University of Denver Spring 2024

50 Reasons to Love DU

# 46 Perched on the west porch of the Newman Center for the Performing Arts, thespian statues carved in stone wear bunny slippers, paying homage to the furry campus regulars. Theatrically, the bunnies’ faces are obscured by masks OUR FURRY FRIENDS

like those worn by actors in the Italian commedia dell’arte tradition. From bunnies to foxes to hawks, many creatures and critters make appearances on campus, but few are as regular as the rambunctious fox squirrel, whose squirrelly antics you can follow on Instagram @squirrelsofdu.

47.

“ I’VE GOT

A GOLDEN TICKET”

Hundreds of students have camped out each year near the Ritchie Center in hopes of getting their hands on the golden ticket—free DU hockey season tickets. With 10 national championships, seats in Magness Arena are a hot commodity. The tradition began in 2001 when the hockey coach purchased season tickets for the first two students in line.

48 NO.

THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT Aaahh, the quarter system. Only about 5% of colleges and universities have it, and we’re one of them. While students and faculty alike love the long break they get from Thanksgiving to early January, students also like the faster pace of their classes, opportunities to do interterm and summer courses, and the ease of double (or even triple) majoring. Because classes are offered more often, there’s more flexibility to fit them in and—maybe best of all—if you’re taking a class that you don’t particularly like, you’re done in only 10 weeks.

Our Community Loves...

“I have yet to have a bad professor. I love all my classes.”

MOUNTAINEERING SINCE 1928 # 49 The Alpine Club has been exploring the Rocky Mountains since 1928. With weekly ski trips, guided backcountry outings, rafting, and rock and ice climbing, the Alpine Club has certainly earned its spot as the University’s largest (400+ members) and longest running student club.

Alpine Club recreational river rafting , 1974–75. Credit: from DU Special Collections.