The Sensible One :
Paint brushes away fond memories

It’s one of the first things I noticed when I walked into Wright Hall on my first move-in day – the sometimes beautiful and sometimes crazy final products of Rider RHA’s popular “Paint the Block” program. I hadn’t been moved in for more than an hour before I was excited about painting my own, tossing around ideas for how I might choose to decorate it. As a Resident Advisor in an all-freshman residence hall, I can say with certainty that I was not alone. From day one, students are brimming with excitement, their one question for me always being, “When do I get to paint my block?”

With the renovation of a growing number of residence halls comes the loss of one of Rider’s most beloved traditions. Unfortunately, this means that as new students begin to flood into Rider, many do not get the chance to leave their mark.

Little by little, the residence halls at Rider are being refurnished. Eventually they will all be redone, making Rider a lot more marketable and attractive for prospective students. With their renovation comes a multitude of benefits for residents. The new halls are equipped with brand new and more useful furniture, carpet that isn’t stained from years of abuse, and most excitingly, locks that use real keys!

Residents are thrilled by the modernization of the buildings. However, the absence of color in the halls creates a dull, boring feeling that one can’t help but notice. The plain white walls magnify the “painted block” deficiency, as well as the blocks’ significance.

With the passing of each year and the graduation of yet another group of friends, the blocks seem to hold more and more sentiment. As I walk down the halls and catch a glimpse of a block that an old friend has painted, I am reminded of the fun times we had together and I can’t help but smile for a moment.

Alumni love to come back and visit their old rooms, nostalgically brushing their hands up against their blocks. The excitement of all four years at Rider come rushing back to them and, for a second, they never left. I can only hope that I will have the chance to run my fingers over my own block, taking me back to simpler times. For current and future generations at Rider, the reminiscent magic of the “painted block” is slowly dwindling away.

— Nicole Southern