<p>As stated above, Alfred is a long way from anywhere, and the question about weekends is valid. In years past, there was a lot of alcohol abuse (as might be expected in a situation where there are no competing community attractions), and in 1990, Alfred’s Greek system was the subject of a book called “Broken Pledges” which detailed the death of a pledge from alcohol poisoning. In 2002, after another student death, the university officially ended its fraternity system:
[University</a> Announces Ban on Fraternities and Sororities - New York Times](<a href=“http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C06EFDF1038F931A15756C0A9649C8B63]University”>http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C06EFDF1038F931A15756C0A9649C8B63)
which often only serves to drive the existing problems and behaviors underground. After official campus recognition of organizations is withdrawn, the same students and traditions remain.</p>
<p>Alfred is the host site for New York’s College of Ceramic Engineering, which means that ceramics majors attend a public school and the other majors attend a private school. It’s an interesting mix.</p>