Nobel inspires different reactions from everyone on campus. Some people like it for the intellectual powerhouses it brings to campus, others like it for introducing them to new topics that they would not have explored without it, and some people just like it for the chance to sleep in on a weekday.

Either way, Nobel is basically akin to a beloved holiday here, and the fact that people love it for so many different reasons is at the heart of why it is so important to our philosophy as a school. Nobel doesn’t just discuss the merits of one particular issue, it finds a topic and explores every single possible facet of that issue.

For example, last year, the theme was “The Universe at its Limits.” It would be undertstandable to assume that the only people speaking, and listening for that matter, were going to be physics majors and the like.

However, the conference included economists, philosophers, and even a Catholic Priest. Instead of having a decidedly uniform list of speakers, it included a wealth of disiplines to explore each part of the issue.

From musical and theatrical performances to special events on campus, Nobel is a time to explore parts of life that you might have not otherwise explored. It could be by attending a lecture of a different academic discipline than you normally do or going to a new music performance on campus.

Think of the two day break as a miniature J-term, and embrace all of the chaos and wonder that it has to offer.

As this joyous academic holiday approaches us, don’t just waste it on sleeping in, apply yourself to the community you live in!

-David Roland