Saint Norbert College

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Hallmarks and Quirks

Things I'm Good At:

Generally being awesome. I've been ranked one of the top five best private liberal arts colleges in the Midwest for the past fifteen years by U.S. News & World Report, and the Princeton Review says that I'm one of the "Best in the Midwest." Not bad.
Ice hockey. If I'm not the national champ, I'm the runner-up. My football team is pretty good, too.
Partnering up with Bellin College to make sure that my nursing students get plenty of hands-on experience. So, who wants to dissect a cadaver? Anyone…?
Student-teacher interactions. I place a lot of emphasis on making sure that my students and faculty get to know each other. You'll often end up Facebook friends with your favorite professors…but not in a creepy way.

My Top 5 Must-Haves:

A car. I'll be honest with you: there's not a lot to do in De Pere, and the public transport system is practically nonexistent. When you start to go stir-crazy (and you will), you're going to want a fast way out.
Winter gear. A heavy coat, a hat, a scarf, gloves, boots, socks, boot socks, those little gel pouches that you stick in your pockets to keep your fingers warm…trust me, you will not regret bringing any of it.
A laptop. There are computers stashed around campus, but not enough to handle the end-of-semester glut. Also, a laptop means Netflix, and Netflix means friends.
A spare sweatshirt or cardigan. My old buildings can be, um, unpredictable when it comes to temperatures.
Microwavable food. The extreme(ly cold and awful) winter weather can shut down the cafeteria, so make sure that your ramen stash is topped up.

Why You Might Have Heard of Me:

I'm the only Norbertine-affiliated college in the world. I used to be run by the Norbertines full-time, but they turned me over to secular leadership back in the '70s. They still have an abbey about fifteen minutes away, though, and they visit me all the time to study, teach, or just hang out.
I've been on a first-name basis with the Green Bay Packers since 1958 when I first started letting them hold their training camps on my campus. We've got the longest-running relationship between a team and a school in the country. Sometimes, I even let them borrow my cheerleaders for their games.

On a regular Saturday night, you can find me...

I'm probably socializing in some way. Maybe I'm squashed up on my couch with some chips watching a Supernatural marathon, or maybe I'm in the dorm lounge playing Cards Against Humanity. I might also be at a house party getting silly. Whatever I'm doing on Saturday night, you can bet that I'm with some great people.

Favorite Hangouts:

Luna Café. It's basically the best thing ever, with its creaky wooden floors and tasty treats. Ask your professor nicely and they'll even hold class there.
Phil's. Located in the Campus Center, Phil's is your go-to place for all kinds of instant, deep-fried goodness. The Campus Center lounge, which is right next door, usually runs movies, game nights, and live entertainment.
Erb's and Gerb's. This place can fix you up a tasty sub in a rush.
De Pere Cinema Café. They let you re-watch your favorite new releases on the big screen for three dollars—or two, if you catch the Tuesday matinee—while munching on pizzas, wings, and cheesy pretzels. It's like if a pizza joint and a movie theatre had a baby. A really cheap baby.

Quirks:

My gen ed program lasts all four years. The Upper Biennium courses can't be completed until you're an upperclassman, so you're going to find yourself scrambling to finish general courses even in your last semester of college.
While I have lots of Greek life, I also have a little thing I like to call an independent social group. It's basically a fraternity or sorority that only exists on my campus. The social groups are Greek life plus a chill pill or two—all of the fun, but none of the expensive national dues or stressful rush weeks.
A few years ago, there was an albino squirrel living on campus, which I thought was pretty darn cool. Tragically, "Snowy" was squashed by a truck in 2009. He was buried with full honors and immortalized in the form of a white chocolate and hazelnut coffee concoction available at Ed's Cafe. There's even a picture of him next to the cash register. RIP, Snowy. I miss you, man.

Famous Alumni:

Chris Ayers, Hollywood cartoonist and concept artist
Tadashi Yamamoto, founder of the Japan Center for International Exchange and the Shimoda Conference
Don Schneider, philanthropist and president of Schneider National, Inc.
Joe LaFleur, NFL player
N. Patrick Crooks, Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice