University of Tennessee

Safe

I've never felt unsafe on campus. There are campus police almost everywhere, and Blue Lights (sort of a free telephone booth to call the campus bus, police, or 911) everywhere else. Most of the crime occurs off campus around the Univeristy in the Fort, but if you don't walk around alone at night most times you're fine. When crimes do occur all students receive an email alert, and you have the option of signing up for text message alerts too.

Drinking Is More Popular

It seems as though almost everyone drinks at UTK to some extent. Very frequently at football games, you'll see fraternity guys and sorority girls sneaking in airplane bottles, or there will be keg parties on game days. Every party I've attended has had alcohol, but the campus is supposed to be "dry". The only drugs I've seen dealt publicly have been Adderall and Marijuana. Adderall is definitely popular, but I've never been pressured into taking it.

If Only Winter Didn't Exist

Spring and Summer are wonderful in Knoxville. Summer in general tends to be quite humid in Tennessee, but the Smoky Mountains provide a natural playground with opportunities to kayak, raft, hike, and trail run in the sun. The flora of Knoxville in the springtime is gorgeous as well. The crown jewel of East Tennessee, though, is the Fall. The trees in the mountains and the city are a palette of oranges, browns, yellows, and reds. There's usually a brisk wind, but nothing too chilly. The worst part is the Winter. There's almost always rain--cold rain--and almost never snow. It will ice frequently making it hard to get to campus in a vehicle because of the hilly nature of campus, and classes will never get canceled due to weather.