Denison University Top Questions

Like I said before, Greek life is very big on campus. I am in a sorority, and I like it because not only have I found a group of girls that I can get along with and have things in common with, I feel like I can spend as much time or as little time with them as I want. Since none of the sororities or fraternities actually live in their houses like they do on many other college campuses, Greek life does not have to be all that you do and all that you're involved in. Many of my sisters are on sports teams or have on-campus jobs or are involved in other organizations and to me that is refreshing. It is also very good to get involved in other clubs and organizations on Denison's campus, and we have over 150. Clubs and organizations are a good way to meet people, although I feel like meeting people at Denison isn't very hard. Since students live in the dorms for four years, you pretty much get to know most of the people in your class at least. It's also easy to meet people in your classes, since they are so small and there such a high premium on participating in discussion with one another. The dating scene can be kind of tricky, since the school is so small and a lot of people know one another's business and who's hooking up with whom. Its not impossible though, and I've seen a lot of strong romantic relationships develop at Denison. Denison is kind of a party school, and I know that's what you've all been waiting for! Big nights for partying are Wednesday night, Friday and Saturday nights, and sometimes even Monday nights. Most of the partying takes place in the dorms on East quad (where a lot of the residents are over 21) or on North quad in the senior apartments. There are a few houses owned by the university where students live and throw parties, and on those nights the whole school seems to find their way down to these get-togethers. If you want to have a sober Saturday night, a lot of students go to Easton Shopping Center, which is about 25 minutes away. Easton is really popular, and its a really good place to take a date. Easton has tons of stores and restaurants, and its one of those really cute outdoor malls with twinkle lights illuminating everything. There is also a movie theater there, and a good night out is going to Easton for dinner and then seeing a movie. Denison is also right outside the towns of Newark and Heath, which are no Easton but are really convenient. There is a Target, Wal-mart, Chipotle, Michael's, Best-Buy, Olive Garden, Office Max, Giant Eagle, liquor stores, a mall with a movie theater, etc. Basically whatever you want. And if you're really feeling adventurous you can head into Columbus or visit some friends at Ohio State, only about 35 minutes away.

It's what you make of it. There is always something to do if you're interested. Between the Denison Lecture Series, the Beck Lecture Series, the academic departments, and student organizations, there are EXCELLENT guest lecturers on a weekly basis. Lots of musical and thatrical performances, too. A lot of people who complain that there is nothing to do at Denison or who complain about Granville not really being a college town don't attend these things. Go to these events and you won't be bored.

People party. I don't. There's tons of concerts, lectures, special events, and just quirky people floating around-- even without alcohol, it's almost always choosing which activity we'll do, not what we can do. As far as dating, it's really not a relationship school - there are exceptions all over the place, but most of us are thinking about grad school or are on a career track, and with the rigor of academics, it's not a top priority.

Greek life is the most popular social outlet/extracurricular activity. I am a Tridelt and I love it, but at times I feel distant from other Greek groups on campus. As far as leaving my dorm room door open, about eight people that don't technically live in my room sleep in there, (or at least hang out in there) on rotation, so my door is always unlocked. The dating scene consists of meeting drunkenly, wandering back to someone's room to hook up, and then avoiding each other the next morning in the dining hall. Obviously, this isn't how it goes with every couple, as many people are in actual relationships, but it seems that it is quite common to just find a drunk hookup. I met my closest friends through living on West Quad freshman year and through my sorority. I am always awake at 2am on Tuesdays, and it's usually because there is a slew of people crashing aorund in my room with me, watching tv, ordering pizza, going outside to smoke cigarettes, and just generally hanging out. Peope are out partying every day of the week, but I would say that I go out around 2 or 3 times a week. Greek life is very important- about 40{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of students are involved, and we pretty much rule the social sphere. Last weekend, I went to a few parties and hung out with my friends. There is almost nothing to do on a Saturday night that doesn't involve drinking, because there is no where to go off campus that isn't 65 years away. Easton is pretty far, and so is downtown Columbus, but I suppose if you're willing to make the journey, you might find something to do other than drinking.

Students in dorms often leave their doors open, though my floor of all girls didn't this past year. Athletic events aren't very popular... even football... Guest speakers and theater events usually get a pretty good turn out, though it depends on the speaker... People party a lot... weekends obviously, but Wednesday night is also a popular party night, because a lot of students have easy thursdays. On Saturday night, if you don't want to drink, you'll probably want to leave campus with friends, and go to Columbus, unless you just sit around in a dorm room and watch a movie or something. There isn't much to do on campus on the weekends besides party, but there are sometimes plays or concerts students can go to if they want. Frats/sororities aren't that big at Denison, and people in them almost always have friends that aren't in them.

I lived in Morrow House my freshman year, and it's an old frat house. Therefore, only 35 students lived in it, and by the end of the first month, we all knew each other. I always left my door open if I was in my room, and most other people did as well. We shared movies and lent things to each other all the time. I could leave my computer in the common room over night and not worry about it disappearing. Morrow was a dorm of trusting and trust-worthy people. I don't know that this happens every year because obviously I've only ever lived there once. I've never lived in the bigger dorms (some hold over 200 students) so I don't know the policies in them, but I would assume they aren't anywhere near as close as my Morrow dorm-mates were. We went everywhere together. It was nothing to see 15 of us eating dinner together or watching a movie together any day of the week. At 2 am on a Tuesday, I was either sleeping (not often), doing homework, or talking with friends in the common room about the deeper things in life. One night, I remember a discussion about "What it is to know." Students at Denison are friendly, they're generally on campus to learn, and they're interested in how life works and the way people think. Any day of the week, you could find a group of students who'd been drinking. I personally don't drink, but I often hung out with people who did. If you lived in the bigger dorms, I think the party scene was more prevalent. On the weekends, there were always parties, and since most people know each other, you were generally able to get into all of them. Fraternities and sororities, though very noticeable on campus, didn't really serve as anything more than a social scene. There are no inter-frat feuds or inter-sorority feuds that I know of, and I had many friends who were in several different frats/sororities. Those who are in these do no drink more often than those who are not. In fact, there are a few of them who do not drink at all. (Surprising? It was to me). Often times in Morrow, I'd hang out and watch movies on weekends or read books. I also went to parties with friends who drink and I danced and simply turned down the alcohol. Often Denison hosts speakers or bands, and they'll throw their own parties that do not provide alcohol. There are movies hosted by cinema, and many many many other events. Each week, you get an email telling you what events will be on campus, and you can plan your week around them. If you're not interested in the activities on campus, Columbus is a half hour drive, and I know a lot of students who would go there on the weekends. It all depends on what you're interested in.

Greek life is pretty big but it's not the only social life on campus. If you get involved you will be fine. The swim team is known for being the best team on campus. Both the men's and the women's teams finished top three in the nation this year. In addition, we are known for being a very close group of friends that like hanging out together. We were also voted by the student body, the best looking team on campus. The dating scene consists of Denison students dating other Denison student. I heard that 80{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of students marry other Denison students. Party nights at Denison include Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.

When I first arrived at Denison I noticed that there were a lot of parties on the weekend and people drinking a lot. But, as a non-drinker, I found that the parties were just as fun without using alcohol AND you didn't even have to go to the parties to have fun. Every weekend, and pretty much every night, there is some sort of event going on that is sponsored by Denison. Whether it is a speaker or athletic event on a weeknight, a band, a movie screening, or a play on the weekend, there is ALWAYS something to keep people occupied without having to get drunk. One thing that I would recommend to EVERY SINGLE FRESHMEN is to apply for one of the pre-orientation programs that is offered in the fall before the regular freshmen orientation. I participated in the Outdoor Orientation and met my closest friends through that program. It allowed me to get to know a group of people really well before the rest of the students get to campus. Fraternities and sororities make up an increasing population on campus, but it is still only about 30{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c}. Although, as a recently joined member of a Greek organization, I have learned that Denison's sororities and fraternities are very different from other colleges because they are much more focused on the leadership and philanthropy than the partying and drinking. This does not mean they do not have fun, but when compared to other schools they are much more respectable.

Denison does a wonderful job of organizing activities and events on campus. We are constantly having comedians, concerts, movies, plays and other social activities. We have several large concerts throughout the year and several campus wide events. There are trips to chicago, washinton d.c and philadelphia, sports games and broadway shows. Depending on where you live on campus, the social scene is more prominent. In some resident halls you'll find doors open until late at night and in other dorms doors will be closed an locked. People tend to stay up late during the week doing homework. It's not unusual to be up until 2 every night or pulling all nighters even in the middle of the semester. With so much to do on campus it is easy to procrastinate.

The best times i had were in my dorm. I lived in house of 35 people and left my door open all the time. There were TONS of speakers and other activities. In one evening I saw John Ashcroft speak than went to a drag show in the same building two hours later. Some people party on Mondays, Wednesdays and that weekend but most stick to the weekend. Those who didnt party never felt left out.

The radio station rocks! WDUB is a free format radio station that was ranked as a top 20 college radio station by Princeton Review 08. They have a live stream that goes all around the world via wdub.org and broadcast 24-hours a day, seven days a week. They also broadcast locally on 91.1 FM and many people in surrounding cities listen. Fraternities and sororities dominate the social scene even though Fraternities don't even get to live in their houses. People part really hard at Denison. The school cracks down on petty things like alcohol and marijuana, and as a result students turn to cocaine and other harder drugs. There is a huge cocaine problem at Denison.

a lot of people play sports, but attending athletic events isn't that popular, except for lacrosse. guest speakers are popular. people don't leave doors open in dorms. there isn't much of a dating scene, mostly just "hooking up". sororities are very popular, frats less so. most people party on weekends, some on mondays and wednesdays. not much to do on weekends if you don't drink. off campus, most people go to easton or columbus.

Organisations are numerous and it seems all polular: esp. Black Student Union, Outlook (GLBT), Students in dorms do leave their doors open. Lots of interraction. Athletic events, on the scale of 1(least)-10(most) are 7 "popular" --mostly for the athletes competing in them. But end of semester/year games are pretty popular. Guest speakers--a lot of them. We had John Ashcroft like 2 weeks ago. Dating--Lots of it--within college. (I'm not dating in college) Closest friends--swim team. Same floor dorm. Ok, I dont think I'm ussually awake at 2 am on Tuesday. Im asleep, cuz I have 6am swim practice. Peeople party every Friday, and Saturday night!! Sororities are pretty pop. (I'm not in one--too many girls) People do them so thaey have groups they belong to. Last weekend I went out, then saw a movie, talked with friends. Sat night, drive to a city, see a movie. Get together with people, watch a movie, go out to dinner. Do HW. Sleep. Off campus, I shop, go out to eat. Drive to meets in other colleges. Walk to CVS.

I have been involved with Big Brother Big Sister, and two different varsity sports, as well as a departmental organization, I've enjoyed these organizations, Some students leave their doors open, but they should not-and many women quickly learn to lock their doors due to the high sexual assault here, women WILL report incidents, but the rapists get to stay (due to the rapists financial position), so quickly you learn that the campus looks pretty, but it certainly isn't welcoming for most, because there is so little to do at Denison there is little dating-mostly just drunken hookups, If i am awake at a 2am on Tuesday its because i'm either doing work for class or because I was awakened by drunk frat boys who can piss away their years here because they'll get a job with their family name, People party at Denison by either going to the one bar in town or jamming themselves in a crowed dorm room (since everyone has to live on campus ALL four years) and drink and attempt to dance (aka mostly just white boys dry humping drunk girls), Frats and sororities are extremely important at Denison, they promote social elitism among other careless activities, Besides drinking on a saturday you could watch a movie in your room, do homework or maybe vent to friends about how much it sucks, off campus you could go into the lovely town of Newark and get fast food-but that is only if you're lucky enough to have a car, otherwise you're stuck at Denison

Sports and Greek life are popular, arts and music much less so. Best advice: GET INVOLVED. Seriously. Choose groups in which you have a sincere interest, and you'll likely discover people you really, really, really enjoy. I joined rugby second semester, and it was the best decision of my life. These people are the kind of people I came to college to find: those who share similar interests, goals, and values, but who've got all kinds of different experiences from which I could learn. The only way you can find those friends, those types of people, is if you GET INVOLVED. Dorm atmosphere varies. Some (East Hall, North quad houses) are very open and friendly; residents tend to hang out with each other. Doors are often open. Others (Crawford, Sheperdson, Shorney, Smith) do not keep their doors open. Can be noisy, especially on the weekends. Some dorms vary from year to year, depending on who gets put in there (both Curtises, North Quad). Sheperdson will more or less always be the party dorm. School sponsored events are plentiful and usually pretty good. Denison also knows its students very well, meaning that events are normally over by 10, leaving plenty of time to lets its party scene fulfill its duty after the events are over. Weird traditions: Naked Week is pretty fun. Each night, a fairly sizeable mob streaks through a pre-determined place on campus, "dressed" as a theme (formal, beach, etc.). Fun to watch, even more fun (and awkward the day after) to participate.

Greek life and athletics are great ways to get involved at Denison. The athletic students are all really close and know each other pretty well. Also, greek life is a lot of fun with tons of great activities that everyone gets involved in. Denison brings in great speakers. Just this year I saw Ambassador Holbrooke (U.S. Senator and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations), John Ashcroft (Attorney General from 2001-2005), and the former president of South Africa who ended apartheid with Nelson Mendella. There were many other speakers who came to Denison that I didn't get a chance to see but they were all fantastic people. In terms of traditions at Denison. The funniest one has to be Naked Week. I was shocked to find out that for one week in the middle of winter, a group of students run naked throughout the entire campus at night. Through dorms, academic buildings, athletic facilities, ect... I witnessed the event when the group ran through my dorm and let me say, it was something I will never forget.

Students don't leave their dorm doors open. Athletic events are unpopular. There are great guest speaks frequently. There is a strong party scene and binge drinking is very popular. There is strong peer pressure to binge drink. Students can be very disrespectful of others. For example, during finals week someone thought it was funny to pull the fire alarm a total of 6 times that week - 3 of which were on the same night. Students were trying to sleep before the finals the next morning. Girls get very into sororities. It is hard to be friends with people that are greek when you aren't greek. There is little to do on weekends that doesnt involve drinking.

Sororities and fraternities are quite big on this campus. I'm not into such things though so I don't really know much about them. I think that Denison offers a fantastic number of opportunities for students on the weekends and things. One of my favorite weekends every year was Xtreme Weekend when the Student Activities center would fund cool rides and things. Almost every weekend the University would also show cool movies on the big screen. Sometimes, when the weather was nice, the movie screen was sent up outside on the academic quad so that everyone could watch the movie outside. I always enjoyed that. I met my closest friends by living in the same dorm as them freshman year. Almost all of us lived on the same floor and we began just going to dinner in the dining hall and things all together each night which allowed us to grow really close. During Junior and Senior year I have lived with three of those friends in a four man apartment which has allowed us to bond even more.

Well, I play Ultimate Frisbee and am a DJ for our radio station WDUB. I am also in the acapella group the Hilltoppers. There are over a hundred different clubs that a student can join, and mroe are being created with demand, so get ready to be involved. AS for social life, there is always a party or two if you want to join, otherwise, it's not hard to find a chill spot to watch a movie or just hang out with a few friends.

The most popular sports team is the guys lacrosse team, nobody goes to any other sporting events. I am on the club lacrosse team. We were 14 in the NCLL this year i think which is pretty good considering we only have 12 guys show up to games, no coach, and half of the kids are stoned. For the most part, nobody locks their doors unless they deal drugs. Alot of people do go to the guest speakers, most recently John Ashcroft visited but was ridiculed for his controversial stance on waterboarding. The dating scene is closely linked to the party scene, people will date who they drink or do drugs with the most. If people are awake on a Tuesday night at 2am, they are either only half way done their homework or halfway through an 8 ball of coke. Greek life is huge. If you don't join a fraternity or sorority you will never have a social life at Denison. If you dont drink, you dont have a social life either.