University of Illinois - Local Atmosphere

College Prowler Take

While Urbana-Champaign is bounded by prairie land, students often forget how close they are to farms and fields when they walk around campus. The U of I campus, nestled between the twin cities of Urbana and Champaign, is like a city unto itself. Every day, 30,000 students flock to the University’s popular main road, Green Street, which runs along the Quad and comprises the busiest part of the campus-town. Urbana and Champaign, however, are each cities in their own right. Each has a small downtown with shops, bars, and clubs, and each has its own unique charm and culture. They have truly kept the small-town feel as much as possible.

The University offers a daunting number of on-campus events, not to mention non-stop parties, so many undergrads don’t bother to explore Urbana-Champaign as much as they could. Among the most popular happenings are music shows, school sports games, and artsy events which are campus- or locally-sponsored. Some students do say that the campus bars and clubs grow old, and being so far from a big city can make them feel restless. However, there are always alternatives to the Green Street bars if you know where to look. Many musicians and artists call Champaign-Urbana their home, and with the University’s thriving theater program, there is no shortage of performances. Buzz Magazine and the217.com, both publications of the student-run Illini Media Company, keep students posted on community and campus events.

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Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

Urbana-Champaign combines the... Urbana-Champaign combines the small-town country feel with the city atmosphere. It is an academic community, but walk, bike, or drive a few blocks into Urbana or Champaign, and you’ll enjoy the huge country homes set far back from the street, the stretches of farmland, and tractors driving down the roads. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

There are tons of things to do in... There are tons of things to do in the city, but you definitely have to know where you are going and what the crowd will be like. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

The University is very isolated... The University is very isolated from the town of Champaign itself. The rest of the city is impoverished for the most part. Most students refer to the residents as townies. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

The best place to study or hang... The best place to study or hang out has got to be the Illini Union—it has everything from restaurants to coffee shops to rest areas to arcade/game rooms. Between classes, students gather there to talk or to promote shows and different events. On hot days, there is air-conditioning! Coffee houses such as Moonstruck are also mellow places to chill or to study. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

Parkland Community College is... Parkland Community College is located in Champaign, and many U of I students take summer or online courses there to supplement their primary curricula or to fulfill general education requirements. Also, the historical Virginia Theater is located in Champagne, where U of I alum Roger Ebert holds his annual Overlooked Film Festival. The theater also plays classic or popular films that are well attended by the academic, student, and local communities. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Facts

Did You Know?

5 Fun Facts about Champaign:
• Urbana-Champaign was named one of the world’s “10 Hot New Tech Cities” by Newsweek.
• Famous alumnus Hugh Hefner allegedly donated every issue of Playboy to the University.
• The auditorium of Foellinger was used in the graduation scene of the Brendan Fraser movie With Honors.
• Special cows at South Farms have holes cut into their bellies, which allows vet students to take samples from their insides while the cows are still living.
• The English Building was once a dormitory, and a pool was originally in the present sunken lounge. Legend has it that a girl from that old dormitory still haunts the English Building halls, and many students say strange occurrences have happened to them late at night in the computer lab.

Famous People from Champaign:
Hugh Hefner (founder of Playboy); Andy Richter (actor/comedian); Roger Ebert (film critic); Ken Holtzman (Cubs pitcher); Phil Baker (CEO, Proctor and Gamble); Ken Dilger (Super Bowl champ, Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end); Harold “Red” Grange (Chicago Bears Hall of Fame running back); James Cantalupo (president of McDonald’s International); Dr. Harold Osborn (1924 Olympic gold medalist, track and field); Jerry Hadley (Opera Singer); Robert Falls (Tony Award winner); and Michael Colgrass and George Crumb (Pulitzer Prize winners and composers).

Local Slang:
Pop – What people from Northern Illinois call soda
Brewski – Chicago slang for beer
Toasted Ravioli – Breaded pasta from St. Louis/Southwestern Illinois
Chi-Town – A name for Chicago (used only by those who aren’t from there)
Windy City – Yet another name for Chicago
Aggie – Someone majoring in Agriculture 

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