
From birthday cakes to talent shows, Mandatory Fun delivers
Unexpected evening events transformed strangers into friends through laughter, creativity and shared experiences.

Sunrise before Spit List
Five rule-breaking cherubs walked to Lake Michigan at 5 a.m., an hour before their punishment.

Sacrificed sleep, bathroom banter and bonding
When cherubs meet while brushing their teeth, connections last a while.

The breakfast club: Coffee, bagels and new friendships
How early morning outings brought cherubs closer and changed sleep-in tendencies.

Photojournalism in action: @barstoolcherubs
An anonymous student picked the funniest moments to share on the unofficial cherubs Instagram four times a week.

The life and times of the second-floor girls
An unlikely dorm configuration forged an unbreakable bond.

The cherub chop
Growing up is like the first snips of a dramatic haircut: Once you’ve started, you can’t go back.

Gallery: Junior Junior Olympics
Cherubs took over the Lakefill and competed to earn points for their instructor groups.

Ode to the Jones Hall elevator
My tangles with the Jones dorm elevator were anything but uplifting. Yet, it brought me closer to other cherubs.

World Cup watch parties build team chemistry
In between classes, cherubs gathered together to watch World Cup matches, cheering on their favorite teams and making lasting bonds.

Five languages, one summer
International students show that stories can translate words, but not feelings.

Let’s shake on it
Getting a grip on lifelong friendships with handshakes.

The Hunger Games: Surviving American food
International students navigated American cuisine.

Six degrees of cherub separation
Crossing the country brought strangers to Medill, but a wild coincidence proved home wasn’t far away.

Champions in spirit
Our team dominated Junior Junior Olympics with our energy.

Packing list: My woulda, coulda, shoulda advice
I learned it all the hard way. Here’s a guide to everything you don’t know you need.

See you in 40 years
Decades after the best summer of their lives, former cherubs reunited to celebrate enduring friendships and shared stories.