Whether entering as a first or fourth-year, many California Lutheran University students are quite aware of our school’s quirks and traditions.

From complaining about walking from one side of campus to another, to receiving a parking ticket when the school’s president knows there’s no parking to  watching a skateboarder take a fall, we can relate to one another through these examples.

However, some trends tend to stick out more than others. For instance, many have gotten lost in Swenson at one point. If people say they haven’t, that’s probably because they had a map or can magically see through walls.

Also, doesn’t Blackboard seem to always crash or not work right at the times needed most?  Paper deadlines, emails and registering for classes seem to happen when MyCLU isn’t running properly.

Admit it, every time people see President Kimball on campus they get a little starstruck. Sophomore Ana Wright admits being around the president on campus is like being around someone famous.

“I was working out at the gym one day and I looked over to my right to see none other than the president himself running on the treadmill next to me,” Wright said. “I felt like I was running next to a celebrity.”

You’re likely to know someone who plays a sport. What about those friends who complain that their day was busier than yours even though you know it wasn’t? Or your friend who claims he isn’t a hipster but really knows he is? And we can’t forget about those acquaintances who say they were destined for the Ivy League and UCs, but decided to stick with the small private college instead.

Wes Sullivan has been at CLU for seven and a half years, first as a student and now as an Admissions Counselor and Campus Experience Coordinator.

“You never have to do laundry because you can get a new free t-shirt every week. President Kimball has served you breakfast at midnight and you most likely have an outfit that is covered in white paint,” Sullivan said. “You also probably know your professor’s home and cell phone numbers and when you moved to the west side of campus, you stopped going to the Caf as often because it is ‘too far’.”

Also, why does everything  seem to close at dusk in Thousand Oaks? Gas stations, restaurants and other convenience stores are usually closed by 9 p.m. sharp. Most college kids don’t even go to bed until midnight. Anyone see the problem here?

When the weekend comes around, most “social gatherings” are usually shut down by 10 p.m. But if something noteworthy happens, most of us will have heard about it by Monday by way of the “Lu Vine.”

You know you go to CLU when those classmates of yours are always late for their 7:45 a.m. class and the professor can remember them by name. Granted, there are only 14 students in the class to begin with. So when one of you is missing from class, it’s pretty obvious.

Lately, it feels as if there are more construction site zones on campus than there are classrooms. Its completion date seems to always change, leaving students to wonder if it will ever open.

Junior Chad Odahara hopes the “Mija” lady from the cafeteria is still working there when it opens.

“She just warms your heart up every time she acknowledges you,” Odahara said. “I know most CLU students just love her, too.”

Has anyone figured out the squirrel and bunny theory on campus yet? You know, the one about the squirrels we see all day suddenly becoming bunnies at night. Or the Mount Clef ghost? Either that ghost really does exist or it’s the longest running joke CLU has pulled off.

With all the defining traits this school has, it has brought us closer as a student body. Many of us have a hard time resisting Jamba Juice when we pass it between classes. Or how about the fact that no one still really knows why we call  the statue of Martin Luther “Gumby”.

Since most of us come from different parts of the globe, we have had at least one heated argument about views and beliefs.

These themes we have at CLU define who we are. From the peculiar and odd trends to the hilarious ones, everyone can associate with at least one of them.

In regard to our small school setting, not many other universities have what we have. Some of us have made lifetime friends here and that may be the most popular trend found here on campus.

Evan Engel
Staff Writer
Published Oct. 2, 2013