Hampshire College

Date: Mar 03 2009
Major: Fine Arts - Painting/Sculpture/Photography/etc (This Major's Salary over time)
I went to Hampshire with the highest expectations, and with the largest merit scholarship they award. I made many friends, and had a few good professors. However, on balance I was deeply disappointed by a chaotic, intolerant campus dominated by insane political posturing and students who mostly just slide through their work.

As a multi-racial student, who had been active in social justice issues all my life, I was horrified to find a campus that lives in fear because of student "activists" who cannot tolerate anyone else's viewpoint without calling them "racist", "repugnant" and "neo-Nazi" and whose response to any question about their viewpoint is to say "I don't have to educate you!!" (How, one wonders, do they hope to change minds?)

Jewish students who don't want to trash Israel should STAY AWAY - both faculty and students are hostile and harassing towards students with ANYTHING positive to say about Israel (and I note this as a left-wing, two state solution guy). The campus Rabbi is terrified, and so are a lot of Jewish students, many of whom are transferring out.

The administration, while struggling financially, has given in to the demands of radical students to forward their political agenda, which is not necessary in the best interests of the majority of the students. For example, they are hiring more professors for Black Studies courses. While there's nothing wrong with Black Studies courses, the ones presently offered are not filled: At the same time, the buildings and grounds are filthy and poorly kept up, and the Art Department (which many students come to the school for) has been cut and is struggling to survive. Why not use that money where it benefits the most students?

Additionally, one wonders why, if these students really want to accomplish something, they don't go out and work for change in agencies off campus, instead of accusing one of the most progressive, leftist schools in the US of "racism." And why does the administration cave in to such silly rhetoric?

Many, many professors are more interested in promoting whatever political agenda they favor than in teaching. Evaluations (given in place of grades) are sometimes AS MUCH AS THREE YEARS LATE, with no action taken to require the professor to complete that student's transcript.

The campus climate is one of intolerance for ANY view other than the most radical left - and the administration allows radical students to target and harass other students without taking any disciplinary action.

STAY AWAY - go to a school where students want to learn, actually apply themselves to their studies, and where political activism is responsible, sane and tolerant of the other side at least expressing their viewpoints.