The 2026 edition of Rock the Block was a resounding success. Held March 10, the event transformed the Breslin Student Events Center into a vibrant hub of excitement, uniting thousands of first-year students eager to carve out their on-campus living experiences for the upcoming year.
“Rock the Block proved to be the opportunity we hoped for,” Associate Director for Business Operations in Residence Education and Housing Services (REHS) Chris Stone-Sewalish says. “A fun, engaging opportunity to talk with students directly, learn about the housing experiences they were hoping for and share their excitement as they left Breslin looking toward fall 2026.”
Rock the Block isn’t just about making housing selections; it’s a celebration of community, where friendships blossom as students navigate through a lively atmosphere filled with laughter, treats and camaraderie. This year’s event not only embraced student choice but fostered a sense of belonging, ensuring students felt supported and engaged, while a new arrival-time system and the refreshed Landon Hall assignment system shined in what Assistant Vice President for REHS Ray Gasser called the most successful rendition of Rock the Block ever, saying, “It’s the best I have ever seen, with virtually no waiting for the students.”
Assistant Director for Housing Operations for REHS Suzette Babcock corroborates Gasser’s assessment, saying, “This Rock the Block 2026 was the smoothest one, and we couldn’t have done it without all the support from RHS team members.”
“We felt the event went amazingly,” Associate Director for Communications and Outreach for REHS Bethany Balks says. “Students adhered to their arrival times, which helped the pacing work and kept the lines down.”
Freshman Keley Steele shares how she and her roommate group appreciated the in-person nature of the event and the excitement following her group being selected for highly sought-after Landon Hall. “It’s fun – it’s exciting being able to live by all your friends next year.”
Each selection time was marked by a colored wristband distributed to students at check-in, ensuring they entered in the correct groups. This year, the wristbands also granted them a complimentary hot dog and soda. Steele appreciates the effort, saying, “The concessions were a nice addition, and the wristbands make it a special and more personal experience.”
The goal of assigning housing to 2,000 students during the event was surpassed, with a final tally of 2,223 students being assigned to on-campus housing at Rock the Block 2026, over 200 more students than in 2025, according to Balks.
Van Hoosen Hall, Gilchrist Hall and Williams Hall were filled during the event, as well as all floors offered in McDonel and Wonders halls.
“Thanks to the partnership between Auxiliary Sports Group (ASG), Digital Strategies and Services (DSS) and REHS, this year’s Rock the Block was our largest and most impactful yet,” Gasser says. “The incredibly smooth and seamless event had students sharing how positive an experience it was for them to select their housing for next year.”
Rock the Block is primarily run by the REHS’ Housing Assignments Office (HAO) and its departmental partners, along with team members from across the Division of Residential and Hospitality Services (RHS), including ASG, Culinary Services, Strategic Communication, and DSS, among other partners, coming together to contribute to the success of this year’s event, including 55 dedicated staff and student team members.
“What made the event operations particularly special is that we were able to actually serve more residents than previous years while dramatically cutting down the wait time,” Stone-Sewalish says.
The smoothness and efficiency of the event is something REHS and HAO will aim for in future Rock the Block events. Balks says the event went so smoothly, student counts could potentially be increased in the future.
“Having almost every area of RHS contributing in some way made it feel like a great example of working as One Team MSU,” Balks says. “We’re proud that all the planning and communication made this a successful event and that it was efficient, comfortable and fun for all.”
Author: Zachary Phelps