Each New Year, as students at many schools migrate back to campus for another semester, Luther students return to start January Term.

The semester-January term-semester (3-1-3) schedule became popular in the 1960s and 70s, and Luther was one of many schools to adopt it. As time passed and some colleges moved away from the 3-1-3 schedule, Luther sustained the program and made it even more impactful.

As Luther digs out of Tuesday and Wednesday’s blizzard, students are bracing for winter to be cold, snowy and icy, with blizzards and biting winds. However, with the appropriate supplies and optimism to face the harsh winter weather, the winter can be not only tolerable but also fun.

Everyone has heard the bell music proceeding from Main Building in the past few weeks, including Christmas carols such as “Jingle Bells” and “Silent Night.” The bells in Main are now completely computerized, resounding from a speaker atop the tower, but when they were first installed, melodies had to be played manually.

With Christmas just around the corner, various activities are going on in Decorah and on campus to serve those in need. The First Lutheran Food Bank, which operates throughout the year, offers special service to the needy during the holidays, and Christmas Cheer at Luther sends out useful gifts to families in the program.

Once a year, Christmas at Luther ignites campus with a celebration of joy, music and the holiday spirit. Beginning Thursday evening and running until Sunday afternoon, the performance kicks off the holiday season throughout campus.

The scruffiest month of the year has arrived in all its bearded glory: No-Shave November is in full swing on campus. This social phenomenon has swept college campuses across the nation and the world, leading to a distinctly hairier student population here at Luther and contributing to raising awareness of testicular and prostate cancer.

Due to a room shortage in Towers, last spring’s room draw had a less than satisfactory outcome, leaving some students “roomless.” In response, Residence Life transformed study lounges in Towers into dorm rooms for those students who couldn’t get a conventional room.

Campus House may be one of the oldest buildings on campus, but few students know about its function or past. Located at the center of campus, Campus House has been home to various occupants throughout its history.

If you saw the herds of four to 12 year olds racing around campus last Friday, you saw the PALS program in action as they kicked off the year with a Halloween scavenger hunt throughout campus.

When most people think of sororities and fraternities, images of togas, kegs and late-night house parties spring to mind. However, Greek organizations at Luther are working to avoid this connotation.

Whether people on campus are aware of it or not, tunnels lurk beneath Luther College. Not only does Luther have the tunnel connecting the Union to the CFL, but an expansive tunnel system also connects just about every building on campus.

Among the many notice boards in the hallway leading to the cafeteria, one stands out. Inspired by PostSecret.com, the Post Secret board was started by Mandy Inhofer (‘09) last year.

Between the rumors flying about a campus ninja and the increasing opportunites to study martial arts on campus, ninja fever seems to have struck Luther College.

The zombie craze gripping the nation has not left Luther unscathed. Humans vs. Zombies, a game of hunter and prey, came to campus in October and left dozens of casualities in its wake.