In search of a close-knit college in Washington state

[branchandroot]

Help me, Obi-Web!

Everyone who lives in Washington state, I have a question for you:

Do you know of any colleges or universities that are close-knit? Community oriented? Small, liberal arts colleges are often good for this.

See, my spouse and I both work at a college we like a lot. Alas, that college is in Ohio, which is not currently a very nice place to be thanks to the new governor. *shakes her fist at the people who voted for the asshole* I mean, seriously, can we borrow Wisconsin's judge, please? We need one down here too. And, honestly, Georgia is freaking me out, right now, and the federal government seems to have largely gone batshit insane, and, let's be straight up about this, if everything goes to hell (or to The Handmaid's Tale, which is seeming alarmingly less ridiculous by the month) I want to be living somewhere my fellow citizens will be at least a little less likely to outlaw my love, sexuality, life choices, and religion.

Besides, what better place to be, when the real oil crisis finally hits, than someplace with abundant hydropower? And, at least, awareness and the start of planning for the approaching time when it will be less abundant.

So! Cascadia ho! In, you know, two or three years when we're out from under the damn mortgage insurance.

And this means finding new jobs, and that means colleges that have what we really value: a close community among the faculty and staff (and at least some of the administration).

Any suggestions?

Comments

[kaigou]

If you're not stuck on Northeast, there's always the University of Texas at Austin, which might sound strange as a suggestion, seeing how it's in Texas... but Austin isn't really in Texas. It's actually in its own, uhm, reality. A very awesome reality but sometimes... well, let's put it this way: the city's unoffficial motto is "Keep Austin Wierd" and there's a freaking Godzilla (with glowing red eyes at night) on the rooftop of a local business. (Google for 3105 Guadalupe Street, Austin, Texas, turn south and go a half-block, and he's on the left.) There are also sometimes zombies. Plus it's one of the most energy- and water-wise places I've ever been, and the city even hosts free wifi at every park. It's like a strange mix of the down-home, the ultra-liberal, the lazy bohemian, and the college town. With the occasional pair of cowboy boots.

Also, Austin gets a lot of rain. A LOT OF RAIN. Let me put it this way: Seattle gets an average of 34" of rain annually, over 150 days. Austin gets 32" of rain on average... over 80 days. It never drizzles in Austin, but it does rain down entire flocks of cats, dogs, a few orangutans, and possibly some jazz musicians.

[branchandroot]

*deeply entertained by this image*

I have heard that Austin is it's own... well, yes, it's own reality. I might give it a look-in, but my spouse is pretty interested in local food, and wants somewhere with a little, hm, less extreme growing season.

I do kind of wonder whether Texas will be the first break-away after Quebec finally succeeds and sets the precedent, and what Austin will do then.