Dylan
The most popular groups on campus are without a doubt fraternities and sororities. They do own a lot of the bars for parties on a Friday night and have their greek week festivities that take over the campus. That's not to say that there aren't other outlets. I'm really involved on campus, have met great people through these organizations and I'm not a sister. The student government is really productive and active on campus and Campus Activities Council is a great group to get involved in. They put on events like homecoming, parents weekend and little sibs weekend. Aside from these traditional groups found on every campus Miami offers over 300 groups with things like "parachute club" "tae-kwan do" "men against rape," really anything that you would be looking for.
there's a fair at the beginning of the year where a variety of organizations and groups set up tables to pass out brochures so students can find out what they are all about. I signed up for the student newspaper and was writing a story for them by the following week. It's easy to get involved if you choose too.
In freshman dorms, students are really willing to meet people. THey leave their doors open, they go to other floors to meet people--everyone is really open to meeting new friends. All freshman are feeling awkward, uncomfortable and like the freshman they are. Since everyone is in the same boat it's nice. The older dorms are a little harder because people are already set in their friends.
The events offered on campus vary and are really great. We have concerts like O.A.R., guitar hero competitions, Colin Powell came to speak, the CEO of Bob Evans, we have dance performances and african culture exhibitions. There really is something for everyone. Students attend these events sometimes because they have to and a few out of interest. It really depends.
when it comes to dating it's pretty much the same as every college campus. Long distance boyfriends and girlfriends fade rather quickly (though not all) because of all the new people you get to meet and experiences there are to enjoy. Freshman year everyone lives it up and few are looking to settle down. There can be one night stands, there are the bar makeouts, there's the friend from the dorm who becomes a little more and incest amongst friends. You're surrounded by 16,000 other 18-24 yr olds so in that sense it's a little easier to meet someone but it's still just as nervewracking dropping the "how you doinngg" line in a bar to someone.
My closest friends are the ones I originally met in my dorm. We all just somehow found each other and after activities done on freshman orientation days and dinner get togethers we became the best friends we are. Friends from classes I see out but perhaps don't hang out with as much on a regular basis.
One great event at Miami is green beer day. THis is the day before Spring Break and in celebration of St. Patty's day everyone basically buys any of the numerous shirts proclaiming how they tend to start drinking and make it last all day. Teachers get pretty strict and police come otu to play, but the day is a great last hurrah before the week away.
It's a big drinking school, as I imagine most colleges are. We are small town and there's not too much to do. Organizations on campus still try to make non-alocholic events available to the campus. There's concerts and comedy skits that are brought. There's youth groups that meet on Friday nights as an alternate. The towns close by have a drive-in or a skating rink. There is still other options, perhaps not a ton, but always somethign to do.
This weekend I went to the comedy show then drinking at a friends house, then uptown to dance. That's a pretty standard weekend for students which is why as you get older and have more friends with more houses or apartments to party at.
It's hard if you're not a guy and not in a fraternity to meet people. Unless you find a solid group of guys from the start who are with you in the non greek boat. Girls have it slightly easier, cause um, we have boobs. So we can get into frats even if we're not in a sorority and have hot friends.
Intramurals are a great time at Miami. We're known for broomball, which is a sport we call our own that people sign up to play. All sports are available for the non-die-hard athletes out there.
Jane
Groups at Miami are all over the board. Greek life and Campus Crusade for Christ are two particularly strong and prominent groups on campus. Also, the student government and intramural sports are big. In terms of varsity sports men's hockey is really the only team that garners a significant amount of support from students, but the athletic community itself seems to be a very tight knit group of people.
In my time at Miami I got involved with numerous organizations and two of my favorites were being part of the student radio station and writing/editing for campus publications. These are smaller organizations, but because of this you get great hands-on experience and make great friendships.
Social life outside of organizations is tons of fun at Miami as well. In college your weekend begins on Thursday nights. This usually means going Uptown to bars with friends. You have to be 18, minimum, to get into bars Uptown and some are 21 and up. The bars are a lot of fun and are the main source of entertainment during the weekend. There are places to dance, play pool or just sit and talk. Many bars have specialty nights as well such as 90s night or dollar draft beer night. Big house parties are few and far between, and don't usually welcome strangers or freshman. The exception to this rule is fraternity house parties that usually get pretty crowded. Day drinking and drinking games such as beer pong are also two of the pleasures of college life.
People get pretty rowdy on weekends so it is important to go out with people you trust and know will look out for you if things get out of hand. Know your limits when it comes to drinking, because there are many consequences if you get in trouble. For starters, any run-ins with the police result in a "code" through the university. This is a mark put on your record that can get you kicked out if you get multiple codes, depending on the level. Codes also come with a form of punishment, like sitting through very, very long alcohol awareness classes on Saturdays. Another reason to practice some self-control is that the police reports get printed in the school newspaper for the students and professors alike to read. And they do. All in all if you are smart about your activities it is easy to stay out of trouble.