Williams' campus is well defined, as opposed to schools who share their sidewalks with bustling cities. The isolated location means that most students stay on campus during the weekends, which leads to a sense of common identity in the so-called "Purple Bubble." The remoteness also encourages students to have an active role in campus activities, of which there are over 75. The Williams Outing Club (WOC), the Black Student Union (BSU) and Swing Club are among the most popular.

Also contributing to a sense of community is the newly renovated Goodrich Hall, which mixes a social space with a study area. The gourmet coffee bar helps students deal - albeit artificially - with their procrastination habits, and is open all night. Sawyer Library is open, of course, but tries to discourage procrastination by closing at 1 a.m. The always-busy Snack Bar is a good place for a study break, especially if you've been holed up in the library all day. Lack of social interaction leads to insanity. And no, insane people don't know they're insane.

Ah yes, social interaction. The limited surroundings require you to get creative with dates - if you have any. Williams' dating scene is debatably lacking, though it may not be an uncommon college phenomenon. Part of the problem is that the town is asleep by 11 p.m.; only Subway and the two bars stay open until 2 a.m. The party policy was revised recently; without invites secured by your house president, getting in can be difficult. Smaller parties are usually better, though you and your buddies will fund them.

For some students, however, the smallness of the community can become stifling. The occasional weekend away is a treat. Freshmen are not allowed to have cars on campus, but upperclassmen do. Within the last few years, inexpensive College-managed road trips have become increasingly popular.

One program that helps alleviate the sense of isolation is Winter Study, a January term that provides a change of pace between fall and spring semesters. Students choose one course from a broad array of offerings, including EMT training, auto mechanics and journalism. Extra time is often spent enjoying winter sports like ice climbing, skiing and sledding on dining hall trays. Upperclassmen can choose to plan off-campus independent courses; internships and research projects are popular.

Studying abroad during junior year is encouraged by both faculty and deans. The idea of intellectual and experiential curiosity fits with the liberal arts philosophy, and most students embrace the opportunity to travel and immerse themselves in a different culture. Williams also offers some original study-away opportunities. Williams-Oxford offers students the one-on-one tutorial structure of Oxford, yet still allows a study of various disciplines; Williams-Mystic is centered in Mystic, CT, where a small number of students from Williams and other colleges concentrate on marine issues.

Another interesting facet of Williams is the Junior Advisor system, which is like the Residential Advisor system, but cooler, because they don't tell on you. First-year students live in "entries" which consist of about twenty freshmen plus two Junior Advisors (JAs). JAs are chosen through a competitive process to act as big brothers and sisters for their entry. They probably won't beat you up like your older brother did, though.