CSUCI

[DisneyFan25863]

So I went on a tour of CSUCI (California State University Channel Islands) today with my school. For those of you who don't know, its the old Camarillo State Hospital (asylum). I have to say, while it's a beautiful campus, it was really creepy. They are using all of the orginal buildings, and walking around, its weird to notice subtle things that point to its heritage. For instance, all the windows have bars on them, and some of the old, preserved buildings have fences around them and still say "Camarillo State Hospital" on them. When I came home, I did some research, and I found how they used to do all this torture to test treatments and stuff. Its really creepy, but it also taught me a lot about the history of mental disability treatments.


So, I really encourage you guys to go check it out if you have the time. It is a step back in time, and the campus is just gorgeous. It's located right between Hwy. 1 and 101, by Pt. Mugu.

Oh, and the dorms are wayyy nicer than UCSB, though not as nice as Pepperdine (which are the 2 other colleges we toured).

[MickeyLumbo]

cool!

sign me up

[DisneyDaniel]

Thanks for the info, DisneyFan25863. Your post got me interested in the campus buildings and surroundings, so I found this LINK for CSU Channel Islands photos. I've finished college, but still enjoy visiting different college campuses.

The campus setting and environment does make a difference--beside academic reputation, quality of professors and classes, majors offered, etc. If you're going to spend a lot of money and dedicate four (or more) years of your life at a particular college/university, it's an important factor in determining your enjoyment, study habits, and overall college experience if you "like" the place.

[alphabassettgrrl]

I plan to start classes there soon. I do hope you thought of me as you passed through Camarillo.

I didn't find it as creepy as I thought I would. Even the morgue, which I found one night prowling with a friend. I doubt that's accessible anymore, but we wandered a lot in that building that night.

I also went there one sunny day, just to wander. I was cautious to avoid letting any doors close behind me, LOL. It's huge. I haven't done wanderings lately, though.

Seemed a little sad, if anything.

[DisneyFan25863]

Originally Posted by alphabassettgrrl

I plan to start classes there soon. I do hope you thought of me as you passed through Camarillo.

I didn't find it as creepy as I thought I would. Even the morgue, which I found one night prowling with a friend. I doubt that's accessible anymore, but we wandered a lot in that building that night.

I also went there one sunny day, just to wander. I was cautious to avoid letting any doors close behind me, LOL. It's huge. I haven't done wanderings lately, though.

Seemed a little sad, if anything.

Cool! It seemed like a great school if you didn't mind the history of it.

Where was the morgue?


It was kind of funny- when we were leaving, our bus wouldn't start. Soon, someone starting singing Hotel California, making sure to accent
"You can checkout any time you like,
But you can never leave! ". We had to wait an hour for someone to come jumpstart the bus!

[alphabassettgrrl]

The morgue was downstairs, in a building close to the front when you drive in, somewhere on the left. I don't remember very well. It was an actual hospital building, rather than the more numerous dormitories. There was a bowling alley in the building next door, but I think they've torn that down. They were in the process of clearing it out the night we were there.

[DisneyFan25863]

Originally Posted by alphabassettgrrl

The morgue was downstairs, in a building close to the front when you drive in, somewhere on the left. I don't remember very well. It was an actual hospital building, rather than the more numerous dormitories. There was a bowling alley in the building next door, but I think they've torn that down. They were in the process of clearing it out the night we were there.

We walked next to the bowling alley. It was all closed up, but our guide said it was going to be reopened. I think there is a cafe in the hospital building now.