University of Nevada, Las Vegas — Attraction in Paradise

Mmm, hrmm, ahem aggressively clears throat MMMMMM, okay.

Now, shall we begin?

For the record, I attended UNLV for one year, my freshman year of college. I chose UNLV because they had a good program that I wanted to study (that program being Criminal Justice), and there was a very good job opportunity for me as well, with the school. The truth is, the job was more important in my decision-making than the studies. That's not to say the program wasn't good, I did enjoy the few classes I took. I don't have much experience to say this with certainty, but I believe UNLV's criminal justice program is a good one.

I lived on campus, and actually had the opportunity to experience two dorms, as I was moved buildings in the middle of the year after a dispute with my roommate. I don't have any complaints about the dorms. They seemed well-kept, and the maintenance department did a good job of taking care of anything that needed attention. UNLV doesn't believe in community restrooms (their words, not mine), so in any dorm, you get your bathroom, which is nice I suppose. Living on campus, you're required to have a meal plan, which many groan about, but I didn't hate the food. I also understand I'm a pretty simple guy when it comes to the things I eat, so I routinely enjoyed the crispy chicken sandwiches and had no problems. I'd say the healthier options provided some variety, in that you could always make your own salad with all kinds of fixings, and fruit was also always available. The freshness could be dicey at times, so tread carefully around wilted lettuce, but it's fine most of the time.

I had no issues with the amenities provided to me by the university. When I was going through that room-change process, the housing department made it very easy for me. The university had a lot to offer, I felt.

However, when it came to campus life, I was sorely disappointed. Perhaps my expectations were too high, and perhaps my experience is not representative of the true nature of UNLV, but I think it might be.

Life on campus severely lacked a sense of actual community. Not only that, but I believe that UNLV, and perhaps the city of Las Vegas itself attracts a strange crowd of folks, and those folks, I believe, can be divided into two groups: 1. Locals, who have grown up like this and know nothing else, and 2. people who chose UNLV for Las Vegas. After a year in Las Vegas, I felt extremely isolated, and that could be because I was not like any of the people around me, and was not the kind of person to embrace the partying, live free, no rules kinda culture. That being said, I found the community around me in the dorms, and abroad, to express a "closed-door policy," if you will. Which, if you think about the city, makes sense. It's hotter than hell most months out of the year, so everyone keeps their doors shut to keep the AC in. Consequently, it keeps people out. The locals grow up with it, and the out-of-staters seek it out. I believe UNLV attracts the kind of person who desires to live by the saying "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas," and if you're not about that, the door stays closed.

When I expressed to my friends that I wasn't into drinking and partying, each and everyone one of them stopped being my friend. I was an outcast from that circle, and there was no way I was going to find a more agreeable circle in that desert.

I moved back home and started attending a new university, which I have found to far surpass UNLV in all departments.

Perhaps going to school in Sin City was just not for me, but I will say there are many, many better schools out there than the University of Nevada, Las Vegas....

I've been to Ham Concert Hall 6 years now because my twin sons are both in orchestra and band. Highly embarrassing evening that we have to be AFRAID of overambitious and immature isle attendants people working for security. First the front door lady tells us to go up to the left. we go up the stars and the Asian girl says there are no seats upstairs left go way over to the right side upstairs. Ok so we did but I told her she needs to communicate that with the people at the front. VERY disorganised. NEXT we are upstairs in the right... never seen anything like the behavior of an attended and security in my life. First the attendant in the aisle starts yelling at people during the concert at 8:15is to 8:30pm tonight, 4 minutes into one of the songs YELLING at people DURING the performance about the light from people's cell phones instead of saying it quietly as not to disturb meaning she starts yelling AFTER the concert begins and people are trying to hear their kids in which we all have spend THOUSANDS$$$ on our kids to make it this far. NO consideration for the VALUES we have placed in our kids. She lacks serious judgement. 4 minutes into the kids playing, I asked her to be quiet she was that loud. Then she goes and calls security. Apparently Security thought its ok to harass Hispanics and Black people and let White people record with their cell phones as two additional people who security refused to yell at had their cell phones out recording. First of all I am all American. My family has been here from Spain since 1690 and the US wasn't formed until 1776. I am 100% American. I said hey what about that guy with his cell phone. She said "he is not recording" but didn't see he had two aps running at the same time. She must not know anything about smart phones or just highly incapable or just lazy. But the girl working security says in front of everyone about 3 isles of people she is going to call an officer on me when i am trying to watch my sons ALLSATE band performance WOW who does she think she is? Some old white guy in front of me has two aps up recording the performance kept acting like he was playing solitaire DURING the concert and she security would not tell him to put his phone away. Then the security guy she called starts flirting with two girls DURING the concert again we are trying to watch my son in his Jr year who we have put tons of money time and effort and support. I am sitting 4 seats in and I dint know any of the people next to me and she yells from two rows bellow while I am trying to watch my son and she says is going to call an officer?!?! I have a recording of the clip of her saying she is going to call an officer. The girl working security must not know the difference between people watching their son who we have not just put thousands of dollars into playing not just trombone but HONOR BAND and security acted like it was like going to a low class drug infested night club harassed and interrupted us during the concert and started yelling over people. Maybe she is bucking for that security or police chief position at us parents expense. UNLV is sad. Just sad. The acoustics are amazing. The kids played like virtuoso but whoever manages the the people there and security protocol really needs to get a serious clue as to where they are are, Especially since both my twin sons are looking for colleges in anther year and it won't be UNLV. Highly embarrassing evening that we have to be AFRAID of overambitious and immature people working...

Every time I call this school I always get someone in a rush to get me off the phone or someone who is rude. Don't bother going there if you don't know where your going because if you ask someone who works there, they will give you wrong information. I'm not sure if they really are stupid or playing a cruel trick. I had set an advising appointment due to I'm a transfer in student. I had no idea where i was supposed to go so i went the academic advising center (no brainer). No. I supposed to go somewhere else and the guy behind the counter directed me to go there. Mind you, its 110 degrees outside; I head in that direction. Something told me that he was wrong after walking and baking in the sun for about 7 min, the buildings looked more like dorms. I then ask a student where i might have to go and he directed me clear across campus. Now my appointment is now 10 min past due so I call the general number to get someone in advising in the liberal arts building. a woman answers and with an attitude directly transferred me somewhere else, no help. so after searching for the number to call on my phone in the hot ass sun, i told the guy that i am on campus but late due to i am lost. Without hesitation the academic advisor canceled the appointment saying I'm too late (its 15 min past due). You would think he would be kind enough to direct me where to go and at least see me since i was walking in the sun for 20 minutes. Very irritating. Please don't have ignorant people working for the school, its a bad representation of what type of people you have...