Bucknell University

Bring an Umbrella and Rainboots

Lewisburg is not known for its sunny disposition - the town receives a great deal of rain each year. This past year was especially bad, with the Susquehanna River, which runs parallel to campus, actually flooding and forcing classes to be canceled for a day as everyone scrambled to find temporary accommodations. It was the apex of a very rainy year to begin with, much of which was a constant light drizzle - enough to get you wet, but not enough to warrant full rain gear.

The snowfall at Bucknell is light (though still present), and the winters are definitely cold. That said, on a sunny spring day, with temperatures at a balmy 75 F, you can't help but sigh a little to yourself as you walk down a quad filled with people sunbathing, doing homework, playing Frisbee, and otherwise enjoying the amazing weather.

Freshman Dorms Vary, Upperclassmen Generally Good

Housing on-campus is largely dependent on your year. First-year students live in one of five locations (ranked in terms from worst to best, or as generally accepted by Bucknellians): Larison, Harris, Swartz, Vedder, Smith, McDonnell. The last two are home to the Residential Colleges, themed halls for first-year students that are highly recommended by this reviewer. Larison, Harris, Vedder, and Smith are located "downhill" (closer to downtown and the cafeteria), while Swartz and McDonnell are located "uphill" (closer to the academic quad and library). First-year students do not have a choice of rooms, though choosing a Residential College guarantees Smith or McDonnell, which are generally considered the best dorms. Larison and Harris do not have A/C, which isn't usually a problem, though the first and last few weeks of school might get a bit humid. Other than that, first-years have few options.

Upperclass housing is much more varied, however. First are the Small Houses, themed houses located on the edge of campus closest to downtown Lewisburg, including Galloway House, Hulley House (traditionally dedicated to the theater), Leiser House, 7th Street House (for the study of the Black Diaspora), and one or two others. These themes change occasionally as organizations wax and wane in popularity.

Next are the uphill dorms, including Trax, Roberts, and Kress, all of which are generally considered to be a little above-average. The Gateways, which are setup as three or four rooms centered around a common space, are highly-sought after, though maybe a bit far from the heart of campus. Then there are the Mods, located on the opposite side of Route 15 - these are sophomore-only apartments ("mod"-ular units) that are somewhat isolated from campus. Finally, the "Lofts", located on the ground floor of Smith Hall, are specifically for sophomores as well, functioning as housing for past members of the Residential Colleges mentioned above (specifically the Global and Society and Technology colleges).

The last options for upperclass students include sorority and fraternity housing as well as off-campus housing. The former options include the individual frat houses (mostly owned by the university with two exceptions) and Hunt Hall for sorority members. These are obviously of special interest to members of Greek organizations (and occasionally friends). The latter option, off-campus housing, is more common for juniors and seniors looking for another degree of autonomy, and, for the right price, offer a way of gaining even more independence.

Good Local Fare, but Not a Ton of Variety

Lewisburg is home to a small number of really good restaurants. Favorites include Bull Run Inn for classic American fare and the always-amazing Bull Run Dip (seriously, it's a favorite of any Bucknellian who's ever had it); Siam Cafe (Thai food) and Peking Garden for a flair of Asian, Lewisburg Hotel and Victoria's Pub for a bit classier fare, and Elizabeth's American Bistro and Brasserie Louis for parents and business. A number of pizza and wing places round out the list for late-night grub: Dominos (cheap, great pizza and good wings), Pizza Phi (cheap, but maybe not quite as good), Big Andy's Wings & Beyond (great wings and decent pizza), and Larry's Pizza and Wings (arguably better pizza than Dominos). You're guaranteed to hit at least a few of these each semester, as they're all within walking distance. For those with cars, other options include Damon's and Applebees, and maybe a few others in nearby towns, but these represent most of the big places around Market Street and the downtown Lewisburg area.

In terms of cost, most things are pretty affordable, though Lewisburg Hotel and Brasserie Louis are definitely higher on the totem pole, and Elizabeth's is almost exclusively for special occasions and Parent's Weekend. Dominos, Peking Garden, and Larry's are the prime delivery locations, and all three are definitely tailored to college students.