Smith College Top Questions

Is the stereotype of students at Smith College accurate?

Danielle

Some of them certainly are, and some people certainly do their best to belong to one or another, but many times they are inaccurate and hurtful.

Dylan

Smith has a large and present gay population because we are a very open and accepting community, however, percentages are not available. People here feel free to express themselves in any form. A women's college is a place where women can come and be around other women, and since our college is largely liberal, most are extremely accepting of whoever or whatever you want to be when you get here. As for Smith turning women into lesbians, the same answer applies. College is a place to express yourself and experiment, and here women feel very comfortable doing that. But in now is Smith a place that grooms people to be gay! That's totally false!

Katherine

No, the number of lesbians on campus doesn't affect the party scene or how you interact. Everyone is really friendly and there are house parties on weekends throughout the semester to let go of the stresses from weekday classes.

Jenn

The ideal behind Smith is to be a place where stereotypes and labels disappear; however, in reality, Smith still struggles with the conflict of ideas, beliefs, and values any diverse body of individuals does. When individuals from different cultures, lifestyles, religions, and socioeconomic standings come together, there is going to be difficulty in communication, as well as a need for understanding. In light of recent campus events, Smith's administration has undertaken a program to educate students on racism and prejudice. While the program has been received with mix reviews, efforts are being made. And the student body is starting to take a greater interest in making changes as well. That said, Smith students have a tendency to label fellow students, just as much as the world at large. While being gay, queer, transgendered, bisexual, or any other of a long list of labels is generally recognized, frequently students who are religious, republican, or conservative are harshly judged. Just because Smith is accepting of more lifestyles than the large world community, doesn't mean that its free of labels or the judgments that go with them.

Missy

A great majority of the student body is gay or bisexual, and the politics are definitely more liberal (more so than on some campuses), but there are quite a few students who are normal...they just don't get seen or heard that often. The Republican Club gets

Cameron

no

Mary

NO. I happen to be as heterosexual and carnivorous as they come :)

Emma

Okay, so we have a lot of strong females here, and a lot of strong females that like to date other strong females, but that definitely isn't everyone, and they just happen to be the loudest.

ami

no!

Sarah

Not always