<p>fogfog: You say that at BC the cigarette butts take away from an otherwise “well-maintained” campus. I think that the “trash” and butts are more noticeable at BC because they generally do such a good job at maintenance. Have you been to UPenn? UChicago? Georgetown? Far grittier places–you don’t notice the trash and butts because the grounds are generally in poorer repair. Also, you may have hit it at a time which was in between cleanups. I recently read another poster describe BC as “too gilded” and perfect. Based on our visits, I’d say they do a pretty good job cleaning up for a campus which has major sports teams and several graduate schools squeezed onto a relatively small campus. However, it’s possible they have cut back somewhat on grounds maintenance because of the economy.</p>
<p>I guess my point about BC is that with such a lovely lovely campus–I am disappointed at what appears to be a lack of appreciation/disrespect. Just whost do these smokers who drop their butts all over THINK is going to pick that up? and Why do they feel that they shouldn’t clean up after themselves?</p>
<p>I saw a news item this am that Columbia is discussing smoking bans for campus…and I think NYU might have also been in that same news item for the same thing.</p>
<p>Smoking is definitely NOT an east coast thing. All the schools we looked at when my D was applying were on the east coast, and Bard was the only one that left us with that impression.</p>
<p>Bard doesn’t allow smoking in any buildings or in dorm rooms. Maybe you only saw more smokers because they were outside the buildings in plain site instead of holing up in their rooms with the smoke-detectors disconnected. ?? My daughter is a non-smoker, and non-drinker and agrees there are plenty of smokers at Bard, even some in vocal performance—which really mystifies my daughter! She’d still rather be at Bard than any other college and she had offers from and experiences with many, many schools. The smoking issue gets played up as much as the legend of drug freedom, which is bunk, too, and not an activity condoned or overlooked by the college administration. </p>
<p>If my third daughter was to decide that Bard was the perfect fit for her, I would be ecstatic. You may just have to look past the superficial, the prejudices, and the stereotypes…and if you can’t, maybe it’s not the school for you.</p>