French Paradox

I attended a presentation by the president and his VP this morning at the University. he was presenting how the new law impacted the community and discussed some issues with the newest faculty members.
The event took place in a large class room... as large as McConomy at CMU.
The place was icy COLD. and in a bad shape...basically it's the same room it was in the 70s. In France the universities' building belongs to the state and the state is responsible for the maintenance not the institution. But of course, things would be hit the fan if the university wasn'tdoing a little maintenance because the state doesn't do it.
Anyway, little budget means no heat (i swear it was no more than 55) and ugly environment (at least this one had no apscetos)...
But we had lozds of croissants, chocolate croissants at the coffee break and the presentation ended with a cocktail hour (at noon) with champagne, wines, fancy hors d'oeuvres...
At CMU we had heat, AC, great looking rooms but catering even when good was still...well...how to put it...it was american and no alcohol :-)

HAPPY HOMECOMING Carnegie Mellon !