{"id":75213,"date":"2026-08-14T10:39:56","date_gmt":"2026-08-14T14:39:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/?p=75213"},"modified":"2026-08-14T16:12:13","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T20:12:13","slug":"161-things-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/161-things-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"The ‘161 Things Every Cornellian Should Do’\u2014Updated for 2026!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For the University’s 161st anniversary year, we revisited the iconic list of Big Red experiences. How many of these have you done?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Cornellians<\/em> staff<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Illustration by Ashley Osburn<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As most Cornellians know, there are 161 steps to the top of McGraw Tower. More than three decades ago\u2014in the March 1995 issue, to be exact\u2014Cornell Alumni Magazine<\/em> riffed on that iconic factoid to conceive a list of activities that its editors deemed essential to the Big Red student experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTruth Number One: There is no such thing as a typical Cornellian,\u201d the story began. \u201cTruth Number Two: There is no such thing as a typical Cornell experience. Truth Number Three: There are at least 161 things all students should do while they\u2019re at Cornell.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The print magazine\u2014which ceased publication in mid-2021 after more than a century, and of which Cornellians<\/em> is the successor\u2014went on to chronicle eight-score-and-one activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They range from the obvious (\u201cLearn the first two verses of the \u2018Alma Mater\u2019\u201d) to the silly (\u201cTry to go a whole semester without doing laundry\u201d) to the lightly profound (\u201cGo to a service for a religion you know nothing about\u201d).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In many ways, the list (you can download a PDF here<\/a>) is timeless; in others\u2014say, Number 79, \u201cLearn how to use the Internet\u201d\u2014it\u2019s charmingly dated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In many ways, the original list is timeless; in others\u2014say, Number 79, \u201cLearn how to use the Internet\u201d\u2014it\u2019s charmingly dated.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Coming out in a more anything-goes era, there are a few things that are unsanctioned or even potentially hazardous (traying down the Slope; skinny-dipping in a gorge; overindulgence in adult beverages), but which made the list with a wink and a nod. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And there are poignant references to now-departed Big Red icons, including President Frank H.T. Rhodes, beloved poetry professor Archie Ammons, and Bob Petrillose, legendary proprietor of the Hot Truck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A decade after CAM<\/em> published its list, the Daily Sun<\/em> came out with its own version<\/a>. It has been updated periodically\u2014most recently in spring 2025\u2014and features a number of items that are, shall we say, a tad less safe for work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(In fact, it gets right out front with that: Number 1 prescribes carnal congress in the library stacks.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To mark the University\u2019s sesquicentennial in 2015, CAM<\/em> revisited its then-20-year-old list, offering an updated version<\/a> by contributing editor Brad Herzog \u201990.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A decade after CAM<\/em> published its list, the Daily Sun<\/em> came out with its own version\u2014which features a number of items that are, shall we say, a tad less safe for work.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Among its notable additions: \u201cSing \u2018Puff the Magic Dragon\u2019 in front of the house (343 State St.) where it was written\u201d; \u201cBinge watch every episode of \u2018The Office\u2019 in which Andy Bernard mentions Cornell\u201d; and \u201cSpend a day without using your cell phone. Wonder how your parents ever did it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now here we are in 2026, which happens to be the 161st anniversary of Cornell\u2019s founding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the newest crop of students arriving on the Hill\u2014and Cornellians<\/em> approaching its own five-year anniversary this fall\u2014we decided the time was right to revisit the 161 Things list, especially after the University received such enthusiastic responses to its 2026 Charter Day queries on Facebook<\/a> and LinkedIn<\/a> seeking suggestions for updating it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following contains elements of the versions that preceded it, along with numerous newcomers\u2014some gleaned from another recent call-out to alumni. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And for the first time\u2014in part, to help us get our minds around the list\u2019s sheer volume\u2014we divided the experiences into categories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How many of these did you do as a student? What essential experiences do you think are missing? Let us know in the comments below!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Traditions<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\n

1.<\/strong> Meet Touchdown the Bear, in each of his outfits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2.<\/strong> Study in the A.D. White Reading Room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3.<\/strong> Attend the Dragon Day parade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4.<\/strong> Miss the Dragon Day parade because you have a class\u2014or better yet, an exam\u2014at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. <\/strong>Take the Wines class.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"two-color<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

6. <\/strong>Chalk messages on the sidewalk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. <\/strong>Have the time of your life\u2014safely!\u2014on Slope Day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. <\/strong>Take an exam in Barton Hall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. <\/strong>Look up an old photo of Davy Hoy and T. F. (“Tee Fee”) Crane. Finally figure out who you\u2019ve been giving your regards to all this time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10. <\/strong>Request a song to be played by the Chimes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

11. <\/strong>Walk to class in the snow (uphill, both ways).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Academics<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\n

12. <\/strong>Study at every library.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

13. <\/strong>Fail a prelim; realize that life goes on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

14. <\/strong>Ace the next prelim; save your grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

15. <\/strong>Be a test subject for research being conducted on campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

16. <\/strong>Take a course in the first semester that it\u2019s ever been offered.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"three-color<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

17. <\/strong>Pull an all-nighter, then fall asleep in class the next day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

18. <\/strong>Satisfy your PE requirement\u2014then keep taking classes because they\u2019re awesome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

19. <\/strong>Take a course that meets in Bailey Hall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

20. <\/strong>Take at least one class in every school or college.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

21. <\/strong>Ace at least one course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

22. <\/strong>Sleep through your alarm\u2014for a 1:25 p.m. class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

23. <\/strong>Take a course pass\/fail. Work harder than ever, as the prospect of failure looms before you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

24. <\/strong>Forget how add-drop works and have to keep a class you wanted to drop; wind up loving it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

25. <\/strong>Check out an actual, physical book from a library.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

26. <\/strong>A year later, remember to return the book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Great Outdoors<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\n

27. <\/strong>Take a walk in the Botanic Gardens and ring the big bell at the Newman Arboretum overlook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

28. <\/strong>Go hiking at a state park or on the Finger Lakes Trail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

29. <\/strong>Sunbathe at Flat Rock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

30. <\/strong>Go birding at Sapsucker Woods; stop in at the visitor center and check out the \u201cfeeder cam.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"two-color<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

31. <\/strong>Enjoy the local bounty at you-pick farms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

32. <\/strong>Take a Cayuga Lake boat cruise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

33. <\/strong>Ski at Greek Peak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

34. <\/strong>Rent equipment from Cornell Outdoor Education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

35. <\/strong>Kayak or canoe on Beebe Lake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

36. <\/strong>Use the Lab of Ornithology\u2019s Merlin app to identify a bird.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

37. <\/strong>Go for a long walk in heavy snowfall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

38. <\/strong>Rappel, zipline, and climb a replica McGraw Tower at the Hoffman Challenge Course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

In the Community<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\n

39. <\/strong>Go to Porchfest, Apple Fest, Ithaca Festival\u2014all of the fests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

40. <\/strong>Learn how to pronounce \u201cTaughannock.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

41. <\/strong>Stroll from the Sun to Pluto on the Sagan Planet Walk, a 1-to-5 billion scale model of the Solar System.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

42. <\/strong>Go to the Ithaca Farmers Market. Eat, sit by the water, then eat more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

43. <\/strong>Spend a summer in Ithaca and learn why locals endure the winters.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"two-color<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

44. <\/strong>Walk the Cascadilla Gorge Trail from Collegetown to Downtown Ithaca; procure a tasty snack, then hike back up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

45. <\/strong>Go shopping on the Ithaca Commons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

46. <\/strong>Cycle up Buffalo Street (and not on an e-bike!). Enjoy the ride back down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

47. <\/strong>Drive the entire perimeter\u2014about 85 miles\u2014of Cayuga Lake. Stop often.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

48. <\/strong>Volunteer for a local organization, even just once a year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

49. <\/strong>Take the Campus-to-Campus bus to NYC and explore the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

50. <\/strong>While you\u2019re in NYC, take the Roosevelt Island tram to Cornell Tech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

51. <\/strong>Buy a book\u2014or 20\u2014at Ithaca\u2019s legendary Friends of the Library sale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

52. <\/strong>Get an Ithaca is Gorges T-shirt; get bored with it and buy a variation (Ithaca is Cold; Ithaca is Gangsta).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Arts & Culture<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\n

53. <\/strong>View the Johnson Museum\u2019s illuminated Cosmos<\/em> exhibit by night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

54. <\/strong>Descend to the lowest level of Olin to view an exhibit in the Rare and Manuscript Collections of Kroch Library.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

55. <\/strong>Go to a student theater production at the Schwartz Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

56. <\/strong>Visit the ROTC museum in Barton Hall.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"two-color<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

57. <\/strong>Drive through a blinding snowstorm to see a concert in Syracuse or Buffalo. Think a lot about snow tires on the way home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

58.<\/strong> Rock out at a Cornell Concert Commission show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

59. <\/strong>See a movie at Cornell Cinema.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

60. <\/strong>Dress up for a screening of the Rocky Horror Picture Show<\/em> at Risley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

61. <\/strong>View a foreign film at Cinemapolis; get into an argument with your friends about whether it was brilliant or terrible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

62. <\/strong>Attend an art exhibit opening on campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

63. <\/strong>Go to a Japanese drumming concert by Cornell\u2019s Yamatai.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

64. <\/strong>Request an item for viewing in the Kroch Library reading room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

65. <\/strong>Go to an a cappella<\/em> concert, then be inspired to audition for a singing group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

66. <\/strong>Stream the original 1978 Superman<\/em> film and feel proud that the Man of Steel was an alum (Christopher Reeve \u201974).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

67. <\/strong>Go see a student improv show. Wonder if you have a future in comedy. Decide that you probably don\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Personal Growth<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\n

68. <\/strong>Stay up all night arguing about the existence of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

69. <\/strong>Fall helplessly in love. Get dumped. Be devastated. Recover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

70. <\/strong>Study a foreign language, even if it\u2019s not required for your major.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

71.<\/strong> Discuss with, and learn from, someone who holds polar opposite beliefs from your own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

72. <\/strong>Text your parents and tell them you love them.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"two-color<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

73. <\/strong>Read a thought-provoking novel by a Cornell alum or prof.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

74. <\/strong>Exit a classroom feeling like you\u2019re brilliant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

75. <\/strong>Exit a classroom feeling like you\u2019re \u2026 not so brilliant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

76. <\/strong>Take a class that has absolutely nothing to do with your major.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

77. <\/strong>Contemplate switching majors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

78. <\/strong>Attend a service for a religion other than your own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

79. <\/strong>Travel abroad\u2014for a year, a semester, or just a vacation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

80. <\/strong>Go to Clubfest. Join a group that\u2019s a bit out of your comfort zone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

81. <\/strong>Attend a lecture by a visiting academic, in a field you\u2019re not studying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

82. <\/strong>Visit your favorite campus spots and reflect on the memories you\u2019ve already made there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Exploring the Hill<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\n

83. <\/strong>Watch the sunset on the Slope. (Do this as often as possible.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

84. <\/strong>Go ghost-hunting for Alice Statler and Prudence Risley in their namesake buildings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

85. <\/strong>Watch the Bill Nye \u201977 Solar Noon Clock atop Rhodes Hall light up, then check the time on the Engineering Quad sundial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

86. <\/strong>Walk around Beebe Lake\u2014ideally, hand in hand with that special someone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"four-color<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

87. <\/strong>Have a picnic on the Slope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

88. <\/strong>Visit the Johnson Museum; take in the best view on campus from the fifth floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

89. <\/strong>Sit quietly and alone in Sage Chapel. Admire the stained glass windows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

90. <\/strong>Go stargazing at Fuertes Observatory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

91. <\/strong>Brag about the big brains at Cornell. Prove it by showing a visitor Mr. Rulloff\u2019s specimen in Uris Hall\u2019s Brain Collection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

92. <\/strong>Scrutinize the caricatures of professors carved into the beams of the Straight\u2019s Memorial Room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

93. <\/strong>Leave your phone behind and take a two-hour walk around campus. Drink it all in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

94. <\/strong>Choose a name from the war memorial in Anabel Taylor. Go learn more about their story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

95. <\/strong>Visit Ezra\u2019s sarcophagus in the Sage Chapel crypt, and thank him for founding Cornell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Food & Drink<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\n

96. <\/strong>Eat at every dining hall at least once.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

97. <\/strong>Go to the Dairy Bar for ice cream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

98. <\/strong>Take a short trip to Purity for ice cream. Then take a longer trip to Cayuga Creamery (all the ice creams!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

99. <\/strong>Buy produce on the Ag Quad from Dilmun Hill student farm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

100. <\/strong>Grab a bagel from CTB.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"three-color<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

101. <\/strong>Eat an apple from the vending machine in the Mann Library lobby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

102. <\/strong>Dine at the famed Moosewood Restaurant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

103. <\/strong>Have a Greek salad at Souvlaki House in Collegetown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

104. <\/strong>Take a date to Establishment, the bistro run by Hotelies in their restaurant management course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

105. <\/strong>Have coffee at the Temple of Zeus. Think deep thoughts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

106. <\/strong>Get a late-night snack from Louie\u2019s Lunch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

107.<\/strong> Eat a Hot Truck sandwich from Shortstop Deli.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

108. <\/strong>Attend an on-campus event just for the free food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

109. <\/strong>Go to a local restaurant and sample a cuisine you\u2019ve never tried before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

110. <\/strong>Order Insomnia Cookies after midnight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Student Life<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\n

111. <\/strong>Furnish your entire dorm room or apartment with items from the Project ReCollect (formerly Dump & Run) sale; in the spring, donate it all back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

112. <\/strong>Find a hidden nap spot somewhere on campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

113. <\/strong>Volunteer as a model in the annual Cornell Fashion Collective Runway Show. Own the catwalk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"five-color<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

114. <\/strong>Meet some adorable animals at the Vet College\u2019s annual open house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

115. <\/strong>Host your own radio show on WVBR.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

116. <\/strong>Skate at Lynah Rink. Imagine the crowd cheering you on as a Big Red hockey star.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

117. <\/strong>Attend a Holi celebration on the Arts Quad and get colorful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

118. <\/strong>Fall asleep in a library; panic that someone posted a pic on social media of you drooling with your mouth open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

119. <\/strong>Write a story, opinion piece, or letter in the Daily Sun<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

120. <\/strong>Live in a Collegetown apartment\u2014and not the fancy high-rise kind, either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

121. <\/strong>Serve as an Orientation leader and help welcome the newest Cornellians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

122. <\/strong>Yell, bleary eyed, at people in the dorm corridor making noise at 3 a.m. Apologize the next day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

123. <\/strong>Join an intramural sports team. Take it too seriously and get matching uniforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

124. <\/strong>See how long you can go without doing laundry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Big Red Spirit<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\n

125. <\/strong>Learn the first two verses of the \u201cAlma Mater\u201d by heart. For extra credit, learn the other four.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

126. <\/strong>Master the Lynah Faithful chants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

127. <\/strong>Watch the Big Red Marching Band in action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

128. <\/strong>Stand with a group of friends, arms around each other, and sing the \u201cAlma Mater.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"two-color<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

129.<\/strong> Go to the Harvard hockey game. (Do not<\/em> throw fish\u2014we’re serious, now!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

130. <\/strong>Find a boisterous group of Homecoming tailgaters who are at least a generation older than you. Join them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

131. <\/strong>Take a selfie with famed \u201cCornell Connector\u201d Tony Chen \u201912.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

132. <\/strong>Buy your parents Cornell sweatshirts, with money you earned yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

133. <\/strong>Attend the biennial Sy Katz \u201931 Parade\u2014a.k.a. the “shortest parade with the longest history”\u2014in Midtown Manhattan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

134. <\/strong>Go to a game for a sport that isn\u2019t hockey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

135. <\/strong>Work as a Reunion clerk and meet alumni; compare notes about student life then and now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

136. <\/strong>Read a story on the Cornellians<\/em> site\u2014and leave a comment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Being Social<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\n

137. <\/strong>Meet someone new during Orientation. Exchange contact information and never see each other again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

138. <\/strong>Warmly greet the people serving your food at the dining halls. Always.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

139. <\/strong>Join at least one student group, club, or association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"two-color<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

140. <\/strong>Go bowling at Helen Newman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

141. <\/strong>Spend at least one spring break somewhere warm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

142. <\/strong>Road trip!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

143. <\/strong>Make a snow sculpture on a quad with your friends, then take a selfie with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

144. <\/strong>Meet the University president.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

145. <\/strong>Get entangled in a long-distance relationship with someone at another college\u2014one that\u2019s close enough to drive to, but far enough away to make you both crazy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

146.<\/strong> Kiss someone on the Suspension Bridge (with consent!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

147. <\/strong>Senior spring, rent a limo with your besties and go on a Finger Lakes wine tour. And a beer tour. And a cider tour. But only one at a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

148. <\/strong>Pet a Cornell Companions dog (or llama).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

149. <\/strong>Join an impromptu snowball fight\u2014in late April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Quintessentially Cornell<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\n

150. <\/strong>Take AMST 2001, and learn some Cornell history from Corey Ryan Earle \u201907.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

151. <\/strong>Confuse a non-Cornell friend or relative by using the term \u201cprelim.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

152. <\/strong>Dress for 70\u00b0 weather. Regret your choices as you walk home in the freezing cold that night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

153.<\/strong> Try to find the Cornell references in books by Kurt Vonnegut \u201944 and Thomas Pynchon \u201959.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

154. <\/strong>See famed red-tailed hawks Big Red and Arthur with your own eyes.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"two-color<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

155. <\/strong>Explain to your Midwestern relatives that you don\u2019t attend Cornell College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

156. <\/strong>Quote Andy Bernard from \u201cThe Office\u201d (or have him quoted to you).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

157. <\/strong>After your first semester, impress your friends back home with your mighty calves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

158. <\/strong>Get caught in a torrential downpour, and learn the meteorological meaning of \u201cIthacation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

159. <\/strong>Overhear a tourist saying \u201cIt looks like Hogwarts\u201d about any part of campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

160. <\/strong>Visit Prof. Carl Sagan\u2019s grave in Ithaca\u2019s Lake View Cemetery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

161. <\/strong>And of course … climb the 161 steps to the top of McGraw Tower and enjoy a Chimes concert!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Published August 14, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

How many of these did you do as a student? What essential experiences do you think are missing?<\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For the University’s 161st anniversary year, we revisited the iconic list of Big Red experiences. How many of these have you done?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":68,"featured_media":75177,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"","_yoast_wpseo_title":"","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"For the University's 161st anniversary year, we revisited the iconic list of Big Red experiences. How many of these have you done?","alumni_hub_syml_posts":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[224],"tags":[],"cornell_year_post":[],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-75213","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cornelliana"],"yoast_head":"\nThe '161 Things Every Cornellian Should Do'\u2014Updated for 2026! - Cornellians | Cornell University<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"For the University's 161st anniversary year, we revisited the iconic list of Big Red experiences. How many of these have you done?\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/161-things-2026\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The '161 Things Every Cornellian Should Do'\u2014Updated for 2026! - Cornellians | Cornell University\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"For the University's 161st anniversary year, we revisited the iconic list of Big Red experiences. How many of these have you done?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/161-things-2026\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Cornellians | Cornell University\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Cornellians\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-08-14T14:39:56+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-14T20:12:13+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/161_pano_v3-1024x528.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"528\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Beth Saulnier\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@WeCornellians\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@WeCornellians\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Beth Saulnier\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"15 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/alumni.cornell.edu\\\/cornellians\\\/161-things-2026\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/alumni.cornell.edu\\\/cornellians\\\/161-things-2026\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Beth Saulnier\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/alumni.cornell.edu\\\/cornellians\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/32fea64e8c64bb984ed5809675634100\"},\"headline\":\"The ‘161 Things Every Cornellian Should Do’\u2014Updated for 2026!\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-14T14:39:56+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-14T20:12:13+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/alumni.cornell.edu\\\/cornellians\\\/161-things-2026\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":2566,\"commentCount\":1,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/alumni.cornell.edu\\\/cornellians\\\/161-things-2026\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/alumni.cornell.edu\\\/cornellians\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/161_pano_v3-scaled.png\",\"articleSection\":[\"Cornelliana\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/alumni.cornell.edu\\\/cornellians\\\/161-things-2026\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/alumni.cornell.edu\\\/cornellians\\\/161-things-2026\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/alumni.cornell.edu\\\/cornellians\\\/161-things-2026\\\/\",\"name\":\"The '161 Things Every Cornellian Should Do'\u2014Updated for 2026! - Cornellians | Cornell University\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/alumni.cornell.edu\\\/cornellians\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/alumni.cornell.edu\\\/cornellians\\\/161-things-2026\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/alumni.cornell.edu\\\/cornellians\\\/161-things-2026\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/alumni.cornell.edu\\\/cornellians\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/161_pano_v3-scaled.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-14T14:39:56+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-14T20:12:13+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/alumni.cornell.edu\\\/cornellians\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/32fea64e8c64bb984ed5809675634100\"},\"description\":\"For the University's 161st anniversary year, we revisited the iconic list of Big Red experiences. How many of these have you done?\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/alumni.cornell.edu\\\/cornellians\\\/161-things-2026\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/alumni.cornell.edu\\\/cornellians\\\/161-things-2026\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/alumni.cornell.edu\\\/cornellians\\\/161-things-2026\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/alumni.cornell.edu\\\/cornellians\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/161_pano_v3-scaled.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/alumni.cornell.edu\\\/cornellians\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/161_pano_v3-scaled.png\",\"width\":2560,\"height\":1319,\"caption\":\"illustration of the numeral \\\"161\\\" in red on a turquoise background with whimsical icons of Cornell University-related items, swag, activities, and places covering the numerals\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/alumni.cornell.edu\\\/cornellians\\\/161-things-2026\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/alumni.cornell.edu\\\/cornellians\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"The ‘161 Things Every Cornellian Should Do’\u2014Updated for 2026!\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/alumni.cornell.edu\\\/cornellians\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/alumni.cornell.edu\\\/cornellians\\\/\",\"name\":\"Cornellians | Cornell University\",\"description\":\"Cornell's alumni publication\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/alumni.cornell.edu\\\/cornellians\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/alumni.cornell.edu\\\/cornellians\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/32fea64e8c64bb984ed5809675634100\",\"name\":\"Beth Saulnier\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/321760a8edb5153d2c562bbadd61cc5ebb987bda75fb59074266c35cc35beae1?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/321760a8edb5153d2c562bbadd61cc5ebb987bda75fb59074266c35cc35beae1?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/321760a8edb5153d2c562bbadd61cc5ebb987bda75fb59074266c35cc35beae1?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Beth Saulnier\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/alumni.cornell.edu\\\/cornellians\\\/author\\\/ess8\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"The '161 Things Every Cornellian Should Do'\u2014Updated for 2026! - Cornellians | Cornell University","description":"For the University's 161st anniversary year, we revisited the iconic list of Big Red experiences. How many of these have you done?","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/161-things-2026\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"The '161 Things Every Cornellian Should Do'\u2014Updated for 2026! - Cornellians | Cornell University","og_description":"For the University's 161st anniversary year, we revisited the iconic list of Big Red experiences. How many of these have you done?","og_url":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/161-things-2026\/","og_site_name":"Cornellians | Cornell University","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Cornellians","article_published_time":"2026-08-14T14:39:56+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-08-14T20:12:13+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1024,"height":528,"url":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/161_pano_v3-1024x528.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Beth Saulnier","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@WeCornellians","twitter_site":"@WeCornellians","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Beth Saulnier","Est. reading time":"15 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/161-things-2026\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/161-things-2026\/"},"author":{"name":"Beth Saulnier","@id":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/#\/schema\/person\/32fea64e8c64bb984ed5809675634100"},"headline":"The ‘161 Things Every Cornellian Should Do’\u2014Updated for 2026!","datePublished":"2026-08-14T14:39:56+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-14T20:12:13+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/161-things-2026\/"},"wordCount":2566,"commentCount":1,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/161-things-2026\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/161_pano_v3-scaled.png","articleSection":["Cornelliana"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/161-things-2026\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/161-things-2026\/","url":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/161-things-2026\/","name":"The '161 Things Every Cornellian Should Do'\u2014Updated for 2026! - Cornellians | Cornell University","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/161-things-2026\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/161-things-2026\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/161_pano_v3-scaled.png","datePublished":"2026-08-14T14:39:56+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-14T20:12:13+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/#\/schema\/person\/32fea64e8c64bb984ed5809675634100"},"description":"For the University's 161st anniversary year, we revisited the iconic list of Big Red experiences. How many of these have you done?","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/161-things-2026\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/161-things-2026\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/161-things-2026\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/161_pano_v3-scaled.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/161_pano_v3-scaled.png","width":2560,"height":1319,"caption":"illustration of the numeral \"161\" in red on a turquoise background with whimsical icons of Cornell University-related items, swag, activities, and places covering the numerals"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/161-things-2026\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"The ‘161 Things Every Cornellian Should Do’\u2014Updated for 2026!"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/#website","url":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/","name":"Cornellians | Cornell University","description":"Cornell's alumni publication","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/#\/schema\/person\/32fea64e8c64bb984ed5809675634100","name":"Beth Saulnier","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/321760a8edb5153d2c562bbadd61cc5ebb987bda75fb59074266c35cc35beae1?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/321760a8edb5153d2c562bbadd61cc5ebb987bda75fb59074266c35cc35beae1?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/321760a8edb5153d2c562bbadd61cc5ebb987bda75fb59074266c35cc35beae1?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Beth Saulnier"},"url":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/author\/ess8\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75213","targetHints":{"allow":["GET","POST","PUT","PATCH","DELETE"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/68"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=75213"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75213\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":75375,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75213\/revisions\/75375"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/75177"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=75213"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=75213"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=75213"},{"taxonomy":"cornell_year_post","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cornell_year_post?post=75213"},{"taxonomy":"post_folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_folder?post=75213"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}