<p>depending on how outgoing you are, you might try approaching students and talking to them about what they think about their school.</p>
<p>I just got back from my trip. Stanford is probably the most beautiful campus I have ever seen. Feels very relaxed too. Berkeley was interesting too. Campus is also attractive, though not in the way stanford was. Was less crowded than I thought. Although the campus was nice, I cant say i like the city of berkeley. At lunch i walked through the gate area, and there was group protesting israeli occupation of palestine, with a few feet away, a rally for immigration. Then a long line of student clubs from chinese student body, jewish, republicans. Although I consider myself liberal, I think seeing all these rallies and protests constantly, would kind of tire me out. Out of Berkeley and Stanford, I felt much more comfortable at Stanford.</p>
<p>Hehe oh gosh, come on the one day that I've seen protests over the past month or (that I didn't actually see, just heard about). Your assesment is fine and understandable, of course, and maybe I've slept through many a protest over the past month.</p>
<p>What is considered a protest these days? i go to downtown SF and there's this guy yelling at the girls to stay virgins, another group talking about how CAL< FLO<TEXAS and NY are going to get blown to heck for turning against God, another group getting signatures for a campaign, and yet another handing out flyers for the Falun Gong...all on one corner, I LOVE my city!!!</p>
<p>Anyway, good luck and don't fret on the protests to much, you get used to them and can hear some pretty interesting things</p>
<p>So what if you see them? You can participate, or say,not for me today. No big deal.</p>
<p>I come from a very liberal area. Our city council even signed a petition to impeach Bush. I dont mind seeing protests, but I think I get kind of tired of it when every day I walk through like 3 different rallies. On the day I was there, there was a group called women in black who stood around handing out flyers, and making speeches, then towards sather gate some kind of hispanic club were making speeches about immigration. I just find it odd to see that much on just a random day i went to go see Berkeley</p>
<p>Why is that odd? It happens randomly througout the year. There are often groups trying to get you to listen to them, or sign up for a mailing list. I remember a period during which the women in black stood on the edge of sproul, where Telegraph meets Bancroft, although I missed the Hispanic students. Sproul Plaza is a center for student life, but can easily be avoided if you don't want to see these sorts of things.</p>
<p>Im just wondering if this is something that happens everyday, or just random times. Because the one day I came to visit it seemed pretty busy with clubs and groups making speeches and stuff</p>
<p>Few speeches, many flyers. That's what you should expect. People will try to pass you pieces of paper as you walk near them. You can, as I have, become a master at avoiding them. It's easy. I've yet to hear a speech on sproul. I've heard a few protests, and they chanted, but no speeches. oh, and there are tables for many clubs. if you spot something you like or need help with (such as the student advocacy office), you can ask for information.</p>
<p>Oh for the good old days, when you had to take out your contact lenses at lunch time because of the tear gas.</p>
<p>i just got back from a long weekend at stanford (my friend and i stayed with her sister), and i absolutely fell in LOVE with the school. the campus is beautiful and the dorms are nice too. if you have the opportunity to do an overnight there, i highly recommend it</p>