A preview of Dorm Wars 2026
It is almost time for one of Lee’s most exciting and loudest events. Dorm Wars has been a tradition for years, bringing every residential hall together for a night of friendly competition.
Teams for each resident hall participate in a golf cart race, a dance competition, and other exciting activities for a chance of winning the iconic dorm trophy.
Carmen Lastoria, director of alumni and donor relations, has emceed dorm wars over the last several years. For Lastoria, much preparation goes into the event.
“What goes into making a good host and emcee is to be familiar with the content. I go over that with the R.D. staff that are overseeing the events and we go over the agenda together. We all have different ideas of what we think would work good in certain places and different transitions that we want to do,” Lastoria explained.
Ana Brewster is a resident assistant for Livingston East. She says that the teamwork needed for the event starts way before the event takes place.
“Whatever committee you're on, you're at all the practices, and if you're the coach you're at the tryouts to help pick people,” Brewster said. “For dance teams, we have to make the music, have meetings, practice choreography, decide dates and then put everything in the UConnect to get approved and get the flyer set. Then we also go to the gym a couple days before and help set things up for the lobby area and also set up our specific section of the gym to decorate,” Brewster said.
While Brewster is rooting for Livingston East, she looks forward to seeing what their competitors will do.
“I feel like our chances could be good. I'm more invested in the dance again this time around. I'm really excited to see what it looks like with more people and how that will come together. I'm also excited to see what the other dorms have cooked up. I think we have some fun themes going around,” Brewster said.
Taylor Buck, a junior elementary education major, highlights her experiences practicing for the event:
“My freshman year, I lived in Atkins Ellis, and that was my first time ever doing Dorm Wars. I did the cart race with my roommate and I also did the dance and it was just super fun. I met a lot of people during Dorm Wars that I'm still friends with till this day. I just think it's really fun and a way to get involved,” Buck said.
Dorm Wars is a high-energy event both on the court and in the stands.
“When the crowd is going wild in Walker Arena, whether it's at a basketball game or at dorm wars, the sound just echoes through the building. It's the most raucous, fun and exciting event that I think we do on campus all year,” Lastoria said.
Dorm Wars is not just a competition, though. It is a means to serve the surrounding community.
“Over the last several years, it positively evolved into also being service oriented and focused. A lot of the dorms have an organization within town that they help support or raise money for leading up to dorm wars,” Lastoria said.
The team behind Dorm Wars is hard-at-work, preparing for a night full of competition and entertainment. It is up to the students to fill the Walker Arena seats. Dorm Wars will take place on Monday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. in the Walker Arena.
Photos by Emma Sargent.
