Life, Actually

You’ve had a typically rigorous day at Chapman U—discussing set design with an Academy Award-nominated art director, exploring experimental economics with a Nobel laureate, studying climate change with a world-renowned earth systems scientist, or examining the literature of resistance with a well-known author—and perhaps now you’re ready to unwind.

Whether it’s on-campus or off, your type of fun is just waiting to be discovered. Something’s always happening on campus: free concerts in the Attallah Piazza, film screenings, visits from guest lecturers or entertainers, Homecoming festivities, the ever-popular Midnight Breakfast during finals week, the Spring Sizzle celebration, or the Social Justice Barbeque. And that barely scratches the surface. Looking for students who share your passion? Check out the huge list of on-campus clubs on page [40]. If you don’t see one that speaks to you, start your own!

Chapman University is right-sized, friendly, comfortable, and close to everything. Pacific beaches wait for you just 15 minutes away, and the nearby mountains lure skiers and snowboarders. Surf in the morning, ski that afternoon…can it get any better?

Yeah, it can.

Disneyland is only 12 minutes away, and many students buy season passes so they have a fun place to meet, eat, or chill. (Just think, students at other colleges have to make do with a mall.) And if you’re in the mood to just hang out, you’ll discover plenty of favorite haunts in Old Towne Orange, which is full of boutiques, neighborhood restaurants and specialty shops (including a Food Network award-winning cupcake bakery).

If you love it, we’ve got it. So what type of Chapman student are you?

Artiste

Art feeds the soul, and your soul feeds your art. First, treat your soul to the latest exhibition at the Guggenheim Gallery on campus, catch the next presentation in the Art Department’s Visual Arts Speaker Series featuring distinguished artists, graphic designers, and art historians, or just wander around campus and enjoy the art. The Escalette Permanent Collection features modern and contemporary artworks from recognized and emerging artists, and the Collection hangs in buildings all around campus.

You could also take in a dance recital, then feed your soul and body by grabbing some Einstein Bros. Bagels at the Student Union with friends from the Graphic Design Club, or maybe see what topic the Art History Club has slated for their next meeting. Hang out with kindred artistic spirits in the Arts Initiative Living Learning Community (LLC) in Sandhu Hall, and maybe sneak in a little time in the art room or dance studio on the LLC’s floor. Need to get off-campus for a while? Be inspired by the many galleries in Old Towne Orange, take a sketch pad to Downtown Disney for some epic people-watching (and good food), or indulge all your senses at one of Orange County’s frequent arts and music festivals.

Film Buff

This close to Hollywood, it’s hard not to love movies. On Chapman’s campus, it’s an easy addiction to indulge. Maybe you’ll take in an on-campus screening of a film by an international luminary (or a fellow student), or hit the campus Ticket Office for discount tickets to local AMC, Cinemark/Century, and Regal cinemas. See if the Film & Media Arts Living Learning Community in Sandhu Hall has a workshop or guest speaker on tap (we did mention how close Hollywood is, didn’t we?), or volunteer to help out with one of the campus film festivals that always attract attention. Shoot some footage of your own—maybe at Newport Beach while watching the men’s crew team practice on the bay or in quaint Old Towne Orange, where afterwards you can meet friends from one of Chapman’s film clubs at your favorite burger joint and finish the evening deconstructing the latest blockbuster.

Science Techie

After a hard day in the lab or lecture hall, maybe what you need is a little hands-on experimentation. So grab a friend or two and head to the beach--strictly for ecological research purposes, of course! Then take in a meeting of one of Chapman’s science-themed clubs, check out a lecture by a well-known expert in the Science Forum Series, or test out your latest theories on aerodynamics with an intramural game of Ultimate Frisbee. Call it a night after you and some pals from the Sci-Fi TV club catch a show or two on one of the TVs that are everywhere in the Argyros Forum Student Union.

Sports Fan

Human bodies were only meant to sit still for so long. You’ll run out of energy long before you run out of activities at Chapman U. Enjoy open hours at the Julia Argyros Fitness Center or swim a few laps at the Zee Allred Aquatics Center. Join an intramural sport like soccer, basketball, Ultimate Frisbee, or volleyball, or try a club sport like lacrosse, sailing, crew, cheerleading, or swimming. When you’re ready to watch someone else sweat for a while, take in one of the 18 Panther intercollegiate NCAA Division III sports, such as baseball, football, water polo, tennis, or track and field. Or pick up some discount tix at the campus Ticket Office for a Ducks NHL game or an Angels MLB baseball game. Still got energy to burn? Refuel at Jamba Juice in the Student Union, then head for the four-story Doti-Struppa Rock Wall to look at your day from a whole new perspective.

Music Lover

Music in your soul? Earphones a permanent part of your anatomy? You’ll love the environment in and around campus. After class, spend some time practicing in a musical instrument practice room at Henley Hall, complete with digital keyboards. Find similar spirits in one of the music-themed campus clubs. Don’t play? Don’t worry. You’re never far from a concert, starting with Fall Fest, Chapman’s free outdoor music festival featuring local indie and alt acts. Maybe you’ll catch an impromptu jam session in the Piazza or a leading-edge band at the Student Union. Chapman’s Conservatory of Music has a ridiculously full calendar of events from faculty recitals to choir performances, from orchestra concerts to percussion ensembles, and even a Picnic and Pops Concert under the stars. ChapmanRadio.com is always streaming something fresh, and their dance parties are not to be missed. (You might even land your own show on ChapmanRadio!)

Gamer

You know who you are. Itchy trigger fingers. Hyper-fast reflexes. Extreme multi-tasking capabilities. (You figured out how to level up while listening to that Econ lecture this morning, right?). Meet up with your buds at the Student Union for an energy-burning game on an Xbox Kinect or Wii gaming system, and satisfy those over-powering snack cravings at the World of Wings Café & Wingery. Later, see what the Anime Escape club is up to. Or head for the Cheverton Commons community center in Henley Hall for some TV or video games, and maybe shoot some pool or play a game of ping pong.

Bibliomaniac

“The act of writing is the act of discovering what you believe,” wrote David Hare. If words—your own or others’—are a pathway to discovery for you, get ready for the journey of your life! Feed your creative spirit by attending a poetry reading or dramatic performance on campus. Or lose yourself in the Leatherby Libraries for a while. Can you feel your own words burning inside you? Then polish up that short story or poem and submit it to The Elephant Tree, Chapman’s creative writing journal. (8,000 were distributed at the 2011 LA Times Festival of Books!) If that’s not your writing passion, try your hand at The Panther (Chapman’s student newspaper), PROWL (our online magazine), or Tabula Poetic (Chapman’s poetry project). Don’t forget to catch one of the true literati of our time speak as part of the lecture series sponsored by the John Fowles Center for Creative Writing. Then find your happy ending at a coffee shop on the Circle in town where there’s always someone with a notebook and a story to tell. (Maybe it’s you.)

Global Warrior

Whether you’re a true warrior for social change or a just a caring member of Earth’s big family, you can make a difference at Chapman. It starts with the simplest steps—like recycling centers in the residence halls—but it doesn’t stop there. Practice your language skills with the French or Chinese Culture clubs, perhaps. Participate in a sustainability discussion with your dorm-mates in the Greenhouse/Sustainability Living Learning Community (LLC), or talk diversity with friends from the Global Village LLC. Celebrate great-tasting food at the Orange International Street Fair in September or the International Food Festival on campus. Learn about labor-rights issues from the Fair Wear club, then shop in Old Towne Orange for clothes made by companies you can get behind. Volunteer for one of the many service-oriented organizations on campus who benefit people in developing countries or disadvantaged communities—and travel to an international project site to help out. Feel like staying closer to home? Join friends in the Chapman Day of Service helping out the local community. And don’t forget spring break—while other kids are squandering theirs on sunburns and embarrassing videos, you can participate in the Alternative Spring Break Program, traveling to exciting areas and engaging in much-needed service projects.

Future Tycoon

When you were six, did you hire door-to-door sales people to augment sales at your neighborhood lemonade stand? Still got a head for business, a flair for leadership, a knack for numbers? Grab some pals from the Business & Entrepreneurship Living Learning Community in Sandhu Hall and do a little networking with business faculty and local professionals over coffee. Every student at Chapman is automatically a member of the Associated Students, but take it a step farther and join the Student Government to advocate for students’ rights, needs, interests, and welfare, or help the University Programming Board plan fun campus events. Head up a meeting of the College Democrats or College Republicans (we all get along here on campus) or any of the industry-oriented or leadership clubs. Better yet, check out the Leadership and Service programs offered through Student Civic Engagement to enrich your experience, make new friends, do some good in the community…and, of course, boost your resume.

R U Greek 2?

Fun. Leadership. Fun. Service. Fun. Experience. Oh yeah, and Fun. The Greek life on Chapman is different than on other campuses. First off, sororities and fraternities don’t live in isolated houses, so you have the option to live in a Greek community in Glass Hall’s center wing. This blended Greek community fosters friendships and cooperation like nowhere else. Greek programs enhance your educational goals and let you stretch your leadership wings as you plan events, coordinate projects, manage public relations, or volunteer to work on service projects. (Last year, Chapman’s Greek community donated more than 6000 hours and $75,000 to philanthropic causes!). With almost a third of Chapman students in the Greek system, you’ll never find yourself without something to do and someone to do it with on the weekends, either!