From MTV to NIU, Cribs is in the hizzouse … well, residence hall.

Throughout the semester, Sweeps will delve into the sickest structures inhabited by NIU students.

The first thing you notice when you enter this savvy Stevenson pad is the door covered with pictures of just about everything you can imagine, scattered around a circular message board with a quirky “quote of the day” written on it.

Even though this is the first year the girls have lived with each other, they have done quite a job of creating a unique theme for their room.

“Our aim, originally, was to go with a jungle theme with the cardboard animals and lamps and everything, but that didn’t work out too well,” sophomore journalism major Danielle Simmons said.

The girls started out on the right track. All around the common room are “jungle-esque” rice lamps and huge cardboard cutouts of wild animals.

Sophomore communication major Andrea Gruger found the animals.

“One of our homecoming themes was something like ‘Around the World’ and they had decorated with these big animal cutouts,” Gruger said. “I just kind of borrowed them.”

So where exactly did the girls stray from their jungle theme?

If one had to pinpoint it exactly, it would definitely be the walls. The girls have almost completely covered their walls in pictures, magazine ads and cutouts. The project began in September at Gruger’s insistence.

The wall art continues from the walls to the inside of the door, which is covered in Huskies paraphernalia.

“We have a lot of Huskie stuff and photos on the door,” sophomore communication major Krystle Servick said. “People really get a kick out of some of the pictures [of the athletes].”

This room is also home to one unofficial resident.

“I have a pet frog,” Simmons said. “His name is Señor. He’s been with me since last year, when I was in Grant.”

Little Señor has adjusted well to his new accommodations and has even spent time getting to know his new roommates.

“Señor likes to talk to us all … a lot. He just doesn’t shut up sometimes,” Servick said.

In the common room, they have outlined the back wall with pink rope lights, bought at a garage sale (for only $4, they boast) and hung photos of themselves at a recent party from the ceiling. The common room is also home to a rather special statue of a chicken in a chef’s uniform.

The girls’ penchant for nifty touches extends into their own bedrooms.

Megan Hansen, a junior textiles, apparel and merchandising major, has coated her room in pink flamingoes. She has them on everything: lights, frames, pictures and even a blow up flamingo to keep her company.

Gruger has added her own flare to the room by way of a rather large and in-charge sign in the window.

“It says ‘NOW OPEN 24 HOURS,’” Gruger said. “It’s yellow, so you can see it from far away. I got it from an Arby’s Restaurant.”