Those are good examples of how the University assists students in finding their social voice beyond the traditional options of delis and fraternities. I've visited the residence complexes and have asked the students what they like about what we have, and what they don't like. There's consensus that there's a lot to do on campus, but the students miss some of it because they don't know about it. In a time when we have the on-line Student Information Network, the Student Assembly website, and cable television broadcasts of activities, word of mouth is still the dominant mode of communication. We need to work at changing that also.
Every university has a unique environment and culture.
I would suggest a visit to campus where you could spend enough time to get a feeling for the atmosphere there. There's just no substitute for investing some time on a campus and really getting to know the students there. That's the best clue you can have. Find out what the students say about the reputation and the rumors. Get a feeling for how their words match the reality of their experience.