Photo by the author.

Members of the Northwestern chapter of the Roosevelt Institute painted the Rock to promote the Illinois Youth Town Hall event, which will be held Sunday afternoon at Dyett High School to address violence, unemployment and access to education among young people in the state. The Roosevelt Institute is a network of college student think tanks founded to influence policy-making.

Photo by the author.

The visage of Frances Willard, the 19th century Evanston suffragette who is the namesake of Willard Residential College, greeted students from the Rock Saturday morning. Willard residents also included the Latin words for “Liberty, Chasity, Sobriety” when they painted the Rock at midnight to show off their impressive portrait-drawing skills.

Photo by the author.

Cast and crew of Lovers and Madmen’s production could not be subdued Thursday night, covering the Rock and a nearby tree to publicize this weekend’s running of the William Shakespeare comedy The Taming of the Shrew.The show runs until Saturday with performances 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. tonight at Shanley Pavilion.

Photo courtesy William Borges.

The Rock took on a bright spectrum of colors announcing Rainbow Week, a nine-day program put on by the Rainbow Alliance addressing LGBT issues. Members of the group painted the Rock at 10 p.m. Wednesday to make “an overt statement concerning the involvement of LGBT students at Northwestern,” said co-president Will Pearse. Rainbow Week continues Friday with “Games on the Lakefill” at 4 p.m. Rainbow Week ends Sunday.

Photo by the author.

Residents of Shepard Residential College, who call themselves “sheep,” decorated the Rock early Thursday morning with cotton balls in the shape of the hall’s fuzzy mascot. According to Shepard president Trey Herr, the dorm’s homecoming committee planned the display as demonstration of pride for alumni on campus for homecoming this weekend.

Photo by the author.

A speedy devil raced across the Rock Thursday to promote Demon Dash, Kappa Delta’s fall philanthropy project. The Halloween-themed 5K run to support Prevent Child Abuse America will be held 9 am Saturday at the Lakefill. Tickets are available at the Norris Box Office.

Photo by the author.

The NU American Sign Language Club painted the Rock Tuesday night. The club advocates for sign language classes to be offered at Northwestern. ASL Club holds weekly Tuesday meetings and is open to all students.

Photo by the author.

Sophomore members of Gamma Phi Beta painted the Rock early Monday morning. A nearby tree also bore the sorority’s Greek lettering. Gamma Phi Beta member and Medill sophomore Simone Slykhous said the sisters painted the Rock to “get the word out” about their chapter. Gamma Phi Beta had planned to paint the Rock last Winter Quarter but never got around to it, she said.

Photo by the author.

The Associated Student Government exec board painted the Rock Tuesday night to welcome Morton O. Schapiro to the office of president of the university. “We painted it as part of his inauguration gift being given to him on behalf of the student body,” ASG Director of Publications Claire Lew said in an e-mail.

Schapiro will be officially inaugurated during a ceremony at 3 p.m. Friday on Deering Meadow. A “LiveWired Conversation” with President Schapiro this evening will begin a four-day celebration of NU’s 16th president that includes a symposium featuring Hot, Flat, and Crowded author Thomas Friedman, a John Legend concert at Welsh-Ryan Arena, and special halftime event during Saturday’s home football game.

Photo by the author.

The Muslim-cultural Students Association (McSA) painted the Rock Sunday night announcing the launch of Islam Awareness Week. McSA, which works to advance understanding of Islam at Northwestern, will host a number of events this week including fireside discussions, open prayer services and a final conference on Friday at Ryan Auditorium addressing cooperation between members of different major religions. Members of all faiths are invited to attend Islam Awareness Week events; tickets for Friday’s conference are $10 for students and $20 for general admission.