Willamette University
Hallmarks and Quirks
Things I'm Good At:
- A cappella. That's right. Lloyd Dobler's got nothin' on my serenading skills.
- Runners. I may be a small fish in the NCAA Division III, but I've got a knack for turning out cross country and track athletes who can compete in the big pond.
- I might be green, but it's not with envy. The Sustainability Council is always keeping me ahead of the climate curve with sustainability mini-grants.
My Top 5 Must-Haves:
- A Nalgene bottle. Bonus points if it's slathered in stickers because I like a little flair here and there.
- Rain boots. No one's promising sun and sand in rainy Oregon, but you'll learn to love puddle jumping. Pro tip: A good pair of boots should stand up to sloshing through the Chicken Fountain.
- A credit card. Oregon's tax-free, and mama's goin' shoppin'.
- Durable protest sign. Two truths: (1) When hanging with me, you will participate in a protest at some point. (2) You will need an umbrella for this protest. Why not combine the two?
- A PowerBar. Sure, you'll need some fuel after logging some serious hiking, rock-climbing, and skiing time. But you'll also probably end up wanting something to nosh on in your dorm when you run out of Kraft mac 'n cheese.
Why You Might Have Heard of Me:
- I churn out Fulbright fellows like it ain't no thang.
- Liz Heaston became the first woman to score in a college football game right here at WU.
- I was featured in the educational guide, Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About Colleges. 'Nuff said.
On a regular Saturday night, you can find me...
I'm probably hanging on campus at a themed dance or at The Ram across the street. Those themed dances are serious business—don't bother showing up without your most elaborate costume. If there's a flood of Biblical proportions raining down, I'd rather chill with my friends inside.
Favorite Hangouts:
- The Bistro (on campus). Bistro cookies are the stuff of legends.
- The Governor's Cup Coffee Roasters (downtown). There's no better place to pretend to be studying.
- The Montag (on campus). Too lazy to walk across campus for a Bistro cookie but not ready to buckle down and get to work? The Montag is your hot spot for Hot Pockets and other miscellaneous unhealthy snacks.
Quirks:
- If you're going to get lovey-dovey, better watch who you're kissing under the Star Trees. Rumor has it that whoever puckers up on this famous campus landmark ends up getting hitched.
- Yeah, the constant train whistle from across the street is annoying. But on the plus side, you've got a locomotive about a stone's throw from your dorm that can take you wherever you want to go.
- Oh, so it's your birthday? Better be prepared to get thrown in the Mill Stream by a bunch of your buddies. Nothing says "birthday" like a quick swim in the freezing stream that runs through campus, I guess.
Famous Alumni:
- Adam Messinger, Twitter CTO and tech extraordinaire, hearkens from good ol' WU.
- Bob Packwood and Lisa Murkowski, politicians
- Nick Symmonds, the 800-meter Olympian
- Lesil McGuire, Alaskan politician
- Jay Inslee, twenty-third governor of Washington