College of Saint Benedict Top Questions

A common stereotype is that we are all rich catholic kids. Not true!

The stereo type that students are all very nice and passionate about CSBSJU is somewhat accurate, however not every student is outgoing and expresses pride in the school. The stereo type that most students come to CSBSJU because a family member did is also somewhat true because it is known for being a legacy school, however, most of my friends did not know any CSBSJU alumnie before coming to school here.

Bennies (the women at Saint Benedict) are known to "do it all". Double major, pre-med, honor's students, study abroad, and while we're at it, let's finish a semester early. They are driven women who truly want to get the most out of their experience at college. Johnnies (the men at Saint John's) are known to be extremely polite; always giving up seats on the bus or holding doors open for their Bennie student counterparts. They are also known to be very friendly, a little "jocky", but also very cultural and accepting of everyone.

A stereotypical Bennie is a white, Catholic girl who comes from a wealthier family. This is somewhat true but there is actually a significant amount of diversity at St. Bens. Bennies are portrayed as walking around in sweatpants tucked into their uggs with their northface jackets on, not caring at all about what they look like.

Actually--I'm a student whose family is middle-income. Not everyone here has a lot of money. This school has a lot of diversity!

I think one of the biggest stereotypes of CSB/SJU is that we are all goody two shoes country kids. St. Joe is a small, close knit, country town. St John's is even more secluded with farms and the massive arboretum surrounding it, though it's just off I-94. Not to worry though, St. Cloud is about 15 minutes away from CSB and 20-25 from SJU depending on the lights. Our schools may be in the middle of nowhere, but we still know how to have fun.

Dedicated college students. White middle class students. For the most part, this stereotype is accurate.

I think we do have a stereotype from other students who don't attend either CSB or SJU that we're a mostly caucasian upper-middle class school. From people who are here at school I think we have a stereotype, especially for Bennies, about always wearing yoga pants, UGGs, and not really caring about what we look like when we go to class. Sure, we might be college kids who dread going to class but I think the overall message is that we're okay with being who we are. Everyone is so comfortable being with people here, even if we don't know them. Also, I think we do have a lot more diversity then people give us credit for. We are primarily Caucasian but we do have a significant number of people who are from other states outside of the midwest and from other countries. If you come here and still think we're very stereotypical, you need to stop and talk to people around campus! You'll find we're more than what we look like!

The stereotype is that CSB students eat alot. This is completely false. Bennies are healthy, in shape and very athletic.

There are definite stereotypes within both campus'. I am happy to say most of the stereotypes I can think of off hand hold positive connotations. Johnnie and Bennie nice, or the stereotype of the "typical" Johnnie who is chivalrous, who will hold the door open for you and offer you their seat on the bus. Almost amongst the St. Ben's student there is a definite unspoken stereotype of bennie code, or bennies amongst bennies and how they treat and respect one another.

but its not!!! We are so closely related to Saint John's and our campuses are so close together that it functions as one college. However, we have the opportunity to explore the gifts of each gender specifically at each college along with having two of everything-two libraries, two churches, two atheltic facilities... Its the best of both worlds!!!!!

We have many good and bad stereotypes. To start, we are known as hard-working and caring young women. We unfortunately also have the stereotype of being unattractive and unhealthy. I have not found this to be true. We are all active and beautiful Bennies!

No, the stereotypes are not true at all. Students at CSB/SJU are intelligent and creative individuals that embrace Benedictine values and traditions. We represent a whole spectrum of diversity from our dempgraphics to our involvement on campus! We are a bunch of fun and passionate individuals who desire to become and influence change in the world! That is what we are at CSB/SJU!

There is a stereotype about Bennies in particular regarding activity level and food consumption. Many people believe that all Bennies are fat and ugly, neither of which are true. We value natural beauty here at CSB/SJU and don't feel the need to look perfect all the time or to please anyone. With that said, most women on campus lead healthy lifestyles that include exercise and healthy eating habits. I hate this stereotype, especially because of it's inaccuracy. A stereotype for the Johnnies is that they're all chivalrous to women. This is true--men frequently hold doors for women and treat them right. With that said, Bennies hold doors open just as often. Everyone on campus is extremely respectful of one another and friendly as well.

Yes, as a bennie I've heard it a million times before, our reputation is that we are a bunch on unattractive and inactive girls that would rather sit around and eat ice cream than anything else. Well, I gotta say that I'm a senior and I can definitely say that this is NOT accurate. Well, except for the fact that ice cream is pretty popular here, but in reality, bennies are some of the most active, passionate, genuine, motivated, and NATURALLY beautiful girls out there. Also, the stereotype that we are all white, catholic and rich, not true. Only about 60{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of are students are catholic, we have over 10{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} diverse students on campus and nearly EVERYONE is on some kind of scholarship.

One stereotype that i know about my school is that all Johnnies are gentlemen and that they hold door for Bennies and that they give up their seats on the bus. I would say it's true, but it's not only Johnnies that do this, Bennies do it too. Everyone here holds door for everyone behind them.

A stereotype that comes with bennies is that we are sloppy girls who wear yoga pants all the time, a fleece jacket, ugg boots, and messy bun hairdo. There are even youtube videos on how to dress like a bennie. Bennies are also stereotyped to be fat because we have unlimited meals. The stereotype is not accurate, most of the bennies i know always dress up and there aren't many overweight bennies because even if we do have unlimited meals, we have healthy options in our dinning halls and great work our facilities. The stereotype with johnnies, males, is that they are all gentlemen; i know a lot of guys who are, but there are some that aren't; this does not mean they are jerks, they are just normal non-gentlemen like guys.

The stereotype of students at CSB/SJU are intelligent, curious, kind, and driven.

That all Bennie's can be found in front of the ice cream machines, and all Bennie's only come to CSB/SJU to get their MRS degree.

Bennies and fat. We only come to St. Ben's to marry Johnnies. This stereotype is inaccurate. We are women who work for what we want and are here to get the best education. We are also comfortable with our images and know what we need to do in order to feel good about ourselves.