<p>1) The campus of Union seems nice, but the surrounding city...ugh. I need my environment to be at least somewhat nice? Are there safer cities close by where students can go to have a good time?</p>
<p>2) I don't like alcohol- and I've heard that Union kids are big drinkers. I also don't like big frat parties and big Greek life, etc, etc, would this be a problem for me?</p>
<p>1) Schenectady is not a terrible city. It has bad parts just as anywhere else, but the downtown has really been fixed up. There are many restaurants, Proctor’s Theater (which hosts real Broadway shows and a weekly farmer’s market, among many other things), a movie theater (where the premiere for The Place Beyond the Pines took place), coffee shops, and the like in walking distance of campus and the students do not hesitate to venture out to these locations. When looking for a place to eat, the majority of the restaurants listed at [Directory</a> - Dining - Downtown Schenectady](<a href=“http://www.downtownschenectady.org/dining]Directory”>Dining Diversity in the Spotlight During Schenectady Restaurant Week, February 26-March 4) are in walking distance from campus. That said, students don’t often find a need to leave campus because most of what they’d want is here. There are always things going on.
As for cities around Schenectady, there are options. Saratoga Springs, a beautiful little town, is very close. There is a great main street there with restaurants and shops. Very near Union is Niskayuna, where Union’s Adirondack Center is located, along with a co-op and a few other little things. Albany is just a bus or car ride away to get to the mall or just a bigger city feel.
Though students have these options to go to to have a good time, and have easy access to get there with Union’s trolley system, most students decide to stay on campus or in Schenectady for the majority of their fun. There are daily events for all students to attend. </p>
<p>2) Union has been known as a big drinking school, but that culture is neither the only, nor the largest one present.
Union’s Minervas are a place where kids hang out or host weekend events. Last weekend there was a substance-free highlighter party at the Green Minerva. Aside from set events, Minervas are just a place to be, and are often utilized as a place to get a group of friends together to just have fun.
In addition to Minervas, student activities puts on different events as an alternative to the drinking culture every weekend. There are new movies playing all weekend, every weekend. Activites thrown include an all-night party in the campus center, where the school brings in different activities, such as henna and arcade games, and prizes for those that attend. There is a weekly comedy series that brings a comedian to the school. There are dances and different food events in Old Chapel. Just a few weeks ago there was laser tag in the field house. The list goes on, but really the point is that the school does hold alternate events for those who do not want to go out drinking, or to a frat. I’m happy to say that these events are very well attended.</p>