As at any college, WPI's students come from many diverse backgrounds, countries, and cultures. Also, such unique considerations like location, weather, term schedule, social structure, etc.
Physical conditions play an important part in deciding how people associate, relax, work, and play.
For example, Worcester is just far enough from Boston to dissuade the average student from enjoying the weekend there. The members of these packs usually have some general linking characteristic, for example, sport, major, club, game, or simply lived together in the dorms freshman year. These small groups rarely interact with other groups except during larger parties. Cold weather tends to encourage this clan-like behavior. During the cold months, going outdoors is a chore.