【漫步常青藤盟校】 常青藤盟校

　　翻译：凯文 　　 　　During the 2004-2005 academic year, the author conducted research for a new book and spent 1)approximately 30 days at each Ivy League university, sitting in on classes, speaking with students and participating in activities. In the company of the author, let"s roam in these 2)idyllic campuses in northeast U.S..
　　
　　本文作者于2004-2005学年度为其新著作走访了美国常青藤八大盟校，并进行相关的学术调查。他在每所常青藤校园内逗留了大约30天，和学生一起上课、聊天，还参加了各种活动。就让我们跟随作者，一起到美国东北部富有田园气息的校园里漫步吧！ When you hear the phrase “Ivy League” what do you think of? It is a 3)rare person who can name all eight Ivies, but it is a rarer person who does not have 4)notions about them. The eight schools of the Ivy League ?Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Penn, Princeton and Yale ?are among the most selective and 5)academically 6)rigorous institutions in the world. Each Ivy has its own history and personality, and each attracts brilliant and accomplished students from around the world. Cornell University (founded in 1865) Many students told me, “Cornell is the easiest Ivy to get into and the hardest to get out of.”It"s the easiest to get into because it accepts so many students ?although it turns away approximately five students for every one it admits. It"s the hardest to get out of because the course work is exceptionally rigorous. Cornell sits on a hilltop 7)overlooking Cayuga Lake, the largest of the Finger Lakes注 of central New York State. Two sides of the campus are bound by 8)gorges during the last 12,000 years. 9)Creeks and waterfalls fill the gorges, and no matter where you are on campus you are never far from the sight and sound of falling water. This is an area of great natural beauty ?a place that contributes to a healthy and pleasurable quality of life. Brown University (founded in 1764) I arrived at Brown yesterday morning. It"s a big shift from Cornell. Every destination on the campus is less than seven minutes away. Students here seem to study more passionately than those I met at Cornell. Brown is a place for people to explore their own interests. There are no university distribution requirements, so students are free to study whatever they want. Since its move to the city of Providence, the capital of Rhode Island, in 1770, Brown University has grown even more amazing. Today, beautiful greens lie between vibrant city streets and 18th-century buildings are 10)complemented by brand new 11)laboratories. Most importantly, its people make it an amazing place to learn. Dartmouth College (founded in 1769) When people ask me what I like about Dartmouth, I often have a hard time coming up with a 12)concise response. I think a better answer, however, is that I like the people. Students here are friendly. They welcomed me into their homes, classes and parties. The school is 13)isolated in New Hampshire but 14)technologically advanced. Wireless Internet access is available all over campus and every dorm room has free long distance telephone service. All Dartmouth undergraduates own a personal computer; more than 9,000 PCs are in use campuswide. Yale University (founded in 1701) Yale is a great place in many ways but the living situation is definitely a high point for me. When students arrive on campus, they are each 15)randomly assigned to one of 12 residential colleges. The living spaces are amazing compared to what I�e seen at other schools. Each residence has several entryways with doors to 16)suites at every floor. Common rooms in the suites have large windows with good views and decorative 17)fireplaces. Each college has a 18)basement that houses a variety of activities, from rock climbing walls and 19)pottery studios to gyms and movie theaters. Yale is rich. Of course, all of the Ivies have 20)tremendous wealth. But at Yale, the money is more obvious. Architecturally, the school is amazing. Many of the newer buildings have been designed ?at great expense ?to look older; the windows 21)deliberately cracked and repaired, the roof tiles chipped by hand, the stones 22)stained and weathered. The school"s 23)power plant has 24)gothic-style 25)smokestacks. The money isn"t just used on architecture, however. It"s also spent on social activities and education. 26)Renowned speakers are invited to the campus to speak to students. University of Pennsylvania (founded in 1749) Many of the students that I have met at Penn have commented on how well-dressed the campus is. It is common to find students walking across campus at noon on a Monday dressed like they are going to dinner parties rather than classes. I suppose one reason for the 27)trend may just be the city environment. Students have access to the latest fashions, so it"s easy to stay in touch. Penn"s picturesque campus is situated near the heart of Philadelphia, a 28)vital and lively city. Founded by Benjamin Franklin, Penn"s urban campus boasts many notable landmarks. Franklin Field is the oldest two-29)tiered 30)stadium in the country with a seating 31)capacity of approximately 52,000. The Penn Relays, the oldest organized relay competition in the United States (it began in 1895), is held every year in April. The Relays bring together the best track and field athletes from high schools and colleges worldwide. Columbia University (founded in 1754) Set in Manhattan, students from Columbia don"t need to bond with each other and create their own entertainment. The whole world is waiting just outside the gates and they can enjoy themselves in New York City. Indeed, New York is the big draw for the school. A person who loves city life will love life at Columbia. At each school that I have visited, the students seem to have a 32)catch phrase to describe life there. At Columbia, the catch phrase is that the students are exceptionally independent and 33)mature. Harvard University (founded in 1636) Harvard is one of the most recognized brands in the world. Several of the Ivies are almost unknown to the general population, but most people in the U.S. know about Harvard. I walked around the Harvard campus with scores of other tourists ?something you rarely find on other campuses. Harvard University is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. The campus is home to many 34)superior examples of American architecture. The oldest standing Harvard building ?Massachusetts Hall ?was built in 1720. Harvard University is an ideal place not only for studying but also sightseeing, for it"s such a huge place. Princeton University (founded in 1746) Princeton is a beautiful place. The buildings are interesting and the 35)lawns are sprawling. The 36)chapel is one of the best in the Ivy League. Nassau Hall is a landmark worth visiting and the dorms on West campus make dorm life look pleasant. Throughout this project, I intended to attend 37)graduation. As it turned out, Princeton"s graduation 38)ceremony is by ticket only. On the graduation day, family and friends from around the world sat in 39)relentless sunshine and 40)soothing shade on the front campus. I saw many faces steamed with tears and sweat. What an honor to witness such an exciting ceremony!
　　当你听到“常青藤联盟”这个名字时，你会想到什么呢？没有多少人能全部说出常青藤八大盟校的名字，但对它们毫不认识的人更为罕见。常青藤的八大盟校包括布朗大学、哥伦比亚大学、康纳尔大学、达特茅斯学院、哈佛大学、宾夕法尼亚大学、普林斯顿大学以及耶鲁大学，它们都是世界上录取最严格、学术最严谨的顶尖学府。每所常青藤盟校都有各自的历史与特色，并且吸引着来自世界各地卓越出众又多才多艺的学生。
　　
　　康纳尔大学（建于1865年）
　　许多学生告诉我：“康纳尔大学是最容易被录取却最难毕业的常青藤盟校。” 说它最容易被录取，是因为该大学接收不少学生―尽管每录取一人就有大约五人被拒之门外。说它最难毕业，是因为其课程要求尤为严格。
　　康纳尔大学坐落在山顶，俯瞰卡约加湖―这是纽约州中部芬格湖群中最大的一个湖。在过去的12000多年来，校园两侧被峡谷环抱。小溪与瀑布流进峡谷，所以无论你在校园的哪个角落，你都离落水处不远，可以听到潺潺的流水声。这里拥有美丽的自然景观，为人们提供了健康愉快的优质生活。
　　
　　布朗大学（建于1764年）
　　昨天上午我来到布朗大学。这里跟康纳尔大学截然不同。校园内的每个地方都不用7分钟便可到达。和我在康纳尔大学见过的学生比起来，这里的学生似乎更加热爱学习。布朗大学是一个能让人发掘自己兴趣的地方。该大学没有给学生制定必修课程，因此学生可以自由选择自己想学的内容。
　　自从布朗大学在1770年迁移到罗得岛州的首府普罗维登斯以来，它变得更令人惊异。如今，美丽的树木井然排列在充满活力的城市大街两旁，崭新的实验室为18世纪的建筑物增色不少。最重要的是，这里的人使布朗大学成为引人注目的学府。
　　达特茅斯学院（建于1769年）
　　当人们问我喜欢达特茅斯学院的什么时，我经常难以作出简明的回答。但是，我想比较让人满意的答复应该是，我喜欢这里的人。这里的学生很友善，他们非常欢迎我到他们的家里作客、一起上课以及参加他们的派对。
　　虽然学院独处于新罕布什尔州，但却拥有先进的科学技术。整个学院都可使用无线互联网，每间宿舍都有免费长途电话服务。所有达特茅斯学院的本科生都拥有个人电脑，全学院有超过9000台电脑在使用。
　　
　　耶鲁大学（建于1701年）
　　耶鲁大学在很多方面都很出众，但在我看来，其住宿条件绝对是一流的。新生到达校园后，每个人就会被随机分配到12所住宿学院之一。和我在其它大学里所看到的比起来，耶鲁的住宿环境首屈一指―每个住所有几条入口通道，每层楼的通道上都有门直通套房。套房里的普通房间配有大窗户，窗外风景优美，还有装饰别致的壁炉。每所住宿学院都有一个地下室，内有各式各样的娱乐悠闲设施，从攀岩墙和陶艺作坊，到健身房和电影院，一应俱全。
　　耶鲁大学很富有。当然，所有常青藤盟校都很有钱。但在耶鲁，财富所发挥的作用更为显著。从建筑上来看，这所大学挺引人注目的。人们在修建新建筑时不惜重本，为的是使其看上去更具历史的厚重感；窗户被故意弄上裂纹和修补的痕迹，屋顶上的瓦片由人工用碎片砌成，石头因风吹雨打而斑驳变色。耶鲁大学的发电站里还有哥特式的大烟囱。然而，这些财富并不仅仅用于建筑，它也用在社交活动和教育上。著名的演讲者常被邀请到校园里给学生作演讲。
　　
　　宾夕法尼亚大学（建于1749年）
　　我在宾夕法尼亚大学遇见的不少学生都说这里的人衣着入时得体。你在某个星期一中午经常可以找到穿得像去赴宴似的学生走在校园里，根本不像是去上课的样子。我想这种赶潮流的原因之一可能是因为该城市环境，学生可以接触到最新潮的时尚服饰，所以他们很自然就紧追潮流。
　　景色如画的宾夕法尼亚大学校园坐落在生机勃勃的费城市中心附近。由本杰明・富兰克林创办的宾夕法尼亚大学以其众多著名的标志性建筑而自豪。富兰克林运动场是美国最古老的两层式露天大型运动场，能容纳大约52000名观众。宾州接力赛―美国最古老且有组织性的接力竞赛（始于1895年），于每年四月举行。这一接力赛云集了来自世界各地的高中和大学里最优秀的田径运动员。
　　
　　哥伦比亚大学（建于1754年）
　　坐落于曼哈顿，哥伦比亚的学生不需要聚在一块儿玩乐或创造自己的娱乐天地。大千世界就在校门外等待着他们，他们可以在纽约市尽情享乐。的确，身处纽约是哥伦比亚大学最大的吸引力。喜爱都市生活的人将会爱上在哥伦比亚大学的生活。在我所参观过的每所大学里，学生似乎都有一个妙句来形容那里的生活。在哥伦比亚大学，这个妙句就是学生特别独立和成熟。
　　
　　哈佛大学（建于1636年）
　　哈佛是全世界最知名的品牌学府之一。普通大众对其它几所常青藤盟校几乎一无所知，但大部分美国人都熟悉哈佛。我和几十名游客一起参观哈佛校园―而在其它校园里，你很难找到游客。
　　哈佛大学是美国最古老的高等院校。校园内有许许多多优秀的美国式样建筑。哈佛现存最古老的建筑―马萨诸塞厅，建于1720年。哈佛大学不仅是学习，还是观光的理想之地，因为哈佛大学的占地面积非常大。
　　
　　普林斯顿大学（建于1746年）
　　普林斯顿大学是个美丽的地方。这里的建筑很有趣，草地向四处延伸。该校的小教堂是常青藤盟校中最漂亮的一个。拿莎堂则是最值得参观的标志性建筑，而在西校区的宿舍看上去相当舒适。
　　在整个学术调查中，我打算出席毕业礼。谁料普林斯顿大学的毕业典礼是要购买门票入场的。在毕业礼当天，来自五湖四海的家人和朋友来到校园，坐在无情的烈日和舒心的树荫下。我看到许多张泪汗交融的面孔。能亲眼目睹如此振奋人心的典礼是多么荣幸的事情啊！