<p>Hey guys</p>
<p>I haven't had the chance to visit campus yet, so I was wondering if you guys could answer my questions.</p>
<p>-What is the campus like (what does it look like, is it isolated, is it small or big)?
-Politically, which way does CM lean, or is it evenly split?
-Is there a good theatre scene on campus (student-run shows, acting troupes, etc.)?
-Is there any sort of Jewish life at CM (Hillel, clubs, etc.)?</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Midsize, somewhat urban, very close walk to downtown pittsburgh, but within a very tree-filled park area. Everything is made of yellow brick. Older buildings look ornate, newer ones modern, all impressive.</p></li>
<li><p>It depends, but like any top-ranked private university, you will find people of all political backgrounds.</p></li>
<li><p>Yes, yes and yes. CMU is very well known for its drama department, and there are several student clubs devoted to drama.</p></li>
<li><p>I don't know, but I'm sure there are people of your religious affiliation there.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I believe the Jewish University Center (JUC) Hillel serves Pitt, CMU and the other Pittsburgh college students. Check out their site. <a href="http://www.hilleljuc.org/%5B/url%5D">http://www.hilleljuc.org/</a></p>
<p>edit: It's worth noting that CMU is adjacent to a large park and golf course.</p>
<p>CMU straddles residential and more urban areas. The campus isn't walled in but it feels fairly contained once you are on it. It's unusual in having a lot of beige brick and green roofs. A couple of the buildings - like the old Fine Arts building and new Univeristy Center building are very nice. There's this really ugly painted fence in the middle of it ;) <a href="http://my.cmu.edu/site/admission/menuitem.8f3f46c52cb803c019300710d4a02008/%5B/url%5D">http://my.cmu.edu/site/admission/menuitem.8f3f46c52cb803c019300710d4a02008/</a></p>
<p>One Synagogue is few blocks from New House (across from WQED, Mr Rogers) Another is up Forbes Ave in Shady Side. I don't know anything about synagogues but they look very impressive.</p>
<p>I think there may be an old thread about 4, but I may have been the only person who responded to it. :)</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Overall, CMU is apathetic.</p></li>
<li><p>Scotch and Soda is the non-majors theatre group; they run a number of shows each semester. We have a great drama department, but I don't know how easy it is to be involved if you're a non-major. If you're interested in tech, it's definitely more possible to be involved.</p></li>
<li><p>The is a (active?) Hillel group - the Jewish University Center is about a block from campus. AEPi, a Jewish fraternity, has a house on campus (and is known for being somewhat geeky, and having a number of non-Jewish members). There are kosher dining options on campus, but they've never looked particularly appealing to me. There is a reform synagogue about a block from campus, and several other congregations in Squirrel Hill; I'm sure there's more that I'm forgetting. Squirrel Hill, which is about 5 minutes by bus or a 30-40 minute walk, is the traditionally Jewish part of town - whenever I'm there on Friday nights, I see orthodox Jews on their way to or from synagogue. There's also a few kosher groceries and delis, as well as a kosher Mediterranean restaurant.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>The campus isn't your typical gothic tree lined oasis like Princeton. Still I like it, once you get past the yellow beige bricks it's impressive and actually beautiful at least to me (with a few 1960's abominations thrown around). It's symmetric, neat and clean. You can walk from one end to the other in say 10 minutes. Personally I think they should spend a bundle on some major landscaping.</p>
<p>I think CMU is apathetic but overall leans left in that apparently anything goes.</p>