During Meliora Weekend, the buzz of excitement wasn’t just limited to reunions and performances—it extended into the Barbara J. Burger iZone, where over 200 students, alumni, and faculty immersed themselves in iZone’s 2nd Annual Escape Room Experience: Star-Stuck. This interactive adventure proved to be more than a fun activity; it showcased iZone’s mission to foster creativity, collaboration, and innovative problem-solving.
iZone's Studio, which is a closed classroom within the space typically used for student employees and team meetings, transformed into the set of Starbright Entertainment’s fictional movie studio. Escape room participants were tasked with solving the disappearance of rising star Eliza Mae Watts before the “kidnapper” struck again. For one hour, teams unraveled puzzles that ranged from cryptic messages to hands-on challenges, testing their ability to work together under pressure.
I had the chance to experience a test run of the escape room before its debut. My team included escape room aficionado Elana Bachman ’27 and fellow newbies Katie Jarvis ’25 and Professor Michael Jarvis, who brought a mix of curiosity and humor to the challenge. (Professor Jarvis may or may not have accidentally broken a prop clue during our trial, but hey, that’s all part of the learning process, right?)
Behind the scenes, the escape room was the brainchild of iZone Marketing and Communications Student Lead Katie Ho (T’25) and Marketing Fellow Oren Schwartz, who spent months meticulously designing Star-Stuck. Schwartz, who spearheaded last year’s inaugural escape room, Cabin Fever: Snowed In, pitched the concept for a sequel during iZone’s Pitch Day—an internal event where student employees propose projects that align with iZone’s mission of empowering creative problem-solvers.
“We started by just doing escape rooms and thinking in a puzzle-oriented way,” said Schwartz. “What's interesting when you're creating a puzzle is you're trying to think about how other people will think.” He continued, “You need to create just the right amount of connection and give the right amount of information so it still feels satisfying to complete the puzzle.”
And what an experience it was. The variety of participants during Meliora Weekend—from first-time players to seasoned puzzle enthusiasts—meant each group approached the mystery differently. Some breezed through the clues, while others stumbled and then rallied, discovering that true success came from teamwork. The feedback collected during these sessions became the foundation for improving the experience before its next iteration.
“We’re definitely hoping to make it even more immersive and to restructure some of the puzzles that people consistently struggled with or we found out weren’t as accessible” Ho explained.
The escape room embodies everything iZone stands for: a commitment to learning through action, experimenting with new ideas, and fostering community. Each puzzle not only challenges participants but reinforces skills that are at the heart of iZone’s programs—creative thinking, collaboration, and adaptability.
This December, Star-Stuck will make its much-anticipated return for finals week, offering University of Rochester students a well-earned break to recharge, connect, and problem-solve in an environment that is as playful as it is purposeful. The event underscores iZone’s role as a campus hub for innovation, where ideas come to life and students are empowered to make an impact.
So mark your calendars—December 4–7, 2024—and sign up before spots fill! Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned escape artist, Star-Stuck promises to be a highlight of the semester.
