Well, St. Lawrence University junior Lilli did the deed over Winter Break and can now brag at cocktail parties, in interviews, on dates and every chance she gets about the six day trek up and day and a half trip down “Kili”.

Did it take forever to get there? L: Four stops and about 32 hours later we made it to Nairobi! The group was 6 students and 2 professors from St. Lawrence.

Did you go straight to the base in Tanzania? L: We stayed in Nairobi to adjust to the time change and cultural differences for 3 nights. After that, we spent 2 nights in an amazing lodge in Arusha, Tanzania and then made it to Moshi, the base city for our climb.

How were the before and after looks of the trek? Did you stink? L: Kili literally kicked our butts! When we showed up to Moshi, all the locals were so excited to see us and smiled at our clean clothes, big ambitions and confidence. Upon our return, they definitely laughed at how ridiculously sunburned, wind burned, sore and unkempt we looked.

Anything surprise you? L:There was cell service at the summit! Our porter was texting people so casually as he went up the mountain and then at the top! Also, Obamas face was all over both countries. Umbrellas, T-shirts, posters and even boxers were plastered with his face. When we would say were from America, many people would reply “ohhh, Obama!”

Which route did you climb? L: The Machame Route. Some people do it in 4 days and a man even did it in something like 8 hours! But for us unaccustomed to altitude, we chose to take 6 days.

How on earth did you know what to pack with the changes in weather? L: Since you basically climb through all four seasons, you pack for all climates. Layers truly made a difference. We each packed a day-pack with our essentials and another duffel with everything else.

My key items were Smart Wool socks, Keen hiking boots, Patagonia pullover, Patagonia rain pants and amazing fleece lined hiking pants from Mountain Hardware. Also Walking Poles were clutch. At first I didn’t see the point, but you need them for “screeing”. This is like skiing except you are in your hiking boots not skis. You scree rocks and volcanic dust instead of snow.

Highlights of the trip? L: Reaching the actual summit. We were all so exhausted and so sick from the altitude and when we finally reached that sign, it was the ultimate high. You look around and you are literally above the clouds. It was also so quiet and so clear that it seemed surreal. Another huge highlight was when we visited the amazing Amani Orphanage and played a game of soccer with the children, after giving them new soccer balls. It was a major reality check on how spoiled we all are here in America.

Who funded this exotic excursion? L: The Mellon Foundation out of New York City. The foundation recently awarded St. Lawrence with almost a million dollars to use towards increasing students’ environmental education through new experiences and educational opportunities.

(Photo Credit: Rep-Star Lilli D. @ St. Lawrence)

Your room is huge! How’d you snag the biggest room in the house? KG: I actually got 3rd choice. My room didn’t come with furniture, but that meant I got to design my whole room and choose my own furniture. (The vanity and taller dresser are from West Elm. The bed, desk, and other dresser are from Crate and Barrel.) However, I seriously overestimated the size of my room. I had grand plans for a ping pong table and fold out couch, but I quickly realized (especially when the movers couldn’t get the couch through the doorway) that these plans were very unrealistic.

You have lots of unique tapestries. Where are they all from? KG: The tie-dye one was my first. I bought it for my freshman year dorm in Hill. My room was so small that it covered the entire ceiling. The one on my door is from China, the tall skinny one is from China, and the South African flag is (not surprisingly) from South Africa.

Have you traveled to all of these places? KG: I did a traveling abroad program on public health my Junior year. We went to China, India, Switzerland, and South Africa. It was amazing. I’m hoping to go abroad after I graduate.

Guessing from your other tapestry…you went to Bonnaroo? KG: Yeah! It was the best time of my life. I got to go to two Phish shows. One of my roommates liked my tapestry so much that she had one of her friends buy her one the next year at Bonnaroo to put in her own room.

That’s a lot of shot glasses… KG: I’ve been collecting the “little cups” since I was 10 years old. I had no idea what they were for, but I would fill them with orange juice and sip from them. I always ask friends and family to bring them back as souvenirs when they go on trips. I now have ones from all over the world. I’d say the “Katie’s Bar” is my favorite. But I have a lot (over 400 at school and at home) to choose from.

(Photo & Copy Credit: Rep-Star Kelly H. @ UPenn)

Bam! Suddenly you are eco-friendly, a little different, and downright irresistible.

Check out sophomores at Tulane, Natalie, Bailey and Kelsey who try on the Roots shades for a big Mardi Gras weekend in New Orleans. The buddies embrace warm weather with Frye boots and Barbour jackets, shielding their eyes from the sun with wooden wayfarers. Meanwhile, senior Gary is inspired by his new eco-friendly shades, expressing his closeness to nature by posing in front of a solid bamboo back-drop. Because who doesn’t love a guy that cares about the environment?

Let’s see you finish off that seersucker blazer with some wood this spring.

(Photo Credit: Rep-star Caroline @ Tulane)

For New Orleans regulars, the attire is standard year after year, with rugby shirts, fanny packs, and countless strings of beads the acceptable pieces. Looking to fit in? We caught up with a recent Tulane grad and Kappa sorority member, Harley, to get the low-down on the go-to outfits.

Where does one find the classic Mardi Gras Rugby shirt? Harley: You have to go to Perils on Magazine Street to get the authentic ones. They are literally like a uniform, and people end up wearing them every day… without washing them. 

What do people rock down below? H: Typically girls wear leggings and high socks, with cowboy boots as shoes. If you don’t have a rugby yet, flannels are also acceptable. Just be sure to have layers, because it tends to get chilly and once you leave your place, guarantee you won’t find your way back until late night.

Do people wear backpacks to hold their belongings? H: Fanny packs! They’re cool and useful. Avoid bringing a purse at all costs.

Any other words of wisdom on getting into Mardi Gras style? H: The more beads the merrier, and the bigger the better. Green, purple, gold. Long strings, short strings. You can’t go wrong.

(Photo Credit: Rep-Star Caroline @ Tulane)

The DIY experts, who painted walls, sewed slip covers together and transformed a blah tray into a hallway mirror, are constantly adding and redoing things to make the “pink palace even girlier.” And while yes their friends do make fun of it, their apartment serves as the ultimate hang out spot, the signature blue wall being the number one photo shoot back drop and the hostesses always entertaining with a good movie playing, candles lit, and magazines aplenty.

What’s the next project for you girls, or are you maxed out? Sofia: We are going to be adding curtains in the main room and seat covers for kitchen table. And our project for next week is to paint the bathroom with pink and white stripes!

Where did you get most of your furniture? Did you refurbish yourselves? S: We hit up Home Goods for side tables, lamps, dressers, art work, jewelry holders, and other accessories. Maddie repainted her mirror white and her dresser which were both originally black. I stole a few things from home, like my beige arm chair from Crate and Barrel and my Eiffel Tower lamp. We definitely got creative with sprucing up old pieces to look new, by recovering chairs and couches from garage sales or painting dark furniture. We couldn’t be happier!

His recent hip hop album Beautiful Things deemed “chill” by ThisSongIsSick.com, came out last September with a bang. Thanks to our all-star rep at Vanderbilt and high school friend of Beau, Sumner got some inside info on Beau Young Prince’s future moves.

When you started with the Distrinauts back in high school did you ever imagine you’d get this far already? I honestly always wanted to be a musician, but becoming a rapper was never in the question. I started as a poet and singer, but in high school I put out my first rap mixtape and things started taking off. Before I knew it I was on blogs and people really took to my sound and I knew this was my path, I had to rap.

What are you majoring in at Guilford? I am currently majoring in Political Science and Criminal Justice.

Are you currently signed with a record label? If not, is that a big goal that you are trying to reach? I am in affiliation with an Indie record label and I wish to keep it this way. I will likely sign to a major later in my career, but I want to build my own empire before I give away the type of control certain Major labels desire.

Who are some producers that you’ve worked with? I produce a lot of my music myself, but I love working with Brenton Duvall, Dante CK, Peter Lee Johnson, B. Dolla, AJ Rice, Milk N Cookies, Action Jackson, and many more.

What schools/venues have you performed at? What are some shows you have coming up this spring? I have headlined at Sullivans and The Frying Pan in New York, and I have also performed at UVA, College of Charleston, Villanova, USC, UNC, Duke University, Elon, and many other colleges. This spring I will be playing a showcase at SXSW and I am setting up another college tour. If schools would like to book a show they can email youngprincebooking@gmail.

What music blogs do you like? Do you have to send them your songs to be featured or do they pick up your stuff in other ways? I love SunsetintheRearview, The Masked Gorilla, Earmilk, Goodmusicallday, and ThisSongIsSick, but there are many blogs that deserve credit for supporting the meovement. I sometimes send these blogs songs and they also get word of them from the people listening.

Who would you love to work with in the future? Kid Cudi, Asap Rocky, and any of the before mentioned influences. Again, there are so many people that I want to create with, but those are my top.

What’s something funny that has happened to you during a performance? What’s the wildest thing a fan has ever done? Something funny that has happened at a concert; my hype man Fish (Jordan Clark) did like five shows with a large boot on his foot because he messed up his ankle. Those were fun times…A girl once stole my shirt off my back during a show at UNC, and I was so busy performing that I let her. I really liked that shirt from Freshletes, they sent that to me in the mail.

What’s the funniest thing thats happened while traveling to a concert? Who travels with you? I usually travel with my hype man, DJ, and camera crew for now. The funniest thing that has happened was a McDonald’s bag caught on fire while we were driving and we almost crashed. Actually, that’s not too funny now, but it was at the time. McDonald’s…

What is it like being a real college celebrity? It is very humbling to know that kids all across the world identify with my music. It is a great feeling honestly.

Do you have a website (facebook page etc) that you want us to have a link for with the article? Check out more here.

Keeping with what’s trending in Palo Alto, the Water Polo players rock their flap front pocket shirts with jeans, dark cords and Converses. And while khakis are a rare spotting on Stanford’s campus, Sperry boat shoes can be seen on occasion, one of few traces of east coast style. 

Top 3 shirts we like, thanks to all-smiles, Cardinal upperclassmen Jack, Paul, Forest Travis and Andrew.

1. Marine Layer Men’s Flannel Jacket
2. Marine Layer SF Made Plaids
3. Urban Renewal Vintage Printed Flannel Shirt

(Photo Credit: Rep-Star Gelly A. @ Stanford)

The purple lovers decided to go for it, and now both claim most of their friends have singles, “but neither of us could imagine living alone.  It’s nice to go back and have someone to talk to whenever. And because our room is one of the larger doubles, our friends are always hanging here.”

Love the pet octopus, Devonne. Are you a sea creature lover? D: Ha. My family friend sent me the octopus as a surprise the first week of school. It’s one of the greatest things ever and I couldn’t imagine not having it. It’s so comfortable and has been the source of many funny stories. (Squishables) We also have a step stool in our room that Nicole brought and we always joke with it because it has absolutely no use.

How was compromising on a look for the room? Do you two have similar taste? D: When we discussed our favorite colors over the summer they were all the same so we figured we would get matching bedding. Then our moms both went out on their own and bought us bed spreads that were different.  My mom is an interior designer and Nicole’s mom loves designing, so between the two of them our room came out perfectly. Each side has a different look, but the room as a whole works. (Devonne’s bedding is West Elm and Nicole’s is Diane von Furstenberg)

N: We also both like stripes and leopard patterns. Devonne’s parents are the real reason our room looks amazing though! Her mom is an interior designer so she is the one who really helped us out with putting our room together (chandeliers and curtains!) Her dad actually installed the lighting in our room, which would be pitch black otherwise.

Any other words of wisdom for rising freshmen? D: We both moved in early and it couldn’t have been a better idea.  Move in is absolutely miserable with so many freshman trying to get into the quad. There is one elevator close to where we live so luckily we didn’t have to wait in line.  When actual move in came along there were at least 10 families waiting at any given moment for the lift.

In honor of Valentine’s Day, we polled 50 babes and BMOCs to get some feedback on what ensembles make their hearts race versus what get-ups make them want to run for the hills on date night. We thought the nays were more juicy than the yays. So here ya go…

Guys cringe when a girl attempts… “Red lipstick. Leggings in social situations. Bras that are too padded. Clothing not meant for their age. A suit. Baggy sweats tucked into boots. Long shorts. Granny panties. Shirts/dresses that make a girl look like she’s pregnant. Uggs. Too much makeup. Anything too trendy and confusing. Too high heels she can’t walk in without wobbling. Crop tops if you’re not in really good shape. Black nail polish. Sticky bras. Huge belts around waist.”

Girls cringe when a guy attempts… “Man-sandals. Popped collars. Jeans that are tighter than mine. Black button downs. Jewelry. Baggy anything with flat rimmed baseball hats and big basketball shoes. Khakis and sneakers. Athletic shorts and a pinny when he’s not playing sports. Anything too casual out at night that makes it seem like they put zero effort into it. Cargo pants / embroidered pants with things like martini glasses all over them. Flip-flops in the winter. Smelly and wrinkled clothes. T-shirt with a big logo. Tightly tied sneakers every day. Bad jeans.”

(Photo Credit: Rep-Star Nikki B. @ Tufts)

Favorite thing about her room? The Victoria’s Secret inspired stripes which took Amy and her mom two days to complete. How did they pull that off? By tracing the edges of a long rectangular box that was the perfect length and width for the stripes.  After they completed drawing the lines, they taped over them and began painting.

Although the stripes are Amy’s favorite part of her room, she also loves the unique shape of it and the angled ceiling that creates a perfect nook.  She also adores her Hello Kitty paraphernalia which you can find all over her room. She jokingly blames her obsession with the character on her 1/4 Asian heritage.

(