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Activities, Traditions

Over the years, CCS has developed many traditions that members enjoy participating in. We're also constantly adding new ones we hope to continue in the future. Among them:

  • Forums: Forum is the name CCSers have given their weekly house meetings held on Sundays at 9pm. Everyone gets a chance to mix and mingle as well as discuss all of the events going on during the week. Forum is directed by the president and offers all members a chance to raise any necessary issues. It also gives everyone a chance to see each other before the start of the new week.

  • Munchies: Every Thursday night one member of CCS provides food and a movie for everyone to enjoy. Now with surround-sound and a new DVD player. Past favorites have included "High Fidelity", "Bend it Like Beckham", and "Good Morning Vietnam".

  • Firesides: Held on a semi-weekly basis, firesides offer members an opportunity to listen to a speaker and engage in interesting conversation with other members regarding a particular topic. Past topics have included student study abroad experiences, the oddities of studying Architecture, "Comics, Tragics and Metafunnies: Comic Books Since Maus", the Enthusiasts (information about a book being published by an English Professor), various volunteer opportunities (including Dance Marathon), and many others.

  • Finals Food: At the end of every quarter CCS orders excessive amounts of food for residents and members to enjoy. At this time, CCS's literary magazine, The Voice, is revealed in order to give everyone something fun to read (often highly amusing) during finals week. Food is, of course, quite yummy. :P

  • Annual Master's Banquet: Held Winter Quarter, the Master's Banquet is an evening where our very own CCS lounge is transformed into a banquet room with a theme voted on by CCS members. The event includes many of our fellows, a talent show by students (with piano performances, singing, dancing, and many other exciting acts), as well as amazing food. This past year's theme was Indian Culture. The room looked beautiful. See pictures for more information.

  • Community Service: CCS facilitates participation in a number of philanthropic activities. These activities range from weekly outings to Project JAM (a tutoring program at the after school center on Howard Street) to annual participation in the Special Olympics to activities with the Asian Youth Services (including a Haunted House and a Valentines Day Party). Volunteering together is both fun and rewarding.

  • Haunted House: Every year members build a haunted house in the basement of CCS. Children from Chicago’s Asian Youth Services come to enjoy a night of fright and fun. The event usually includes face-painting, arts and crafts, and, of course, the haunted house.

  • Cultural Outings: CCSers enjoy one another's company at outings to various cultural restaurants and events. Past events include Indian cuisine on Devon Street or Asian dinners in Chinatown. Other popular events include Asian Rock Night and the annual South Asian Student Alliance Encore Show.

  • Camping Trips: Fall and Spring quarter students enjoy a weekend trip to a camping site of their choice. Fun-filled van rides, s'mores, a camp fire, and the company of other CCSers makes for an enjoyable get-away. Past camping trip locations include Indiana, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, and Illinois State Beach Park.

  • Fellow Game Nights: A rather new tradition is CCS's quarterly Game Night where fellows, the master staff, and students join to play board games, eat snacks, and enjoy one another's company.

  • Small-House Spring Formal: Spring Quarter is often chock-full of fun things to do, but CCSers each year get out their suits and dresses for a second time for a Formal with a few other res colleges. Past venues have been the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago and a Semi-Formal at the Children's Museum on Navy Pier. Check out our photogenic charm in the photo sections!