I'm a proud Illini who recently completed her first year of college. In my time (when I actually lived on campus before COVID-19 took over), I discovered many quirks about campus life. From the first-semester days of regularly getting lost on campus to the traditions and interesting campus artwork, I've composed a list of wonders about the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign below.
1. First of all, why is the bus system so confusing?
Sydney Wright
I have three different apps to help me navigate the Champaign-Urbana MTD system, and to this day, I only trust the teal and silver lines.
3. Why are there stairways that go nowhere in the Armory?
If I had a dollar for the amount of times I've been lost in this building, I wouldn't have any student loans.
4. What's with the modern art on the engineering side of campus?
C'mon, us liberal art majors would appreciate some interpretive statues on our side of campus.
5. Why is everyone obsessed with squirrels?
gray animal on grassPhoto by Chelsey Faucher on UnsplashHow much money is the squirrel watching club being funded? Because I'm on the board of our archery club...and we'd like some more funding, please.
6. Is the south bell tower haunted?
Sydney Wright
It plays some pretty rad chimes, but at night that thing gives me the creeps.
7. Why can't I always hear the tornado test sirens?
Luckily, we haven't had a real tornado in my time there...but it's slightly concerning that I can only hear the sirens from my dorm if the window is open.
8. Who decided orange and blue go together?
Sydney Wright
I love you, Illinois. But orange and blue do not match. I'll still proudly wear them for you, though.
9. How many couples who kissed beneath the Eternal Flame are now married?
What if we were to let our love "burn" forever by kissing beneath the eternal flame? JK. Unless...
10. How many people have rubbed Lincoln's nose for good luck in Lincoln hall?
A pre-pandemic ritual of luck before an exam.
11. Why Urbana-Champaign and not Champaign-Urbana?
Sydney Wright
Everything in the town says "Champaign-Urbana", yet the school is "Urbana-Champaign".
12. What really happened in the English building?
There's a rumor that the English building was once a women's dormitory with a swimming pool. Supposedly, a woman drowned and her ghost still haunts the building today. I suppose the aspiring writers and lovers of literature don't mind her presence.
13. Why don't the Marching Illini get more hype?
Sydney Wright
Coming from outside of the Midwest, I didn't realize what a big deal marching band is at many schools. The Marching Illini's performance was probably my favorite part of the football game I attended (sorry sports lovers).
14. Who chooses the songs for the Altgeld bell tower?
Sydney Wright
An older student told me you can actually learn how to operate the bells inside Altgeld. How do I sign up for this?
15. How is it that there are over 40,000 students on campus, and I still constantly run into people I know?
That Disney ride was right...it's a small world after all.
16. Who started breakfast at midnight?
Breakfast at midnight is a tradition in the dining halls at the beginning of finals week. This is absolutely genius and whoever came up with this deserves praise.
17. Is the guy who rides his bike backwards on campus okay?
18. Would you really get expelled if you stepped foot on the Morrow Plots?
Sydney Wright
19. Why do the dining halls operate at weird hours?
Sorry, but 4:45 p.m. is a little early to start dinner.
yellow and green cornsPhoto by 21. Where does Champaign end and Urbana begin?
22. Why is there a boba tea shop on every corner?
two clear glass jars with strawsPhoto by Rosalind Chang on UnsplashNot complaining.
23. What's it like staying in the Illini Union Hotel?
Still blows my mind that our student center has a hotel.
24. Is the cemetery on the south side of campus mostly alumni?
Sydney Wright
I've always been curious about this, and paid a visit to the cemetery when I went back to move out of my dorm. Some of the graves there were over a century old!
25. And finally...what's happening with class schedules and COVID regulations this Fall?
These massmails are confusing me, Chancellor Jones.
