| Well, I guess if your only concern when choosing a college is the liveliness of the surrounding area, then you would not pick Bates, although I do think there is a lot going on to keep you occupied. Lewiston does not really provide any cultural activities, at least none that students regularly participate in. There are a couple nice museums and theaters, and some beautiful churches, but they are not easy to get to and they don’t really offer the kind of “fun” activities you’re probably talking about.
Bates does a great job of trying to make up for what Lewiston lacks. I love the Village Club Series, which brings in some excellent bands every Thursday night and serves free chai and cookies. There are always student performances going on, like plays, a capella concerts, traditional dances, and the hilarious improv comedy groups. We have some big student dances that are always a lot of fun, like the Halloween dance, Gala, and the infamous 80’s dance (and many more…). Bates activities bring the student body together in crazy activities like the Puddle Jump (where students jump into the frozen pond on campus in the middle of winter), winter carnival, the leaf jump during the fall, and many other little traditional activities.
The Bates campus is far removed from the bustling streets of Boston, but it is absolutely beautiful. A city might provide you with easier access to clubs and concerts, but it cannot give you a degree. There are many reasons why I would choose Bates as an academic institutution over a generic “school in a lively city.” |