August 22, 2025
Though the summer months can be quieter at UChicago, CSL units like the Center for Leadership and Involvement (CLI) continue to provide students with meaningful ways to stay engaged on campus.
“We always start with the Summer Kickoff BBQ,” said Jimmy Brown, Director of CLI. Held on Bartlett Quad, the event featured live music, a tarot card reader, caricature artists, and a new make-your-own-bouquet station that quickly became a student favorite.
Another highlight was CLI’s annual trip to the Bristol Renaissance Faire in Wisconsin, now one of the office’s most popular traditions. This year, tickets sold out so quickly that CLI added a second bus, bringing more than 100 students to the fair.
While staffing shortages meant a slimmer programming schedule this summer, CLI typically organizes excursions to White Sox games or soccer matches and occasionally hosts outdoor movie nights on campus. Brown said he hopes to restore a fuller calendar next year: “Ideally, we’d like to offer at least two opportunities a month for students to either get together on campus or explore the city.”
Beyond marquee events, CLI also partners with UChicago’s Summer Session to offer leadership programming for high schoolers taking classes at UChicago.
Looking ahead, Brown is enthusiastic about the fall quarter. CLI will manage late-night orientation activities and host the Engagement Expo, formerly the Student Activities and Resource Fair (SARF), where hundreds of RSOs and departments showcase opportunities for involvement.
CLI’s efforts this summer underscore the importance of reminding students that they remain part of the UChicago community, even when classes aren’t in session.