Bobst Boy is the nickname of Steven Stanzak (b. January 25, 1984), a New York University student who spent eight months living in the basement of the school's Bobst Library from September 2003 to April 2004. January 25 is the 25th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... New York University (NYU) is a major research university in New York City. ... The Elmer Holmes Bobst Library, built between 1967 and 1972, is the largest library at New York University and one of the largest academic libraries in the United States. ... 2003 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December A timeline of events in the news for September, 2003. ... 2004 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December Deaths in April • 18 Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara • 19 Norris McWhirter • 22 Pat Tillman • 24 Estée Lauder Other recent deaths Ongoing events EU Enlargement Exploration of Mars: Rovers Haiti Rebellion Reconstruction of Iraq – Occupation & Resistance Israeli...

Before becoming a Bobst Library resident, Stanzak was an ordinary student living off loans and part-time jobs, without financial assistance from his parents. In September 2003, he found that his NYU scholarship, four jobs, and private loans would be able to cover his tuition costs, but he could not get enough loans to cover housing. He refused to drop out or transfer to a cheaper school, choosing instead to live in the library, which could also provide him a rich experience for his writing.

Stanzak quickly got tired of answering peoples' questions about life in the library, and posted a Q&A online. The Q&A eventually grew into the blog and web site homelessatnyu.com, and Stanzak developed an underground fan following on NYU's campus.

The Washington Square News, NYU's student paper, was told of Stanzak's situation and asked to do a profile on him. At first Stanzak refused fearing how NYU would react to the situation. However, once Stanzak was told that the article would be printed with or without his consent, he agreed to do an interview. In April 2004, just before the release of the news article, an NYU dean was told of Stanzak's situation, and requested a meeting. At the meeting, the dean told Stanzak that his initiative was remarkable, but that he could no longer live in the library, and Stanzak was provided free NYU housing for the last few weeks of classes. The Washington Square News is the daily student newspaper of New York University. ...

The day the profile was published, reporters started calling Stanzak, and he became an overnight celebrity, stalked by tabloid reporters. His instant celebrity also resulted in a book deal and a movie deal, both of which are in development. Stanzak has often been accused of living in the library with the intent of becoming famous in order to further his writing; however, Stanzak and those close to him argued that this theory is preposterous. Stanzak would state that he had no idea he would receive so much media attention or that literary agents would start actively courting him, but he has since conceded that he knew a minor media flurry was imminent in the previous weeks.

Stanzak continues to receive financial assistance from NYU, and no longer updates his blog or web site. He is currently an RA at NYU's Lafayette Street Residence, in Chinatown. He will be attending Indiana University, Bloomington in the fall of 2006, pursuing a graduate degree in folklore.

External links

• Ousted Bobst Boy gets Dorm
• The legacy of Bobst Boy
• Yes, Some Students Live in the Library (But Not Like This)
• Bobst Boy's LiveJournal