Bankdaddy,
Thank you for reviewing your impressions of Colgate as gathered last weekend and on earlier visits. I am on campus too and observed many of the same things regarding student life.
For those who have yet to visit and evaluate the college a good place to start coming to grips with campus issues is the Colgate Maroon News. The last issue has an article on social hosting policies as well as topics such as sustainability, celebrations/events, alumni feedback, music, politics, a review of a new cafe in the village, sports and other matters.
For those interested in Greek life, check out the cover article on social hosting. As you may know, Colgate owns all 8 Greek houses and monitors their activities closely.
http://www.thecolgatemaroonnews.com/mobile/
Best of luck to you, your wife and daughter for the next 4 years and beyond!
Go ‘gate!
yeah, picked up a copy at the Inn and read it front to back. It’s a well written paper. The take on Paul Ryan’s decision to drop out of Washington from the perspective of a liberal and a conservative student was well done.
The article on social hosting is also interesting. My D said campus security visited the frat party she was at a few times, that’s a good thing. She also mentioned something about some students “on duty” there to theoretically monitor stuff. I don’t think inviting contracted third parties to these event sis a good thing. That would just open up a can of worms and I’m sure we’d be discussing cases of overreach or incompetency in the future should that ever happen.
Bottom line, in my opinion, Greek life is a not that desirable. I know some kids want it, but the administration must really look forward tot he day it becomes extinct. I’ve read articles about Greek life being on its way to extinction. My son confirms this from his perspective at a school with perhaps 60% Greek involvement. He says the administration at his school is making it harder and harder and harder on the frats.
bankdaddy,
Thank you for your detailed write up on your recent experience in Hamilton. Your insights are very helpful for us in weighing the academic opportunities of Colgate vs its party reputation. My son is close to committing to Colgate. He has no interest in joining a frat (your descriptions of Fraturday will only reinforce that :), but feels confident he will be able to find his place (I hope he’s right).
@MisspentYouth, my son is a junior at Colgate. He lives down the hill on Broad Street near the frats. He doesn’t party and has had no problem at all finding his way socially. He has commented that frat parties get loud but that’s it. Colgate provides an excellent education, off campus study opportunities and career services. Don’t let the specter of Greek Life and partying dissuade your son from attending Colgate. If he’s visited campus, asked his questions and factored the weather, location and student body composition into his decision making process, then he has the information he needs to make the right choice for himself.
I think what people forget is only 1/3 of students at Colgate are in frats. 2/3 are not. There are plenty of thinks to do outside of frat activities. I have a Sophomore daughter at Colgate. Besides school work, which keeps her quite busy - her days/weekends are busy with a multitude of activities and friends, none of which are frat related.
@MisspentYouth - After very careful review I also have come to the conclusion that a student can find plenty to do outside of Greek life at Colgate. It’s certainly a concern given the reputation of the school, but after spending time there and asking the right questions it’s clear one can have a wonderful 4-years with or without Greek life. The same is not true at the college my son attends where 60% of students are in Greek life. The same is also not true at schools like Wake Forest where 80% of girls rush.
There is also another big difference at Colgate vis-a-vis schools like Bucknell or Wake. At those, if you are not in Greek life, you simply are not invited to the partying which occurs exclusively in frats. At Colgate, from my understanding, Frats, downtown apts are open to any student who wishes to participate in the party. I think it might be less cliquey at Colgate notwithstanding the Greek life realities.
Not sure which other schools your son is considering, but I would say not to bypass the potential Colgate offers because of Greek life.
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Can anyone tell me about Underground groups at colgate?
I heard DKE was officially disaffiliated from colgate a long time ago but they still exist on campus secretly…
How do they affect social life?
Thank you all for your helpful comments. I’m happy to say my son committed to Colgate today, so he is now a Raider. Go 'Gate!
congrats @MisspentYouth. My son committed there last week. I will now have two at 'Gate.