University of Nevada - Las Vegas - Local Atmosphere

College Prowler Take

Though Vegas is famously referred to as Sin City, and rightly so, the city can also be admired for its architectural feats and incredible design. Las Vegas is the only place in the world where you can see an Egyptian pyramid, the Eiffel Tower, and a romantic castle all on one street. Everywhere you look, you can see lights, especially on the Strip; sometimes it’s easy to forget to turn your headlights on because the place is so well-lit. To fully appreciate the breathtaking view, fly into the city at night or visit the top of the Stratosphere Hotel.

Many think that Vegas locals are wild and crazy people who close the nightclubs down and keep the drinks flowing. To the surprise of many, most Las Vegans are not Strip junkies like many out-of-towners seem to think; it’s the tourists who keep the city’s economy strong. With the freeways, all the Strip’s offerings are merely a five- to twenty-five-minute drive away. The downside of living in Las Vegas is that it is a tourist town, and when people are on vacation, many tend to leave their manners at home. Jaywalking is expected, and many tourists are self-centered and rude, which is especially common when you work at the shows or in retail. However, with the city’s occupants changing constantly, there are also many fun and interesting people to meet and new things to learn.

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Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

It’s all right for school and a... It’s all right for school and a temporary place to live, but then again, 75 percent of the town is in that same boat, which makes it a transient type of city. I believe ours is the only university. Stay away from North Las Vegas and those dirty hookers on the Strip after midnight. Visit everything else, though, to experience as much as possible. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

There is a lot of stuff to see as... There is a lot of stuff to see as far as tourist attractions go. The closer you get to the mall near campus, the better the shops get. Areas to stay away from would be immediately around campus, kind of behind the restaurants across the Maryland Parkway. It just doesn’t seem safe, especially at night. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

This town is very exciting and... This town is very exciting and tempting. I’m a homebody, but I know those who are very into the nightlife. As long as you can stay focused at what you are trying to accomplish, you will have a great academic and social life. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

I don’t like the town I live in... I don’t like the town I live in and can’t wait to leave. There’s no sense of culture or community here. There’s only one university here. Don’t gamble; the clubs are cool, and there’s an art district. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

The area around UNLV is kind of... The area around UNLV is kind of ghetto, but the school is working on it. There are highrises within a block of campus that are age restricted to 35 or older (dumb). It’s not a very University-oriented community. There are community colleges nearby and, of course, the Strip. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Facts

Did You Know?

Five Fun Facts about Las Vegas:
• Las Vegas is the largest American city founded in the 20th century.
• In the 1800s, areas of the Las Vegas Valley contained artesian wells that supported extensive green areas or meadows—meadow is vega in Spanish—hence the name Las Vegas.
• As of the 2004 census estimate, the Las Vegas metropolitan area contains the largest Hawaiian community outside of Hawaii.
• Las Vegas has four Sister Cities: Angeles City (Pampanga, Philippines), An San (South Korea), Huludao (China), and Phuket (Thailand).
• In 1968, Howard Hughes purchased the Desert Inn after being asked to leave by management. Hughes had occupied the entire top floor for 10 days prior to purchase.
• CSI began here when alumni Anthony Zuiker came up with the idea for CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, which has expanded to CSI: Miami and CSI: New York. He is now an accomplished screenwriter, creator, and executive producer of the smash hits that have earned him multiple awards, including an Emmy nomination for best dramatic series.

Famous People from Las Vegas:
Andre Agassi, Greg Anthony, Kurt and Kyle Busch, Charisma Carpenter, Spencer Clark, Ricky Davis, Guy Fieri, Carey Hart, Jenna Jameson, The Killers, Jack Kramer, Stephanie Louden, Stephanie Romanov, Adam Seward, Barry Zito, Anthony Zuiker

Local Slang:
The Cage – Where a casino keeps its money; normally, the casino only has one.
Chips – Casinos have their own chips in denominations of $1, $5, $25, $100, and up.
Comp – Many people use comp as a noun, referring to whatever they were given for free; they also say they were comped, which as it turns out, is also not a real word.
Gaming – The politically correct term for gambling
High Roller – A person who makes big bets

Most Recent Contributing Author

Name: Meryl Manaog
Hometown: Las Vegas, NV
Major: Marketing/Film minor

Meryl aspires to one day work for the Sundance Film Festival.

Contributing Author Internship

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