What happens in Vegas comes home with ‘scavvies’
They roasted a lamb, got married in the Quads, flew to Las Vegas—and had the time of their lives.
For students who might otherwise be focused on algebraic topology or medieval philosophy, Scavenger Hunt 2008 was a chance to pit razorlike reasoning and accumulated erudition against an absurd set of clues, items and tasks. Item 33: Have a potato break the sound barrier.
“It was the most fun I’ve ever had in my entire life,” said Grace Chapin, a first-year student in the College and a member of Army Dillo, the winning team. “I can’t wait until Scav Hunt 2009.”
Fellow Army Dillo member Ramya Sampath, a College third-year, added, “I have to say that Scav Hunt is the No. 1 reason I’m happy I came to the University of Chicago. Of course, I love my classes, my teachers, my friends—but there is nothing on this planet like Scav Hunt.”
In its 22nd year at the University of Chicago, Scavenger Hunt 2008, complete with 269 list items, was what winning team members are calling the best yet.
“While no Scav Hunt is repeatable, this year was entirely unique,” said David Pisano, a College fourth-year and part of Army Dillo, which had more than 100 members. “I’m going to go ahead and say it: This was the best Scav ever.”
Although this was Pisano’s fourth Scav Hunt, and his third year on a winning team, he said his experience was “unbeatable.”
Las Vegas or Bust
In the early-morning hours on the first of four days of Scav Hunt, Pisano was blindfolded, along with one member from each of the other nine teams. When the blindfolds were removed, the ‘Scavvies’ were at the airport.
“Then we were told that we’d be flying to Vegas very shortly,” he said.
The most memorable moment of his unexpected Vegas trip, Pisano said, was meeting stand-up comedian Louie Anderson outside a Starbucks—a photographic moment that proved lucky, as it fulfilled one of the items on the Scav Hunt list.
“Considering I had no idea where Scav Hunt would take me this year, I ended up in exactly the right place: chatting it up with showgirls, gambling and otherwise thoroughly enjoying myself in Vegas,” said Pisano.
For College fourth-year and Army Dillo team member Margo Spellman, winning Scav Hunt 2008 was the best way to finish her College experience.
“What a way to go out. You can’t beat it,” she said.
Another reason her fourth Scav Hunt was her favorite: Spellman had a very special honorary team member.
“My mother was here for Scav Hunt. She really got to see the madness first-hand,” said Spellman. “To share this experience with her was phenomenal. After all was said and done, I asked her if it was worth it—the fierce pace and the long days—she said that it was the most fun she’d had in her entire life. And I agree with her.”
Chapin noted that while she knew about Scav Hunt before arriving as a first-year student last fall, she had no idea what she was in for.
“It was so exciting, exhilarating,” she said. “I will definitely be participating again next year. I will be doing Scav Hunt until I literally can’t anymore. I’ll be 65, and they’ll be trying to send me home.”
One of Chapin’s favorite moments of Scav Hunt 2008 was becoming an ordained minister in order to perform a marriage ceremony for two teammates.
“Definitely one of the craziest, most ridiculous, hectic and most fun things I’ve ever done in my entire life,” she added.
Building Camaraderie
Sampath believes the annual Scav Hunt is the “perfect summation of everything the University of Chicago stands for—and more.”
She said, “There is something for everyone in Scav Hunt. People really come together and work together—it’s truly amazing. It’s a time to be thoughtful, intellectual and have the most fun you could ever imagine having.”
By Julia Morse
