Bluestocking

Mostly Fast Food, Pizza, and the Odd Diner

Rexburg contains seven pizza places and a wide variety of fast-food stops-- McDonald's, Burger King, Sonic, etc. There's a JB's on main street, an Applebee's (although it's too far from campus to walk), and a nice country diner called Frontier Pies on the edge of town. That last is really the only place that I actually like; I mostly prefer to eat at home.

Strong Mormon Culture

Rexburg is a small town in SE Idaho that might as well be called Mormonville. There is very little in the way of entertainment options; aside from the Rex, a theater/arcade, there is really not much to do. The town's only bar was shut down several years ago, and there are no coffee shops to get away from the very restrictive culture. There are some nice places in town-- the Cocoa Bean is a great chocolate dessert shop, and the restaurants in town really aren't bad-- but if you're looking for excitement, look elsewhere than Rexburg (or be sure to bring a car to get you to Idaho Falls on the weekends). The student population is greater than the normal citizen population, and as such, most area businesses are very considerate of students. This is definitely a plus.

One of the Strictest Schools You'll Ever Meet

Before coming to BYU Idaho, you'll be expected to sign the Honor Code. Some of the Honor Code is pretty reasonable (for a Mormon school)-- no drugs, alcohol, or smoking. Students are expected to look professional in class-- no hats, flip-flops, or shorts. I actually don't have a problem with these. However, the school forces its religious restrictions on students in the extreme. Students are required to live in approved housing, which means that the housing enforces the Honor Code. The Honor Code includes a curfew (midnight every night except Friday, when it is 1:00 am), prohibitions against drinking or possessing coffee or tea (as well as alcohol), any sexual activity whatsoever (including members of the opposite sex in bedrooms, or in apartments at all unless the blinds are all the way open and there are at least three people present), and religious freedom. Students are required to attend church services weekly. If you aren't Mormon, then you are free to attend the church of your preference; however, if you are Mormon, you absolutely must attend your assigned Mormon ward. If, like me, you find while at school that you no longer believe the Mormon faith, you are in a very awkward situation. While at school you have no choice but to attend Mormon services, and while off-track you must also attend your Mormon services. Each semester, your bishop must give you an ecclesiastical endorsement.

Most Mormons don't have a problem with the Honor Code generally. However, for those of us who think for ourselves, it's a heinous restriction of individual freedom.

Great Technology on Campus

The printing in the library is really convenient. You can upload stuff from a flash drive and then print; black-and-white stuff is 4 cents per page. The network is very reliable and fast, you can get wi-fi pretty much anywhere on campus, and the on-campus computer help desk provides all kind of tech help free of charge.

Students are strongly encouraged to have laptops; they are used in many classes, and tests and homework are often completely on-line. My roommate didn't have a laptop her first semester, and was frequently borrowing other people's and using the library just to get her work done. You don't necessarily need a printer, but a laptop is indispensable.