Uneasy alliance

Okay. I studied politics. I'm not a utopianist. I know alliances are negotiated for strategic purposes. But this is huge. Hoover and May share a common border, like Russia and China, or India and Pakistan, or - and here's the more hopeful thought - Canada and the U.S. Let's just work it out. Lay out a framework for peace. Bring together the negotiators and push past any disagreements. After all, we can all agree, it's a little unsettling the way Alper has been making unprovoked incursions into Hoover territory. Sure, it's mostly restricted to the third floor right now. But without a show of Hoover/May unity, won't Alper get a little cocky? Aren't they just testing us? Before you know it they're going to occupy the study rooms.

The O-Book is here! The O-Book is here!

The O-Book has arrived. At least the digital version has. You'll get yours when you move in. The O-Book is the University of Chicago's annual guide to everything that will happen during your first week in Chicago. Well not everything. You're going to make some friends too. I don't think the O-Book mentions that. But the team of administrators, writers, students, media consultants, pop-psychologists, and shamans who assembled the O-Book don't know about the persuasive power of Hooverlove.

It's natural to feel a little intimidated by the prospect of starting a new life at a new school. But don't be worried. We'll have experienced staff here on move-in day to help everything go smoothly. Jonah and Ellie (pictured above) have been helping Hooverites move in their whole lives. And they'll be available to play in the halls afterward, to help you through any lonely moments. They are experienced at that too. In fact, given a choice between playing and reading difficult books in a sunless library for hours, they'll always choose to play. They're different than you that way. But that's OK. In Hoover, we love diversity.