| Traditions | |
- Candlelight Mass: A tradition popular among Catholic students, but also attended by others, is the Sunday night Candlelight Mass. The service is shorter, to fit into students’ schedules better, and it is held by candlelight. Come early—St. John’s Church gets packed fast!
- Christmas at Creighton: Each year’s Christmas kicks off the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving with a ceremony. Then a Christmas tree is lit with Creighton-blue lights, as well as lights all over the Mall.
- Getting Blue: A few years ago, all Creighton students began receiving identical blue T-shirts. The purpose was to build school spirit and encourage attendance at sporting events. Today, students clad in the shirts form a “blue out” wall at games. “Getting Blue” events—with barbecues, bands, and beer—are held before some games.
- JayWalk: A recent tradition, the JayWalk is benefit for the Jesuit Middle School of Omaha, which is a school that especially seeks to provide a Jesuit education to young urban males. Students, faculty, and others pay an entry fee that goes to support the school’s operations.
- Lil’ Jays Weekend: Part family time, part early recruitment effort, Lil’ Jays Weekend targets the younger brothers and sisters of Creighton students—whether they are three or seventeen years old. Activities include everything from visiting the zoo to coloring pictures to having autographs signed by Creighton athletes. It’s a great way to have fun with a little sibling and share your school spirit. Steer clear if you have a strong aversion to loud little ones or corny activities.
- Lip Sync: Each year, Greek organizations sponsor a Welcome Week Lip Sync, which fraternities, sororities, and freshman seminar groups compete in for their claim to fame—and embarrassment. Stories about Lip Sync goofiness often follow students well into their junior years and beyond.
- Retreats: Creighton has its own retreat center in a rustic setting near Griswold, Iowa. Expect to visit at least once if you are heavily involved in student activities, or go deliberately for one of Campus Ministry’s many retreats. The 24 Hours Retreat is a way for freshmen to get away from campus in those long and lonely first months away from home for friend-making and good food. Adventure retreats take students to exotic river locations for activities like canoeing and hiking. All of it combines prayer and reflection, but the important part for many is forging bonds with classmates.
- School of the Americas: Creighton students organize protests at the former School of the Americas, now called WHINSEC, in Fort Benning, Georgia each year. The school is said to be responsible for producing some of the worst human rights violators in Latin America, including Manuel Noriega and Hugo Suarez.
- Spring Break Service Trips: Based on the five pillars of the Spring Break Service Trips (service, justice, community, simplicity, and reflection), these trips are held through the Center for Service and Justice and involve small student groups visiting service sites around the country. Past trips included visits to Native American reservations and inner-city housing projects.
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