Siena College

Date: Dec 07 2007
Major: English (This Major's Salary over time)
siena breeds conformity, in both formal and informal senses.

the student body is overwhelmingly white, catholic, xenophobic, politically consverative, and lower upper middle class. if this is your idea of a good time, siena is the place for you. the guys have the same crew cut, the girls have long straight hair. there is only one style of clothes. as the song said

long haired hippy freaks need not apply.

if you value diversity, originality, and creativity, you might rethink siena. ok, yes everyone is ridiculously polite, but they shrink from the notion that difference is interesting. if you stand out in a crowd, for any reason, such as artistic talent, high i.q., musical ability, sense of humor, etc. don't expect to be celebrated, expect to be shunned.

at most catholic colleges, the religious aspect is available, and encouraged. at siena adherence to catholic theological perspectives and subservience to the hierarchy is not only demanded, it is required. you can throw any notion of free thought out the window. agreement, not debate, is encouraged.

the faculty in the english dept. decent and openminded, but outside of there things get really rigid, more or less intellectually moribund. technology is feared, not embraced.

on the other hand, siena is overwhelmingly safe. there is never violence. you don't have to worry about the guy next to you stealing your stuff if you leave it on the desk while you make a trip to the bathroom. there isn't any sort rivalries, and the campus is fraternity free. most of the equipment is in good running order, and the place is clean. there are some problems with snow removal and parking, but nothing major.