Sole Searching: How Running Became My Passport to the World

Run and see the world-Northwestern University

September 26, 2024

Northwestern University is the alma mater of my son and daughter-in-law. My son was determined to come here to study economics, mainly because of the influence of his friends. The last time I came to Northwestern University was when they graduated. It has been a few years. It seems that the children did not return to their alma mater after graduation. It just so happened that I was on a business trip to Chicago and specially arranged to come here for a visit.

Northwestern University’s main campus is located in the suburb of Evanston, north of Chicago, and is home to the university headquarters, graduate school and Kellogg School of Management. There is a branch in downtown Chicago, mainly for medical school and law school. A few years ago, when I was running in the city, I saw the Montgomery Ward Memorial Building (1927) at Northwestern University Medical School, which is said to be the first academic skyscraper in the United States (see photo 78 when I was running that year).

On the morning of September 16, I bought a one-day ticket for $5 from the city, took the red line subway, and transferred to the purple line subway (the Chicago Department of Transportation named the purple line subway after Northwestern University’s school color, purple) to reach the Northwestern campus. Get off at Noyes station and board at Foster station for the return trip. The distance from the center of Chicago to the northwest is more than ten miles, and it takes almost an hour to take the subway. After getting off the bus, run east on Noyes Street (extend the street name: No and yes, “not” street), then go north on Sheridan Road, first go to Grosse Point Lighthouse, then go back south, and go east on Lincoln Street Enter campus.

The campus is basically a rectangular area: Lake Michigan to the east, Lincoln Street to the north, Sheridan Rd to the west, and Clark Street to the south. The 240-acre campus features a blend of modern and historical Gothic architecture, with the oldest building being University Hall.

The approximately rectangular campus is mainly divided into three areas, North Campus, South Campus, and Lake Michigan Landfill. The running path is first to North Campus, then Lake Michigan Landfill, to South Campus, then from south to north from the Arch, running back from Sheridan Road, up Foster Street to the subway station, and back to downtown Chicago.

North Campus is home to the Fraternity Quad, athletic facilities (including Henry Crown Arena and the Norris Aquatic Center), the Technical College, the Dearborn Observatory, the Seminary, and the Ford Motor Company Engineering Design Center, among others.

The Lake Michigan fill occurred in the 1960s, creating an additional 84 acres for the campus. The landfill was used to build the University Library, the Music and Arts Center, Regenstein Concert Hall, the Norris University Center (Student Union), the Kellogg School of Management Global Center, and various athletic facilities.

South Campus is home to the university’s humanities buildings, including the Music Building (Pick-Staiger Concert Hall and Musical Arts Center), the Mary and Leigh Block Art Museum, the Visitor Center, and the Sorority Quadrangle.

There were a lot of freshmen coming and going on campus, many of them accompanied by their parents, and I thought there were many Asian faces. I heard a few speaking Chinese, and in Mandarin. Whenever I see these young students, I can’t help but think that I once had such a youthful time, and a sense of intimacy arises spontaneously. I also saw a few students running on campus, but of course I couldn’t tell I was a student. Fortunately, there are many people on campus, so no one cares about anyone. If I were in China, I wouldn’t even be allowed to enter the campus. Thinking of this, I have to be grateful for the freedom and openness of this beautiful country. All university campuses are open, except for the University of Southern California in Los Angeles (I was not allowed to enter when I went there in mid-June. reserve).

When I sent my son to school, I drove here for a day from Yacheng, helped him get settled, and then returned. When my son was in school, I would visit him every time I went to Chicago for business. When you say you want to see him, you actually come to have a meal with him and sometimes give him some pocket money. I remember one time, it seemed like it was snowing heavily in January and he was busy. He told me that he wanted takeout. I gave it to him and left. Although I have been to the campus many times, I have not visited the entire campus and have not had a deep impression. This time I took a careful tour and finally got a complete idea of the Northwest campus.

Founded in 1851 (173 years of history), Northwestern University is unique and really very Northwestern. The school is named after the northwest region of the United States, which is the vision of the founder of the university. Moreover, the school faces the Great Lake of Michigan to the east and has beautiful scenery. No other university can compare with this. Northwestern University is known for its academic excellence, innovative research and vibrant campus life. It ranks among the top universities in the United States, and its educational programs are renowned around the world.

Northwest is a comprehensive research-oriented private university that spans multiple colleges and departments and has deep interdisciplinary disciplines. The school’s rigorous yet empathetic academic environment seamlessly integrates theory and practice, focusing on top research, new knowledge, creative expression and practical application. The university’s business schools, education schools, law schools, medical schools, engineering schools, speech and language pathology, chemistry, economics, and journalism are all strengths and are well-known.

Just two days ago (September 24), the “U.S. News & World Report” weekly published a ranking of the best universities in the United States for 2025. Northwest ranked sixth, last year it was ninth. I remember when my son was in school, the school was ranked in the top ten, seemingly behind the University of Chicago. This year, the University of Chicago ranked eleventh. From ranking in the teens to sixth, the school must have made great progress over the years. Today, as the oldest chartered university in Illinois, Northwestern is the number one university in the state and is considered the leader.

Here are some actual facts about the school: 3 campuses (Evanston, Chicago, and Doha, Qatar); 12 schools and colleges; a total student population of 22,000, including 8,000+ undergraduates and 14,000+ graduate students; full-time faculty and staff 3,334 students, 19 intercollegiate sports teams; more than 500 student organizations and clubs; tuition and fees of $68,000; 33 Nobel Prize winners. (over)

Attached are 78 photos

1-Campus Arch