火爆社区

A liberal arts school near Tacoma, Washington, Pacific Lutheran University 鈥渙ffers [a] well-rounded education and encourages students to be active participants in the world鈥� by encouraging students to lead 鈥渓ives of thoughtful inquiry, service, leadership and [to] care for other people, their communities, and their planet.鈥� Students say that the school emphasizes 鈥渟ustainability and social justice鈥� and 鈥減rovides various opportunities to learn about community, culture, their importance, and our impact on them.鈥� Students say that PLU provides them 鈥渨ith [a] quality education鈥� and a curriculum that 鈥渟eeks to educate their students in thoughtful and diverse discussions while teaching [them] to be thoughtful of our environment and community.鈥� They say that through this 鈥渄istinctive education [PLU] sets itself apart from other colleges.鈥� Students find their professors to be 鈥渒ind, understanding, [and] very knowledgeable and interested in their subject.鈥� PLU professors 鈥済enuinely enjoy educating鈥� and 鈥渁re capable of holding interest as well as teaching in a functional way鈥� because they are 鈥渆ngaging and passionate about their subject matter.鈥� Students enjoy the typical PLU teaching style that places a greater emphasis on discussion and group activities, explaining that 鈥渄iscussion and activity time make learning much more exciting.鈥� Some PLU students said that their professors 鈥渁re not afraid to challenge us,鈥� and while some students were 鈥渙verwhelmed at first,鈥� all agree that the majority of the faculty 鈥渁re accessible and friendly and obviously care about their students.鈥� Many students complain that the school needs to 鈥渂ecome more diverse in its student and faculty population.鈥�

The typical PLU student is 鈥渆ngaged in the on-campus community and interested in the surrounding community,鈥� 鈥減assionate about their major,鈥� 鈥渂ut often [focused] even more on social justice and community service.鈥� Students say that 鈥渋t takes a couple weeks to adjust to the new scenery and structure,鈥� but because the 鈥渟tudents are welcoming and there are many ways and places to get involved on campus,鈥� 鈥渋t is easy to reach out to find who you will really fit in with.鈥� Many students stressed to us that 鈥渆very student is unique, and . . . weirdness is encouraged.鈥� PLU students value 鈥渁n understanding of larger global issues,鈥� but some criticize the student body as being 鈥減rivileged, with no concept of life outside of privilege.鈥� Indeed, many agree that the student body skews demographically towards 鈥渨hite, middle-upper middle class鈥� 鈥渉eterosexual female Lutheran[s]鈥� from the Pacific Northwest and that the school would benefit from greater diversity. But students who 鈥渄on鈥檛 fit with all of those鈥� categories say they 鈥渁lways feel welcome and feel like I fit in.鈥�

Living on campus is obligatory for all students 鈥渢he first two years or until they turn 20, then most people live either within a few blocks . . . or move into the campus-owned apartment buildings, which are really nice.鈥� Despite 鈥渁 large commuter population,鈥� 鈥渢here is still a lively community of students that live near campus.鈥� PLU doesn鈥檛 have a Greek system, 鈥渂ut there are still 鈥減arty houses鈥� and there are open parties around campus every weekend.鈥� On campus students can choose from 鈥渁 lot of different groups to join, . . . and because of our proximity to mountains and other outdoor activities there is a huge community of outdoorsy people鈥� who 鈥渓ove to hike around here on different trails or mountains.鈥� In fact the school鈥檚 鈥淥utdoor Recreation takes trips of students for low costs to amazing things like rock climbing, kayaking, hiking, [and] snowshoeing.鈥� Students also 鈥渓ove to go to concerts for a wide variety of music鈥� and enjoy 鈥渋n-depth talks about current issues.鈥�