Month: September 2024

Why I Believe the Pentacrest is Perfect

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Anyone who knows me well knows that I have an obsession with desire paths. If you don’t know what that is (none of my friends here did until I told them), Merriam-Webster defines a desire path as “an unplanned route or path (such as one worn into a grassy surface by repeated foot traffic) that is used by pedestrians in preference to or in the absence of a designated alternative (such as a paved pathway).” If you want to dive deeper, here’s a great article by The Guardian. Anyways, as weird as it sounds, when I first arrived on campus, I was excited to stumble upon desire paths everywhere I went since college campuses are notorious for them. While I did encounter a few (usually where sidewalks needed to be wider to accommodate larger friend groups), I was pleasantly surprised to find that the University of Iowa’s Pentacrest has man-made desire paths! What I mean by this is that where it would be likely for a desire path to be formed, there are already paved walkways. It’s almost as if they were designed with the natural flow of human movement in mind. For this reason, I believe the Pentacrest is absolutely perfect! Thanks for letting me geek out for a minute! -Simran  

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A Week to Remember: On Iowa! Top 5 Moments

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First post!!!!!!

I can’t say enough how much I LOVED On Iowa! week. My Google Calendar was packed with events from friendship bracelet-making parties to a drag show to a farmers market adventure. The University of Iowa orientation team really thought of it all when it came to events anyone and everyone could find enjoyment in. While I attended 26 different events this week, here are my top 5:

  1. Kickoff at Kinnick

    The walk over from the East to West side was gruesome in the heat, but it was well worth it for the time I spent on THE Kinnick turf (like where they play football)! During this Hawkeye football boot camp, we learned cheers and songs and even did our first wave to the children’s hospital (it was dark out, but we could see their flashlights pressed against the windows). There was a fireworks show and lots of food!

  2. Poster Sale 



    I desperately needed more posters for my wall since I only brought three, so this sale in Hubbard Park came at the perfect time! There were a variety of posters that could suit anyone’s interests (sports, movies, music, and more). They also came in different sizes, which is perfect for filling in the gaps on your poster wall. I was able to grab a Lana Del Rey, Picasso, and Tame Impala poster, all of which complement the posters I already had.

  3. Friendship Bracelet Making Party


    This was a MUST for any Swiftie or craft enthusiast. I think I sat there for a total of three hours making both bracelets and friends. I made a Hawkeye-themed bracelet for each of my roommates so we could match at football games. There was also a surprise: felt to make name pennants for our dorms! I’m not the most artistic person, but I was able to successfully make a cute one (well, at least it’s pretty from a distance).

  4. Drag Show

    The drag show was SO much fun! My friends and I were able to stand right up to the stage, which made the night even more exciting. There were three queens and a king who each performed two songs. There was even a bonus performance where audience members were brought on stage to dance their hearts out to HOT TO GO! by Chappell Roan. 

  5. Silent Disco



    I had NEVER gone to a silent disco before this night, and let me tell you that I will DEFINITELY be going again (especially if Iowa hosts it)! The line to get in was huge, but luckily, we got there 40 minutes early and were some of the first people in. We had the option to switch between a green, red, and blue channel. I personally switched between green and blue, but red also had a few bops that I stayed for. I think I heard HOT TO GO! by Chappell Roan at least five times throughout the night, and I am not complaining!

I hope everyone had just as much fun as me during On Iowa! week and is settling into their classes!
-Simran 

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