Baldwin Wallace University
Hallmarks and Quirks
Things I'm Good At:
- Performing. My grads have gone on to play with the Cleveland Orchestra or to see their names in lights on Broadway. Bravo.
- Rocking out. Tune your radio dial to WBWC 88.3 FM The Sting (a student-run station) to hear some modern and alternative rock.
- Going green. Some of my dorms have geo-thermal heating and cooling. I was also the first college in Ohio to offer a Bachelor's in sustainability. We're the real-life Planeteers.
- Activities and clubs. I've got a little something for everyone. Joiners, rejoice.
My Top 5 Must-Haves:
- Your smile. Sounds cheesy, but like I said, people are super friendly around these parts. Expect to bare some pearly whites with everyone you meet. Aw, shucks.
- A flashlight. I'm totally haunted, but with friendly ghosts. Keep an eye out for Casper and other supernatural occurrences in Lang and Kohler Halls.
- Passport. You're going to need it when you convince your parents to let you spend that semester abroad, or, you know, getting school credit to take a vacation.
- Pom poms. Sports are a big deal here, so if you're not playing, you should be cheering. Yes, even for chess.
- Snow gear. We're talking Cleveland winters here. Did you know that beards can freeze and break off if it gets cold enough? Yikes.
Why You Might Have Heard of Me:
- My Bach Festival. I'm home to the oldest festival of its kind in the country. Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, anyone?
- Barack Obama visited me in 2008. It's not too bad being a swing state.
- U.S. News & World Report has ranked BW among the Midwest's Best Universities and named it a "Best Value" school.
On a regular Saturday night, you can find me...
It depends. If I feel like chilling, I'll probably just hang out around campus. Playing Xbox in someone's dorm until midnight is my idea of an awesome night in.
If I'm in the mood to party, there are a couple of dive bars within walking distance. The cool kids like to get their groove on there, but just remember: Don't dance and drive. If I can commandeer a car, I also might take a quick drive into Downtown Cleveland for some urban explorations.
Favorite Hangouts:
- The Union, or the Student Center.
- The CyberCafe. Smoothies and free Wi-Fi: A winning combination.
- Midnight Madness. Every Thursday night, this non-alcoholic campus event is the place to be.
- Wing Warehouse...wings so tasty you won't even mind the heartburn.
- Downtown Cleveland, for when suburban partying just won't do.
- The North Quad on a nice, sunny afternoon.
- Coe Lake. It sure is pretty.
Quirks:
- For almost one hundred years, I was known as Baldwin-Wallace College. In 2012, I changed my name to Baldwin Wallace University. I think dropping the hyphen really made a difference.
- If you're in the music program, the tuition is slightly higher. Maybe that's because spending your days singing is slightly more fun. (Yes, just slightly.)
- Berea doesn't permit fraternities and sororities to own houses in the city, so all my Greek peeps have to stay on campus.
- I've got a four-year graduation guarantee. I promise you'll graduate in four years or I'll pay for the extra time. Don't get too excited, though—you've got to follow some strict rules to qualify.
Famous Alumni:
- Jim Tressel, probably one of the most famous coaches in the history of college football.
- Robert F. Overmyer, the astronaut.
- Claudia Jordan, a model and actress.
- Wayne G. Hammond, a Tolkien scholar.
- Rebecca Pitcher, a Broadway actress.