The House

Lauderdale has brought new meaning to house spirit. As treasurer of the Adams House committee, he has energized support for house events among a student body often called remarkably blase.'

"He's very good at mobilizing people. Everyone knows him. They all seem to be willing to do stuff for him," says Rhett. Once Lauderdale's ideas catch on, Adams House "rides the wave of his enthusiasm," Rhett says.

The "Wall Street Journal Affair," orchestrated by Lauderdale, has already entered Adams House lore. A Wall Street Journal reporter treked to Adams, hoping to write an article about the "politically correct."

While he was eating dinner at Adams, many house residents wore black clothing and the meal was dotted with a series of "politically correct" announcements.

"It was the most incredible thing," says Rhett. "Everyone was so psyched for it. The Wall Street Journal guy was so flabbergasted," he says. "He just never stopped taking notes," Wapenyi says.

Birthday candles were melted on to tables for a "seance effect," Rhett says, and the event turned into a dance party.

"It was madness," says Tanya S. J. Selvaratnam '92.

"He just orchestrated the most extraordinary evening I have ever experienced," says Adams House Senior Tutor Janet A. Viggiani says.

When all is said and done, "Thomas is Adams House," says Khahasa H. Wapenyi '92. "When you walk around Adams House, as a female, his presence just hits you in the womb."

Lauderdale demurs when confronted with his reputation for being the glue that holds Adams House together. "I'm just another little guy. I'm your average Joe Blow on the street corner. That's how I look at myself."

The Parties

Not many Adams residents could describe Lauderdale's parties as being average, however. His legendary talent for merry-making may have roots in his childhood. When he was three years old, Lauderdale says, his parents threw a "silver spoon party" for him.

And as a student at Ulysses S. Grant High School in Portland, Oregon, Lauderdale held dinner parties featuring entrees like chicken adobo. Now Lauderdale hosts parties on his own, "because no one else does." They are alcohol-free, but successful because of the themes, he says. "Parties have to have a gimmick if you want to be a star," Lauderdale says.

Lauderdale kicked this year off with a "Wild Kingdom" party, since he "always wanted a resurrection of `Bungle in the Jungle,'" a party thrown last year, he says. "Hello Kitty" invitations for the event asked that "no bitter or negative people" attend, he says.