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When you’re alone and life is making you lonely, you can always go where? That’s right – downtown. And that’s exactly what I did. One blustery gray day Erica and I went to downtown Lafayette. Next Saturday is Recruitment Weekend (Ra Ra!) for Purdue’s American Studies program. We’ll be taking the prospective kiddies on a tour of downtown. Here’s what they’ll see:


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Aww cute! But then there’s always this:
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Does Lafayette have public art? Boy does it ever!!
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Detail of the fine workmanship:
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Lafayette does have a 5 star restaurant, and this lovely Italian place, La Scala:
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It also has a number of posh buildings, such as this one:
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But again, lurking under the very building is…
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And to keep the burglars out:
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Across the street you’ll find the courthouse, which looks like this:
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And a fountain in memorial of the not-so-slick William Digby who sold the town of Lafayette in 1825 for an $8 profit (gambling debts, you know).
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And pediments that include the Native Americans (but not the women):
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Don’t worry, prospective students. Although Indiana is a red state, there’s a strong Democratic party here – just look at their headquarters:
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Seriously, I’m not the one you want talking to students about grad school at Purdue. Let me tell you what it’s like. The library has lamps that make you feel like you’re in prison. Example:
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But it’s okay because there are lots of escape routes.
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But the more common method is this:
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Well there you have it. At least Purdue will give you some money. It’s what lured the rest of us here.