Well growing up in South Dakota and half my friends at Vermillion and half at Brookings. They both have strong and weak points. But, both schools are a bit like commuter schools on weekends in the fall unless the football team is in town. During the winter months and spring everyone tends to stick around campus. Brookings might be slightly better but the town of Brookings is a little heavy handed with the police. They are a bit more aggressive. But, it is true both D-Days and Hobo Days are a lot of fun.