While Ithaca’s hills provide some breathtaking views, the topography also means students, faculty, and staff have to climb up and down copious sets of stairs. That’s challenging to say the least, especially during Ithaca’s notoriously brutal winters. But over the years, the college community has bonded over the shared challenge of traversing so many staircases.

“If you were fortunate enough to live out your college career without falling down a set of stairs, I guarantee you have seen at least one person take a tumble—maybe even gloriously flinging all books and belongings as they went down,” said a 2004 alumna. “I know I went to class more than once with a sore behind and a little less dignity.”