Gregory Friend painted the Rock Saturday night to propose to his girlfriend of five and a half years, fellow Weinberg senior Mandy Muehlbauer, on her birthday.
“Because I had to keep it a secret from her and I couldn’t guard it all by myself, all of my friends and all of her friends helped out with the guarding and the painting,” Friend said. “It was very representative of our time here at Northwestern.”
Friend said he wanted to make a public and noticeable gesture, and as seniors, painting the Rock felt fitting.
Muehlbauer, who plays on the NU Women’s Rugby team, was led to the Rock by her teammates, who told her they would be taking pictures around campus to celebrate their last game of the season on Saturday.
“And I was standing right there noticed it, and I was shocked. I stopped moving, and he came out all cute, and knelt down,” she said.
The couple came back later Sunday afternoon with friends and family to take photos.
“We’re going to celebrate at Buffalo Wild Wings because that’s the kind of people we are,” they said.