Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Hallmarks and Quirks
Things I'm Good At:
- Lacrosse, rowing, sailing, soccer, field hockey, and football. I host countless other sports, yes, but these are what I'm known for in terms of athleticism on a national level. Don't believe me? Look it up.
- Music and art. That's right, I'm an artist in all senses of the word. I'm actually nearing completion of a new Performing Arts Center. Open mics, Quad Concerts, and Battle of The Bands will all soon be hosted. After all, in the words of Cat Empire, "music is the language of the soul," and I've got soul...'cause I'm superbad.
- Going abroad and traveling the world, while at school. Seriously. The Princeton Review ranked my Abroad Program 18th in the nation. Not impressed yet? The Association of International Educators made HWS one of only five winners of the prestigious Senator Paul Simon Award for CAMPUS Internationalization. My Study Abroad Program is so well put-together and encouraging, that 50-65% of HWS students end up studying abroad, versus the 1-2% of students nationally. You do the math.
My Top 5 Must-Haves:
- Mittens. They'll keep your hands toasty for that brisk walk to class mid-winter. You may also want some boots...and the warmest coat you can find. And a hat. Basically, just be ready for winter when it hits and don't complain. Nobody likes negative Nancys.
- Bathing suits. There are multiple back-to-back days of springtime sunshine, during which all members of the HWS community flock to the docks by the lake.
- A late-night Trash Plate from Joe's Hots. You've got to try it at least once. Trust me.
- Friends to visit you. You'll need at least a few poor folks to tell you how much better my campus is than theirs (it helps to keep some perspective).
- An open-mind and willingness to push outside your comfort zone. Especially if you don't have any of the previous point. Don't worry, we're all friends here, you'll find your crew in no time.
Why You Might Have Heard of Me:
- You may have been on your way to somewhere like Cornell, and noticed my beautiful lake. And campus. And people. You may have also then looked into my academic programs only to find that they were fantastic...and that you'd much rather go to a place that feels like paradise. Why fight it, right?
- Giving back. There are things bigger and better in this world than helping yourself. My students realize that and strive to make positive change in the world. I was recently recognized nationally as one of only four institutions (out of 800 considered) named for the President's Award for Education in Community Service. I send a lot of grads to the Peace Corps as well. Did I mention my President used to be the President of the Peace Corps as well?
- Vino vino vino. Al voltre sante. We love and appreciate (responsibly of course) our wine over here in the Finger Lakes Wine region. You'll probably see wine busses and limos peeling up and down the lake—a thirty-five mile stretch of sublime scenery—to enjoy our award winning reds and whites.
On a regular Saturday night, you can find me...
If I'm not at an Odells or off-campus party, I'm probably downtown at Parkers, Beef 'n' Brew, or Lakedrum Brewery. I'll end up at Sideshow when the night is done. Like zebras to a watering-hole, my students tend to flock here. Underage students beware, Ma (an exquisitely kind yet eccentric lady who lives above the bar) will not hesitate to soak you with her water blaster until you leave. For real, it's pretty embarrassing...but hilarious to watch.
If you don't like to poison your body every weekend, though, it's okay. There's always plenty non-alcohol-related activities going during the weekend nights. There's almost always a dance party happening in the barn, movie nights, fun games, snacks, and prizes in Scandling Center, and tons of cool people to hang with all over campus.
Favorite Hangouts:
- You really can't beat the lake. Rain or shine, snow or sleet, cats or dogs, pots or pans—no matter what the weather, she always manages to make your jaw drop.
- The Quad. It's in the middle of everything. As soon as you get out of class, I would recommend grabbing a friend or five and a frisbee and heading to this slice of heaven.
- Saga is our dining hall and it's pretty great. There are so many options and people are always there. If you want to "Saga-sit," you won't be the only one hanging out there in between classes. It's also in the same building as the post office, print services, cafe, a pool table, and a number of other important event rooms. If something big is happening, the good ole' Scandling Center will let you know.
Quirks:
- Have I mentioned that I'm small? I mean, my campus is gorgeous and spacious, but my student body is small enough to know most of the people in your class by the end of your time here. This is normally a good thing...but it can also be bad if you're trying to avoid a certain someone, only to crash into them in Saga the next morning. Remember mistaking Heather for Frank yesterday? You're not going to get out of her sight anytime soon.
Famous Alumni:
- Elizabeth Blackwell, the first female doctor in all of America, no big deal
- Dr. Willis A. Adcock, inventor of the silicon transistor, and member of team that developed the atomic bomb
- Eric Bloom, Singer, songwriter, guitarist, and keyboardist, most recently of Blue Öyster Cult
- Dr. Harry Coover, inventor of "super glue"
- Edward "Joe" Crone, World War II POW who served as Kurt Vonnegut's model for Billy Pilgrim in Slaughterhouse Five
- Christopher McDonald, movie, television, and stage actor (Happy Gilmore, Requiem for a Dream, The Perfect Storm, Quiz Show)
- Andrew Dickson White, co-founder and first president of Cornell University, diplomat, and historian
- Brad Falchuk, television writer, director, and producer of television series such as Glee and American Horror Story