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College Prowler

Nightlife

The parties are nothing special. The larger ones usually consist of three kegs at the most. They are usually off campus in houses that are about a five-minute walk away. There are not too many clubs in Cincinnati, and many people visit Newport, KY, which is a 10-minute drive south over the river. Many students patronize Soupie’s, a local bar located in nearby Norwood plaza. Also, Dana Gardens and the Woods are common college hangouts.

Off-Campus Dining

There are a couple of good places to eat off campus. One lesser known favorite is Zip’s Café, which is located in Mt. Lookout. It offers burgers and fries for a very affordable price. Cincinnati chili restaurants like Skyline are located everywhere. Exceptional ice cream can be found in nearby Hyde Park at Graeter’s. More expensive restaurants include spots like Montgomery Inn, which offers fantastic barbeque at prices that might be out of range for most students. However, during parent’s weekend, this is a nice place to visit.

Off-Campus Housing

While there is on-campus housing for juniors and seniors, it has been known to be hard to get, so a student should be prepared to move off campus after their sophomore year if needed. There are a lot of apartments and houses nearby off campus and, with enough time, a good deal can be found. Safety becomes a bigger issue, however, if you decide to live near the Norwood or Over-the-Rhine areas.

Overall Experience

My overall experience has been great. I love the school’s enthusiasm for all of its endeavors. There is also something for everyone. The clubs and organizations make it very easy to meet many people with the same beliefs, goals, and ideals as you. I really feel like I’m in a place that cares personally about my development and takes serious steps to ensure that I succeed not only here, but throughout the rest of my life, as well.

Parking

For resident students, there are two available lots. R-1, which is closest to the dorms and the classrooms, is full most of the time, and the best times to get a spot are late on a Friday or Saturday afternoon or when you’ve serendipitously caught someone leaving. A spot in R-1 is coveted and almost worn as a badge of honor. R-2, the parking lot used when R-1 is full (most of the time), is affectionately (and fittingly) referred to as

Safety & Security

Xavier has a small police force directly across the street from campus. They patrol all the time. You can tell they are out to protect and keep the school safe. Also, if the Cincinnati police or fire department is ever needed, they are close enough to respond in a hurry. Plus, the fact that Xavier is a close-knit place makes it all the more reassuring when it comes to safety. If you see someone you don’t know, or see someone doing something shady, he or she will be reported right away. Even in the dorms, you can’t get in without a resident of that building's student ID.

Transportation

The bus is the most non-utilized method of transportation in the city by students. On the weekends, fares are as low as 50 cents. There is not a subway in Cincinnati, so the bus is the only public transportation. Many on-campus students have cars which they use rather frequently.

Weather

The weather in Cincinnati sucks. It seems like it rains every day, however, the temperatures are similar to those of the middle-Atlantic seaboard (hot summer, cold winters, temperate falls and springs). There is not a substantial amount of snow since Cincinnati is not close to the lake effects of Cleveland.

Academics

Teachers here at Xavier are open, friendly, and extremely accommodating. I was shocked after hearing what friends said about their professors. There are not many TAs (at least that I have witnessed), so you can build a close bond with your teacher. They are truly out to help a student learn and reach his potential, not just dictate a subject to a pack of nameless faces like at larger schools.

Athletics

Basketball is the main staple of Xavier University. Unfortunately, the other sports at the school do not get much recognition. The intramural sports range through many popular sports and give students the chance of competing in different leagues at different levels of competition. The IM department offers two levels of basketball, floor hockey, softball, and soccer.

Campus Dining

The food served on campus at Xavier is hit-or-miss. Sometimes, the Caf will serve a really good dinner, other times, everything looks like vomit. I’ve heard it’s much better than other schools, but it’s certainly not your mom’s home cooking. The best part is that no matter what, you can always get cereal (Lucky Charms, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Cocoa Pebbles, and so on). Soft-serve ice cream is also a delicacy at the X. If you want to pretend you’re eating at a restaurant and still be able to use your meal plan, then go to Ryan’s Pub. The service is usually pretty slow, but the food is pretty good.

Campus Housing

How you would like the dorms all depends on your desire. For the community and traditional college experience, there is Brockman Hall, for just the frosh. For those who like a roomy, but more isolated living area, there is Buenger, and then there are Husman and Kuhlman for those who want something in between. While there is on-campus housing for juniors and seniors, it has been known to be hard to get, so a student should be prepared to move off campus after his sophomore year, if necessary. There are a lot of apartments and houses nearby off campus, and with enough time, a good deal can be found. Safety becomes a bigger issue, however.

Campus Strictness

Getting by at Xavier is just about being smart. If you pass out on the green space in your own vomit, they’re going to cite you. If you’re walking down the hall with an open container, your RA will write you up. If you come home yelling ‘I’m so drunk’ you’ll get in trouble. It’s obviously illegal for people under 21 to drink, but it’s also obvious that they will.

Computers

The network is very fast. The dorms at Xavier run on a T-1 connection, so speeds can be as high as 1 MB/sec. There are restrictors on certain entertainment Web sites, as well as file-sharing programs (Kazaa, for example), however, educational sites are given high priority, and downloads are very fast. The labs are not usually crowded, and they are located sparingly throughout the campus in different buildings and in every dorm. Every student should bring a personal computer, for at least communication and entertainment reasons. However, the lab computers offer word-processing and standard school programs (Adobe, Excel) if a student does not have a computer.

Diversity

My opinion is that this campus is diverse, especially due to its location in town. There are also a lot of foreign students on campus, but I don’t know how to compare that to other universities, because I haven’t spent enough time anywhere else to know.

Drug Scene

Actually, if there is a drug scene, I would say it is limited, or much hidden within certain groups, because I don’t see a lot of it. There are a number of people who spend some time with their alcohol, though.

Facilities

The athletic facilities are a little bit of a walk from the dorms, however, they are more than sufficient for weightlifting (free weights and pulley weights) and cardio (treadmills, stair-climbers, elliptical machines). There are also six basketball courts located at the O’Connor Sports Center, along with three racquetball courts. The student center, which was criticized in its first year for not being student-oriented is now living up to its name by offering free video games, relatively late-closing restaurants, laptop and board game check-outs (free with student ID), and frequent movies or performances in the theater on the bottom floor.

Greek Life

There are no fraternities at Xavier. The closest thing is the rugby team which throws consistent parties and even has its own ‘rugby house.’ Other club and varsity teams also have their own houses and will frequently have parties.

Guys & Girls

Everyday, I fall in love with five new girls I’ve never seen before. There is a fairly large number of extremely attractive girls on this campus. In addition, many of the same can even spell their names correctly and add and subtract. Seriously, though, the girls here are attractive in mind, body, and soul. I’ve met very many girls who are not only gorgeous, but also have high ambitions and are absolutely great conversationalists. I hope that one day one of them will talk to me.

Local Atmosphere

At Xavier, there is a clear division between people in the surrounding towns. I would say there is some sense of resentment towards the students and the institution of Xavier University by some citizens of Norwood, but for the most part, it is a great place to live. The University of Cincinnati is literally 15 minutes away. That makes rivalry games huge around here. Miami of Ohio is also considerably close to Xavier. As with any urban setting, there are definitely spots of Cincinnati you may want to avoid or be careful around. For the most part, however, Cincinnati is a great place to live and visit.