I'm a little late to this party, but I'll be joining you all in Hyde Park in September. Can't wait to meet everyone. Anyone else going the same route as me and doing minimal prep? I can't imagine it could be too critical, especially given Chicago's unique take on basically everything.

All I've done this summer is read about fifty pages of Getting to Maybe, swim, and watch the third season of True Blood. I hope we're not doomed

I've read 1L and freaked myself out, as I was expecting more free-time than that.

Am I wrong in assuming those arriving a week or two before orientation are SOL for gym use until actual classes start? I'm desperately craving some basketball action..

I was wondering the same thing. My guess is that we have to wait until the official start of the fall quarter. I'm a pretty bad basketball player, but that's never stopped me from wanting to play.

..

Woo Trueblood! I think at least one apartment in Regents should have HBO/ Showtime and a good TV, and then we can all chip in and watch together.

I'll be in town next week, and I'm going to stop by Ratner and see what the deal is. I'll let you know.

Last year I got my student ID in August and was able to access all facilities right away.

I'm in town now. I went into Ratner last night just to survey the lay of the land; I'll get back to you when I speak to the manager.

No need for that. Just go to the student ID office in Regenstein (the big undergrad library) and get your ID; it takes 5 minutes, if that. I believe last year though I couldn't get it till Aug 15 or something, but call and double check.

anyone else here planning on reading that devil in the white city book chicago recommends? i got it from amazon the other day, and it looks pretty dry to say the least...

I bought it too, but I haven't started it yet. We'll see...

we had to read devil in the white city in high school and i was really bored by it. Basically every chapter switches between a) the planning and execution of the world's fair in chicago which was held in hyde park where the museum campus is now and b) the plot of a mass murderer who murdered in hyde park around that time. It's all true and it gives you a sense of the area but i didn't really like it.

If you're looking for a different one along the same lines, Compulsion is really good. It's about Leopold and Loeb (who went to U of C undergrad) and also takes place in Hyde Park.

If you're looking for a good summer read, I read The Help and Orange is the New Black and they were both great!

Wow, "boring" is the last thing I thought I'd hear people use to describe Devil in the White City. That book was great!

+1 I thought it was really good

i didn't HATE it, just not my favorite book i've ever read

After a tough decision between purchasing Devil in the White City or Madden '11 tomorrow...... I've decided Aaron Rodgers needs me.

good choice, sir. Go 49ers though...

Is reading Getting to Maybe really such a good idea? I guess I could go pick it up. Anyone find it helpful?

Yeah it was a great book. I might take breaks from class now to dig around Englewood looking for Holmes' victims.

Does anyone know when we'll get our schedules or book lists? I'd like to be able to shop around for cheaper books. I know the June letter said "late summer," but I thought maybe someone had heard something more concrete.

Went by the student ID office today, they said we can pick up our IDs on Monday.

Awesome. Are you all moved in, Emma?

Yeah, I'm getting there. My place is still kind of a mess, but should be finished unpacking this weekend. I'm stoked with my apartment.

My father is in town right now so I took him down to school today to look around. We ended up meeting Bob, the building manager, who gave us a pretty funny "behind the scenes" tour.

By the time you get back from NYC I'm going to be out of town for a couple weeks, but hopefully we can catch up again before you are too caught up in classes.

Does anyone know how tall the ceilings are in Regents park? I'm actually trying to figure out how tall the windows are.