Nickname: The Blackout House
What: Five-person semi-detached house
Where: Brock and Division
Who: Jason Collins, ArtSci ’08, Lauren Gross, ArtSci ’08, Neil Martin, ArtSci ’08, Andrew Rance, Comm ’08, and Sasha Wittes, ArtSci ’08
Favourite thing about the house: “Sick location,” Martin said. His housemates nodded and chimed in with their own favourite aspects of their location: “A block from A&P,” “Elixir in our backyard,” “thirty seconds from the Hub,” “four minutes from campus,” They also noted that their favourite feature of the house is the brick wall that lines the hallway and the living room creating a pleasantly rustic feel.
Least favourite thing about the house:
“My room,” Collins lamented.
“You mean, the closet,” Gross joked. “He got it by rock paper scissors.” “We would like [the house] to be bigger,” Martin added. “With a bigger house, we could have bigger parties.”
What’s the story?
The Blackout House came to be in an epic manner. Rance, Martin and Collins were floormates in Wally, and decided to avoid being the typical university students g leases in January. But by the time they started house hunting in March, the only vacancies left were north of Princess. Martin’s classmate mentioned that he had signed a five-person lease, but his house was splitting up and he was prepared to give the house away.
Interest piqued, Rance, Martin and Collins found two prospective housemates. Little did they know, however, that Wittes and Gross were part of the previous lease, and had wanted to stay in the house all along.
“It’s been kind of a bonding experience,” Gross joked.
“Complaining about the guy who lied to us has brought us all together,” Martin said.
Memorable moments: The Blackout House is famous—no, notorious—for its “blackout” parties. You would expect one black light, but the Blackout House boasts a grand total of seven black lights, all of which were installed by Martin, Collins and a friend from home as a nice surprise to the other three unsuspecting housemates. The light attracts the attention of many a er-by. As Gross proudly stated, “Our house picks up girls.”
Much thought and effort goes into planning the parties. Their recent project, Insomnia, took place last night, but the preparation began more than a week before the event.
These parties often have unexpected results. During one wild party, the house filled up with so many people that they began to pile up on the couches and started dancing on the couch.
“It imploded on itself,” Collins said. Another night, following a Halloween party, Wittes heard a sound coming from the bathroom.
“I found Rance ed out in the tub in a white tuxedo covered in green soap foam.” “But don’t worry,” Rance replied, “dry-cleaning took care of it.”
The house has a no-drama policy, but there was once a debate about the cheese that was left open in the refrigerator. “It was resolved with a late night run to A&P,” Martin said. “We came home and made paper snowflakes and stayed up talking [until] like six or seven in the morning,” Gross said.
Despite their great times together, the house is splitting up at the end of April. However, Rance, Martin and Collins are staying.
“Blackout House will still be around next year,” Rance said, “Be prepared.”
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