of those events that's really fun because it showcases the breadth of student groups," said Dan Okin, SEAS '07 and council president, who spearheaded the event. Glass House Rocks, which brought together approximately 30 student groups, is arguably the most wide-reaching student-run event of the year. A collaboration of the four undergraduate student councils, it allows "each group to bring its own flavor," according to Okin.

The participating groups set up either rooms with self-conceived themes or tables along the south ramps, with events ranging from a poker tournament to a cappella performances, henna tattoos to "Human Whack-a-Mole."

Aside from the sugar-rush of the Willy Wonka Room and the laughter of the improv acts, some groups were there to spread awareness as well as entertainment.

With karaoke and inflatable sex dolls, the Activist Council of the Columbia College Democrats hosted a wedding celebration with a message.

"We're having a wedding reception to celebrate marriage equality," said Jonathan Backer, CC '10, in his King-of-Rock-and-Roll get-up. "And we wanted a wedding performer, so we invited Elvis."

In its third year, Glass House Rocks underwent a few major changes.

Roone Arledge Auditorium, which in the past has held laser-tag games, an inflatable slide and fighting rink, and life-sized foosball, accommodated a rock-climbing wall and arcade games this year as part of what Strauss referred to as the "Sports Challenge Room."

The other key change was the half-hour half-time show, comprised of six student dance groups performing continuously-and at times simultaneously-along the north ramps. In the past, each group would dance at various intervals throughout the night, but that turned out to be an interruption the organizers wanted to eliminate.