Snapshots of Brown: The Campus Feel
Do you ever wonder what it’s like to live at Brown? What do students do? What do they see? Well, let Snapshots of Brown with Emorie Beck give you a taste of what student groups, classes, and historical scenery (the best kind) are really like. No planes, trains, or automobiles required.
How many campuses have you visited? I’m guessing seniors have visited more than they can count (or would like to remember. Regardless of how many campuses you’ve visited, there is one thing that you will notice / have noticed at each and every one. And you probably didn’t realize that you did but when you start to make a decision, this one thing will play a major role, possibly even a deciding one.
What is this? How could something you don’t even notice be so important? Find out after the jump?
For better or worse, you will likely live on campus of the college you attend. To use another dichotomy, like it or not, this will play a critical part in your college experience. If you love an academic program but hate the campus, you run the chance of being unhappy, or worse, which will affect your performance. Environment does affect behavior. (I would insert a citation here, but there are hundreds to choose from.)
So, a critical factor in everyone’s decision is usually the “campus feel.” This is what you will notice about every campus you visit without even realizing it. You’ll notice things like Frisbee players, student studying on “greens,” student eateries, “hang-outs,” and uncountable other little details. You’ll take all this in and compare it other campuses you have seen, unconsciously biasing your decision when you begin to narrow down your list.
So here are few aspects of Brown’s campus feel that make it, in my opinion, one of the best (or the best) campus: (I can’t say the best because I haven’t visited every one.)
Brown feels like a campus. Brown might be in the middle of Providence, which the College Board calls a “small city,” but you don’t have to even realize that if you don’t want to. Everything you need is on campus—food, housing, classes, learning, and fun. There are constantly activities going on, which range from lectures and parties to movies and shows. Comedy, music, dramas, theaters, and so, so much more. Plus, Thayer Street has technically “non-campus” locales, like restaurants (Chipotle, Nice Slice, Johnny Rockets, Kabob n’ Curry, etc. See Brown Rice for more.), a small movie theater, CVS, and more. And that’s just Thayer Street. You can find almost anything you need within a mile of Brown, including a Whole Foods.
Brown feels like a city. But if an inclusive campus isn’t your thing, then it’s time to take advantage of the city feeling of Brown. Less than a mile away is Providence’s “Financial District,” which houses a slew of restaurants and hotels in addition to the Providence Place Mall, the country’s largest carpeted mall. Within a few miles of campus, there are clubs, more theaters, museums, and everything else a city has to offer. And, as a Brown student, you get FREE TRANSPORTATION ANYWHERE IN RHODE ISLAND on RIPTA, Rhode Island’s busing system that spans the entire state. So if you want a city, Brown can provide. Remember, though, Providence is not New York City or any other city—it is Providence. If want you want is a specific city, then you won’t be happy with any other. You have to open yourself to new experiences and places. And Brown is the perfect place to do so.
Brown has a lot of green area. News Bulletin: I’m from Missouri—rural Missouri. I’m used to green things and a lot of them. Trees, grass, landscapes without buildings in sight, corn fields, and more—those were my childhood. I personally, wanted some green in my campus. And again, Brown might be in the middle of Providence, but there are a lot of greens. Some of my favorite times have been lying on Lincoln Field, one of the campus greens, with my friends or just doing homework. There are beautiful green areas near most central areas of campus. Main Green is near the Stephen Roberts Campus Center. Lincoln Field, is very near it. Keeney Quad, one freshman area of campus, has two gorgeous green courtyards. The other freshman area, New Pembroke, has a large green of its own. And all of these are great places for students to spend time with friends, play Frisbee, do homework, eat lunch, etc.
Students have made all areas their own. I’ll keep this one short. Give Brown students a small area, and they will make it their own. They will use the endless creativity characteristic of Brown students in order to make classrooms into movie theaters, the space between two trees a tightrope, or into anything they need. So if you need a space to pursue something, ANYTHING, Brown has it for you.
So, whether you want a city, an isolated campus, simulated nature, or something you’ve only dreamed up in your head, Brown can and will provide. So as you determine your own desired “campus feel,” consider Brown. We want YOU here!
Want to know about a specific type of group or classes? Want to see if we have a certain kind of building or scenery that matches your heart’s desire? Have some questions? Email me at emorie_beck@brown.edu or leave a comment below!
