the people on campus - students, professors, counselors - are all extremely welcoming, friendly and helpful, so do not feel intimidated. despite being located in central illinois, there are plenty of things to keep you busy in campus-town and the surrounding areas - whether it be shopping at marketplace mall, getting food on green street, or exploring the nature of urbana. joining rsos and/or greek life helps make such a large campus feel much smaller, and definitely like a second home.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
#1 - don't be afraid to ask questions! whether it means contacting someone you know who is a current student at the university or reaching out to friends of friends for advice, do not hesitate to ask anyone any question no matter how ridiculous it may seem. everyone on campus was in high school at some point in time, and they will be completely understanding and very helpful. current students are your best way of knowing exactly what it's like to live on campus and attend classes. (you know you came to the right place because i just finished my freshman year!) #2 - stay on top of your game. even though senioritis is probably kicking in, keep trying your best in school. it will definitely pay off when you get to campus because you will already be in the right mindset to succeed on this campus. the courses may be challenging for you if you're not used to applying yourself academically. however, if you do apply yourself, you will find that there is much to learn at the university of illinois and that truly anyone can succeed. #3 - as cliche as it may sound, get involved! with over 1,400 registered student organizations (rsos) on campus, there is surely something that will spark your interest and help connect you with students of similar interests on campus. the rsos are one thing that helps make a campus of over 44,000 students feel so small. get excited for quad day - a day during welcome week when all rsos set up booths on the main quad to inform the student body of their mission and offer ways for more students to get involved.
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
like i said earlier, this is a school where you need to be able to apply yourself academically. courses can be challenging and the homework load may be heavier than it was in high school depending on where you went high school. there are some notably easier classes on campus - which is a majority of the classes most freshmen students take - to fulfill certain general education requirements. for students looking for an academic challenge, you will be pleasantly surprised. many classes are presented in a fashion where you must do a lot of self-teaching, which can put a lot of pressure on a student. despite this, it is still possible to succeed, as many class grades are based on a curve. a typical class grade will be composed of daily or weekly homework grades, class participation, 5-10 quizzes, 2-3 midterms, and a final exam. course syllabi are handed out at the beginning of the semester and should always be referenced for important dates and deadlines. some professors quite honestly seem to forget that students have more than one class each semester and all load up a lot of assignments right before midterms, school breaks, and finals week. it is very likely that you may have more than one midterm or final exam scheduled for the same day, in which case you may say that the university is very academically challenging. however, in the case where you have 3 exams scheduled within a 24-hour time period, the university will allow you to change the time of one of the three exams to help reduce stress.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
despite the setbacks, there are many perks to residence hall life. the people you meet on your floor will likely become some of your closest friends throughout your entire college career. programs put on by the residence hall staff are actually a lot of fun and an easy way to meet the people who are living around you - sometimes you even get free food! be sure that you actually read the informational flyers you may see posted in your hall's bathrooms, hallways, and lounges. similarly, joining hall council will help introduce you to some behind-the-scenes work that goes into programming if you're interested. whether you get lucky enough to snag a room in the coveted ikenberry commons area, or if you get stuck in far/par, know that living in the dorms is actually not terrible. decorating your room and having a space on campus to call your own can be very comforting. especially if you have a roommate, knowing that your room can be your own sanctuary is very important. if you encounter a roommate conflict at any point throughout the school year, know that your resident advisor (ra) and resident director (rd) are very useful resources who are specifically trained to help alleviate any problems and help ease your transition into college. developing a relationship with your ra can be crucial in your experience living in your residence hall. knock on their door, ask them a question, and get to know them - they're there to help you! (as a future ra, i can't wait to get to meet my residents and help make their transition into college as smooth as possible!)
Describe the food and dining at your college.
i am not going to lie, despite having one of the largest campus dining halls in the country, bigger does not always mean better. many of the meals are prepared by student staff workers under supervision. students are sometimes tired or lazy so the food is never perfect and you cannot count on the same dish being prepared exactly the same way every week. not all of the dining halls are of equal quality either. most students will agree that the ikenberry commons dining hall, far, and par dining halls are consistently better quality than the dining halls located in allen hall, isr, lincoln hall, and busey-evans. however, students are allowed to eat at any university housing dining hall using their university meal plan. despite these setbacks, i find that there are a lot of options for people with all types of dietary restrictions, from being vegetarian, to gluten free, to vegan, the school tries to take every dietary restriction into account. similarly, for people with allergies, the dining hall will make note of popular allergens contained in certain dishes. also, for people trying to count calories, those are also noted at each food station. something i did not know coming into college was that the dining hall works as an all-you-can-eat-per-meal system as are most university dining halls. something to mention are the specialty meals provided frequently throughout the year. for certain international special occasions, such as hanukkah, diwali, and chinese new year, the dining hall will announce that they are having themed a themed meal for the day. this is a simple way in which students are invited to explore new cultures, foods, and traditions through food and celebration.
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
have you ever heard of green street? if you have not, then you are missing out! green street is one of the most popular streets on campus. located just a five-minute walk from the quad, it is the ideal place to go between classes. filled with unique restaurants, boutiques, and bars, there is plenty to do at any hour of the day. some campus town staple restaurants on green street are mia za's (pizza and pasta), sakanaya (sushi), which wich? (sandwich shop). for shopping, green street has everything from urban outfitters to ragstock, you cannnot go wrong. in case you were not aware, a fun fact is that the legal age to enter bars in urbana-champaign is 19. however, the legal drinking age is still 21, so be responsible and make smart decisions. there are various types of bars on campus that many students explore. however, if the bar scene is not really your cup of tea, you can watch a movie on the quad, catch a performance at the krannert art center, watch a sporting event, attend a concert at the canopy club, or go ice-skating, the opportunities are endless! during the warmer months, the university screens free movies on the quad and students will gather to watch together under the stars. you can find everything from ted talks, to musicals, and ballet being performed at the krannert art center. while tickets are not free to students, the shows are definitely high quality and worth the money. students rave about the fun that they have at the football, basketball, and hockey games on campus. even though we are not always the team to beat, being around your peers makes it all worth it. from excision, to b.o.b., and the chainsmokers, the canopy club invites popular artists from all genres to entertain students. although these tickets are not free to students, it is always a fun night to be had regardless. there is also a decent size mall that can be reached by bus, along with various restaurants in the downtown champaign and urbana areas.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
the biggest complaint you will hear from any college student on any college campus is about their student loans. though unavoidable, the university has many payment programs, scholarships, and grants that help make an education affordable for all students. for in-state students, tuition for the whole school year is approximately $15,000-$20,000. for out-of-state students, annual tuition is roughly $30,000-$37,000. for international students, tuition is about $32,000-$42,000. given these prices, as a current student, i would definitely say that i am getting my money's worth. the office of student financial aid also works with students in order to provide access to all possible scholarship opportunities in order to make education affordable. the university provides incomparable resources to aid in a student's education. with one of the largest university library systems in the country, the university of illinois has plenty of places for students to read and study. every time i enter a new building, i am reminded of why i pay so much per year to attend such an amazing university. the engineering quad is filled with some of the newest buildings on campus. this is including the electrical and chemical engineering (ece) building, which has received a green good design award from the european centre for architecture art design and urban studies and the chicago athenaeum for its sustainable design. another notable building is the newest wassaja hall, named after the first native american graduate of the university, which is expected to receive a minimum of leed gold certification. but overall, beyond the state-of-the-art buildings and resources, the friendships and networking connections that are built on this campus are priceless.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
there are some really unique traditions on campus, including quad day, dial-a-carol, unofficial, and spring jam concert. quad day is a part of welcome week when students advertise their clubs and activities, see clubs and activities section for more details. dial-a-carol is a unique tradition, which takes place in snyder residence hall. since 1960, students have gathered to answer phone calls from around the world and sing holiday tunes to spread cheer during the stress of finals week. unofficial is a hyped up day of drinking to celebrate st. patrick's day, which the university is attempting to combat. the spring jam concert takes place in late april, when a popular artist performs on the main quad free of charge to university students. there are also some unusual locations you may hear about, like the eternal flame, red lion, and the steam tunnels. the eternal flame is something that you would hear about on a campus tour. it is said that if you kiss your love under the light of the eternal flame, your love will last forever. red lion is a sight in itself, being one of the craziest bars on campus. brace yourself if you plan on facing this jungle. something the university does not want students to know about are the underground steam tunnels connecting several university buildings. plenty of information can be found on the reddit page, as i cannot speak from experience to their validity so i suggest you look there for more information. also, something very notable about campus is the amount of public art on display. the most memorable being abraham lincoln's bust, alma mater, night train, darwin's playground, the nathan austin weston memorial fountain, diana fountain, and centennial. there are plenty more to be discovered on campus, i would suggest reading up more about the specific pieces online if interested before coming to campus in order to have a greater appreciation for the art.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
even as a resident advisor, i can honestly say that i am not aware of all of the resources available on this campus. however, i am aware that this is an excellent school for any student with a physical or learning disability. the beckwith center, located in nugent hall, is a brand new, state-of-the-art facility modified to help students with disabilities. this is also a great place for international students. almost every day at the university of illinois, i have met someone from a different country. with a prominent population of international students, newly admitted international students will feel right at home on campus. from personal experience, everyone i have met on campus is extremely caring and outgoing, which helps make disabled, international, and all students on campus feel very welcomed from the start. additionally, this is a great place for students who are looking for a balance between academia and fun. that being said, it is necessary for students to have self-discipline in order to survive on this campus. unfortunately, it is all too common for students to get caught up in the party atmosphere and forget to go to classes, study, and take exams. students must remember the reason why we are all here is for one thing - an education. i would say that this school is ideal for students who are looking for a challenge because the more you are willing to challenge yourself, the more room you will have to grow. this is not a university where your professors will baby you, you must be willing to put in the work in order to be successful.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
quad day is a day during welcome week when students from all clubs, sports, and organizations on campus join forces on the main quad to put on a career fair type event except for clubs and campus resources. this allows for students to explore the possibility of joining clubs and organizations, of which they have never heard. it is also a crucial component to welcome week for incoming freshmen students because it truly begins to integrate them into the student body and allows them to meet students with similar interests and puts them in direct contact with various campus resources. with over 1,400 registered student organizations (rso) on campus, you will be sure to find many organizations which will spark your excitement, and match your interests or hobbies. with everything from a harry potter club, to a cappella groups, and a service fraternity, you never know what you will be able to find here until you begin to explore the endless possibilities yourself. the university of illinois also provides plenty of resources for rsos to thrive, including the student organization complex on the second floor of the illini union, which houses 46 cubicles reserved as a planning and relaxation space 46 of the most prominent rsos on campus. there has been debate recently concerning the survival of this space, but it really is a crucial regular meeting spot for many organizations. it should also be noted that the school provides financial support for certain qualifying rsos through funding provided by the student organization fee (sorf) and the student cultural programming fee (scpf), which are both relatively small charges included in your student fees. this is yet another reason why the university encourages all students to get involved with an rso. besides making connections, building friendships, and utilizing resources, all students are helping fund the rsos which make our campus so special and unique.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
greek life is huge on campus. but, it is not unavoidable. if students are looking to get involved with greek life, they will be welcomed with open arms into one of our 60 fraternities or 37 sororities on campus. there are various types of fraternities and sororities for all types of students. the social fraternities and sororities provide the stereotypical "crazy" college experience. ranked as the #1 party school of 2015, we clearly do not mess around when we say crazy. for those involved in greek life, parties are frequent, during the week as well as over the weekends. 32% of the chapters on the university of illinois' campus are culturally based. these chapters allow students of similar cultural backgrounds, typically minority ethnicities, to connect with one another and grow a familial bond. there are also many religious based fraternities and sororities on campus - lutheran, catholic, christian, and jewish chapters. professional sororities and fraternities provide students with a resource to network and expand interest in their intended major. keep in mind that this is a university with a street commonly known to the student body as "frat row" and a recreational area commonly known as "frat park" for self-explanatory reasons. about 23% of the undergraduate population is involved in some way with greek life, but also remember that that means that 77% of the undergraduate population is not involved with greek life. if a student wants to get involved with greek life, there are plenty of opportunities here for them to do so. however, if a student chooses that they do not want to get involved, there is absolutely no pressure to do so and there are still plenty of other fun things to do on campus.
How would you describe campus safety? Do you feel safe on campus?
the university of illinois puts a large emphasis on the importance of student safety on campus. if a student feels unsafe to walk home at any hour of the night, even when the bus services are no longer running, students are encouraged to use the safewalks and saferides services. included in student fees, these services seem fairly self-explanatory. when calling the number conveniently located on the back of your student id, two student-athletes will walk you or a saferides bus will drive you home from your current location. near the university residence halls, security guards ensure student safety by patrolling the area all night long. there are also various free safety classes offered through the university and the local police department in order to help keep citizens safe. illini-alert is a free service through the school which will text message anyone signed up for messages, students, their families, etc., in any emergency situation whether it be weather related, robbery, or an attack. it should also be noted that the university does not promote underage drinking, but recognizes that it does happen. in order to ensure student safety, the university has a contract worked out with the local police department that if a student is to receive medical treatment for an issue related alcohol consumption, such as alcohol poisoning, they would not need to worry about getting in trouble with the law. this contract is to make sure that students do not hesitate to get the necessary help for their peers should they end up in an emergency situation. with that said, there are also many emergency telephones located around campus, indicated by a bright blue light for anyone to access in an emergency situation.
the people on campus - students, professors, counselors - are all extremely welcoming, friendly and helpful, so do not feel intimidated. despite being located in central illinois, there are plenty of things to keep you busy in campus-town and the surrounding areas - whether it be shopping at marketplace mall, getting food on green street, or exploring the nature of urbana. joining rsos and/or greek life helps make such a large campus feel much smaller, and definitely like a second home.
#1 - don't be afraid to ask questions! whether it means contacting someone you know who is a current student at the university or reaching out to friends of friends for advice, do not hesitate to ask anyone any question no matter how ridiculous it may seem. everyone on campus was in high school at some point in time, and they will be completely understanding and very helpful. current students are your best way of knowing exactly what it's like to live on campus and attend classes. (you know you came to the right place because i just finished my freshman year!) #2 - stay on top of your game. even though senioritis is probably kicking in, keep trying your best in school. it will definitely pay off when you get to campus because you will already be in the right mindset to succeed on this campus. the courses may be challenging for you if you're not used to applying yourself academically. however, if you do apply yourself, you will find that there is much to learn at the university of illinois and that truly anyone can succeed. #3 - as cliche as it may sound, get involved! with over 1,400 registered student organizations (rsos) on campus, there is surely something that will spark your interest and help connect you with students of similar interests on campus. the rsos are one thing that helps make a campus of over 44,000 students feel so small. get excited for quad day - a day during welcome week when all rsos set up booths on the main quad to inform the student body of their mission and offer ways for more students to get involved.
like i said earlier, this is a school where you need to be able to apply yourself academically. courses can be challenging and the homework load may be heavier than it was in high school depending on where you went high school. there are some notably easier classes on campus - which is a majority of the classes most freshmen students take - to fulfill certain general education requirements. for students looking for an academic challenge, you will be pleasantly surprised. many classes are presented in a fashion where you must do a lot of self-teaching, which can put a lot of pressure on a student. despite this, it is still possible to succeed, as many class grades are based on a curve. a typical class grade will be composed of daily or weekly homework grades, class participation, 5-10 quizzes, 2-3 midterms, and a final exam. course syllabi are handed out at the beginning of the semester and should always be referenced for important dates and deadlines. some professors quite honestly seem to forget that students have more than one class each semester and all load up a lot of assignments right before midterms, school breaks, and finals week. it is very likely that you may have more than one midterm or final exam scheduled for the same day, in which case you may say that the university is very academically challenging. however, in the case where you have 3 exams scheduled within a 24-hour time period, the university will allow you to change the time of one of the three exams to help reduce stress.
despite the setbacks, there are many perks to residence hall life. the people you meet on your floor will likely become some of your closest friends throughout your entire college career. programs put on by the residence hall staff are actually a lot of fun and an easy way to meet the people who are living around you - sometimes you even get free food! be sure that you actually read the informational flyers you may see posted in your hall's bathrooms, hallways, and lounges. similarly, joining hall council will help introduce you to some behind-the-scenes work that goes into programming if you're interested. whether you get lucky enough to snag a room in the coveted ikenberry commons area, or if you get stuck in far/par, know that living in the dorms is actually not terrible. decorating your room and having a space on campus to call your own can be very comforting. especially if you have a roommate, knowing that your room can be your own sanctuary is very important. if you encounter a roommate conflict at any point throughout the school year, know that your resident advisor (ra) and resident director (rd) are very useful resources who are specifically trained to help alleviate any problems and help ease your transition into college. developing a relationship with your ra can be crucial in your experience living in your residence hall. knock on their door, ask them a question, and get to know them - they're there to help you! (as a future ra, i can't wait to get to meet my residents and help make their transition into college as smooth as possible!)
i am not going to lie, despite having one of the largest campus dining halls in the country, bigger does not always mean better. many of the meals are prepared by student staff workers under supervision. students are sometimes tired or lazy so the food is never perfect and you cannot count on the same dish being prepared exactly the same way every week. not all of the dining halls are of equal quality either. most students will agree that the ikenberry commons dining hall, far, and par dining halls are consistently better quality than the dining halls located in allen hall, isr, lincoln hall, and busey-evans. however, students are allowed to eat at any university housing dining hall using their university meal plan. despite these setbacks, i find that there are a lot of options for people with all types of dietary restrictions, from being vegetarian, to gluten free, to vegan, the school tries to take every dietary restriction into account. similarly, for people with allergies, the dining hall will make note of popular allergens contained in certain dishes. also, for people trying to count calories, those are also noted at each food station. something i did not know coming into college was that the dining hall works as an all-you-can-eat-per-meal system as are most university dining halls. something to mention are the specialty meals provided frequently throughout the year. for certain international special occasions, such as hanukkah, diwali, and chinese new year, the dining hall will announce that they are having themed a themed meal for the day. this is a simple way in which students are invited to explore new cultures, foods, and traditions through food and celebration.
have you ever heard of green street? if you have not, then you are missing out! green street is one of the most popular streets on campus. located just a five-minute walk from the quad, it is the ideal place to go between classes. filled with unique restaurants, boutiques, and bars, there is plenty to do at any hour of the day. some campus town staple restaurants on green street are mia za's (pizza and pasta), sakanaya (sushi), which wich? (sandwich shop). for shopping, green street has everything from urban outfitters to ragstock, you cannnot go wrong. in case you were not aware, a fun fact is that the legal age to enter bars in urbana-champaign is 19. however, the legal drinking age is still 21, so be responsible and make smart decisions. there are various types of bars on campus that many students explore. however, if the bar scene is not really your cup of tea, you can watch a movie on the quad, catch a performance at the krannert art center, watch a sporting event, attend a concert at the canopy club, or go ice-skating, the opportunities are endless! during the warmer months, the university screens free movies on the quad and students will gather to watch together under the stars. you can find everything from ted talks, to musicals, and ballet being performed at the krannert art center. while tickets are not free to students, the shows are definitely high quality and worth the money. students rave about the fun that they have at the football, basketball, and hockey games on campus. even though we are not always the team to beat, being around your peers makes it all worth it. from excision, to b.o.b., and the chainsmokers, the canopy club invites popular artists from all genres to entertain students. although these tickets are not free to students, it is always a fun night to be had regardless. there is also a decent size mall that can be reached by bus, along with various restaurants in the downtown champaign and urbana areas.
the biggest complaint you will hear from any college student on any college campus is about their student loans. though unavoidable, the university has many payment programs, scholarships, and grants that help make an education affordable for all students. for in-state students, tuition for the whole school year is approximately $15,000-$20,000. for out-of-state students, annual tuition is roughly $30,000-$37,000. for international students, tuition is about $32,000-$42,000. given these prices, as a current student, i would definitely say that i am getting my money's worth. the office of student financial aid also works with students in order to provide access to all possible scholarship opportunities in order to make education affordable. the university provides incomparable resources to aid in a student's education. with one of the largest university library systems in the country, the university of illinois has plenty of places for students to read and study. every time i enter a new building, i am reminded of why i pay so much per year to attend such an amazing university. the engineering quad is filled with some of the newest buildings on campus. this is including the electrical and chemical engineering (ece) building, which has received a green good design award from the european centre for architecture art design and urban studies and the chicago athenaeum for its sustainable design. another notable building is the newest wassaja hall, named after the first native american graduate of the university, which is expected to receive a minimum of leed gold certification. but overall, beyond the state-of-the-art buildings and resources, the friendships and networking connections that are built on this campus are priceless.
there are some really unique traditions on campus, including quad day, dial-a-carol, unofficial, and spring jam concert. quad day is a part of welcome week when students advertise their clubs and activities, see clubs and activities section for more details. dial-a-carol is a unique tradition, which takes place in snyder residence hall. since 1960, students have gathered to answer phone calls from around the world and sing holiday tunes to spread cheer during the stress of finals week. unofficial is a hyped up day of drinking to celebrate st. patrick's day, which the university is attempting to combat. the spring jam concert takes place in late april, when a popular artist performs on the main quad free of charge to university students. there are also some unusual locations you may hear about, like the eternal flame, red lion, and the steam tunnels. the eternal flame is something that you would hear about on a campus tour. it is said that if you kiss your love under the light of the eternal flame, your love will last forever. red lion is a sight in itself, being one of the craziest bars on campus. brace yourself if you plan on facing this jungle. something the university does not want students to know about are the underground steam tunnels connecting several university buildings. plenty of information can be found on the reddit page, as i cannot speak from experience to their validity so i suggest you look there for more information. also, something very notable about campus is the amount of public art on display. the most memorable being abraham lincoln's bust, alma mater, night train, darwin's playground, the nathan austin weston memorial fountain, diana fountain, and centennial. there are plenty more to be discovered on campus, i would suggest reading up more about the specific pieces online if interested before coming to campus in order to have a greater appreciation for the art.
even as a resident advisor, i can honestly say that i am not aware of all of the resources available on this campus. however, i am aware that this is an excellent school for any student with a physical or learning disability. the beckwith center, located in nugent hall, is a brand new, state-of-the-art facility modified to help students with disabilities. this is also a great place for international students. almost every day at the university of illinois, i have met someone from a different country. with a prominent population of international students, newly admitted international students will feel right at home on campus. from personal experience, everyone i have met on campus is extremely caring and outgoing, which helps make disabled, international, and all students on campus feel very welcomed from the start. additionally, this is a great place for students who are looking for a balance between academia and fun. that being said, it is necessary for students to have self-discipline in order to survive on this campus. unfortunately, it is all too common for students to get caught up in the party atmosphere and forget to go to classes, study, and take exams. students must remember the reason why we are all here is for one thing - an education. i would say that this school is ideal for students who are looking for a challenge because the more you are willing to challenge yourself, the more room you will have to grow. this is not a university where your professors will baby you, you must be willing to put in the work in order to be successful.
quad day is a day during welcome week when students from all clubs, sports, and organizations on campus join forces on the main quad to put on a career fair type event except for clubs and campus resources. this allows for students to explore the possibility of joining clubs and organizations, of which they have never heard. it is also a crucial component to welcome week for incoming freshmen students because it truly begins to integrate them into the student body and allows them to meet students with similar interests and puts them in direct contact with various campus resources. with over 1,400 registered student organizations (rso) on campus, you will be sure to find many organizations which will spark your excitement, and match your interests or hobbies. with everything from a harry potter club, to a cappella groups, and a service fraternity, you never know what you will be able to find here until you begin to explore the endless possibilities yourself. the university of illinois also provides plenty of resources for rsos to thrive, including the student organization complex on the second floor of the illini union, which houses 46 cubicles reserved as a planning and relaxation space 46 of the most prominent rsos on campus. there has been debate recently concerning the survival of this space, but it really is a crucial regular meeting spot for many organizations. it should also be noted that the school provides financial support for certain qualifying rsos through funding provided by the student organization fee (sorf) and the student cultural programming fee (scpf), which are both relatively small charges included in your student fees. this is yet another reason why the university encourages all students to get involved with an rso. besides making connections, building friendships, and utilizing resources, all students are helping fund the rsos which make our campus so special and unique.
greek life is huge on campus. but, it is not unavoidable. if students are looking to get involved with greek life, they will be welcomed with open arms into one of our 60 fraternities or 37 sororities on campus. there are various types of fraternities and sororities for all types of students. the social fraternities and sororities provide the stereotypical "crazy" college experience. ranked as the #1 party school of 2015, we clearly do not mess around when we say crazy. for those involved in greek life, parties are frequent, during the week as well as over the weekends. 32% of the chapters on the university of illinois' campus are culturally based. these chapters allow students of similar cultural backgrounds, typically minority ethnicities, to connect with one another and grow a familial bond. there are also many religious based fraternities and sororities on campus - lutheran, catholic, christian, and jewish chapters. professional sororities and fraternities provide students with a resource to network and expand interest in their intended major. keep in mind that this is a university with a street commonly known to the student body as "frat row" and a recreational area commonly known as "frat park" for self-explanatory reasons. about 23% of the undergraduate population is involved in some way with greek life, but also remember that that means that 77% of the undergraduate population is not involved with greek life. if a student wants to get involved with greek life, there are plenty of opportunities here for them to do so. however, if a student chooses that they do not want to get involved, there is absolutely no pressure to do so and there are still plenty of other fun things to do on campus.
the university of illinois puts a large emphasis on the importance of student safety on campus. if a student feels unsafe to walk home at any hour of the night, even when the bus services are no longer running, students are encouraged to use the safewalks and saferides services. included in student fees, these services seem fairly self-explanatory. when calling the number conveniently located on the back of your student id, two student-athletes will walk you or a saferides bus will drive you home from your current location. near the university residence halls, security guards ensure student safety by patrolling the area all night long. there are also various free safety classes offered through the university and the local police department in order to help keep citizens safe. illini-alert is a free service through the school which will text message anyone signed up for messages, students, their families, etc., in any emergency situation whether it be weather related, robbery, or an attack. it should also be noted that the university does not promote underage drinking, but recognizes that it does happen. in order to ensure student safety, the university has a contract worked out with the local police department that if a student is to receive medical treatment for an issue related alcohol consumption, such as alcohol poisoning, they would not need to worry about getting in trouble with the law. this contract is to make sure that students do not hesitate to get the necessary help for their peers should they end up in an emergency situation. with that said, there are also many emergency telephones located around campus, indicated by a bright blue light for anyone to access in an emergency situation.