University of Chicago Scavenger Hunt - Judges

Judges

The Scavenger Hunt committee is a registered student organization at the University of Chicago. The list is compiled by this panel of judges, who also do the majority of preparation for the Hunt and evaluate completed items. The judges begin compiling the list almost immediately after the end of the previous Scav Hunt, and continue to add items throughout the year. Judges, of course, are sworn to secrecy of the contents of next year's list.

Those who wish to become judges must submit an application, usually consisting of a sample list and a questionnaire. Applicants passing this first round are then subjected to an interview with the existing judges. Judges are University of Chicago students, and those chosen to join their number are often previous team captains or perennial participants of the hunt. Actual methods of judge selection, however, are kept secret. Usually, fragments of the sample lists of the newly chosen judges are added to next year's list. New judges are generally selected near the end of the calendar year. Judges are appointed for life, but are required to maintain eligibility to join a student organization to remain active.

Judges and those involved in making the list are the members of the Scavenger Hunt Committee known as "Hot Side Hot." Those who help organize Scav Hunt without becoming a judge are known as "Cold Side Cold", whose members are not permitted to know the contents of next year's list or otherwise participate in Hot Side Hot's secretive preparations.