<p>The counter-culture movement of the 1970’s hit harder at Wesleyan than most colleges, and throughout the next 20 years, Wes did have a reputation as a place with “militant feminists.” Those decades established a stereotype, which somewhat persists to this day, despite the school not being as extreme as it was back in those days. Sure, there are probably still “militant feminists” on campus, but they probably encompass 0.08% of the student body, whereas at other schools it might be 0.04% (both are small numbers). Same with pot-smoking - if the incidence is 20% at other NESCACs, it might be 22% at Wesleyan. I didn’t smoke, and neither did my friends. That’s the beauty of Wesleyan - you can have the experience you want. Sure, there’s a drug scene. But it’s not any more significant a part of campus life than at any other NESCAC (and all NESCACs do have drug scenes, as do most liberal arts colleges). It’s completely avoidable. See skipmaxim’s post with point #4.</p>
<p>The schools is liberal, but not really any more so than any other NESCAC school.</p>
<p>As for crime, if you look up Clery reports for NESCAC schools, Wesleyan is no different in crimes on campus. There was an issue with Public Safety and the director last year, but he has since left and the school is conducting a search and hired an outside consulting firm for a new head of Public Safety and changes to be made to policies.</p>
<p>Wes students are a fiery bunch; I wouldn’t characterize the administration as under siege.</p>
<p>As for rankings, it mostly comes down to endowment. Wesleyan, in the 80’s, had an endowment as big as Williams and Amherst, but due to overspending (mostly on fancy buildings) and not soliciting alumni, the endowment hasn’t kept up. Wesleyan has since righted the ship, and is now saving most of what it raises, and is currently in the middle of a $400 million capital campaign, over half of which will be going to the endowment. As soon as the endowment starts compounding what was raised from the campaign, the ranking will come back up.</p>
<p>I think your daughter’s overnight is the more accurate impression. Are these other sources current students? Alums? College guidebooks?</p>