You know, it might be good to keep in mind that there are many kinds of diversity - not just racial/ethnic - and as many of you have argued - prominent percentages of one or all "groups" does not mean a university (or any other  institution) is inviting. Universities are such large, complex institutions that even if a campus is "diverse" it doesn't mean that a student (or prof) is any more likely to come into contact with folks unlike themselves. When I was teaching at a large Big Ten University, with pretty good numbers of black and Asian kids, I rarely had regular contact with that kind of "diversity" because few of them enrolled in my programs. Arguing over whether one university of another is "diverse" or not is a complicated matter. To me, I'm interested that people have both safe places to express their ideas and identity, and have access, or are gently pushed into places where those ideas can be challenged and expanded. To me, the numbers are only a first step in making sure that college students come out of college having both critically analyzed the person they were when they came in, and confident in the new ideas they wrestled with AND with the skills to continue that inquiry.

 

I'm going to be on the faculty of BGSU in a few weeks, and I'm really interested to see whether it's diversity translates into critical inquiry. The campus - ehh, it's alright. My office is in one of the least attractive buildings on campus, but I do like the old "quad" and the new student union building - that places was hopping when I visited.

 

As for the other Ohio campuses I've visited, I absolutely LOVE the physical structure of UC, though from what some of you have said, campus life may leave something to be desired. I also spent a summer at OSU, and didn't care for the campus. It felt very cramped, likely because it grew very quickly in a constricted urban environment during the 1960s. For that reason, I tend to like the small city Big Ten campuses better - MSU, UM, Purdue, Northwestern and particularly IU.  I haven't visited any other univ campuses in OH, but I plan to make the rounds once I settle in BG in a few weeks.

Northwestern's campus blows the rest out of the water. It's on the beach and it's in Evanston. *drools*. I'm going back up there in a few weeks thank God. I would love to be able to ride the El from my campus to downtown Chicago. I'm so jealous of my friends.

 

As far as actual buildings are concerned though; UC wins :D

 

 

Northwestern's campus blows the rest out of the water. It's on the beach and it's in Evanston.

 

Ah, have you been to Wisconsin-Madison yet? Easily the best in the nation as far as urban campuses go.

Yeah, I've been to UW-Madison; I considered going there. Its a beautiful city period; not just the campus. They have the best state building i've ever seen. But like UC, its extremely urban, dense, and concrete is everywhere on their campus. It is nice how there is a lake on both sides of their downtown (an isthmus).

 

Even though Evanston is an "Urban suburb", NU is very wooded though; which I like. Most NU students are lame, but very smart; whereas most Wisconsin students are smart, and party hard and work hard (of course this has to do with them being a state school). Overall, I think Wisconsin students are more well-rounded. Having good social skills is important in being successful.

 

Of course. At NU its never a picnic, its always a luncheon. 

 

P.S. Madison is COLD. And there's way too much snow. Madison is or was the biggest party school in the nation. If the weather was better, it would be even crazier.

Northwestern's campus is certainly more preferrable than UW-Madison's.  I mean, that's a no-brainer.  Madison just has a better scenic setting and is hillier.  Downtown Evanston + Main Street > Madison, though.