While there are numerous problems with the American university system (the cost, the way funds are handled, the adjunct situation, the grade inflation, the capitalistic nature being applied to education, various other politics, etc.), at least the buildings aren't falling apart. The ENS isn't horrible compared to some of the other Parisian or French universities in general (Paris 8, for instance, was just a dump—part of the reason I called it the Paris community college five years ago, but that was mostly due to the quality of education you seemed to receive there), but it is still not great. The place is dirty, first of all. They don't heat it enough, yet students spend all their time in the library even when cold. I once worked there four 5 hours wearing my coat because it was so cold. The bathrooms aren't as bad as Paris 8, but aren't that great either. In the library, they're even coed and rarely have soap or paper towels. The computers they offer for student use are outdated, slow, and rarely work. The Internet isn't much better, and is difficult to connect to the first time. There is a maximum number of books you can take out of the library (about 20), and often you'll take a book out and then receive an email explaining that you need to return it since they shouldn't have let you borrow it in the first place (I'm sorry, but how on earth does that happen?). In any case, it seems I'm not just complaining here because I'm used to a rich American university (though, that is certainly part of it), nor because I have been in France too long and am learning their ways (the French complain a lot—but nowhere near as often as I complain about the French and their complaining!). Rather, it's because I don't find these working conditions very conducive to finishing a dissertation in a timely manner. And it turns out, neither do the French students themselves.
Here is a blog I found where French students post pictures of their horrible working conditions. None of the ENS as far as I can see, but feel free to browse and see exactly what I'm dealing with. (Also, note that I'm writing this post from a very clean house in the suburbs of Buffalo, so I do have some sort of distance!)
http://universiteenruines.tumblr.com/
