Turning The Page: Researching the University of Chicago

Hello everyone, and sorry to have been away so long! I just got back from an 18 day trip to the Dominican Republic, an incredible experience with an incredible group of people that I will never ever forget. I am taking this week to get some rest and relaxation, catch up with family, and do some last minute preparation before heading out again for my next big event of the summer with ILC!

Chicago Bound!

The textbook for my class!

I just got my textbook a few days ago, and from what I have  read so far can already tell that I absolutely love Developmental Psychology and will enjoy this course immensely! (I'm sure you can sense my excitement by the number of exclamation points in this post so far ... !!!). I have also taken some time to finish up the research I started before I left about the University of Chicago. So buckle up for a long post ... here's what I have found:

On October 1st, 1892, the University of Chicago opened the doors to its Hyde Park campus in The Windy City to hold its first ever classes. Since then, UChicago has grown into a world renowned academic institution with programs and centers all over the globe. 

The University of Chicago was originally founded in 1890 with the help of what in today's currency would be equivalent to a 16 million dollar contribution from John D. Rockefeller, a well known philanthropist of the industrial era. Two of the core values of the university, which are emphasized greatly on the university's website, are 

Building where the first
UChicago classes were held!

1) inquiry that challenges conventional ideas and thinking

2) inclusiveness that transcends gender, race, and religious divisions

The school's history and current policies as well as the alumni I have spoken to and read about support these values steadfastly. For example, even the school's earliest charter emphasized both equal opportunities for men and women and nonsectarianism. This tradition of tolerance and equality can still be seen in the university's strong nondiscrimination statement. UChicago also has a long-standing tradition of intensive inquiry and interdisciplinary learning, which has lead to high academic achievement, profound discoveries, and well-rounded students who are critical thinkers. While talking to Chicago alumni at the ILC Chicago dinner, I got the sense that questioning was a big part of the student culture. Although it could be challenging or tiresome to constantly debate and defend your beliefs, it was a life changing experience to think so deeply and thoroughly about everything.

Katherine Dunham!

One graduate from the University of Chicago that I admire and who exemplifies the values of the university is Katherine Dunham, an African American woman who earned a PhB in psychology from UChicago in 1936. She is known for blending anthropology and dance in her studies of  'performative anthropology' which revolutionized both fields. She was one of the first African Americans to earn a degree in anthropology, and her interdisciplinary blend of academia and arts is especially inspiring to me as someone who loves both. 

Subramanyan Chandrasekhar, Peace Prize winner for
Physics in 1983, was a faculty member at UChicago!

The University of Chicago also has a long history of academic excellence. According to a list generated by Wikipedia, there are 89 Nobel Laureates associated with UChicago as faculty, alumni, students, researchers, and other affiliations. While these awardees span many different academic fields, the most common areas are Economics, Physics, Chemistry, and Physiology and Medicine. President Barack Obama is included in this list, due to his time spent as a professor and lecturer at the University, for his Nobel Peace Prize. Besides Nobel prizes, many individuals with connections to the University have won national awards or other top honors in their fields. Although I haven't yet decided what I want to major in, I could envision myself in the UChicago Physics or Anthropology departments, or perhaps in some sort of interdisciplinary major such as the History, Philosophy, and Social Studies of Science and Medicine.

Not only is the campus a top academic institution, it also has gorgeous architecture and campus monuments, a thriving campus culture, and easy access to the bustling city of Chicago. The architecture ranges from old English-Gothic style buildings to more modern designs, and includes contributions from numerous famous architects including Frank Lloyd Wright. Some of the well-known monuments are Cobb Gate, a classic pass-through for students, Rockefeller Memorial Chapel, a spiritual space and performance venue, and Stagg Field, which supports numerous different sports. There are also numerous cafes, galleries, and museums on campus. I am thrilled to get the chance to experience the campus first hand this summer. See you in a handful of days, Chicago! (A quick shout-out to Wikipedia and many many pages of the UChicago website, as well as my various image sources, for making this post possible.)

Stagg Field!

Rockefeller Memorial Chapel!

Cobb Gate!