I haven't met many students that are set on learning Java and only Java (or insert other popular language of choice), mostly its just that they don't know anything better is out there. I have, however, met professors who hold very strong, and wildly incorrect views on Lisp (many of which probably haven't been accurate for 20 years or more). But how is a college freshman supposed to tell a guy with a PhD he is completely incorrect?
I've heard claims that they'll let me program in whatever language I want in upper division, but I have to wonder if that is true or not.
IIRC, Brown has two introductory computer science tracks -- one that starts with Scheme and the other with Java, with the Scheme course recommended for majors. They've got one of the PLT Scheme implementors on faculty, too, so some of the advanced courses are Scheme-based, as well.
