It’s homecoming week!! And so, I’ve decided this article will be where I spill my undying love for the University of Kansas. Most people hear “Kansas” and assume we’re just a bunch of farmers in the middle of nowhere, doing boring stuff at a boring school. I probably thought that myself before I first visited. But the truth is, once you step foot in Lawrence, there’s no going back. The very first time I ever visited, I knew that KU had my heart. I’m sure you hear it from every student that goes here, but I mean it when I say that Lawrence is truly a special place. The energy is so contagious, it’s impossible not to say “rock chalk” as soon as you step foot on Jayhawk Boulevard. So, in honor of homecoming, here are a few of my absolute favorite things about KU.
- The Campus
Before I went to college, I toured five to six colleges and although many campuses are beautiful, no campus will ever compare to mine. Most of the buildings have been here a looong time. But you would never know! They’re intact, well-kept, and still as beautiful as they were 60 years ago. Every day that I walk through campus, it feels like I’m in a movie. That’s because my campus is the picture-perfect type that you only really see on screen. And for the record, it’s one that looks ✨stunning✨ during every season.
- Jayhawk Spirit
You don’t just feel it on campus. All throughout Lawrence, you can feel that the people here love KU just as much as you do. Kansas is the only school in the U.S. with the Jayhawk mascot, which brings a feeling of exclusivity—only KU students and alumni can claim the Jayhawk as theirs. I mean, how special is that? As soon as you become a Hawk, you’re warmly welcomed into a legacy. A group of students that walked the same campus that you do, roots for the same team, and calls Lawrence home. If there is anything I can tell you about KU, it’s that Jayhawks love being Jayhawks. We’ve all got each other’s backs, we all love who we are and we love each other.
- Tradition
As mentioned before, I’ve visited quite a few college campuses. Every college has a tradition or two, but KU has more than I can count. From the Rock Chalk chant to the Campanile bells, almost everything we do has been done by students here for a long, long time. Once again, making you feel that certain level of exclusivity—seeing thousands of students come together to participate in traditions together can only be described as magical.
- Basketball
Duh. Even if you’re not a sports person, if you go to KU, you’re at least a basketball person. I mean, we basically invented it, and then proceeded to be the best at it for decades. Stepping foot in Allen Fieldhouse is like going back in time—you can feel the energy of not only 16,300 spectators, but everyone who has stepped foot in the Fieldhouse before. Kansas basketball is notorious for building stellar college athletes and sending multiple players to the NBA, so even after you leave KU you can still watch your Jayhawks thrive in the sport of basketball for years and years.
The energy. The feeling. The vibes, if you will. Something about the University of Kansas just radiates positivity, love and hope. Each day begins with Campanile bells and ends with a golden sunset flooding the valley. What more could you possibly ask for? There truly never is a bad day in Lawrence. That being said, happy Homecoming Week, and rock chalk!