Walker is a winter wonderland

n Annual JBU event showcases Christmas decorations.

Michael Burchfiel/Herald-Leader The rooms in Walker Hall on the campus of John Brown University were in full holiday spirit for Walker Wonderland on Monday.
Michael Burchfiel/Herald-Leader The rooms in Walker Hall on the campus of John Brown University were in full holiday spirit for Walker Wonderland on Monday.

Students in one John Brown University dorm opened their doors on Monday night to spread some holiday cheer. Residents of Walker Hall at JBU decked the halls with themed decorations that took visitors to places like Alcatraz prison and C.S. Lewis' "Narnia."

Guests walked through Walker's six residence halls, divided along three floors. Each hall had its own decoration theme, and visitors could vote for their pick at the end.

The event, called "Walker Wonderland," is a major JBU tradition. The event is free and open to the public every year.

"(JBU President) Chip (Pollard) lists Walker Wonderland as one of JBU's three great traditions, along with the (Toilet Paper) game and Mock Rock," said Justin Burchfiel, who is serving as Assistant Resident Director in Walker this year.

"It's a relatively new event for JBU, and it's already one of the three great traditions," Burchfiel said. Walker Wonderland has been a yearly event for around eight years.

The residence hall staff estimates that 500 to 600 people went through the halls of the dorm Monday night. Around 300 votes were cast.

The event serves as a major turning point for the residence hall, Burchfiel said.

"It's one of the most unifying events for that hall in the year," Burchfiel said. "Everybody gets to know each other in ways they hadn't gotten to before."

The decorating requires a lot of labor, and much of it happens at the last minute because papers and homework dominate the weekend.

"It's a shared experience, and it's not often you get to build something together," said Andrew Lehr, Walker Resident Director.

Lehr said he liked the event because it givess students a chance to be a part of a major event that doesn't require a major talent.

"This is really great because it includes everyone," Lehr said. "I always like seeing the parents and families coming through. It's not a talent show, it's showing off where you live."

In addition to helping Walker students get to know each other, it helps others get to know the dorm.

"I think it's really fun for Walker to all get together and for the rest of us to kind of see dorm life there," said Abby Acker, who lives in Hutcheson Hall.

General News on 12/07/2016