The great outdoors, a haven for Whitman Tamarac-ians, a place where whisper lights, water and granola can somehow pass for microwaves, beer and ramen. To be honest, I have never seen the tremendous appeal. Yes, it is pretty. I enjoy pretty things. But it always seemed to me that the indoors were created for the very express purpose of keeping people “out” of the outdoors when the going got rough.

Now, not being the sort of person who relishes in outdoorsy activities, I do indeed agree that these activities provide pleasure for a lot of people. I appreciate their appreciation, to say the least, and I like outdoorsy people in general, otherwise, living on this campus would be damn near unbearable. But, thankfully, Whitman has done an admirable job diversifying its appeal, even if this has been by complete chance.

Now, for those of us Whitman students that do not live in Tamarac, don’t really go on OP trips and can’t particularly stomach granola or its sellout cousin the Kashi bar, there are thankfully still way too many things to be doing on this campus at any given time. In fact, I often find there to be a good two or three things for me to do at any one time and I have had to become adept at ascertaining the value of these things before I attend them. For instance, while the Nader speech is important, Beta-fest (of which the readership will soon be aware) is substantially more important and thankfully these two things do not in fact coincide.

Consider this then a reflection by an indoorsy city-dweller from a combination of Kent, Newark and Jersey City whose idea of a good time is entirely devoid of both granola and campfires. Consider this a testament to the diversity this campus does in fact offer despite the relatively homogeneous mission statement on the Web site that we have read on another hundred or so collegiate homepages nationwide.

The fact is, for new students coming to this school, if for any reason you find yourself reading this article, this place will do its absolute best to accommodate you. You need not sell out to a culture of climbing and rafting and not-showering if those things do not appeal to you, just as you won’t have to sell out to a culture of partying and debauchery if those things do not appeal to you either.

There are any number of things to do at this school for people in either camp, people in both camps, and people in neither camp. There are poetry open mics where people get the chance to have an audience for work they might not have otherwise shared. There are movie nights on the Reid side lawn. There are campus publications, literary magazines, dances, renaissance fairs and, more or less, anything you could possibly want or imagine at reach.

So, I can honestly say I have had no qualms about this school. I have been able to enjoy the kinds of things I enjoy doing and have been able to appreciate people who enjoy the finer things in life that I am too soft and lazy to enjoy. I suppose this is the essence of what diversity is at this school, and I can assert that if outdoorsy people and I can coexist at this school, anyone, ANYONE, can.