Sights and sounds of March Through the Arch

The new school year began this week on Northwestern’s Evanston campus with move-in day on Monday, Sept. 11, as new and transfer students arrived with carloads of belongings. It was a rainy start, but by Tuesday the sun emerged just in time to set the stage for March Through the Arch.

In what has become a cherished University tradition, more than 2,000 students — led by the marching band and peer advisors — passed under Weber Arch and took their symbolic first steps as members of the Northwestern community while parents, siblings and friends cheered them along the path to Deering Meadow.

“You are all Wildcats now,” said President Michael Schill. “You now belong fully to a global family of Northwestern people who care for one another and who bring out the best in one another.”

Having arrived on campus exactly one year ago to become the 17th president in University history, Schill said that March Through the Arch marks students’ entry into the world of Northwestern.

“It represents the very first of many Wildcat traditions that you will celebrate in the coming days, months and years,” he said before saluting parents, guardians and caretakers for all that they’ve done to prepare their children for this moment.

After a brief kiss ’n’ bye, students moved on to what will become several days of programming and activities designed to help them acclimate to college life and connect with fellow students before classes begin Tuesday, Sept. 19.