The School Spirit, Social Scene & Fitting In

You’re now a Boilermaker, so check out the various Purdue traditions, including the official fight song ‘Hail Purdue’, school colours, mascots, etc.  Read about the myths & legends associated with the University

Check out other ‘can’t-miss traditions for new Boilermakers’ that students have shared, or traditions and oddities.  You can find ‘150 things to Love About Purdue’, in the Purdue Alumnus newletter.

When attending Purdue football games or other sporting activities, be prepared in advance for the various traditions and jargon, you’ll encounter.

Buy the Boarding Pass: If you’re a Purdue sports fan, on or around the beginning of June, boarding passes will become available for new students! Boarding pass will gain you season tickets to Men’s Football as well as access to tickets to Men’s Basketball, Women’s Basketball and Women’s Volleyball! Watch for the email from Purdue Athletics and/or purchase them by making an online ticket account with your student ID!

For some, college is the easiest time they’ve ever had making friends – you’re surrounded by thousands of people who are the same age as you and generally going through similar life experiences. However, for the same reasons, college can be a very difficult and isolating time for others. While I can’t tell you exactly how to find and make friends, or guarantee that this will get you socialized, I can at the very least offer some tips on increasing your chances.

Go to ISS ‘meet & greets’ and other events, to meet fellow students.  Socializing is important and will greatly improve your Purdue experience.   Your faculty will usually offer some monthly event and check out Purdue Today for events held around campus. 

u/nuck_forte_dame on the Purdue sub-reddit says- “Start out by accepting every invitation you get and go. People tend to like and invite people who aren’t flaky. Too many “I can’t make it” excuses and eventually they’ll stop inviting you. Also accept the invitation regardless of if you like them or not, and also invite them if you like them or not. This is how networking works- you will get to meet new people via these people. You may also get to like someone after an initial personality clash. You want to maximize exposure to new people. Cast a wide net. When you invite make sure to tell people they are encouraged to bring more people with them. Basically grow the network. Meet tons of people through people. Then once your circle is really big, you pick the people you really mesh well with and focus on them. Invite them alone to some things and basically build a core group. Typically freshmen year you’ve got lots of friends and big networks but those networks will begin to split up into multiple core groups as people figure out who they get along with best.”

Join clubs– At BGR, there will be a huge fair with hundreds of stalls of different clubs, recruiting like-minded new members. Get involved, and attend a few call-outs. A callout is usually an informational or introductory meeting sponsored by a student club or organization to gain new members. If you are interested in joining a particular interest group, club, or organization attending a callout is a great way to get information. If you like what you see in the first callout, continue with the club as they hold various activities throughout the year. Boilerlink provides information on various student organizations and events on campus.  You can search for specific ethnic/cultural organizations, or by graduate and professional student organizations, or by specific athletic or hobby interest, or in many other ways, to find what you interest you and give you the opportunity to make connections. SAO (Student Activities and Organizations) provides information on various organizations and events happening around campus and there’s even an app you can add to your phone so you can easily find out what’s going on.

Join more clubs at first than you think you can handle. You can always drop out later if you have time constraints. This way, you have a choice of clubs to which to commit to for the year, rather than joining only one or two and then forcing yourself to continue even if you don’t particularly like them.

This is the most common advice given to make friends, and for good reason. Joining a club that fits your personal interests or professional pursuits is a fantastic way to get to know people and make friends. You’ll (at least usually) see the same people for at least an hour every week, and are guaranteed to have at least one thing in common – being in the club itself. If the club is more casual, or activity-based, then they may have a lot of “fun” outings and events outside of the normal club meetings. If the organization is more professional or impact-based, then there’s likely to be a committee or group of people you’re working with to accomplish your goals that you’ll get to know well. For more information on clubs, see the Clubs and Student Organizations section of the wiki.

Of course, we can’t forget what the true focus of college really is – academics. In your major classes, you’re likely to have at least one thing in common (your major). In electives, you may find others with common interests. In other required courses, well, you’re going through that suffering together. As much as lab assignments and group projects can be hell, they can also be a great chance to make some friends in your major or with others who share similar academic interests. Talk or get together for lunch, with students in your lab, class, LC etc as their advice and guidance is precious and will save you a lot of time in the long run.

As freshmen who live in dorms with not only room-mates but also hundreds of other students on your floor and in your dorm, it is a great opportunity to meet people you can get along with. My best advice would be to always leave your dorm door open (especially during the first few weeks of college/the semester), and to attend dorm events and floor activities, no matter how tacky or corny they may sound. Being part of a Learning Community also helps, as you will be taking courses and often staying in the same residences, so take advantage and form new friendships this way.

It can be helpful to take advantage of “early” times. For example, “early” in your time at Purdue, most students go through BGR – everyone is looking to make friends during BGR and during their first few weeks in college. Similarly, “early” in the semester is a great time to meet new people in classes and join new clubs. While it’s absolutely possible and common to develop meaningful friendships later in your time at college or later in the semester, leveraging “early” opportunities can be helpful if you’re struggling.

You can also join the team sport programs at Purdue- Here are the current club team sports options.

The various churches, mosques, temple and other religious centers will offer events during Welcome week and throughout the year.  Check around what is offered on campus.

Purdue has several cultural centers that you should check out as they are open to everyone, not just members of that specific culture.  They host a variety of activities and events throughout the year and offer a great place to learn new things and meet new people. 

Women in Engineering programming is open to all races, genders, and backgrounds, and host interesting events throughout the year.

Obviously fraternities, sororities, and co-ops aren’t for everyone. However, if you think this might be your thing, then it’s always worth exploring. Joining a house of many students who share your similar experiences, and who you typically live with, is a great way to make friends (even if some people say you’re “paying for them”).

As a final word, I just want to reiterate the point I made above – it can be really hard to make friends in college, even if you’re doing everything right. You’re not alone in this and it’s not an uncommon experience. Even if you go through all of college without making any new friends, that doesn’t mean that you’re unable to make them – it just means you haven’t yet found your people. If you’re struggling socially, be sure to take care of your mental health, including seeking professional help if needed.

GRIT™ is probably the most memed school spirit there is. Chances are, as soon as you start complaining about stress or grades or classes sucking, someone sooner or later, will refer to Grit!…. although Purdue Grit has allegedly existed since decades, it got real attention when Purdue University President Mitch Daniels made these remarks during the May 2019 spring graduation (commencement) ceremonies

“For the last few years, the air has been filled with studies, surveys, and books reporting a growing “fragility” among American young people, a decreasing capability to handle even modest stress or setbacks without seeking some sort of adult assistance…It seems just yesterday when, working in the business that brought the world the first highly safe and effective antidepressant, I took part in a huge worldwide effort to destigmatize depression, schizophrenia, and related illnesses. We must and will do all we can…At other places, but I’m happy to say not yet at Purdue, students have demanded to be kept “safe” from speech, that is, mere words, that challenge or discomfit them….Referring to such young people, someone has coined the distasteful but descriptive term “snowflakes.”…I don’t pretend to know what’s causing the phenomenon. I do know that in the world you’re about to enter, emotional strength, in the form people are now terming “resilience” or “grit,” will be essential for you to realize the enormous potential we see in you…I’m tempted to call Roget’s Thesaurus and let them know the antonym of “snowflake” is “Boilermaker.” Just as physical strength is built through hard exercise, emotional fortitude is enhanced by adversity and conflict. Every great achievement requires a confrontation with stress, a conquest of fear. Our engineers know, there is no traction without friction….Don’t misunderstand this, but I wish for you many such tough moments. You can easily avoid them; just lead a safely inconsequential life: run no risks, confront no injustice, accept no roles of leadership. But that’s not the path we expect you to choose…..You showed the quality of grit before you arrived here. That’s why we admitted you. I hope that your days here, with a faculty that pushed and stretched you…built your reserves of resilience. Now take the strength you brought here, and the new strength I trust you built here, into a world where the need and, therefore, the opportunities, for real leadership are enormous. Seek out the hard jobs and the toughest problems.”

Ever since then, persevering through the suck of heavy STEM classes has become the dark humour and the steam power that drives Boilermakers!

(PS there is no trademark, its just another meme!)

Purdue University offers students an array of activities and entertainment options. Watch the bulletins around campus and the school newspaper (Purdue Exponent) to see what’s happening on campus and in the community.

Sport & Fitness
For students interested in maintaining their physical fitness while at Purdue, the Recreational Sports Center (www.purdue.edu/recsports), or “Co-Rec,” is free for exchange students. Amenities include an Aquatic Center, cardiovascular and weight training equipment, basketball, racquetball, handball, in-line hockey, wallyball, and soccer courts, as well as outdoor playing fields for soccer, softball, or Ultimate Frisbee. Students can also enjoy the tennis and jogging facilities. If students would rather compete than exercise, the Purdue Recreational Sports Center sponsors several club sports teams and organizes athletic tournaments every semester. See more on the website for the various club sports at Purdue

Spectator Sports
Because Purdue University is a member of the Big 10 Athletic Conference, you will have many opportunities to attend various athletic events throughout the academic year. In the fall semester, American football, volleyball, soccer, tennis, cross-country, and golf competitions take place. The spring semester includes basketball, swimming and diving, track and field, baseball, and wrestling. Most events are free, but students are charged a nominal fee to see football, basketball, and volleyball games. During the fall, Football Saturdays are always festive and boisterous affairs. Gather your new Purdue friends and head to Ross-Ade Stadium to watch the game and hear the All-American Marching Band! If you are interested, apply for the Purdue Passport which gives you access to these games.

Performing Arts
Purdue Convocations brings world class performers to Purdue. Musicals, rock concerts, comedy, opera, symphony, and dance performances are
regularly presented at the 6,000-seat Elliot Hall of Music in the heart of the Purdue campus. Chamber orchestra, jazz, and individual performances are
presented in the 2,000-seat Loeb Theater. Students are eligible for discounted student prices to any performance as well as ticket packages. Check out the Purdue Convocations website.
In addition, Purdue’s Theatre Department stages several theatrical student/faculty productions every season in the state-of-the-art facilities at the Pao Hall for Visual and Performing Arts. Students can purchase season tickets or individual tickets at discounted prices. Theatre productions also need volunteers; if you are interested, inquire at the Theatre Department at theatre@purdue.edu or by calling (765) 494-3074.

Festivals and Events
There are also special events and festivals that take place at Purdue and in the Greater Lafayette area every semester. The fall semester also includes fun and interesting events such as Global Fest (near campus at the Morton Community Center) during early September’s Labor Day weekend, and the Purdue Homecoming Celebration and the Feast of the Hunter’s Moon at Fort Ouiatenon in October. During the spring, Purdue’s Spring Fest and the
International Food Bazaar, both in April, are highly anticipated events. The International Center (IC) in the Purdue campus also organizes several social events throughout the semester. Visit the IC website at: www.intlctr.org. More information on the arts and music scene in the Lafayette area can be found here.

The general consensus of Boilermakers is that Purdue has as much social life as you seek out. Most complain about Purdue not having a social life because all they do is go to class and sit in their dorms. If you want to get out and meet people and mingle there are more than enough opportunities. While parties are not a huge presence on campus, like they reportedly are at UIUC, there are parties & events going on around campus every weekend, put on by different organizations. Sure, campuses that are surrounded by bustling cities are going to have a higher quantity and larger diversity of events, but by no means is Purdue “dead” at night; it’s still a Big10 school after all, and knows how to let its hair down. While it might take some time to “find your people” once you arrive on campus, rest assured that there’s a place for every Boilermaker, and if you’re willing to put yourself out there, you’ll find what you’re looking for.

Purdue socially has something for everyone. If you want to go out and party, there is always a party going on, if you want just be left alone and work no one will judge you.

You can read further on this post on Purdue’s social scene.

So along with the fun things, I have to mention this- being an International student, you have to be much more careful in the US in order not to jeopardise your status as a F-1 student.

Drinking age is 21. It is not just illegal to drink when you’re under 21, it is also illegal to possess alcohol (e.g. keep it in your room, hold it for someone), to transport alcohol (e.g. drive it in your car, even if someone else in the car is 21), or to attempt to purchase alcohol. Purdue Housing takes this very very seriously- do NOT keep or consume any alcohol inside the dorms!

Some of your classmates younger than 21 may be using fake ID’s, to get into bars and clubs. You should not use fake ID’s.  That is a criminal offence. By the same token, do not use other people’s ID’s or social security numbers for any reason.

Even if you are of age and can legally consume alcohol, you must remember that public intoxication and drunk driving are criminal offences in all states. If you decide to drink, drink in moderation. Also remember that in many places it is a criminal offence to carry an open container (like an open beer bottle) inside the passenger compartment of the car you are driving.

If you are pulled over by the police and charged with a driving while under the influence of alcohol (DUI), your visa will likely be revoked immediately by the U.S. State Department. If your visa is revoked, you will not be able to leave the country and come back in without getting a new visa from your home country. You will also have to go through a lengthy criminal process and face fines in excess of $2500.

There are minimum age requirements for buying alcohol or cigarettes. If you meet the age requirement, do not buy alcohol or cigarette for your younger friends and do not lend your ID’s to anybody for this purpose (or for any other purpose). Any “friend” who asks you to do that is not your friend. That is again a criminal offence.

Using drugs is a crime under federal and Indiana state laws. Federal regulations continue to forbid cannabis possession and its transportation across state borders. Nonetheless, 24 states across the country, including three of Indiana’s neighbouring states Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois, have relaxed their stance and legalized cannabis. Illinois is a mere hour’s drive away- but don’t make the mistake of being tempted to bring some over. While it may legal to use marijuana in these states it is illegal to use or possess marijuana in Indiana. If you are charged and convicted of possessing or smoking marijuana, your visa is likely to be revoked and you would need to reapply for a new visa, which could take up to six months to accomplish.

Purdue is required by regulation to report, within 21 days, “any disciplinary action taken by the school against the student as a result of the student being convicted of a crime.” This reporting action by itself does not automatically result in a termination of status. However, the information will be available to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, who will determine whether additional action is warranted. Additionally, if the disciplinary action is suspension or expulsion, this may result in a loss of status for not maintaining full-time enrolment.

Stalking or harassing others, threatening behaviour and causing bodily harm are all other forms of unlawful activities that may affect your status and stay in the U.S.

For any criminal offence, aside from facing criminal penalties, you run the risk of losing your F-1 visa and may also be deported. So don’t be stupid!