<p><gasp!> You mean…there could be a conspiracy to corrupt our children?!!</gasp!></p>
<p>I love everything you say, TheDad
Thank you for this</p>
<p>As additional food for thought, the Featured Discussion entitled You Know You’re a Smithie When posted by The Dad is said by rocket6louise in a Reply post as being “It’s pretty darn accurate.” This post by The Dad ties in with many of the above discussions, especially the strong emphasis on homosexuality at Smith College. One might even say that so many of the numbered items almost make it sound like lesbianism is an obsession on campus. As examples on The Dad’s post: “You make passes at girls who wear glasses”; “You think that guy’s really cute,” but it turns out that that guy “is a girl”; “You have made out with a girl or thought of making out with a girl”; “DAMN. THE. MAN”; “You can count your heterosexual friends on one hand”. The Dad refers to an unpublished statistic that 70% of entering freshman are straight when entering Smith. What is the percentage at graduation after four years of pressure? Is the population by then 70% homosexual after four years in this environment? Also, no one has responded as to my earlier query as to why Smith alumni giving rate is so much “lower” than many liberal arts colleges ranked far below it. Could it be because by the time graduation rolls around, the enthusiasm for Smith has waned to the point that money is not given to the college later? It is common sense that those students most happy with their college experience give generously to their college later, but this is not the case with Smith.</p>
<p>At the risk of starting up this “discussion” again, cncrdparent- what is your problem? Why do you keep posting here? Why don’t you just go away? Do you have some kind of strange fascination with strong women? Are you jealous? Mad at Smith for not giving your D more money? A homophobe? Trying to “convert” people who are part of the LGBT community?? What is your point?</p>
<p>Maybe you should read the latest good news about Smith -
Smith College a Leader in Fulbright Fellowship Success
[News</a> Office](<a href=“http://www.smith.edu/newsoffice/releases/NewsOffice_11-033.html]News”>News Office)</p>
<p>And the latest good news is that New York State has legalized same sex marriage!</p>
<p>(If some would-be Smith parents have a problem with the fact that 12% of the Smith student body is made up of smart women who are attracted to other women, well too darn bad - for their daughters, that is. I am glad - very glad, and gratified - that Smith, from its administration on down embraces the variety of women’s experience. It is, after all, first and foremost a women’s college - not a liberal arts college that happens to be all women - but a women’s college that embraces the liberal arts.)</p>
<p>RE: Mini-- Yes, finally! So proud of our governor, Cuomo, and our legislature! It’s been a great weekend for New Yorkers!!!</p>
<p>What a great step forward for marriage equality!</p>
<p>I am following Smith info, will be touring in mid-Oct and am very much looking forward to seeing the “real thing” after just the website.</p>
<p>My son just finished his college search for fall 2011 admission. Having so recently completed a college search, all I can say to OP is “hey, it’s one of those you didn’t like, so move on.” I have never seen, in ANY of the 15 or so forums I was following for his choices, ANYONE leave more than TWO comments on why they did not like a college. Houston, you have a problem.</p>
<p>I agree with upstatemom.</p>
<p>Let it go and put your efforts towards the colleges that are on the “yes” and “maybe” list and let go of your “no” list, unless this is just your idea of fun.</p>
<p>Anyone know how to get a ■■■■■ banned?</p>
<p>This thread has long outlasted any redeeming value it may have had as a discussion. The mods have the ability to lock it down and should do so. Just sayin’ :rolleyes:</p>
<p>
No answer to a question based on a false premise: there is <em>no</em> pressure. Sure, maybe asks someone for a date and is told, “Sorry, I don’t hit from that side of the plate.” People ask and get turned down at co-ed colleges, too, swear to God…I can personally attest to that! In terms of unwanted sexual advances and distinguished from “pressure” (presumably to become lesbian), there’s a lot more at alcohol-fueled co-ed colleges by a long shot…and I mean a very long shot. “Respect for women” is something taken seriously at Smith, including the right to say “No.”</p>
<p>Lesbianism is hardly an “obsession” on campus; it just happens to be a rare place where women who are gay or bi can be “out” and be themselves without having to keep a low profile. And if some are left a little giddy and exhilarated about this kind of freedom, I understand. It’s a little like being with other literary geeks at a science fiction convention.</p>
<p>I’m sure other people’s opinions have already been stated, but I thought I’d share my experiences. It’s probably good to keep in mind that I come from a beyond conservative area and personally know only three openly gay people (something I hope reflects not my personal beliefs but the area from which I come).<br>
I arrived at Open Campus, finding Smith to be quite helpful (due to bus delays, I missed Sign In) as they sent a small shuttle to pick myself and other girls on the bus with me. I did not even have time to place my bags in the correct area before we were ushered to our respective houses. I witnessed the confidence of these women as they waved and smiled and looked so excited to see us. At dinner that night, I sat three seats away from a couple who kissed every few minutes. I was a bit shocked, but not badly so. I had never seen a lesbian couple, so it was simply something new. Something that ought to be remembered is that they are not different than any other couple, except their genders are the same. I’ve sat at the same table as a heterosexual couple who kissed and not said anything, so I decided that the protocol should be the same. Whether you agree homosexuality is right or not (which appears to be the father’s qualm), they are human and deserve to be treated the same.
I also feel like I have a solution to why homosexuality is so high at Smith. It is a women’s college. Many women choose to go to co-ed schools because they cannot imagine being without men. Lesbians would not have this problem, so more lesbians would go to a women’s college. And the reason it’s talked about so much is because everyone thinks of lesbians when they think of women’s colleges. People think, “Why would a woman not want to be at a college where she could find men easily? Is it because she doesn’t need a man to be happy, or that she intends to focus on academics or be sure that she doesn’t make bad choices? No, it must be because she doesn’t like men.” This mentality is so wrong. Apart from that one couple, my hostess and her many friends were all straight. This is not to say that there is not a prevalent rate of homosexuality or bisexuality, but not overwhelming and smothering as seems to be implied.
I would also like to address the point made saying that the women at Smith go under four years of pressure. Sir, the point of Smith is acceptance and openness; the only pressure at Smith is to be accepting and open. The point of Smith is not to be a lesbian.</p>
<p>Overview
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Student Profile</p>
<p>abby</p>
<p>Class: Senior
Major: English
Gender: F
High School: St. Anthony’s High School
Transfer Student: N
Return to all student reviews
Big Picture</p>
<p>Perhaps the greatest thing about Smith is the academics. You pay a lot of money, but you get what you pay for, a good education from a very reputable college. It does seem, however, that the school administration has been making several drastic changes to the college over the last 5 years. Several things which made the college much more of a community, for example dinning in every house, has been removed or replaced and I can’t help but feel like the dynamic of the college has changed a bit from it. There is less intra house community. There have also been several incidents at the college which have fractured the Smith community. Specifically, there were several racist controversies among students as well as an incident involving the trans community at Smith. These incidents divided the Smith community into (usually) two strongly opposing sides which I would still say do not get along.</p>
<p>Academic Life</p>
<p>The academics at Smith are very good. They are difficult and can be challenging, but that is what we pay for. It can be easy to feel overwhelmed however, as most professors have high expectations and they also tend to forget that a student has other classes with other assignments. The work pile-up happens quickly and when classes start, they hit the ground running. That being said, most professors are willing to help out in anyway they can. The lack of core courses make it easy for students to take whatever strikes them and creates less stress in those first years. Classes themselves vary by the people who are in them, most often classes are a discussion with sporadic lectures. They can be peppered with what Smith terms “that girl” which refers to a student which talks a lot but doesn’t say much. Students are very used to being correct so any statement contrary to their own can be met with hostility.</p>
<p>Student Body</p>
<p>The student body has its groups and cliques like every other campus, however the Smith cliques I believe are a bit different than most of other colleges. There is a large population of lesbians at Smith, including those Smith dubbed LUGS or lesbians until graduation. There is a small but growing trans-gender community at Smith. There are a small group of conservative or Republican students on campus. Generally, the school is a liberal one (may 90 to 95 percent). The different groups can blend and interact together fairly well with the exception of where politics are involved. The school is extremely politically active and aware and the different opinions can create conflict.</p>
<p>The Best Things</p>
<p>The unique community and living experience</p>
<p>The Worst Things</p>
<p>The extreme political environmen</p>
<p>You do know what year that review was written, I presume.</p>
<p>Can we get a moderator in here? This thread has repeatedly proven itself to be merely an outlet for one man’s obsession with denigrating Smith. Bossf51 is right. This thread should be locked.</p>
<p>You’ve made it very clear that you and your daughter did not feel comfortable on Smith’s campus. There is nothing wrong with that, no one will make your daughter apply or go there. So why are you wasting your time trying to put Smith down?</p>
<p>This thread is closed for posting.</p>