| Traditions | |
- “Top of the World” Reception: Every year, the College rents out the 98th floor of the Hancock Observatory, one of the tallest buildings in the world, for a reception for the incoming class. Spectacular views of the city, catered food, and house bonding make this one of the most memorable O-Week experiences of most Chicago students’ careers.
- Bagpipe Procession: On the first day of O-Week, after the initial move-in, parents and students are invited to a “Welcoming Convocation,” at which various officers of the University speak about what it means to be a Chicago student, what the next four years will be like, and other things sentimental in nature. At the end, there is a bagpipe procession at Rockefeller Chapel (the location of the speech) and up University Avenue. However, at 57th Street, the bagpipers stop, and so do the parents. The students continue walking until 58th Street, where they assemble on the football field for the official class picture. While parents are certainly allowed to stay after, this symbolic and unilateral separation of parent and child is a hallmark of the Chicago tradition—the separation from one family and the continuation of life with the new family.
- Dollar Milkshake Day: On Wednesdays in C-Shop you can get a milkshake for just one dollar. The flavors are all over the place, ranging from your typical chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla to cookies and cream, mint, and coffee.
- Kuviasungnerk/Kangeiko: Also known as the “winter festival,” this week-long celebration includes "morning samurai training" (in the snow), snacks on the quad in the afternoon, a polar bear run, and other college-sponsored events. Students who participate in the early-morning yoga for all five days get a free T-shirt.
- O-Week: For the better part of a century, the University of Chicago has held an exhausting orientation process. Currently, it is a week-long “New Student Orientation” called "O-Week." It is essentially an extravaganza complete with lectures on the academic disciplines (usually attended by more than 90 percent of the incoming class), how to pick classes, and how to plan your course of study.
- The Scavenger Hunt: Every spring, the University puts on the largest scavenger hunt in the world. It takes place over three days, multiple states, and involves a large percentage of students on the campus. Past items include: a nuclear reactor (119 points), a letter of reprimand from John Ashcroft (70 points), beat-boxing Bach while on a box (25 points), and an elephant (92 points).
- Summer Breeze: Every spring quarter, the University puts on a music festival. They bring in some pretty big names. Recent performers have included Crystal Castles, Cake, Damian Marley, NAS, and Wale. The concert happens at night. During the day, there are events all over the main quad. There's a fraternity cook-off, inflatable rides, and a mechanical bull.
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