Third-year College student Matthew Allen was notified Tuesday of his selection to spend the 2005-2006 school year residing in Room 15 of the West Lawn, an endowed room commonly known as the "Good Guy Room."
"The only reason I can see myself being the 'good guy' is for people seeing that character in me because of my faith and the grace of God," Allen said.
Allen currently serves as the Treasurer of Sigma Chi and is involved in the Committee for Abundant Life Christmas Banquet, Inter-Fraternity Fellowship and Reformed University Fellowship.
Allen chose not to apply to live on the Lawn through the Lawn Selection Committee earlier this school year.
"There are friends of mine that got on the Lawn through regular admissions that I thought would make better applications," Allen said. "I didn't want to hurt their chances by making a mediocre application."
The Gus Blagden Room resident is selected by a committee consisting of representatives from the Inter-Fraternity Council, the Inter-Sorority Council, the Multi-Cultural Greek Council, and the Black Fraternal Council, as well as the Dean of Students, a University Housing representative, the current Room 15 resident and representatives from the IMP Society and the Z Society.
Allen "really emerged as a very special person," Dean of Students Penny Rue said.
Allen displays a willingness to frequently volunteer for difficult positions that do not bring him outward recognition, Rue added.
West Lawn Room 15 is one of seven endowed Lawn rooms and is not filled by the Lawn Selection Committee. The room was endowed in 1968 to honor Gus Blagden, a deceased 1966 University graduate. Since then, the room has been given to a student who exhibits Blagden's exemplary character.
The Gus Blagden Room is awarded to a student of good moral character and not necessarily someone with a stellar academic record, said Amey Adkins, the current "Good Guy Room" resident and member of this year's selection committee.
"Gus was an average guy," Adkins said. "He had a huge respect for University traditions. He was making sure young ladies got home at night, he looked out for his friends. He definitely didn't shine in the typical sorts of avenues, but his character and personality embodied an important facet of our University."
This year, the selection committee received over 150 letters nominating 47 candidates for the room, Adkins said.
Committee members focus on "select criteria" for the room based on characteristics such as humility and integrity and being a valuable asset to the community, Adkins said.
While the nomination process of rising fourth years is open to the University community, the subsequent selection process is kept secret.
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