On Friday, Sept. 15, the five levels of Lewis Hall were abuzz with activity, as the smell of sizzling bacon and fluffy pancakes wafted through the corridors.
The signature Lewis House of Pancakes, known as LHOP, ran from 9:00 p.m. to midnight. For just five dollars, students were free to enjoy a variety of breakfast-for-dinner options cooked by an large crew of Lewis Hall residents.
“We have bacon in the basement, gluten-free pancakes on the first floor, second floor is eggs, third floor is regular pancakes and fourth floor is cinnamon rolls,” said Áine Boyle, student commissioner for the event. “It's a whole blast and we go late into the night. Where else can you get pancakes at midnight?”
Throughout the week, the Lewis Hall chicks were hard at work promoting the event.
Students drew advertisements in chalk around North and South Dining Halls, sold $10 commemorative pink T-shirts and walked around campus in chicken suits. On Friday, those efforts appeared to pay off, as students packed the stairways and kept the Lewis cooks on their toes throughout the night.
“It’s all hands on deck,” Lewis Hall rector Megan Moore said. She stressed how much the cooks cared about the quality of their food.
“We actually started early this morning cooking bacon because it takes a very long time to cook well," Moore said.
A couple changes were instituted for this year’s rendition.
“Instead of griddling bacon during the event, we baked it ahead of time so as to avoid burning down the building or just causing the fire alarm to go off,” Moore said.
Moore also noted the "egg-breakfast casserole" on the second floor that replaced last year's "weggs."
According to Moore, all LHOP proceeds go to the Food Bank of Northern Indiana.
"We raised over $5,000 last year and hope to at least hit that goal if not beat it," Moore said.
The long lines began to die down as the night went on, but waves of people still wandered in for seconds, thirds or more of the unlimited food. Many also sat down in one of Lewis Hall's many common rooms, located right next to the food, in order to enjoy their meal with friends or fellow LHOP attendees.
One such late-stayer was Carroll Hall freshman Tommy Lariccia, who highlighted the inviting atmosphere.
“I like the environment the most because of its couches," Lariccia said.
He also shouted out the fourth floor, his favorite because of its world-class cinnamon rolls.
LHOP serves breakfast for dinner, raises money
Workers on the second floor of Lewis Hall pose with signature pink LHOP shirts.
Lewis chickens celebrate with attendants outside of LHOP Friday.
