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OS Cribs: Freshmen Making The Most Of East Halls

Being a freshman and living in East goes together like Penn State Football and tailgating — they were made for each other. While the lack of air conditioning, distance from basically everything, and the fact that Findlay commons is your main dining hall may seem daunting, the experience is one like no other for first-year Penn Staters.

While not every freshman will get the opportunity to reside in East, whether by choice or by luck, those who do never fail to feel sentimental about their time spent in the cell-like conditions. Most students don’t even wait until they’ve moved onto a new living arrangement their sophomore year to celebrate their time in East Halls. Instead, they make the most by decorating their first college dorm in an awe-inspiring, jealousy-inducing way.

After scrolling through countless Instagram and Facebook posts of Penn Staters posting pics of their sweet set-ups, we decided to find out how freshmen in East were making the most of their concrete walls and bolted desks. Without further ado, here are some of the sweetest freshmen cribs East Halls has to offer.

Forget the old adage, “saving the best for last:” our first crib is definitely the sickest. A boys room decorated and inhabited by Jack and Faris, this Hastings Hall crib literally has everything a college student could want in a room.

os cribs freshmen

Between the hammock, Penn State decor (and bedding!), desktop setups, Christmas lights, poster about drugs…the list goes on and on as to what makes this place one of the best rooms I’ve ever seen.

os cribs freshmen

Jack and Faris, you can come pimp my dorm anytime.

Next we found a room belonging to Sara and Leah, who went for a little bit less of the extreme sports vibe and instead went for a cozy and contemporary feel.

os cribs freshmen

Pictures line the walls, the beds look comfortable on both ends, and what’s a college room without a Keurig?

os cribs freshmen

Another girls room caught our attention belonged to Liz and Lauren, this time in Tener Hall.

os cribs freshmen

Lauren’s side was a little messy, but trust me when I tell you that it was as sunny and vibrant as Liz’s (and a little more pink!) Contrary to the last room, Liz and Lauren’s new abode is filled with light and welcoming, despite the fact that it’s tucked away in the corner of the hallway. Liz’s decorations are also super hip, and the setup similar to one you’d find on VSCO (including, of course, a little Penn State flair).

As we learned early on, girls aren’t the only ones who know how to spruce up a boring room. Matthew and Griffin went with a Penn State theme, and as you can see, everything in this room is neat, organized, and has a place — perhaps not what you would expect from a couple of teenage guys.

os cribs freshmen

You’d think boys wouldn’t be able to successfully coordinate a room theme, but it looks like these two did. The Penn State memorabilia, Jerome Bettis poster, and the particularly rad “11th And Surf” road sign make this crib more welcoming than some of the other samples I saw.

os cribs freshmen

Last but not least, we have Sarah and Nikki’s room.

os cribs freshmen

This place is especially sweet because of the lofted bed, which makes room for a couch — a luxury in any freshman dorm room, especially one in East. The room, which you can find in Pennypacker Hall, is unique, well put together, and it’s obvious that the tenants put some thought into the design. The room also has a cozy theme, along a little Penn State flair — which seems to be a recurring freshman theme.

***

After spending a day checking out some first-year decor, I’m embarrassed by my barren walls and the fact that I haven’t even printed out pictures yet. Thanks to the students that let us randomly barge into their East Halls rooms, and if you think your East Halls crib is better, leave a picture in the comments!

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About the Author

Lexi Shimkonis

Lexi is an editor-turned-staff writer who can often be found at either Irving's or the Phyrst (with the chances she'll have her backpack being the same). Lexi is a senior hailing from Spring City, PA (kind of) and studying Civil Engineering. Please email questions and/or pleas for an Instagram caption to [email protected], or for a more intimate bond, follow her on Twitter @lexshimko.

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